– Finding the Best 2010 Cruise Deals

By Anne Campbell

If you took a cruise this year because fares were too low to pass up, the chances are you’ll be equally tempted in 2010. And in regions with overcapacity such as the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico, cruise prices will remain very enticing indeed.

According to Jeffrey Sherota, Sr. Vice President of Cruises Only, “ in 2010 we’ll see a gradual increase but prices won’t rebound to 2007 levels for a while.” Sherota also believes the shorter booking period – 90 to 110 days versus four to six months – will continue, although some cruise lines are offering early booking incentives.

CHEAPEST CRUISING AREAS

** According to Micky Arison who heads Carnival Corp., in 2010 capacity in the Caribbean will increase by double digit numbers due to the influx of new mega liners such as Carnival Dream and RCI’s Oasis of the seas.

** New York cruisers can expect great prices on 2010 Bermuda cruises because capacity will more than double next year.

** The cheapest prices continue to be Mexico cruises due to the number of high-capacity ships repositioned to this region and lack of itinerary options. Unless you want to cross the Pacific to Hawaii (five days of sea travel), cruisers must settle on taking one itinerary over and over. How Cheap? We’ve seen a few seven-day Mexico cruises starting at $199 per person, double occupancy

Has the frenzied building of newer and larger ships finally caught up with the cruise industry? For the first time the answer to that question appears to be “yes”. That coupled with continuing high unemployment will keep prices down throughout 2010.

Judging by the fact that I found many discounted Caribbean holiday cruises available in the fall, this overcrowded region will continue to be a buyers market. For example, a one-week Crown Princess Christmas cruise has balcony cabins priced at $899 per person, double occupancy.

GETTING THE BEST DEALS EARLY

In 2009, cruisers became ruthless bargain hunters and some waited until the last minute to book, thinking they’d get the lowest prices. And, in some cases they’ve been right. But because it’s almost impossible to operate a cruise line that way, several companies are adding big incentives to book early.

For example, Princess Cruises is offering lowest fares far in advance of departure. Those who book in October will find peak season balcony cabins starting at roughly $125 per person per day. As the inventory decreases, prices will go up. Along the same vain, Norwegian Cruise Line has is running big sales of 2010 voyages in October, such as New York/Bermuda voyages.
Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer “Price Guarantees”.

When you book a Carnival vacation, you have 48 hours from the time you book to find a lower price and your fare will be lowered. Royal Caribbean’s Price Guarantee is better: you have until 72 hours prior to departure to find a lower advertised price so that your fare is reduced.

Jeff Sherota also pointed to a positive trend: sales of travel insurance have grown significantly “because people are concerned about protecting their investment,” he said. He said consumers are very price conscious, comparing the price of a cruise with vacationing at Disney or Las Vegas.

His advice to bargain hunters: “always remember that if you book in advance and fares go down you can adjust your price through the travel agent. You have until final payment, which varies from 60-90 days before departure, depending on the cruise line.”

And, since cruise prices are entirely based on supply and demand, realize that suites (followed by balcony cabins) are the first to sell out so book early if your heart is set on a higher category stateroom.

“The cruise industry thrives in times of adversity, it is extremely resilient. Cruise lines know that if you have a half full ship you have half pay with low morale,” he said.

Copyright Anne Campbell, 2010. All rights reserved

New York Celebrates Its 400th Anniversary

The first person to sail into New York harbor was Henry Hudson aboard the Half Moon in 1609. 

While his visit was less than idyllic — he reported numerous fights with natives, killing, drunkenness, looting and kidnapping – Hudson set the stage for what became one of the greatest ports in the world.  When sailing in and our of my city, passengers silently line the decks as the ship slowly sails beneath the Verazano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty and the towering canyons of Manhattan.  Cruise passengers are continuing a 400-year tradition in the steps of Hudson and the millions of visitors and immigrants who followed him, including our ancestors. 

While the creation of airplane jet engines resulted in the demise of the great liners that plied the transatlantic route between Europe and New York in the first half of the 20^th century, the city is once again a major hub of passenger shipping.   Today you can still dress to the nines and take a Cunard Liner between Southampton and New York (the experience is better than the movies!).

Over a dozen ships sail on regularly-scheduled voyages including three that sail year-round.

