So, now that you have a solid understanding of ships, their layout,
life style on board, accommodation and dining you are now in a
position to discuss your plans with a booking agent. Best of all
you are in a position to speak their language. Better yet print
this guide and take it with you for reference!
The Season you choose to travel will affect
the cost of your cruise. The cabin you choose will cost more “in
season” than it will “off-season”. You want
to consider that in making your investment. Is the money you
save by being flexible worth the trade off in timing for you?
If you are looking for seasonal savings consider the following
to be off season or at least shoulder season (just
prior to high season):
Caribbean – September to just prior to
Christmas sailings, first two weeks in January (excluding New
Year cruises)
Alaska – May and September and occasionally
some October sailings
Europe – April, May, September and October
Bermuda – May and September
Canada / New England – no real price
break due to limited sailings
South America or South Pacific - varies by
cruise line and demand.
Keep in mind that there are year round cruises in the Caribbean
but hurricane season is generally from June to November so you
could miss some ports of call or be diverted to others should
the weather turn unfavorable. Pricing during this period should
be to your advantage
The “best” savings due to season will be during
the fall, because September through just prior to Christmas sailings
are essentially a “slow” period for the cruise lines.
Keep in mind that this does not include Thanksgiving week which
will be priced at a premium.
Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Spring Break, and national
holidays where kids are out of school, teachers have breaks,
or summer holidays at drive to ports are prime times for the
cruise lines. Even booking a year out may not result in much
of a saving at holiday time, but at least you will get on board!!
Times of “International Crisis” may
depress demand for cruising and travel in general. If you have
the courage to keep traveling, as many have without incident,
you will discover that cruise lines are offering remarkable deals
to keep their ships full.
NOTE: Most cruise lines make the majority of
their profits from what is called “on board revenue”.
This is the money you spend while on the ship for optional extras.
Examples are alcohol and non-included beverages, gifts, shore
excursions and of course in the casinos. The actual price of
your cruise when the market is depressed for international tension
hardly covers the hard costs of promotion, advertising, sales
and marketing etc.
Before you start shopping, please understand what the components
of cruise pricing are. Some are discountable by the cruise
line, some are not.
CRUISE FARE – the actual fare charged
by the cruise line for passage on the ship. The cruise line has
full flexibility with this fare and discounts are usually from
this component of your cruise cost.
PORT CHARGES, DEPARTURE TAX, CUSTOMS FEES, IMMIGRATION
FEE and OTHER GOVERNMENT FEES – charges levied
on the cruise line for a particular sailing that are non-discountable.
AIR FARE OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS – costs
of getting you to the port of embarkation and disembarkation.
Not usually discounted but often subsidized.
Be very cautious when reading advertising that
states the price starting with the word “from”. Generally,
this refers to the lowest available, least desirable cabin category
(may mean upper and lower bunk beds) and may mean very specific
dates and very specific cabins. So the “From £XXX” may
excite you but as we said earlier “there is no free lunch”.
It is not how much you save – but what you get for what
you pay!
Brochure Rates – rates printed in cruise
line brochures are rarely applicable. Do not be discouraged by
what you see in these glossy, highly sensual marketing pieces.
The important fact is the rates in the brochures are inflated
and are in the same vein as “manufacturer’s suggested
selling price” for automobiles.
The rate in the brochure allows the cruise line to dramatically
lower the price to you by way of announcing a discount of 40/50/60
or even 70% so you assume you are getting the deal of your life.
Baloney – EXCEPT – when you are traveling at the
cruise lines peak periods such as Christmas, New Year’s
or Spring Break but even then you will find Early Booking Discounts
(by a variety of names) may be applicable to the brochure rate.
NOTE: It does happen from time to time that
you will pay a premium close to or at the brochure rate. If the
sailing you are interested in is close to capacity, the cruise
line will raise the fares to increase their yield! I once paid
a high brochure rate because I absolutely wanted to go on the
New Year’ sailing. Had I waited until January 7, I could
take the same ship and same itinerary for 45% less!!!
You will often see promotions labeled as “2 for
1” or “TWO FOR ONE” suggesting
that two of you can go on the same cruise for the fare that
one person would pay. Most often that “2 for 1” refers
to the Brochure Rate, meaning you take the Brochure Rate, divide
it in half and that is what each of you pay. (That does not
include air, taxes or port charges).
The reality is, unless you have picked a high season or high
demand sailing there are fares available to you that will be
much lower. These will be explained later. Our point here is,
challenge the fare by doing your homework. And, as my father
always taught me, there is no such thing as a “free lunch”!
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTS – every cruise
line establishes a discounted fare structure in their brochure.
You will see the “brochure rate” followed by some
equivalent to an early booking incentive.
These EBD’s may have restrictions as to limited time offer
and “book before dates”. It is reasonable to conclude
that this rate is the minimum discount you should expect for
your cruise if you meet the terms and conditions outlined in
the brochure.
AGENCY GROUP SPECIALS
Travel agencies are often given incentives by the cruise line
to block significant amounts of space well in advance of the
sailing dates. The incentives may be in the form of added amenities,
better pricing or both. Consortium and National Accounts of the
cruise line will have very good opportunities for you to save
significant money.
They may not be exactly on the travel dates you want but the
savings for moving your plans by a week or two can be significant.
Notice the saving between a full ocean view cabin and an obstructed
ocean view cabin.
REPEAT PASSENGER SAVINGS PROGRAMS
The majority of cruise lines jealously guard and covet the loyalty
of their past passengers. Each cruise line offers incentives
for their past passengers to remain with the cruise line and
continue cruising on their ships.
Past passenger i savings can mean significant discounts if you
have sailed with that cruise line before.
Always ask if there are past passenger fares available on the
sailing you are interested in (assuming you are a past passenger).
If you are not a past passenger, consider traveling with friends
that have sailed on that cruise line before. Most cruise lines
will “share the wealth” by allowing a past passenger
to book friends and family who have not cruised the line before,
a past passenger fare as well. This may be limited to one or
two extra cabins at a maximum but well worth investigating. On
some sailings past passengers may receive discounts of more than £500
per person!
REGIONAL SPECIALS
From time to time, cruise lines will offer regional specials
based upon geographic areas. You may find an offer which is restricted
as follow:
If you can prove residency in an area where the special is being
offered, you may end up with significant savings. At times when
a cruise line is faced with a yield challenge on their ships
they may look for an area or area where they have not yet sold
much space and then discount the space in that area to gain the
extra business. They usually will not open the the special to
everyone because in certain areas they may have done well and
frankly don’t want the hassle of clients looking for price
changes! The point here is that often regional specials may save
you more than past passenger programs and agency group booking
discounts. Ask your booking agent for the “best available
fares” for the category you are looking for. Be flexible – if
there is a regional promotion the week prior or subsequent to
the week you want to go – change your plan and pocket the
savings.
SENIORS DISCOUNTS
Yes it does pay to get older! Most cruise lines offer additional
discounts (starting about 5% and going much higher) for passengers
age 55 and over. Ask your booking agent if the particular sailing
you are on has a Senior’s Promotion. Compare this price
to any groups, regional specials and/or past passenger specials
to come up with your lowest rate.
