Cruises are becoming more popular among just about every demographic. It’s becoming more important for people to find the very best cruise vacation deals so that they can enjoy them regardless of their budget and needs. Currently, around 25.8 million people throughout the world enjoyed a cruise in 2018 and this number continues to rise.
Since cruises have become so popular, cruise companies have been working harder than ever to provide clients with top quality cruises, heading to just about every destination in the world. If you want to find great deals on cruises, it’s not difficult – Simply read our handy guide of questions and answers to make the best decision.
What Are The Benefits Of Last Minute Cruise Vacation Deals?
Last minute cruises are usually offered out within 72 hours of the cruise setting off and they are meant to fill up spaces that might not have been snatched up by clients beforehand.
Because they’re trying to fill up spaces, they are usually happy to offer the cruises at much lower prices and this is where you can find some great deals. Some of the most exciting last minute cruises can be found from Princess, Costco and Carnival.
What Are The Perks Of Booking Early?
If you’re not look for last minute deals, it’s always best to book your cruise as early as possible, as that’s when you’ll get the best deals. When you think of the principle of supply and demand, you’ll likely find it easy to understand why cruise lines tend to offer best prices to people when there are many rooms to fill.
How Early Is Early Enough When Booking A Cruise?
You should start looking for your next cruise date about 16 months ahead of time as this is when most cruise companies tend to release their itineraries. It’s important to remember that if you are booking for 16 months ahead, you will definitely want to have insurance as you never know what could happen between now and then. After all, 16 months is a very long time away.
What Is The Wave Season?
The wave season is the period between January and March when you can find some really exciting package deals on cruise lines. You might find that you get a range of freebies with your trip, including Wi-Fi, gratuities and drinks, as well as cruise credit. You might find packages that apply to various periods throughout the year being offered at this time.
Can You Book Your Next Cruise On Board?
Just because you’re on a cruise, doesn’t mean you can’t be looking ahead to your next one. In fact, when it comes to getting some great deals on cruises, you might be missing out if you’re not looking at the options being offered to current passengers.
Princess Cruises, for example, offer the option for you to make a small down payment for your next cruise on board a current one and they will give you free credits when you finalize the booking. If you don’t end up making a booking within 2 years, you get your money back.
What’s The Benefit Of Cruise Loyalty Programs?
Another benefit of booking your next cruise with the same company is that many cruise lines offer loyalty programs and give their passengers more perks the more they sale with them. These perks might include anything from upgrades to free meals and drinks.
Even if you’re an infrequent cruiser, make sure you ask about the loyalty programs on board – you might find that you get some great introductory perks.
Can You Purchase A Cruise Deal On Black Friday?
You can get a great deal on just about anything on Black Friday, including cruises. You can go directly to someone like cruisedirect.com to find great deals on Black Friday – or alternatively, you can go directly to the cruise line’s own website.
Why Book Through Cruise Direct?
If you’re looking to book through Cruise Direct rather than the cruise line itself, you’ll find a wide range of perks available to you, including being able to set your budget and search for cruises within that price range and being the first to be notified of last minute deals.
What makes this option all the more exciting is that there are no booking fees with this website.
How Do I Book A Cruise?
There are a variety of avenues through which you can go to book a cruise, including through a third party website, the cruise liner itself or through a travel agent.
Agents are handy because they are knowledgeable and can provide you with personalized advice on everything from cabin selection to dietary requirements. They are also great supports in the event that something should go wrong. As these professionals book in bulk, they will also usually have incentives and add-ons that they can pass onto their clients
What Should I Look Out For As A First Time Cruiser?
If you are going on a cruise for the first time, it doesn’t matter how great your deal was, if you’re not comfortable, it won’t be worth the money you spent on it. Firstly, you might want to consider whether you want a cabin with or without a window, as those without can get very claustrophobic. Secondly, you’ll want to make sure you pick a cruise with the type of dress code you feel comfortable with.
If you don’t want to be dressed to the nines, you won’t want to book a cruise where the dress code includes gowns and tuxedos. Lastly, if you want to eat when you want, you’ll want to make sure you book a cruise that allows for this type of flexibility. Ensuring you’re comfortable will help you make the most of any of the deals on cruises you choose to take advantage of.
