How to find the best Cruise Deals

Nov. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Booking a cruise holiday can be a daunting task. While you probably don’t want to cut corners and would prefer to get exactly the cruise itinerary you want and all the amenities you can, you still want to get the best cruise deal that you can.

No matter what kind of cruise you are looking for from family cruises to cruising on a luxury ship, it is possible to get discount. But just how go about finding the best cruise deals is the tricky part. Here are a few quick suggestions on how to get the best prices for your cruise.

1. Timing – This can mean a lot of things. First of all, the farther you can book your cruise in advance the better. Six months ahead is a good rule of thumb to use when booking.

The time of year you cruise can determine how cheap or expensive your cruise will be. Some of the biggest discounts come during the pre-holiday season in December. Traveling during what is known as “shoulder” season can bring better deals as well. That means traveling in the time between high and low season. This can sometimes save you as much as 20 to 30 percent.

Prices will always be higher during seasons like school break periods for children.

2. Use a Travel Agent – Trained travel agents have quicker access to all the possible itineraries and cruise line information that is right for your particular needs. But on top of that, travel agents have access to the best cruise deals. They sometimes get advance notice of promotional deals from cruise lines before they are made available to the general public.

The best travel agents will also know when the prices go down on a cruise you have already booked and either contact the cruise line to credit the difference in price to you or completely rebook the cruise at the new rate.

A well-connected travel agent may also be able to get you a cabin upgrade for no extra cost. They often will arrange some other extra perks while you are on board.

3. Home-port Cruising – Cruising from a port close to your home can save the cost of airfare and the hassles of airport travel, plus transportation to and from the airport on both ends. If you live in or close to a port city, check out the options for cruises from that city.

4. On-line Cruise Sellers – If you simply search for “cruise deals” on-line you will probably be overwhelmed by the number of results. But there are plenty of dedicated cruise sellers you can find on the Internet. The trick is finding one that is legitimate and good at what they do. Look for the online cruise seller websites that have a seal of approval from Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) or Cruise Line International Association (CLIA).

Once you find what you think is a good deal through one of these website, be sure to read the fine print before you book to find extra charges and other additional fees. These can sometimes raise the price by hundreds of pounds.

A few other ways to get better Cruise Deals  include sailing on the same cruise line you have sailed on before. They often offer past-guest savings. Look for “repositioning cruises”. These are cruises that began in one region and end in another. For instance a cruise that started in Europe and ended in the Caribbean will book another cruise for the return trip. Some cruise lines occasionally offer “kids sail free” promotional fares.

Article by Alicia Chewe for http://www.cruiseholidaysguide.com

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