How to Save on Your Next Cruise Vacation

Cruise vacations are no longer for retired folk.  Today's cruises have "rock"-climbing walls, surfing simulators, and even full ice-skating rinks on board.  A cruise is also an ideal way to visit more than one place on your vacation without the hassle of packing and  unpacking and checking in and out of hotels.

Cruises: An Affordable Vacation

Cruises are also a good value.  When compared to similar all-inclusive resorts, cruises almost always are less expensive.  Generally, everything is included in one price: airfare, accommodations, transportation to and from the ship, meals, entertainment, and sometimes even tips and selected shore excursions.  If you're savvy, you can even save more on the cost of your cruise.  Consider these suggestions:

• Book Early.  Contrary to popular believe, the best cruise fares generally go to those who book well in advance. Cruises generally  are available to book from 18 to 15 months in advance.  Just like the airlines, cruise companies like to know that they have a large portion of the ship sold well in advance and offer discounts to those who book early.  When the discounted alotment is sold, the price increases.  Another advantage to booking early is to get the cabin you desire.  The most popular cabins--those with balconies and the least expensive cabins--simply aren't available if you wait until the last moment.
• Be Loyal. Again like airlines, most cruise companies reward their repeat guests with perks ranging from complimentary cocktail parties to free cruises.  In addition, many lines offer an extra discount to past passengers.  
• Cruise Off-Season. Everyone wants to sail the Caribbean over Christmas and New Year's Eve, but how many think about cruising the first two weeks of December?  Ships that depart those weeks and the first week of January are, traditionally, the lowest-priced Caribbean cruises of the year.  Similar off-season savings are available on cruises to other parts of the world.  Try May or September for an Alaska cruise or September and October for a Mediterranean sailing.
• Consider a Repositioning Cruise. Repositioning cruises are those sailings that take the ship from one part of the world to another.  For instance, a ship may spend the summer sailing the Baltic Sea in Europe and the winter in the Caribbean.  The voyages that take the ship back and forth to Europe are the repositioning cruises.  Unlike traditional sailings, respositioning cruises generally include several days at sea and call at ports not on any of the other itineraries.  These one-of-a-kind sailings also tend to be less expensive that a mid-season voyage of the same length.

So, don't be afraid of planning a cruise vacation.  It can be one of the most memorable--and affordable--vacations you can take.

Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Sandy worked for over 15 years, selling cruises, escorting cruise groups, and teaching cruises classes.

(photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)