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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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Video Library

Videos of New York cruise ships and destinations.  Get in the mood with the theme from Love Boat then explore cruise ships and destinations like Bermuda, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Canada/New England and Europe.

Cruise News & Bargains

New itineraries, ship enhancements and cruise line promotions and other news about the ships sailing from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ.  Plus editor Anne Campbell picks some of the top bargains around.

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