After 9/11, when travelers were reluctant to fly, the cruise industry discovered “Homeland Cruising” was a huge magnet to attract new passengers.  In 2002, Norwegian Cruise Line positioned the Norwegian Dawn to sail year-round from New York to the Bahamas and Florida. 

The number of ships and passengers increased to the point that additional berthing facilities were opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey.  Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100+-day circumnavigation of the globe. 

Welcome to the greatest city on earth!  I’ve spent a lifetime traveling to all corners of the globe, visited every continent on earth and strolled the streets of Europe’s sophisticated capital cities. In my opinion none of it holds a candle to New York, my hometown.  Whether a first-time visitor or one who knows this city well, I urge you to extend your cruise vacation and spend time exploring the myriad delights of the Big Apple. 

Diverse experience range from viewing the world’s greatest art to riding a bike around Manhattan, taking an advanced culinary course from master chefs, attending performances by the best in Jazz, dance and every kind of music and paying tribute to thousands who died at Ground Zero. 

While I’ve lived in New York for decades, fascinating new experiences pop up every week.  In the “Best of New York” you’ll find suggestions on sightseeing, hotels, entertainment and shopping.  I’m a typical New Yorker in that I love showing off my city and wish you a visit rich in memorable experiences.

Welcome!

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NCL Adds Second Ship in New York 2010/11

The cruise industry is adding tonnage to the port of New York,  including Norwegian Cruise Line, which will position two cruise ships here over the winter of 2010/11.    Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem, both carrying 2380 passengers, will sail from Manhattan on 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting San Juan; St. Thomas; Antigua; St. Maarten and Tortola. 

NCL will also continue to offer seven-day Bahamas/Florida cruises from New York, stopping in Orlando; NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

Royal Caribbean Enhances Family Cruising Program

Royal Caribbean was already the top cruise line for kids programs but over the past six months, the company has added even more options for families traveling with children. 

Sailing from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ, RCI’s Explorer of the Seas now offers special programs for infants (six to 18 months) and tots (18 months to three years) such as Crayola sessions for tots.  In addition, families traveling with infants can pack much lighter with the “Babies 2 Go” option which allows parents to pre-order diapers, wipes, cream and organic baby food which will be in their stateroom when they board the ship.  Those who opt for the “Sitters at Sea” program can arrange for an RCI staff member to babysit in the cabin (children 12 and above).

The new “My Family Time Dining” is an expedited dinner service for kids so they can return to their play areas earlier.   When the children finish dinner a Royal Caribbean staff member will escort them from the dining room back to their play area.

Explorer of the Seas offers a rock-climbing wall, ice skating, roller blading on deck and the whole family can play through nine holes of miniature golf.  The cruise line offers supervised activities for children by age group:  Aquanauts (ages 3 – 5), Explorers (ages 6 – 8), and Voyagers (ages 9 – 11).   Teens, aged 12 to 17, will find a private “Living Room” hangout, a disco and private areas on deck for sun bathing.

Insurance For Worry-free Cruising

Once in a while a new product or service pops up that is perfect for the times we live in.   Access America is offering travel insurance that, for this cruiser, alleviates all the worrisome reasons for not booking a cruise far in advance.

The new Access America Classic plan includes trip cancellation for practically any eventuality I can imagine.  From loss of a job, financial ruin and the birth or death of a family member to terrorism, illness of a family member and jury duty, the Classic plan is based on the cost of your vacation.  For example, if my cruise is $1000, I’ll pay $85 for the comprehensive plan.

Additional coverage is standard travel insurance fare:  trip interruption or cancellation, baggage loss and delay, missed connections plus getting sick anywhere in the world.  The policy also covers pre-exhisting medical conditions.

The only requriement is that the plan must be purchased at least 14 days before departure.  You can purchase this policy through your travel agent or directly from Access America.

HAL & Celebrity Expand Bermuda Cruises in 2010

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10 Tips For Getting the Best Deals

I’m sure that, like most Americans, you’ve put a hold on spending money on non-essentials. However, sooner or later you’re going to realize that a vacation IS essential: we can put off buying a car for another year but simply must get away from CNN, CNBC and other news sources that tell us how much worse off we are today than yesterday.

Cruise prices are as low as I’ve ever seen them which is one reason cruise lines are reporting recording bookings this year.  Ok, they’re not making money, but ships are going out full.   Add to this a cruise is already one of the best deals around:  your cruise ticket includes accommodations, 24 hours per day of food and entertainment.  Families will find supervised programs for kids — tots to teens — that don’t cost a nickel extra.

