Hi everyone, it’s Kimberly with Get Away Today and I’m excited to talk to you about one of my favorite ways to vacation – cruises. Cruising is one of the best ways to explore the world, without having to break the bank. Today I’m going to give you my top five ways to save on a cruise, so you can get the best bang for your buck when voyaging across the sea.
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise
Get Away Today partners with all major cruise lines so you have more ways to save on your next vacation. Whether you’re interested in a Disney Cruise, Carnival Cruise, or Royal Caribbean, you’ll find it all with Get Away Today.
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise – Book in Advance
People can sometimes be hesitant about booking vacations in advance, just in case a better deal comes along. However, it’s important to remember that the chances of getting a great last-minute deal for cruises are small. Even if you do find one, you will likely be paying more for last-minute airfare, which cancels out your savings.
With cruises, you get an even better deal the earlier you book. For example, I booked a Disney Cruise in spring for a cruise over a year later in October. The price for that exact same cruise and the exact same stateroom types actually went up around 30% the closer I got to my departure date! As the sailing date drew closer, the inside staterooms went up to the same price as an outside balcony room. If a better deal for your cruise fare does come along after you book, Get Away Today will always honor the savings, so you are never penalized for booking early.
Not only do you save money by booking early, you’re able to make several payments over a long period of time. Plus cruises sometimes have dates available up to two years in advance. This makes it the perfect opportunity to make small payments along the way instead of paying everything up-front.
A bonus tip that can help you save on a cruise is to avoid traveling over major holidays and school breaks. These dates will not only be more expensive, but can be crowded and difficult to find flights for as well. If you book during the off-peak season, you are guaranteed to find great deals.
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise –Â Consider Booking Two Cabins for Families
While most cruise lines offer family suites, these rooms are typically larger rooms with a balcony. This can significantly increase the cost of your cruise fare. I also use the term “suite” loosely. While the suite may be considered large for a ship, they are typically much smaller than a hotel suite. If you have five or more people in your family, I would suggest getting two cabins next to each other as an alternative. Not only will this save you money, but it will actually give you more room than a suite would. By booking two rooms, my family of five saved nearly $1,200 on our Disney cruise!
However, in the same breath, I’ll warn that you’ll want to price it both ways. For example, I priced a cruise on the new Norwegian Bliss. It has laser tag and a two level go-cart track on board… Seriously! They were running a 3rd and 4th passengers sail free promotion. With the sale it was cheaper for me to do one larger room and pay a higher rate for my first two passengers. However, if they hadn’t been running that promotion, it would have been a huge savings to do two standard cabins.
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise –Â Choose Interior Rooms
Interior rooms are a great way for small families and couples to save on a cruise, since they are the least expensive option. Because there are so many activities on a cruise, you’re usually only in your room to sleep. Unless your cruise is known for scenery – like a European River or Alaskan cruise – get the least expensive room possible.
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise –Â Don’t Be Tied to One Cruise Line
Unless you’re a serial cruiser, (like more than one cruise a year), there is little to no benefit of booking with the same cruise line every time. Be willing to look at different cruise lines and watch for sales. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Princess Cruises all offer major sales periodically. By not being tied to one cruise line, you open up so many more options as far as pricing, cruise length, ship and itinerary. One of the perks of booking your cruise through Get Away Today is that our agents are familiar with each of the cruise lines and what specials each is offering. If you typically only look at Carnival, you may not realize that Royal Caribbean, MSC or Holland, etc… are having a sale.
Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Top 5 Ways to Save on a Cruise –Â Cruise Close to Home
Most people aren’t aware of how many cruise ports are located in the U.S.. Chances are, there is probably one that’s closer to you than you think. With ports in Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Galveston, New Orleans, New York and more, there is almost an option for everyone. Since transportation to and from the departure port can be a large expense , getting good airfare can be a great way to save on a cruise. If you can’t find an inexpensive flight, no worries! Many people can actually drive to a port within a few hours. This way, you can spend the cash you would’ve spent on a flight on excursions, spa credit or even room upgrades instead.
Book With Get Away Today for Cruise Deals
At Get Away Today, we pride ourselves on not only guaranteeing the best price, but also giving our guests the best customer service as well. In addition to providing exclusive deals and extra goodies in each of our packages, all of our cruise agents are experts. They have unique knowledge of each cruise line to help you save on a cruise and find the perfect fit. The best part is you can talk to our cruise agents for free and there are no booking fees! You’ll be able to get insider knowledge without bias – we want to make sure your cruise is what you’re expecting. Our cruise agents are always available and happy to help you plan your dream vacation.
To book your cruise, be sure to call 877-510-2929 or go to getawaytoday.com. Be sure to mention that The Crafting Chicks sent you!
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Scarlet says
We are considering taking a cruise as a way of getting our extended family together. Thanks for the money saving tips for booking a cruise!
Gultfreeme says
We went for a cruise 2 years ago, it was memorable but too expensive. Anyway, we are trying to go this year again, your tips are very helpful, thank you!