Finding Deals on Last Minute Cruises
Cruise ships have become more-and-more popular in recent years. It takes years to build one so there is not always a balance between supply and demand. Fortunately for the traveler, the recent economic problems have caused a decline in demand, while the ships that were committed to construction years ago are now coming on stream. This means there are some fantastic bargains out there. But how can you find them? Read on for some cruise bargain-hunting tips.
The first thing is to try to be flexible as to schedules and destinations. Your desired cruise may not be exactly available on any given day.
Look on the Internet. A recent search for “last minute cruise trips” yielded over eleven million hits, and that’s on only one search engine. The major travel websites, such as travelocity.com, orbitz.com and expedia.com all have discounted cruise trips on offer. There is even a site called lastminutecruises.com.
When you think about cheap cruise travel, don’t forget your travel agent. Cruise lines often send last minute deals to them.
The best time to look for last minute cheap cruises is related to the lines’ cancellation policies. Your timing is best at different times for different cruise lines. Check your preferred lines’ deadline for when a pre-reserved passenger can cancel without penalty. This is when the fare cutting begins.
Note that discounted cruise bookings are seldom refundable. When they are, it is with a steep penalty so be sure before you book.
Just like any other type of travel, stay away from the peak holiday periods. Cruise lines are likely full on holidays. There are some unique seasonal advantages, however. Caribbean cruises in the hurricane season are often cheap. Just remember that your cruise can be cancelled, or if in route, have its destination changed on no notice due to severe weather.
There is a concept unique to cruise travel called the repositioning cruises. Some ships stay in the same region year around while others move seasonally. There is little call for cruise ships in Alaska during the winter, for example. The cruise lines will deploy their vessels elsewhere. The trips between seasonal destinations are called repositioning cruises and deals can be terrific. Be careful that you know in advance what your airfare will be since you will not be able to buy a cheap round trip ticket.
If you have cruised before, contact the line that served you. Many of them have discounts and other perks for returning passengers.
Watch out for “all-inclusive” packages. Many times a cruise line that offers a virtually all-inclusive trip at full price, has a different definition for all-inclusive as it relates to last minute bargain hunters. Read the fine print of the offer before you sign up. Look out for taxes, “service fees” and port charges, among others. If you are traveling alone, be certain that you have not booked a “per person, double occupancy” fare.
Yes, now is a great time to cruise cheap. It just takes a little effort to find a myriad of deals.