Here are a few tips for keeping your wits, saving a wad of money and landing on the ship of your dreams plus keeping onboard costs in check so the vacation doesn’t end up costing a fortune.

*** Never pick a ship based on price alone. Why? Because ending up on a ship that doesn’t suit your interests and lifestyle is no deal at all. After all, your time is more valuable than money and the point of taking a vacation is to have fun! For example, frequently Norwegian Cruise Line’s prices are the lowest. But will you like NCL’s “Freestyle Cruising”? Head for the cruise line’s profile and find out. To help narrow down the selection process I’ve created a short profile of each cruise line. Consult this area before booking.

*** Use a travel agent. There is a huge difference between booking a seat on an airplane and a cabin on a cruise ship. In terms of getting a terrific deal, cruise agents frequently gets deals not advertised to the public. And, you can ask the agent if he/she can get you a better deal. The best way to find a terrific travel agent is through a friend who booked a cruise with an agent he/she highly recommends.

*** One of the easiest and fastest way to learn about discounts is to get them delivered to your mailbox. I recommend signing up for free email newsletters at agencies which offer outstanding service and low prices, such as America’s Vacation Center, Cruise 411, Cruise.com, White Travel and other agencies.

*** When a terrific cruise discount arrives, book it quickly. There are plenty of experienced cruisers also looking for these deals and the best ones go quickly.

** Always buy travel insurance (I recommend Access America and Travel Guard). Chances are your health insurance doesn’t cover you in foreign countries. And, you want to protect against the myriad mishaps that can happen: your luggage doesn’t make the ship, you miss the ship, etc. And, if you’re flying to take a cruise, your flight may be delayed or cancelled and your luggage may go elsewhere…..all covered with travel insurance.

** Ask for a better price. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity never allow their fares to be lowered by a travel agent but with other cruise lines agents may have a bit more flexibility.   So ask if the agent can do better than the published priced.  You never know!

** Plan to keep onboard expenditures in check. While cruise fares are quite low you can run up an enormous tab aboard ship with the Sign & Sail card.  The most common expenditures are alcohol, art auctions, spa treatments, gambling and shore excursions.  In my experience, the only way to keep onboard costs down is to plan ahead.  For example, before I board the ship, I decide I’ll skip the ship’s spa and plan my own activities ashore.  Once I board the ship, however, I automatically shift into “cruise brain stoppage” when I’m incapable of making adult decisions.

If you’re traveling with children, it’s a very good idea to set limits on their spending since the key card that opens the cabin door doubles as a ship credit card.

** Skip the ship’s spa. One company — Steiners of London — operates the onboard spas for every cruise line but one luxury company.   Not only are prices exhorbitant, but in my experience, the quality of treatments is mediocre, certainly not worth the price.  But even worse, in the middle of a treatment, like a relaxing massage, staff members push the spa’s products.  It is beyond irritating.

** Plan your own shore excursions. Cruise line shore excursions are very pricey and in most ports you can arrange your own activities ashore for much less money.  For example:  in Hawaii I decided to rent a car for the day.  The cruise line offered a Budget rental car for $70 per day.  But using the ship’s computers, I booked a Budget car directly on the Internet and paid $30 per day.

Planning your own excursions means you have to do your research before boarding the ship.  Since the cruise line’s shore excursions are found on their web site, see which ones appeal to you and make your own arrangements.  For example, when you arrive in the port of Halifax there is little to do in town and most of the attractions require transportation.  You can purchase a full day motorcoach tour or very easily rent a car and have a great deal more fun.

** Don’t use your cell phone aboard ship. Realizing that too many of us can’t stand being without our tech toys even on vacation,  cruise ships have cyber cafes, cell phone service and wi-fi.    Be prepared for sky-high prices when sending email and making calls while the ship is at sea.   Aboard cruise ships it costs roughly $.75 per minute to connect to the internet using very slow modems.  My advice is to head for a cyber cafe in port where costs are more likely to be $3 per hour.  The crew knows where the nearest cyber cafe is in port so ask them.   If you can’t stand to be separated from your cell phone, call your provider and ask about international costs.   When the ship is at sea, roaming costs can be as high as $4.50 per minute, which you’ll only discover back home when your next bill arrives.   Roaming fees in port will be much lower.

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