Getting The Very Best Cruise Deal

jaschem1 · April 28, 2007

I always try to get the best deal on a cruise, but I am sure I am missing some things to better it. We always look for one off season cruise a year which helps in the cost. I can use World Points this winter to upgrade.

What are some things you found that saved you money? :blush:

TheSkipper · April 28, 2007

I always check out www.cruisecompete.com and search all the other internet sites as well.

We sometimes book an interior cabin if we are cruising to places we have been before. The cruise experience is still the same.

No magic to it, just good research.

SCIROCCO · April 28, 2007

We Book our own and have for 8 years now we go directly through the Cruise line with a PPV! We also do our Hotel direct as well never had a problem and what sites Ive checked weve gotten better deals! We have a Extended balcony on the Conquest and paid $749.00 PP and then we got two price reductions of $40.00 for our Cabin, and that was a savings of $80.00 but we had to keep checking they wont tell you thats maybe a drawback instead of using a TA! But I have time to stay on top of my Reservation, its just personal preferences! I would suggest using a TA if your a first time cruiser though And it depends on what season and month you go as well

btate · April 29, 2007

I check a few sites . . Vacationstogo.com (A travel agency) and others. Shipboard credit is offered by some of the agencys that is the same as a direct discount to your fare as you always spend some money on the ship.

Skipper and Robert are well traveled and have great suggestion. Don't forget to look for all the perks that are offered by other agencies. Sometimes the cruise lines direct offer perks as well. Good luck! I don't think there are any secrets, you just have to check all the places and make it work best for the time you are going.

GottaCruz · May 2, 2007

We also check out CruiseCompete.com. Most of the bids we get are the same but there is always one that is better than all the rest - on our last cruise, not only was one cheaper than the others but they also through in free cruise insurance for the three of us.

jacketwatch · May 3, 2007

I've always gotten my best deals with Costco believe it or not. Last yr. on the Tahitian Princess we prebooked a future cruise w/ Princess for $100.00 down per person. This was used for our deposit on the upcoming Star princess plus we got $200.00 OBC. Booking early can also give you additional OBC as well.

JoeyandDavid · May 4, 2007

i prefer to do my own reserch...

hazelson · May 4, 2007

Our TA has done a pretty good job so far - we get a lot of e-mail offers but when it comes right down to the bottom line the TA is pretty much right on the mark. We also like to have someone real to talk to if we have any concerns.

We always know where, when, and what we want to do ahead of time so usually get no surprises.

Joanandjoe · May 5, 2007

Do all of the above, but also check with your TA. If she's competitive - say no more than 5 to 10 percent extra, it's worth having someone to monitor specials for you and run interference with the cruise line.

Example. For our Noordam cruise last 11/25, we wanted a SY balcony cabin. Our TA was $25 per person more than a cruise discounter, and the discounter was offering a wine package. I practically forced Joan to use the TA rather than the discounter, and she was not happy about not having the wine package. About six months later (we booked 15 months in advance), our TA called to ask if we wanted to upgrade to a full suite for $210 more per person. A no brainer--we took it. I doubt that the online discounter would have given us that opportunity. Having a suite made the difference between a great trip and an extraordinary one.

Five weeks ago we needed to book a vacation on 2 1/2 weeks notice. The TA found us some good choices, and we booked one (our Dutch tulip river cruise on the Avalon poetry). She got us hotel rooms in Amsterdam, where most hotels were sold out. Even the $25 airplane booking fee was worth it: the fare went up $60 between when she locked in the fare and when we told her to go ahead, and she got the lower fare.

We'll certainly keep using her. A reasonable extra charge for a TA can be well worth it.