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Canny cruisers are shopping around for vacations on the top cruise lines at a fraction of the brochure price. Here are some insider tips on finding a discounted cruise.
How do you get a luxury cruise for less? If you know how to work the system, it is possible to snap up a bargain cruise and sample the magical world of unfettered luxury. Book a less popular cruiseAmericans make up the biggest cruise market so choose a time like Thanksgiving, when most people visit relatives rather than travel. Or choose a repositioning cruise, for example, one that’s transiting the Suez Canal as it moves from the Mediterranean to its winter cruising territory of Africa or Asia. Silversea Cruises often has good deals in the fall on repositioning cruises. Or travel in the low season; right before Christmas is always good. Who would say no to a Caribbean cruise in early December? Book through a cruise specialistSpecialist cruise agents often have better deals than the cruise lines themselves. Mundy Cruising in the UK is a good one and in the USA, check out Virtuoso to speak to a specialist Book a cruise-only dealGo for a cruise-only offer and save money on flights by using mileage points or in Europe, booking through one of the many low-cost airlines. Book very earlySnap up the early-booking incentives offered by many luxury lines of 40% or 50% discounts. You need to plan up to 18 months ahead to take advantage of these. Check out SeaDream Yacht Club, which displays ‘brochure fare’ and ‘best fare’ clearly on its website – there are some great savings. Book last minuteAn obvious ploy, but with luxury cruises, you are less likely to get what you want. If you’re flexible, though, there are bargains, provided you are not especially fussy about where you go. Book somewhere between mass market and luxuryRecently, two new cruise lines have emerged to bridge the gap between ‘premium’ (Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises) and ‘ultra-luxury’ (the Seabourns and Silverseas of the world). The first was Oceania, launched in 2002 with two 684-passenger ships. Although the cabins aren’t huge, the amenities make up for it, with hugely expensive beds, goosedown pillows and Egyptian linens. Food is superb, the service amazing and the atmosphere on board casual but elegant. The formula has been a huge success and Oceania is booked way ahead; there’s not much left now before winter 2008. Celebrity Cruises has also launched an upmarket brand, Azamara Cruises. It’s a similar concept, with superior food, wine and amenities and adventurous itineraries, but undercutting the luxury lines.
The copyright of the article Luxury Cruises for Less in Cruise/Island Vacations is owned by Sue Bryant. Permission to republish Luxury Cruises for Less in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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