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Thinking of taking a cruise? Here are some money-saving secrets from travel agents and veteran cruisers.
1. Buy early. When Jeff Cooper worked for a cruise line, the best deals didn't come during wave season. They came just before. "The sailings prior to Christmas and New Year's were rarely at capacity," says Cooper, who now works as a hospital administrator. And while the bargains during wave period were good, these were better.
2. Skip the air-inclusive cruise. "Cruise air is usually the worst possible deal," says Amber Blecker, an agent for CruiseResource.com. "You get bad itineraries, multiple connections and higher prices." And, she adds, don't think for a moment the cruise line will wait if your plane is late. "That's a wives' tale," she says.
3. Find a preferred agent. There are travel agents, and then there are travel agents. "Find one that specializes in booking with your desired cruise line," advises Charles McCool, a consultant who specializes in finding travel deals. "Only a select few have preferred status. These agents and agencies offer better discounts and amenities, and the cruises cost between 10 percent and 20 percent less than cruises bought from other agents."
4. Think small, think shoulder-season. Crystal Griffith, a nurse from Baker, Fla., scored a deep discount on her Alaska cruise by choosing a September itinerary and picking a windowless inside cabin. "We rarely spent much time in the cabin, and use it mainly for sleeping," she says. "It saved us lots of money."
5. Become a shareholder. "If you buy 100 shares of Carnival or Royal Caribbean stock, you'll get between $50 and $200 of free cabin credit on every cruise," says George Smart, a consultant in Research Triangle Park, N.C. NOTE: Carnival and Royal Caribbean own most of the cruise lines out there, so this is a pretty decent deal.
6. Ask about discounts. One of the most popular is the military discount. Some cruise lines insist on either active-duty status or evidence of a long career. But not all. "Carnival Cruise line will sell their military rate to anyone who has served for two years," says Liz Lamagese, a Tampa, Fla.-based travel agent. "As long as you have your separation papers to fax them, you can get very low rates on most of their cruises."
7. Private tours can save you big money. That's what Jerry Rothstein, a New York investment consultant, discovered on a recent cruise to the Greek islands. "We quickly figured out that for six people, we'd be better off having a private arrangement for shore excursions," he says. Now he regularly runs Internet searches to find less costly tours for groups that are "more intimate" and cost less than those offered by the cruise line.
8. Become a frequent cruiser. Evelyn Fine, a market researcher based in Daytona Beach, Fla., has found that loyalty pays. Cruise lines offer her everything from discounts to special on-board perks, like VIP receptions and priority dinner reservations. "Becoming a loyal customer is worth it," she says.
9. For a free upgrade, tell them you're a VIP. Actually, get your travel agent to tell them you're a VIP, says Royce Jones, a Jackson, Miss., furniture manufacturers representative. "My agent tells the cruise line I'm one of her best customers, and that if I like the trip, I'll return again in the future," he says. "And then she asks for an upgrade. It works most of the time."
10. Don't get on the bus. "One of the best ways to save money on a cruise is to not take the provided transportation that meets you at the dock," says Michael Berger, an information systems consultant in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. "They usually cost more or end up taking you to their uncle's store to get a discount." Instead, he recommends walking a block or two away from the dock and finding a local transportation option. It's cheaper, and you're less likely to fall for a tourist trap.
11. Get a soda sticker. If you like bubbly drinks, buy the soda sticker for the cruise if your cruise line sells one. On Princess, for example, $29.50 gives you unlimited soda—something Tom Kinsella Woodbridge, Va., software manager, discovered on his last cruise. "And bring your own large soda mug. Ours is 64 ounces, and they'll fill it any time you need it filled. That way, you're not stuck with their small glasses."
12. Or try these two booze tricks. TIP NO. 1: Bring your own wine and pay a corking fee at dinner. "It's still cheaper than the roughly $30 low-end wines offered by the cruise line," says Kirsten Taylor, an information technology manager in Feeding Hills, Mass. TIP NO. 2: If you prefer hard liquor, try emptying a water bottle and replacing it with your favorite vodka or gin. "No one will notice," says David Tuder, a banker from New York.
13. Buy your next cruise ... on your cruise. "The cruise line will offer special deals available only onboard, with much lower base prices than you'd find off the ship," says Kevin Harris, a hotel owner from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "And when you book with the onboard person, you usually receive higher onboard credits to spend anywhere on the ship."
This season, you don't have to be swamped with higher cruise prices and unexpected surcharges. Just take a few tips from people who are in the know, and you'll save a few bucks and have a better cruise.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/tra ... 98619.html |
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