Who ya gonna call? --
Where do you buy your cruise tickets to get the best price? If you buy from a traditional travel agency, an online mega-seller, or directly from the shipping company? Surprisingly, when it comes to the base fare, it makes no difference. Price variation is dependent for a certain type of discount, promotional, seasonal, past passengers, military, and last-minute reservations about where you buy yourticket. The real variables between booking channels are in the level of service provided during the process and benefits offered. To learn how to read, how the experience while ensuring that you will always get the best value max.
In attempting to determine actual price of the price advertised cruise fares can be almost as crazy as airline sets. Advertised Cruise prices are often misleading and unnecessarily vague. The published prices are always per person in double room.Additional persons occupied the same cabin pay less ... usually much less. Port taxes and other fees are significant and are equal for all, regardless of class and whether the first or fifth person in the cabin. The add-on taxes and charges, if have combined with the base rate, it is known that 20% to 50% of the total "per person, especially in the shorter, already deeply discounted cruises. Keep in mind, including the price all taxes and fees or ask you respect theFine print when you read a brochure. Some cruise lines are the additional fees in the advertised prices, which most do not. Always ask.
As the requirements for discounts --
The most common are seasonal discounts, holiday, military, geographical, passengers, senior citizens, trails positioning, advertising and distressed categories.
Seasonal - Cruising in the Caribbean are typically discounted in the fall. Are Alaska Cruisesat the beginning and cheaper) at the end of the season (May, September and October. The same is true for Europe and the Mediterranean cruises - you avoid the peak months of July and August and you'll probably catch a good deal.
Last Minute - Waiting to book can also lead to a good business, especially if you are ready to depart at short notice because they have no strong preferences on the ship or itinerary.
Military - Tell the agent that you won the Medal of Honor fighting alongside SgtYork at the Battle of Verdun, and you can receive a bonus of 5% to 10% discount.
Be geographically - Sometimes small discounts, where you live, are available - for example in Paris, Texas instead of Paris, Tennessee. (Do not ask why - it is something known only for cruise line executives.)
Passenger numbers - lines are often discounts and / or discounts to loyal customers, depending on the number of previous trips with the respective cruise line.
Seniors - If youover 55 years to ask whether an age-related discount is available.
Promotional Items - This type of discounts and rear their pretty little heads for any number of reasons - again only a few of Cruise Lines executives known.
Positioning cruise - these are necessary, but lesser-known routes required to reach the ship from one seasonal station to another - say, from Miami to Seattle for the Alaska season. These routes are available mostly in spring and autumn, and almostalways offer deep discounts. But be warned - this positioning cruises include long days at sea and fewer ports. This is especially true of the trans-Atlantic positioning cruises.
Category Sales - Another frequent price promotion - a ship may be over-sold in one category and grossly under-sold to another, which to a large discount on the latter.
How can the benefits --
Often it is as simple as the question! If you are working with a travelAgents have the TA-Quiz the cruise line reservations department of any and all available actions and benefits for the driving (s) that interest you. A good, experienced agent will have a long list of possible benefits laundry, for which you might be qualified. Or, if booking directly with the cruise line, you use what you post here, but you play directly on the role of the Grand Inquisitor perk themselves must learn.
People who are with a group of passengers on associatedSailing is automatically the same for a combination of benefits received, such as Category upgrades, on board spending credits, photos, a bottle of wine, private meeting, a free shore excursion, etc.
Tip - Do not know, most would-be cruisers, that you only with the group cruise passenger list - not literally be brought together. Therefore, you must have reserved only one agency or online consolidator of this group space on cruises that your travel dates and adjustDestination, and before you know it you go into City Perk. In addition, if the group is a topic group led by a celebrity, you might find itself temporarily bask in the glory and fame of one of your idols of all time. Imagine the thrill that is part of Simon Cowell Charm School of Cruise - complete with an in-the-tongue lashing Meat and public humiliation of Mr. Warm & Fuzzy yourself!
Many mega-agencies have hundreds of departures available with blocked-out roomTo slip into which they can perk hungry customers.
How do you keep on board the costs low --
Cruises were paid once all-inclusive - one price for everything. Today, the cruise fare can be pale in comparison to the invoice you receive at the end of the cruise. There are so many possibilities additional costs - you need to manage these activities as you go.
On board, you have no need for cash, credit cards or take even your wallet on your person - you will be issued a card with aMagnetic stripe, which is three times the duty, as your room key card to spend on board and boarding pass. You can buy everything on board with this little piece of plastic in your pocket comfortably, alcohol, soft drinks, gift shop items, shore excursions, photographs, spa treatments, artwork, and supplements for alternative restaurant, Internet access, ship to shore phone calls - You can even buy chips for gambling at the casino.
Hint - many ships now allow real-time access to your on-boardExpenditure tab at any time from the Closed Circuit TV in your cabin display a current, up-to-the-minute running total - with entries for each individual. So you can clean in terms of expenditure, if it seems to us to be out of hand. In addition, you can call at the front desk at any time, an element of controversy, if you think that is incorrect or excessive for any reason.
Tiptoe lightly through the minefield of the extra costs --
Alcoholic beverages - Booze is always an additional costrun with prices, what would you expect to pay for similar service in a moderately upscale on-shore subsidiary.
Sodas - price from $ 2 to $ 4 per soda ever buy the ship and cruise line - if you soda a day is best bet for package "unlimited soft drinks" consumed option for the duration of the trip.
Wine - always performed at an additional cost with prices, what would you expect to pay for similar in a moderately upscale on-shore facility - there will be some "freebies" such asat the Captain's Welcome Aboard Party, or a bottle if it is your anniversary.
