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INT’L. TRAVEL & CRUISES -
Perhaps the ultimate in vacation packages, and ease of international travel, are cruises aboard the many luxury liners that sail the world. Over the past several years, cruises have become very popular and more and more affordable. And the variety of destinations available has increased considerably. With a little diligence, taking a cruise can be a very economical way to travel, and a great way to enjoy international travel.
1. Pricing for cruises is a little like air fare pricing; you might be next store
to a cabin identical to your cabin with the same privileges on the ship, but be paying
twice as much or one-
a. Assuming you know where you want to cruise, go to the Internet and visit the major travel sites to get the details of what ships sail in the area of interest. Look at types of cruise lines, types of ships, ports of call, cruise dates and length of cruise and, of course, cost. Once you narrow down the number of possible choices, you can get more information about the cruise line and particular ship by going to the specific cruise line’s web site. Also, stop into one or more travel agencies to see what they have to offer for cruises in your area of interest, and/or visit web sites that specialize in cruises (there are many). For the most part, the information from all three sources will probably be about the same, although pricing may differ.
b. Keep in mind, cruise lines do cater to different types of passengers. Some lines may be very family friendly, while some may cater mainly to adults. Some cruise lines may be more upscale, and others may be more for the everyday person. Some cruises may offer better food and some may offer more diverse activities, etc. These are important considerations, in addition to price. Consider going to CruiseCritic.com to start investigating just what to expect on a particular cruise.
c. Once you have narrowed down the dates of travel and cruise line choices, getting the best price depends primarily on the timing of your purchase, and the relative supply and demand for cabins on your ship of choice for your cruise dates. Generally, purchasing your cruise several months ahead of time will provide you with the best pricing, and best choice of cabins. As the cruise date becomes nearer, prices will generally gradually increase, and may easily double in price. However, if sales are slow, prices may actually come down as time goes by, with significant bargains available shortly before the cruise date (although with minimal choice of cabins). So it pays to select a couple of cruise ships and cruise dates and comparison shop over a period of time.
d. When comparison shopping, you will probably find that certain types of cabins (both standard and luxury) go on sale, or are put on special, periodically at substantially lower prices, for everyone or for certain groups like seniors. A sale can be on one day, off the next, and back on the next day. It can change all over the place. Chances are, the type of cabin you want on the ship you want will go on sale at some point within a period of a few weeks. Just keep looking until you get that sale price. And if it does not happen on one of the ships you are considering, it will probably happen on another ship going to the same destination.
e. Cruise prices are very seasonal and can differ substantially depending on your sailing dates. This will become evident when you look at prices for a particular ship on different dates. If you have some flexibility on time of travel, and you are willing to travel when the weather may not be quite as nice, you can save a great deal of money, and still have all the same onboard amenities.
f. Whether you actually purchase directly through the cruise line, through a travel site, or through a regular travel agency is not as important as it used to be, due to the pricing policies of the cruise lines. But you may still find some differences if some travel agents or travel sites bought a group of cabins to sell as part of vacation packages. So, once you have decided it is the time to buy, check several sources to find any lower prices. However, instead of lower prices, you might find that some travel sites will offer some “freebies” to get your business. Often this will be “cruise books” that provide discounts on products and services available on the ship.
g. Sometimes, great cruise prices can be gotten at travel shows that are staged in various parts of the country. These deals are on select cruises at certain dates, and are usually sold well in advance of the cruise dates. But the discounts can be significant. Also, discount travel clubs, like Costco’s Travel club, may offer some great deals on cruises.
h. For the most part, all cruise cabins include the same amenities while on board. Dining is the same, as is access to on board activities. About the only thing that changes is the size and nature of the cabin and perhaps the type of “room service” the steward provides and, of course, the price of the cruise. In other words, a cabin on the bottom deck with no “portholes” provides the guest with all of the ship’s amenities as does the suite with balcony. The only difference is the cabin which costs more. Sometimes a lot more. Since most cruise passengers spend only a little time in their cabin, the most economical way to cruise is to buy the cheapest interior cabin available. It will still be a nice cabin, but will cost 50% or more less than the fancy cabin. Do you really need a balcony and sitting area in your room with a view, when you have access to the entire ship to relax and see the sights?
i. Sometimes, cruise lines offer “positioning” cruises when repositioning ships from one travel area to another, say from Mexico to Alaska. If you are flexible, and do not mind departing from one port and returning home from another, sometimes these cruises can be a great value.
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