A cruise might sound very appealing to you right about now as you look around your office at the mounds of paperwork that await your attention and review. If you are in need of a break and you feel a sense of longing every time you visit your favorite travel website then why don’t you think about setting sail on a discount cruise?
Cost savvy cruises and vacations are the way to go for anyone who wants to save a few dollars while still enjoying themselves on a much-needed vacation. If it is an affordable vacation that you seek then it is something that you will be able to find with a little bit of effort.
Planning Stage
Your first goal for a discount vacation is the planning stage. Focus your attention on booking the very best deal that you can. When it comes to cruises, timing is of the essence. The very best deals are made well in advance or very late. For example, booking as much as a year ahead will land you a good deal but also waiting until the last minute, such as two to three months before the start of the cruise may also net you a good price.
Most early bookings will need to be planned by way of the cruise line or else through a travel agent. On the other hand, last minute deals are generally to be found over the Internet by big Internet discounters. As a general rule, late bookings can yield low prices if your schedule is flexible enough to accommodate this option.
The stateroom of your choice is paramount to your travel plans. If you do not plan to be spending much time in your room then you can save money on fancy staterooms that offer extras such as verandas. You might even want to go with a stateroom that has no windows to save even more money. All the little extras can really add up to big bucks. Smaller cabins can be just as comfortable and modern as more lavish rooms but they cost a great deal less. Decide what matters most to you and work from there.
Discounts and Specials
Next thing on your travel agenda is to find out the best way to get discounts or specials being offered. As a general guideline the most eligible people for cruise discounts are individuals travelling in a large group; people over the age of 55; people who presently are in the military or who are retired military members; and those who have sailed with the specific cruise line in the past, whether it be once or more than once. Some cruise lines also have discounts for people with children and students.
Not all policies at all cruise lines are the same so do your homework before you settle on the one you wish to take your discount vacation with. Another key point is that off-season sailings can often bring great savings, as can special "repositioning" cruises. For those unfamiliar with these types of cruises, this is when ships travel from one particular locale to another. For example if a ship travelled from South American and then to the Mediterranean or if it went from Alaska and then directly to the Caribbean.
Save Money Onboard
The next important point when it comes to affordable cruises is to be aware of the ways in which you can save as much money as possible once you are onboard the ship. Some cruise lines offer cheap rates for cabins and then expect that the deficit in cost will be recouped by way of all of the little extras that passengers are likely to purchase.
These extras can add up to lots of dollars for the average passenger if they do not watch their budget. Some of these items include casino gambling, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, souvenir pictures, postcards and restaurant meals, etc. One of the most expensive of all extras is the organized excursion to shore when the ship docks at an exotic locale. All of these add-ons are very costly so it is essential that you set a reasonable budget for yourself and then stay on course with it.
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