Archive for the ‘Discounted Cruises’ Category
Are All Inclusive Cruise Deals a Good Value?
More and more often, travelers are turning to all inclusive cruise deals as the way to get the most for their vacation dollars. But are these deals really the best way to get more for less? The answer is definitely maybe, and whether they are the best choice for you will depend on a variety of factors.
Even traditional cruise deals include everything a traveler could need for a wonderful vacation. They include the accommodations, dining, a variety of shipboard activities, and of course, the travel from port to port. Some cruises even offer some on-shore activities as part of the package, such as the use of a private beach (a popular option for Caribbean cruises).
But even with all the amenities offered in a traditional cruise, there are things that aren’t included. Many do not include beverages outside of meal times, and don’t include alcoholic beverages at all. They may include dining in the dining room, but not in some of the on-board restaurants, and they may not include snacks. There may be some shipboard activities that have an additional cost, or there may be fees for activities while on-shore. All these incidentals can add up quickly, and make all inclusive deals more attractive.
But is an all inclusive cruise a good deal? That will depend on what you want out of a cruise, what services or amenities you expect to use, and of course, the price difference between the traditional cruises and the all inclusive deals. Expect to do a little research before making a decision.
Make sure that you know exactly what is included in the package you’re pricing, whether it’s an all inclusive cruise or not, and then seriously consider which services or amenities that you will use. For instance, if you don’t drink or only have a cocktail at dinner, there’s no advantage to a package that includes wine and cocktails. If you plan to party the night away every night, though, a package that will handle your bar tab in the ship’s dance club is an excellent deal. No one will ever go hungry on a cruise depending “just” on the dining room, but if you want to eat every meal in a different restaurant on board, it makes sense to find cruise deals that include that option.
Go through the same comparison process when considering the activities offered, whether on-board or in port. Free snorkel lessons will go unused if you don’t like the water; the tour of the dungeons in the old Spanish prison won’t be appreciated by the claustrophobic. If your idea of the perfect day on shore is hanging out in a sidewalk cafe or browsing through the local shops, it’s a waste of money to pay for a planned activity, no matter how much of a bargain it is.
In the end, deciding whether all inclusive deals are a good value is going to depend on the needs and expectations of the individual traveler. It’s not a good value to pay for things that aren’t needed or won’t be used, so compare carefully. Gather your facts and then decide if an all inclusive cruise is for you.
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When is The Best Time to Book Discount Cruises?
Although it would be nice, there isn’t any perfect time to book to get a discount cruise. The destination and itinerary, the cruise line and the ship, even the planned travel dates all play a part. But there are tips and tricks that will help you vacation at a discount.
Cruise lines offer some of the best deals if you book – 6, 12, or even 18 months before departure. They may offer lower prices, better upgrades, or more perks for packages booked far in advance. It’s a win-win situation. The cruise line knows well ahead of time that they have a full ship, and the traveler gets to enjoy discount cruises. Book a cruise in advance, and you also have the opportunity to lock in your room and destination choices.
The opposite end of the timing spectrum is the last minute cruise. Travelers who have the flexibility in their schedules to travel with short notice can take advantage of a cruise line’s need to have as many rooms booked as possible before departure. You may need to be a bit of a gambler, but you could find that your cruise comes with an even smaller price tag than expected. The down side is that you may not have your first choice of rooms or itineraries.
There is a particular time of year when discount cruises may be more common, and that is what is called “wave season”, or roughly January through March. This is the time of year that most people book cruises. The competition for those passengers is fierce, and the cruise lines want to persuade you to take a look at what they can offer. Whether it’s room upgrades or lower prices, their goal is to stand out from the crowd. Why not take the advantage?
The time of year you choose to travel can also help you find a bargain. In most regions, cruising is not a year-round activity, it’s seasonal. With high season comes high demand, and also high prices. If you’re traveling in low season, on the other hand, you may be offered additional enticements to help fill rooms that would otherwise go empty. Low season rates are usually found at the beginning and the end of the cruise season for a particular region.
Another relatively unknown option for travelers that can travel “off season” is the repositioning cruise, or repo cruise. Ships that regularly sail far northern regions, like Alaska or Scandinavia, must be moved twice each year, taken north each spring and brought back south each fall for the winter. These one-way trips are in many ways also one-of-a-kind. They tend to be longer, averaging 10 to 20 days, with more days at sea. Repo cruises also often have ports of call that aren’t available on the regular cruise itineraries.
When you get right down to it, no matter when you plan to book a cruise, there are always discount cruises available!
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