Posts Tagged ‘cruise deals’
Things to Know About All Inclusive Cruise Deals
In recent years, all inclusive deals have become some of the most popular vacation options, and cruise deals lead the way. It’s hard to imagine anything more convenient – once the planning is done and the cruise is booked, there’s not much left to do but show up and enjoy the vacation. Travelers have the advantage of knowing that everything is paid for, and that they won’t be blind-sided by budget surprises. Is an all inclusive cruise right for you?
For that matter, what is an all inclusive cruise anyway? Don’t all cruises include everything? Not all and not everything. Even the most basic cruise deals include a lot, of course. There are the accommodations on the ship, the traveling from port-to-port, meals in the dining room and a variety of activities while on board ship. But what about the things that aren’t included?
Many cruises, for instance, do not include beverages outside of meals, and don’t include alcoholic beverages at all. Meals might be included in the dining room, but there may be an extra charge for other restaurants on board. The pool and the fitness center are free, but shore excursions carry an additional price tag, and so do spa treatments. Airfare to the port city will be extra, as will the transfer from the airport to the ship. And of course, gratuities for the crew are expected.
An all inclusive cruise, on the other hand, will include much more, although the specifics will vary with different cruises on different lines. For instance, Norwegian and Carnival offer Caribbean cruise deals that include such items as airfare, airport transfers, port charges and fees, as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and 24-hour room service. On luxury cruises, it’s common for wine to be included with the meal, and for gratuities to be prohibited.
Like any vacation package, when considering an all inclusive cruise, part of your planning should be to learn exactly what is included. Just like other types of all inclusive vacations, there are things that you can expect to cost extra on an all inclusive cruise. There may be some restrictions on certain drinks or foods – for instance, a bottle of wine may be included, but the bottle of Dom Perignon probably is not. Spa services, the beauty shop and the barber shop may have an additional charge.
There may be some activities offered on shore that are included, typically a beach or a picnic outdoors. Other tours may be priced separately. Some souvenirs may be provided, but shopping is going to be at your own expense. And of course, if you gamble at the ship’s casino, you can expect to be gambling with your own money!
In the end, before choosing the best cruise deal for your trip, do your research. Once you’ve compared the options, you can make an informed decision about whether an all inclusive cruise is right for you.
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Things to Know About Last Minute Cruise Deals
For bargain hunters looking for the best deals, nothing sounds better than last minute cruise deals. With a little flexibility and a little research, you can be heading for the high seas for less than you ever imagined.
Shoppers should know that cruise lines offer great cruise deals to travelers who book early. Very early, anywhere from 6 to 18 months early. As departure dates come closer, demand for cabins increases, and so does the price of those cabins. But cruise vacations tend to be booked several months out, and when it gets within 60-90 days of departure, the prices again begin to come down as cruise lines work to make sure that every possible cabin is booked. That’s where last minute deals come into play.
Remember old television shows or movies where someone shows up to buy the last vacant cabin as the ship is getting ready to leave the dock? This isn’t going to happen, so don’t plan to browse cruise deals for this weekend. Security concerns in recent years have caused some countries to change their visa and passport requirements. For example, in the United States, passenger names have to be run through Homeland Security databases no less than 48 hours prior to departure.
But keep in mind that in the cruise industry, last minute deals have a different meaning than for the airline industry. Last minute flights may be leaving in a matter of days, even hours, but a last minute cruise is more likely to be leaving in weeks. If you’re able to be flexible about your arrangements, and a bit of a gambler, there are a few tips that can help you find excellent last minute cruise deals.
The closer it gets to the departure date, the lower the price may drop, but it’s important to remember that there will also be fewer options. You may not have as many room choices, and the rooms that are left are often in less desirable locations – they may be interior rooms instead of ocean view, or be on a lower deck. There will also be fewer choices of ships and itineraries. If your heart is set on a specific destination, or on having an ocean few on an upper deck, last minute deals may not satisfy you.
There are sometimes unexpected benefits to booking a last minute cruise, besides the lower price. Cruise lines don’t want ships to sail with empty rooms, and may offer additional incentives such as on-board credit or coupons. If there are cancellations, you may be able to get a room upgrade.
Last minute deals are the riskiest deals to plan. If you misjudge the timing, you may miss out on the room or destination that you want. Your cruise of choice could sell out and leave you without a vacation. But if you’re willing to take a gamble, last minute cruise deals could be the perfect answer for you.
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