Specialty Restaurants & Alternative - most have surcharges of $ 15 to $ 40 per person per booking - the average is about $ 30. In our opinion, the price is well worth a night or two - especially if you like, elegant, high-end dining at a level of experience that would have easily cost $ 100 or more per person in a similar upscale landside facility.
Internet Access - Availableon most ships you can purchase a basket of minutes at a fixed price. To save expensive on these prices, minutes, read and write, e-mail offline - then sign only for sending and receiving.
Ship to shore phone calls - forget it! Fees run $ 2 to $ 3 per minute! Now to access the Internet rather than plan - then use Skype from your laptop. Plus, your regular cell phone is at work - especially if you end up departing from a U.S. port and in the vicinity. My Sprint phone is usuallyworks just fine from the deck of the ship, when within 5 or 6 miles from Miami, Ft Lauderdale or U.S. island like St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, etc.
Coffee Bar - Although regular coffee with meals included in the cruise fare will be charged in addition to specialty coffees like espresso and cappuccino - at prices about what you'd expect to pay at Starbucks.
Photos / videos - they are grossly overpriced, but it's an attentive audience, so they get away with it. However, you shouldto go ahead and buy one or two. My wife and I always like to get a stylish shot of us all in our matching pink satin overalls dressed for formal night.
Shore excursions - another big profit center and usually so overpriced - but it is good news, there is now a very reputable and reliable third party options that you can save a lot of money. Shoretrips.com is a good example.
Art auctions - usually on days at sea to insure held a captive audience, these eventsdeliberately to ensure a high level of sacrifice public place, that innocent victim is drawn in from a walk through the smooth, eloquent art auction Barker. You should note down on your hand on your wallet when in the vicinity to keep, as well as your eyes off, humming to himself loudly to drown out the heady sales pitch. It is our personal theory that this pimped Picasso Triggerfish is a factor in the recent spate of suicides by jumping overboard can. But,that only we.
On-Board Shopping - What started years ago to be just a storage room with a Dutch door - only open for business for one or two hours per day - especially for older travelers stock up on essentials such as dental adhesives and preparation H ( sold separately, not to be confused) is now in mega-malls, which transforms a small town rival. And have the offers that come better and better - with volumes lower prices - sometimes even lower than the landsidebecause of the absence of taxes.
Tip: Merchandise is often visited in port on the sale - if the local authorities to open the shutters, while in the harbor - as well as on the last day cruise to the residence permit. If you wait until the sticky tank top that says "I went on the Titanic," you might save a few bucks to buy.
Tipping - This is another aspect of the cruise, which has changed over the years - no butts, no time ... ... required to overturn "Do you prefer to tip if youyou always want to see your luggage again "... so prepaid tips. On cruise day, you can expect to tip - but we prefer to have control over who and how much. So we stuck with the old-fashioned method to obtain . pretended Congressional lobbyists, we'll go around the ship last night by filling out envelopes with cash. However, if you go in comfort - the prepaid route. You can always give a little extra on the side at the end of the cruise .
Gambling --There is a reason why the British blackjack dealer relate to customers in the casino as "punters". For the same reason, our advice is to stay outside! ... Especially if you are simply hypnotized by sounds loud, flashing lights and shiny objects in a circle (NASCAR fans ... you're aware of?)
Tip: Now and be easy to test Lady Luck. If this is the case, set aside a fixed amount of money - an amount you can afford to lose - and if that is gone, casually sipthe last of your drink - but never eat ice cream, nervous, out-of-control ice-eater is known to snow in your pants - then slowly, but humbly, with downcast eyes, reeling off the table, turning pockets inside out. Your dog will still love you.
How to earn a free ride --
It is an open secret that cruise lines to stay a "TC" - or offer a tour conductor berth - for the agencies posting groups. With most cruise lines, the ratio is one free for every fifteenfull-fare paying passengers on the same cruise. The sixteenth person pays only the taxes and fees. (Note that only the first two people occupying a stateroom on the TC have been credited, third and fourth person in the cabin at a discount rate does not count, so you can not stack the deck timpani five people in three cabins each. )
Tip - There are several ways to use for this offer - and most travel agents work with you on this. Give the credit to a guyUse cruiser, to move its own cost of cruising, tell your travel agent that you want the loan is to an overall reduction for the group or as a CEO of bankrupt saved taxpayers money - skip the cruise, which Credit bag as a cash bonus and into your Deluxe Double-wide on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Advantages and disadvantages of booking directly with the Cruise Line --
Pros - If you should know exactly what lines you carry, the shipping company in a position toanswer all your questions in detail and will take your booking directly. You can send a Cruise Line online booking engine access 24 / 7 and do not wait for the travel agency to open up shop.
Cons-The Cruise Line will offer the same price as travel agents - you will not save money on the fare. However, they do not want more than any other cruise line, have your needs - or match lower prices for travel the same route could say. If you look on many of the cruiseLines' own websites for information, the lines are often in touch with you. You can receive weekly phone calls and emails for months or years!
Once you speak with a travel agency, you have to let the agency take care of booking details of the trip, follow-up questions, etc. (although other Related cruise add-ons such as flights, hotels, car hire, travel insurance, shore excursions, etc. even on its own Faust to be treated - or online if you are a "do-it-yourself" and want the agencies to avoid serviceFees.)
If the cruise line know that you have already reserved space by an agency, they are not capable of further information. In such a case, if called directly, the cruise line will refer Stonewall - inexorably back to your travel agent for more information.
Now you are ready to cross - to the max experience while controlling costs. But there's more. Coming soon - Article on getting the best flight, best cabin, maximize on-board experiencesuch as restaurants, activities, entertainment, as well as how to get the best offer for travel insurance (Note: It is usually not the cover offered by the cruise line).
