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Ever considered taking a cruise for the New Year? Here’s why this is one of the best times to go. Granted, a cruise vacation can be pricey but when you consider what you get for your money and all the individual things, such as shows, shopping, traveling to not just one locale for your money, but four, five, or more, plus all the onboard activities in one place, it can be economical in terms of what it would cost for each of these bought separately.
Of course, there are some things you can do to manage the cost. The pricing on cruises changes more frequently than you might imagine and so it definitely can pay off to be vigilant, even though it can mean a little more work than just hopping online or making a phone call to your travel agent but you can end up paying hundreds less than even the folks in the next cabin.
You can save while at sea by booking your next cruise before even returning from your current one. Cruise lines are always looking for repeat business and reward frequent passengers with onboard discounts, credits, and booking discounts. The more you sail the better your savings but even first-time cruisers can save on their next trip. There are some reasons you may be hesitant to book a future cruise while still onboard. Perhaps you are unsure of what future commitments might interfere with your booking date, fear losing incentives from your travel agent, or losing money should you be unable to go at all; however, most cruise lines allow you to transfer your booking to your travel agent, change your dates or even cancel without penalty when you book onboard.
Even if you book onboard, you can still be eligible to take advantage of future sales and specials that most lines run certain times of the year, like January, and can be combined with the perks of booking onboard. Many travel agencies offer perks for repeat customers; therefore, booking onboard could lose you those perks but most cruise lines will allow you to transfer your booking to be able to take advantage of any benefits from going through your a gent. Remember, cruise lines want you to sail with them again and they are going to do their best to make it as attractive to you as they can.
No one likes to make a purchase only to find out later that they missed a good deal elsewhere so you may be worried that booking in advance may cause you to lose out on a better deal later; however, most cruise lines will allow you to take advantage of a lower price up until your final payment. Usually, travel agents will monitor prices for you and alert you of any price drop, some of which last only a few hours so having help in this area helps you save as much money as you can on your vacation.
Another way to save money is to book during the offseason. One example is to book a Caribbean cruise between September and February – excluding holiday weeks, for a lower rate; you can also find bargains during April and May. Fall is hurricane season and also the reason rates are excellent during this time and while it is true that cancellations can occur, which is why travel insurance is a must-have, most of the time you are probably looking at an itinerary change at best so if you are flexible about your ports of call, you have little to worry about and plenty to save. Winter seas can be a bit rougher than earlier in the year, so you may find some ports inaccessible, so keep in mind you might miss a stop during this time of year.
No matter when you travel, when leaving from the popular cruise ports in Florida, parking at the terminal can take a chunk out of your souvenir, drink, and casino funds; therefore, it is prudent and frugal to look at off-site parking at Safe Cruise Parking whether you need port Miami parking, Everglades port parking, or some other location for secure lots and free shuttle transportation directly to your cruise terminal. Happy sailing!
