Top 10 Tips For Booking A Cruise Holiday
It does of course depend on just what you want from a cruise holiday, as many simply look to book their favourite line or ship to a destination that they know well but if you prefer a more adventurous getaway or if you are looking for something new, there is much more to think about.
If you have cruised before, you will likely have your own system for booking a cruise and whilst this list looks at a lot of the things that we do, it certainly isn’t a perfect system.
Hopefully by reading this list you will pick up a tip or 2 that you add into your system and maybe make the booking process easier and maybe even help you save some money!
Our Top 10 Tips For Booking A Cruise Holiday
Plan Early
Our top tip is to plan early and that is for several reasons.
Cruise lines tend to announce itineraries around 2-3 years in advance, depending on the type of cruise and that gives you plenty of time to look through what is on offer, pick a couple that you like and then you have the flexibility needed to grab bargains, cheap upgrades and get best possible cruise for you at the best possible price.
If you know well in advance the region you want to visit, the lines you like, when you want to sail and how much you want to spend, you are ready to act when the perfect trip crops up and take advantage of any special offers.
Track Prices
This is something that is sadly becoming more and more important if you are looking to grab a bargain as so often when a cruise line announces a discount, it just doesn’t add up.
Some lines are worse than others, but we have seen 50% off offers on an itinerary we are tracking but in all honestly you are only saving nearer to 5-10%.
What we like to do is bookmark a cruise that we are interested in and add the price to title, then we check back in a few weeks or when an offer is announced and we can quickly see if the price has gone up or down.
Sign Up To Cruise Lines Website
Some of the biggest sales are for only a limited time period, with some only been for a few hours over a weekend or during a specific period such as Black Friday.
If you see the cruise you want for the price you want, you need to act quickly and one of the best ways to do that is to already have an account with the line or lines that you are interested in.
If you have sailed with them before you are already set up but if you are looking to book with a new line, you can register an account with their website well before actually booking a cruise.
Be Prepared To Wait
A cruise holiday is something that many of us look forward to for a year or longer from the time of booking but there is always that rush to grab the cabin we want and to get it booked.
That rush can often lead to higher prices and no extras given, so we always recommend waiting to see what comes along.
Of course, that only works if there are lots of cabins available in the area you want but so long as you keep an eye on that, you can see if an offer, price cut or if any special perks are added to your cruise.
Know What You Don’t Want
A lot of these tips cover knowing what you want for your cruise, but it is often just as important that you know what you don’t want.
We all have things that are simply a no go for us when cruising, whether that is a cabin type, a line we have had a bad experience with or a port we don’t want to visit and keeping all of those things in mind can help keep you focussed when booking your cruise.
By using your experience on what doesn’t work for you, it also helps when offers come around and you are sometimes rushed into booking a cruise and saves you from suffering from your mistake when on holiday.
Compare Sources
Not so long ago, to check the price of a cruise holiday at several different sources you would need to pound the high street or spend hours on the phone ringing agents and lines but nowadays, everything you need is just a few clicks away and there is no need not to compare prices and offers.
Whilst we tend to book directly with cruise lines, we always check several travel agents before booking to see what prices they are offering and what added perks are offered.
The same cabin on the same itinerary can vary in cost by quite a lot from one source to another.
Know The True Cost
The cost of a cruise holiday isn’t often the true cost of a cruise holiday.
What we mean by that is when you see the cost of a cruise holiday on a website, there is often many ‘add ons’ to be included in the cost before you come to the final payment.
These things can be relatively minor including the likes of booking fees to card charges but they can soon rack up and include major extra fees.
One big difference can come from just what is included in your fare as one website/agent may include things such as gratuities, drinks and wi-fi whilst some won’t, so whilst one place may have a higher cost you get more for your money and will save in the end.
Remember Deposits
If, like us, you need to save up the money for your next cruise pretty much up to the point where it is time to pay for it, you may think that you have to wait until the last minute to book.
That can often lead to higher prices or on you missing out on the cabin location you want but don’t forget that with the vast majority of cruise lines, you only need to pay a deposit to secure your cabin at the price you want.
Many lines also allow you to get a lower price if a discount is offered after you booked and with some great offers of low deposit amounts offered periodically, you can often book your holiday for only around £50-150 per person.
Read The Small Print
Whilst this is something you should do before booking any type of holiday, or enter into any sort of contract, it is especially pertinent for cruise holidays.
So many of us fly around the world just to start our cruise so you really don’t want to arrive at your departure port and not be allowed on board.
Major issues can often crop up for those who are cruising whilst pregnant as the cut of date is often much earlier than airlines require.
Other things can often catch out cruisers include whether taxes and surcharges are extra or included and also refund, change and cancellation policies that change from line to line.
Use A Specialist Travel Agent
A lot of, if not all, of the tip we feature take some time and effort on your behalf to get the best deal available but if you have a busy lifestyle where you just don’t have the time to do any of these, we recommend using a specialist travel agent.
A general travel agent may have the skills to book you on a beach holiday in the Spanish Costas or a city break to New York, but they are less likely to have the specialised knowledge needed about cruising.
A great travel agent should be able to get you the best deal at the best price, as you can do yourself, but they will take their cut.
