Making a Hotel Booking for a Cruise Vacation
Differences in Booking Hotels through Cruise Lines or Independently
Aug 20, 2009
Making a hotel booking for a stay before or after a cruise takes some of the stress out of flight delays, delayed luggage and making it to the ship on time. Although the option to have the cruise line make the hotel reservation may practically guarantee a quality accommodation, booking hotels independently allows travellers to find hotel discounts.
Hotel Booking with a Cruise Line
Limited Choice of Hotels – Each cruise line offers only a few hotels in each port of departure, not giving much choice to the passenger. Furthermore, the cruise brochures and online cruise websites give just brief descriptions of each hotel, leaving it up to the passenger to further research to see if the hotel is suitable.
Types of Hotels – These hotels are generally luxury hotels in the best locations with a variety of amenities. Many cruise lines offer one hotel near an airport, one close to the cruise port, and one close to a downtown area. Hotel amenities often include a pool, spa and restaurants.
Hotel Rates – Cruise lines make hotel bookings based on double occupancy and charge each passenger a per person rate. Although the brochure may say $200 for the hotel booking, it actually means $400 for the total room rate for the couple.
Cruise Ship Transfers – Hotel bookings that are made through the cruise line usually have the option of a cruise ship transfer included. Passengers have the opportunity to take the transfer from the hotel to the ship or from the ship to the hotel. There’s normally a cruise line representative in the hotel to facilitate getting to the ship, as well.
Booking Hotels Independently
Unlimited Choice of Hotels – The choice is unlimited when booking hotels independently. Rather than just a handful of accommodations, now the choice involves deciding between possibly hundreds of hotels. Understanding which hotel is best, based on the needs of the passenger, requires some additional research before making a hotel booking.
Types of Hotels – Comparing the hotel bookings offered by the cruise line against the hotel rate with an independent online hotel booking website is one place to start. Get to know which locations would be best such as a hotel near the cruise port, a hotel near the airport or a hotel located downtown.
Hotel Rates – Last minute cruises means needing last minute hotels, with many online hotel booking sites available. Or, make a hotel booking directly with a hotel.
Cruise Ship Transfers – When travelling as a family or group, consider taking a taxi from the hotel to the ship. Adding the per person rate times at least three people will usually equate to the taxi being cheaper versus the cruise ship transfer offered by the cruise line. But, when making a hotel reservation in a hotel that is not one of the cruise line sponsored hotels, don’t expect a cruise line courtesy table either.
Booking a hotel before or after a cruise is the perfect way to enjoy the port of departure, even for North American embarkation ports. Rather than arriving to the ship on the day the cruise, take the time to explore for a couple days prior to the cruise and let lost luggage be found. Deciding whether to book hotels independently or through the cruise line is really up to the needs of the passenger.
 |
