How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
Save as much as 75 percent with a “last-minute” discount
By Jennifer Davoren
Waiting until the "last minute" to book your next cruise could pay off in a big way, says Cheryl Cunningham, director of special projects for Vacations To Go, a national travel agency that specializes in discounted cruises. The best deals often pop up within 90 days of a ship's departure, as cruise lines attempt to round out their passenger list.
"Typically, that's when most of the best pricing comes out. The cruise lines have a good idea of how the ships are filling up at that time," Cunningham says.
To avoid sailing with empty berths, many cruise companies will attract passengers by posting deeply discounted fares -- sometimes reduced by up to 75 percent per person -- with agencies that specialize in bargain travel. Vacations To Go compiles a database of these deals at its Web site, www.VacationsToGo.com, where visitors can use the "90-Day Ticker" tool to select from a variety of bargains available within the next three months.
Discounts are offered on a vast array of cruise lines, cabins and itineraries, though destinations can vary depending on the season. Below is a sampling of savings available at press time.
*A seven-day, round-trip Caribbean cruise aboard the 3,700-passenger Carnival Liberty was reduced by more than 60 percent, bringing the $1,669 per-person cost for an inside cabin down to $599. The ship departs Miami on May 24 and calls at Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
*A Mediterranean vacation aboard the 2,600-guest Grand Princess was discounted by more than 50 percent, with rates that started at $1,439 per person for an inside cabin. An ocean-view cabin was just $99 per person more. The 12-day trip begins on May 26 in Civitavecchia, a port for Rome, and ends in Southampton, about 80 miles south of London. Ports of call are in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
*A weeklong round-trip sailing from New York City to Bermuda aboard the 2,224-passsenger Norwegian Dawn was listed at $669 per person for an inside cabin, a savings of 55 percent. It departs April 27.
*A 23-day repositioning cruise between Fort Lauderdale, FL, and the Swedish capital of Stockholm was reduced by as much as 70 percent, starting at $1,935 per person -- or just $84 a day. The trans-Atlantic voyage aboard the intimate 688-passenger Royal Princess departs April 28 and stops at several Northern European ports along the way.
Offers on the 90-Day Ticker can sell out quickly, with some of the biggest discounts vanishing from the Web site within hours. Savvy shoppers should act fast when they spot a good deal.
"The sailings listed on the 90-Day Ticker are those with the deepest discounts, and they sell out quickly," Cunningham says. "The consumer should be ready to make a purchase if they find something of interest."
Though shoppers might be dazzled by a deep discount, they should examine the overall value before booking a particular trip, Cunningham says. Factors such as itinerary, length of travel and season should be taken into account.
"You can get up to 75 percent off a cruise in the Caribbean market," says Cunningham, "but in another market, like Europe, you might not get as deep of a discount, but it would still be a great deal for that particular cruising region."
Travelers should also consider the cost of airfare. A 60 percent discount on a cruise sounds like a great deal, but catching a flight to the coast with just a few weeks notice could blow your travel budget.
Many cruise companies take this into consideration when posting their last-minute deals. "Sometimes, the cruise line will lower the fare to attract the consumer who might have to pay a little more on the air travel," Cunningham says.
Booking travel through short-notice services like the 90-Day Ticker requires an adaptable vacation plan, with travelers willing to "go with the flow" when it comes to selecting an itinerary. Those with more specific ideas on cruise line, location and departure dates "might want to 'lock in' further in advance," Cunningham warns.
"Last-minute travel requires that you be a little flexible," she says. "If you're the type of person who has a variety of destinations on your travel list, the 90-Day Ticker is definitely the way you want to go. You can really get some great deals on some beautiful ships and great itineraries."
Travelers with a particular itinerary, ship and travel dates in mind can use Vacations To Go's "Find a Bargain" tool. Here, you can search by destination, cruise line, vessel, length of cruise, departure city and your desired ports of call.
Great deals extend beyond the short-notice discounts, Cunningham says, as most cruise lines offer special fares based on age, profession or past travel. This helps cruise lines spread the word about new itineraries and off-season deals. These deals are also available at the Vacations To Go Web site and can usually be combined with a 90-Day Ticker discount for a drastically reduced cruise fare.
At least five cruise lines -- Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean International -- offer price breaks on select sailings to travelers 55 and older. MSC Cruises, for example, offers "seniors" a 58 percent discount for inside cabins and a 53 percent discount on ocean-view staterooms aboard the 1,250-passenger Melody during a weeklong, round-trip Mediterranean cruise from Messina, Italy. This reduces the $1,800 and $2,120 fares to $749 and $999 per person, respectively, at Vacations To Go. Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Florence are among port calls for the May 17 voyage.
These age-related discounts extend to all passengers in the stateroom, as only one occupant per cabin must be a "senior" for the rate to apply.
Military discounts are offered on select sailings, but these can vary according to the customer's level of service and the cruise line. Active and retired members of the U.S. military, for instance, will find discounts on Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. Reservists will enjoy discounts on Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean, and veterans of military service will be granted discounts on Carnival. Holland America offers savings to active military members only.
Holland America also offers "appreciation rates" for active firefighters, police officers and teachers, Cunningham says. Holland America recently applied the appreciation rate to a 10-day cruise of St. Lucia, Barbados and Martinique departing April 24, reducing a $1,709 inside cabin to $799.
But one of the most beneficial discounts available to travelers is the past-passenger deal, Cunningham says. Many cruise lines reward former customers with special rates on select sailings -- in some cases, even offering discounts on future sailings if customers are willing to book while aboard their current cruise.
"In addition to that, lower rates are offered to the past passengers much earlier than these discounts would be offered to the general public," Cunningham says.
In some cases, past-guest discounts can be applied to a sailing with a different cruise line -- travelers who have previously cruised with Carnival, Costa, Cunard Line, Holland America, Princess or Seabourn Cruise Line, for example, are eligible for past-passenger rates offered on Carnival, Costa and Seabourn. (All are part of the Carnival family of brands.) And, on Holland America, former guests can book up to four cabins using their special discount.
Experienced cruisers might find additional perks after boarding the ship, Cunningham says. Most cruise lines offer incentives for repeat customers, including shipboard credits, complimentary upgrades and past-passenger mixers. Travelers should check with the individual cruise lines to learn more, as these benefits vary between companies.
"Each cruise line has their own program -- they might offer upgraded travel insurance at no cost, or expedited check-in at embarkation," Cunningham says.
Information: Travelers can view hundreds of deeply discounted last-minute cruises by visiting Vacations To Go's 90-Day Ticker. The site also has links to senior, military, firefighter and police officer, teacher and past-passenger discounts. Or, call Vacations To Go at (800) 338-4962.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in March/April 2008.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 338-4962 for current rates and details.