Cruising into savings isn’t difficult — in fact, we are going to tell you 10 ways to save money on cruises right now. With some careful planning and a little cruise knowledge, you will go far. Relaxation shouldn’t break the bank, and it won’t if you follow some of our cruise deal and savings tips. Timing is everything: Most places recommend that you book four months in advance, but make sure you take advantage of wave season while you’re making your plans. Get ready to set sail with our 10 ways to save money on cruises.
Book early or down to the wire. People claim that you can get some of the best deals by planning months in advance or just a few weeks before going onboard. If you’re cruising during the on-season, it’s better to book early. Otherwise, wait it out.
Watch the sales, but don’t jump on them. Cruise lines have frequent, short promotions. But they also have less frequent promotions which is where you’ll really score on savings. Track the sales before planning your trip to know what’s a good deal and when to book.
Book on board. Booking onboard will get you more onboard cash. Many cruise lines only require you to purchase cruise credit for a future date. You book once you get onboard and you’ll usually get more onboard spending money.
Stick around. Cruising with the same line time after time will get you big discounts later down the road. One of our 10 ways to save big on cruises tips: Lines reward their loyal customers with discounts and special offers to keep you coming back.
Stay local. Cruising out of a local port will save you big bucks on transportation. Florida may be the cruise hot spot, but you can also catch ships out of New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, and others.
What’s your status? If you’re a veteran, firefighter, police officer, or a member of the military, many cruise lines will offer you a discount.
Catch the wave. Want to save money on cruises, and get great deals? Remember that wave session is January-March and the time of the year when cruise lines offer their most competitive deals. You can save over 50 percent by booking during this time and also get more for your dollar with included onboard amenities.
Befriend your agent. Travel agents have relationships with cruise lines that can get you deep discounts. Agents save you the time and hassle of booking for yourself and you can pick their brains for their cruise knowledge.
Separate booking saves. If you are flying to your port, book your flight separately. Additionally, book your own onshore excursions. The all-inclusive packages offered by the cruise lines aren’t necessarily cheaper and you can make your money go further by booking these on your own.
Book onboard. Again. Cruise companies offer some of their best deals to people already out at sea. If you’re sold on a second cruise already, book it while you’re still onboard the ship so you can set sail for savings the next time around.
Cheat Sheet
Get ready to hit the open waters without crushing you check book. Brush up on cash-saving trips via these sites and learn some more about our 10 ways to save money on cruises:
Assistant Editor Ciara is a DC native and East Coast roamer with degrees in both English Professional Writing and Drama & Theatre Studies from Elon University. She's written for a variety of publications including Highway 64, Travel Writing at Elon, and Odyssey. More of her work can be found at ciaracorcoran.com.
Leave a Reply