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CONSIDER A
REPOSITIONING CRUISE
Typical repositioning cruises go between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean,
or from Alaska in the fall to the California coast or to Baja for the winter.
Repositioning cruises are sometimes half the cost of the same number of days
when they get to their destination, but they have more days at sea and fewer
ports of call.
DO A NEW ITINERARY
OR AN INAUGURAL CRUISE
These cruises often have special introductory rates. However, if you take an
inaugural cruise on a new ship, don't expect everything to be perfect. Some
problems are inevitable as the kinks are worked out.
PUT
TOGETHER A GROUP
Groups that travel together save together. If you put together a group from
your church or club or school or even a family reunion, we can get you a
group fare. Usually if there are 15 or more, you can get a free extra
ticket.
CONSIDER AN
INSIDE STATEROOM
To some people, a view is important. But to others the cabin is only a place
for sleeping and changing clothes, and they would rather give up the window
and keep the money. If you like to sleep late, having an inside cabin will
prevent early morning sunshine from waking you. But you won't have a view or
know what the weather is.
HAVE THREE
OR FOUR IN A CABIN
Third or fourth persons (or children) go at a substantial discount,
sometimes free. Then everyone shares the cost, and the savings. Make sure
you get along -- it can be excruciatingly crowded.
BE FLEXIBLE – TAKE
A ‘GUARANTEE’
If the ship is sold out of the cabin category that you want, you can confirm
your booking and the cruise line gives you a guarantee to provide a cabin in
that category or one higher, but you don't know where the cabin will be.
GO STANDBY
With a standby reservation, you are called at the last minute if there is a
cancellation. But be careful of expensive last-minute air fare. Standby
bookings work well when you live near a city where cruises originate, then
you can make fast plans and not have to deal with air.
BECOME A
REPEAT PASSENGER
Cruise lines usually give a special discount to past passengers. Or they may
give upgrades in cabin category. If you've sailed on a cruise line
previously, always tell that when you ask for a quote or make a reservation.
CHECK FOR
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Watch ads and newsletters for promotional specials on both small ships and
big ships. There may be a two-for-one offer, kids free, or 50 percent off
for the second passenger.
SPECIAL
OCCASION
Tell when you book if you are celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary or a
family reunion on the cruise, and you we can sometimes get you an extra
discount.
ADDED VALUE
Sometimes instead of offering a cheaper fare, a cruise line will offer free
days at a hotel at a port before or after a cruise, or will offer additional
days of cruising for a discounted rate. Example: "Book three months early
and get a free hotel room in Vancouver." Sometimes a cruise line will offer
credits you can use in shipboard shops or casinos.
CABIN
UPGRADES FOR SPECIAL REASONS
Some lines offer an upgrade in cabin category if you are a repeat passenger,
on a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, are retiring, recovering from an
illness, or you brought other passengers on board. When you book tell if you
have a special circumstance and try to get you an upgrade.
FREQUENT-FLIER
MILES
Sometimes cruise lines offer frequent-flier miles on some of their voyages.
BOOK BACK-TO-BACK
If you arrange to stay on the ship for a second cruise, on many ships we can
get you the second week at a greatly reduced rate.
FLAT-RATE
SPECIALS
The way that this works is that you tell the cruise line the cabin category
of your choice, but you won't get a specific stateroom designation until a
week or so before sailing. You get the best available cabin at that time.
This is also called "tba" (to be assigned).
SENIOR
CITIZEN SPECIALS
Some cruise lines have discounts for persons over age 55 or 65. Sometimes if
a senior citizen is traveling with a younger person, a discount will apply
to both fares. If you are a senior, be sure to mention it when you ask about
a price.
WATCH AIR
FARES
There are ways to save on air fare too. Sometimes the cruise/air package is
cheaper; sometimes booking air separately is cheaper. If you don't need air
because your departure port is nearby, you can get a credit on the airfare
if it is built into a package price. Plan as far ahead as possible to get
the lowest-priced tickets. You might be eligible for a senior discount, or
if going with a companion, you can buy a four-coupon packet with many
airlines.
HOTELS AND
CAR RENTALS
Cruise lines often have pre or post-cruise packages that are reasonably
priced that can be arranged for at the same time you book your cruise. As
you plan your total vacation and what you will do at the beginning and end
of the cruise, tell the agent your plans and they can check what the cruise
line has to offer compared to what they can get for you directly with a
hotel at their promotional rate.
COMPARE CRUISE
LINES
Different ships often go to the same destinations. Investigate about the
ships and cruises that go to that destination. Compare itineraries,
accommodations, educational programs, shore excursions and fares. Some
cruise lines have cabins for singles with no single supplement. By comparing,
you may find a cruise that offers all you want and has a wonderfully cheaper
fare. (Be sure when you compare fares that you know whether shore excursions
and port charges are included or not.) Check with an agent because cruise
lines send notices to agencies when there are special deals and make sure
your agent always checks for any new special offerings.
CHECK
NEWSLETTERS AND WEBSITES
At smallshipcruises.com, for example, we have a front-page column that will
give you latest discounts and special offerings on ships.
LET PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
If you tell your agent the ships and the destinations you are most
interested in, and when in the future you might want to book, they will tell
you when any discounts become available. You can also subscribe to cruise
newsletters from website informatin centers, agencies, and cruiselines
themselvles to get cruise news and specials. They will never charge a fee
for getting a quote for you or booking your cruise and they may know of a
special offering that you would not otherwise know about. But remember, the
most important thing of all is to not book a cruise just because of its
price, but to find a cruise that best fits your needs and desires.
http://www.SmallShipCruises.com
Article
Source:
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