How to get deals on luxury cruises?

Are you wondering about the ways to save while enjoying a perfect luxury cruise holiday? Here are the Top 19 tips to get deals on luxury cruises.

Tip 1: Consider smart booking

Research to find out the best time to book your cruise. In most cases, luxury cruises offer their best prices early and slowly increase them as ships start selling out. Early booking can therefore be beneficial. On the other hand, in rare cases, the cruise ship might lower its prices at the last minute if there are many unsold cabins. Moreover, avoiding the holiday season can also help you get better deals on luxury cruises.

Tip 2: Search for promotions

It is more difficult for cruisers to get bookings as flights. Therefore, they often rely on extra-value promotions. Many cruise lines occasionally offer free airfares, complimentary shore tours, beverage packages, and exciting discounts. Keeping track of these can help you find the right kind of offers. These are effective for getting good service at a limited price on luxury cruises.

Tip 3: Choose entry-level cabins

Booking an entry-level cabin can help you save a fortune on a cruise vacation. While there are comprehensions related to such cabins, they are not always suffocating windowless rooms. In luxury cruises, these come with proper windows and even balconies at times, with reasonably sized bedrooms. You will receive all the personal services despite paying less than other cabins.

Also Check: What is the most luxurious cruise line?

Tip 4: Consult a travel agent

Travel agents are professional in planning holidays, and they have been doing it for years. They have a better understanding of the right times to book a cruise, their best promotions, lowest prices, etc. Talking to a travel agent will help you learn about the right tips for planning a cruise holiday within a tight budget. Moreover, you might also receive onboard credits from a travel agent as a token of appreciation.

Tip 5: Get the right credit

High-end credit cards like American Express offer cruise benefits. These include onboard credit with exclusive discount offers. As a frequent traveler, you can collect these credits and redeem them to get a solid discount on your cruise holiday. Booking agents can also help you obtain onboard credits, which can often lead to a discount of up to 35%, which is a lot when you are booking a luxury cruise.

Tip 6: Go for included dining options

The range of dining options is one of the biggest attractions of cruise holidays. You can get a comprehensive culinary experience across multiple restaurants and eateries. While most of these can be expensive, you can find free dining options on every luxury cruise ship. Free unlimited buffets are quite common, which allows you to receive free meals on your holiday. You can opt for such included dining options to save money.

Also Read: What is the most luxurious cruise ship today?

Tip 7: Avoid premium options

Luxury cruises offer premium packages with unlimited Wi-Fi options. While it might seem tempting to be able to use the internet during your holiday, it can be expensive. Instead, you can go for a cruise package from your cell provider. Moreover, you can also find cafés and restaurants on-shore that offer free Wi-Fi. There are multiple onboard activities and entertainment options on a cruise ship, which will help you if you choose not to get internet.

Tip 8: Travel during the off-season

The most economical cruises are usually for the times of the year when there is not a tourist rush. Avoid all the summer, holiday, and spring break peak travel. Instead, take a cruise with shoulder pricing (this is just before or just after the peak times) for lower prices and less crowded conditions.

Tip 9: Search repositioning cruises

A repositioning cruise occurs when a ship changes geographic regions within its sailings, typically between seasons. These cruises generally offer much longer itineraries by having fewer destinations or port stops but can be as much as half the normal fare. It's good for those who like a longer time on board, as long as they're happy to plan around the ship's schedule.

Also Read: Top Luxury Cruise Lines for a Special Vacation

Tip 10: Buy as a group

Most cruise lines offer discounts to groups traveling by ship. If you get a network together for family or friends to travel together, there is a greater likelihood of getting cheaper rates or possibly free cabins or onboard credits. Some agents also try to make possible group bookings to provide the maximum amount of discount.

Tip 11: Subscribing to newsletters and alerts

Subscribe to a cruise line's newsletters, travel websites, and deal aggregator sites just so they can send you alerts for special or flash sales or time-sensitive discounts. Almost every cruise line runs a loyalty program with early access to promotional offers among other benefits.

Tip 12: Membership in Loyalty Programs

Cruisers who sail frequently should join a program operated by the cruise line for its loyal patrons. Usually, benefits to members include discounted fares, priority boarding, cabin upgrades, and onboard credits. First-time cruisers can start to benefit since most of these programs do not charge enrollment fees.

Also Read: How much does a luxury cruise vacation package cost?

Tip 13: Package it up

Consider bundling your cruise with airfare, hotel stays, or other travel-related products. Most of the cruise lines have their package deals where travel components are included and sold at very affordable prices compared to purchasing separately.

Tip 14: Flexibility on Itinerary

Being willing to try different destinations, ports of departure, and dates for cruising can greatly reduce costs. Should you be undecided about destination and time, last-minute deals and offers will make for sweet savings on underbooked cruises.

Tip 15: Book your travel online

It provides price comparisons on Pierce, meaning that you get exclusive discounts. Our sites have logging facilities for price drops, multiple comparisons of cruise lines, and the best offers available on our sites.

Also Read: What is the most luxurious cabin on a cruise ship?

Tip 16: Shorter Itineraries

Cruises that go for a much longer time apparently allow passengers more time to relax and explore the areas they visit. Cruise holidays of the short itinerary type such as 3-5 days may be less expensive and still enjoy a luxurious experience. They are best for first-timers or for most of those who travel on a budget.

Tip 17: Hidden inclusions

Sometimes cruise prices include gratuities/shores or spa treatments among their prices. All these together give you a rule of thumb about whether you got a good deal.

Tip 18: Travel with children during promotions

Certain cruise lines announce promotions for families such as free or discounted fares for children who travel with paying adults. So, if you are traveling with them, watch out for such family-centric promotions.

Also Read: What are the best things to do on a luxury cruise?

Tip 19: Negotiate cabin upgrades

If you want to book a standard entry-level cabin, ask for a last-minute upgrade possibility. Some cruise lines will then, if certain premium cabins go unsold, offer upgrades to their clients at lower prices.