Whilst there are no hard and fast rules to finding the best cruise deals, there are some useful tips to keep in mind. Perhaps the most pressing one is to act now, if you can – cruise prices look set to rise in 2010. There were record bookings for all cruise lines this season, which means that ships are filling up and supply and demand will soon be cranking up the cost of new bookings (Carnival Cruises has already announced price hikes). Most of the lines are, offering price guarantees, so if the price of cruise holidays actually falls, you’ll be compensated (and you’ll also get the pick of the cabins).
Last minute cruises are continuing to catch on (i.e., booking beyond the cruise’s final payment deadline, usually 60 to 90 days before departure). These deals are perhaps easiest to find on Caribbean cruises, but many cruise lines have unsold cabins 60 days before sailing (people sometimes pay a deposit, then fail to come up with the balance, hence the cut-price vacancies).
For families with school-aged children who are tied to peak season periods, the best advice is to book your cruises at least 6 and preferably 12 months in advance. You’ll also have a much better choice of cabins, itineraries and dinner settings. But if you’re bewildered at the prospect of finding the best deals available from big names like P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises, a knowledgeable travel agent can often discover extra savings and facilities. Then all that remains is cruising and relaxing.
Filed under: Cruise Holidays, Travel Destinations, Worldwide Travel | 1 Comment »
June 4th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I would slightly have to disagree with the first comment as I feel if you book early you will only loose out as most cruise lines will reduce the prices drastically to fill the ship. I booked a Cunard cruise a year ahead and a few months before departure i find that all the prices have been reduced and in fact i could have saved 20% if i had booked later.