How to Save Money When Booking a Cruise

Cruising is one of the best vacation values out there, with your room, several free restaurant choices and oodles of daytime and evening entertainment included in the cruise fare. But that doesn’t mean the per-person ticket price is always cheap. If you’re a bargain hunter, there’s always room to knock a few extra bucks off the cost of your cruise vacation.

Here are five tips for saving money when booking your next cruise:

1. If You Can, Wait to Book
The money-saving truth is that the best prices often come with bookings made close to the sail date (anywhere from six to three weeks before departure). If you have the flexibility to make last-minute plans, you can almost always snag a great price by waiting; however, you will have to settle for whatever cabins are left. Great last-minute deals are especially easy to find if you choose to sail during a slower travel time or hurricane season in the Caribbean. Not only do the base fares start off lower, but the cruise line may continue to drop prices in order to fill the ship as sailing dates get closer.

If you must have a balcony or suite (or another specific room configuration), or if you plan on cruising during peak seasons (usually late June to mid-August for most destinations and the Christmas/New Year’s holiday season), then you will want to book early to lock in the best price for the cabins you require.

2. Follow Cruise Pricing, Watch for Sales
The cruise industry is awash in sales, but not all promotions result in big savings off your cruise fare. Short-term promotions (especially those closest to sail dates) can net decent savings, but beware of other sales that promise upwards of 50 percent off. In reality, the savings are based on the “brochure price” that no one actually pays or fares that were bumped up just before the sale. The best way to ensure a sale is on the up-and-up is to monitor cruise prices over a period of several weeks. If you know what the price has been averaging, you’ll know if the offer is any good or not.

The best offers often come from sales that add value to your cruise experience through onboard credit, dining or beverage packages, or included gratuities. Email newsletters are the best medium for finding these deals, both those sent directly from the cruise line and those from travel agencies. Cruise Critic’s Price Drop tool highlights cruises discounted within the past week, and travelers can sign up for email alerts based on specific cruise criteria.

3. Cruise Close to Home
You might be surprised by the number of U.S. cities you can cruise from. Ships sail from New York, Boston, Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Galveston and Houston, among others, on a seasonal or year-round basis. And don’t forget Florida, which has ships sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and Port Canaveral (near Orlando). Because so many cities have cruise ports, the vast majority of folks in the United States can drive less than five hours to get to a port, no flight needed. And without the cost of an air ticket, your cruise to regions like the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada and New England, and Alaska suddenly gets a little bit less expensive.

4. Upgrade to a Luxury Cruise
This savings tip doesn’t work for everyone, but if you’re someone who splurges on upper-tier suites on mainstream and premium cruise lines or who pays for specialty dining, drinks and other extras, you might actually be better served by switching to a luxury cruise line. While base prices and cabin sizes for a suite tend to be similar, a luxury cruise will also include wine, some Internet, specialty restaurants and gratuities, among other items you’d pay extra for on a mainstream or premium line.

5. Book Your Next Cruise Onboard
Booking your next cruise onboard doesn’t necessarily save you money on the actual cost of your next sailing, but it usually provides some extra onboard spending money, as well as a reduction in the required deposit amount. Many cruise lines don’t require you to pick your actual sailing date and cruise ship; instead you purchase a future cruise credit, which can then be applied to your next booking and comes with anywhere from $25 to $100 (or more) in onboard credit, typically for use on that future sailing.

For more information on saving on your cruise, visit Cruise Critic’s guide to Saving Money on a Cruise Vacation.

–By Dori Saltzman, Cruise Critic Editor

Air Arabia debuted in 2003 as the first low-cost carrier to service the Middle East and Northern Africa, and seven years later, remains the area’s leading budget airline – despite newcomers’ attempts to pilfer away budget-minded flyers. Air Arabia has stayed true to its slogan, “Pay Less Fly More,” keeping fares low while still providing the safe and streamlined service that it’s become so reputed for. The minds behind the award-winning company continue to brainstorm new ways to keep ahead of other budget airlines – their latest project, announced in June, will amp up service even more with a fourth hub in Amman, Jordan, offering direct flights to Europe, North Africa, and Asia]. Outside the airspace, in November 2010 the brand plans to debut its budget-friendly, 300-room Air Arabia Centro Hotel at Sharjah Airport, featuring an eatery, pool, and business center.
Throughout its 32 years of service, this doyen of the budget carriers has enjoyed numerous accolades for its high standards of service, and in 2010 took home its sixth Skytrax “World Airline Award” in the best budget airline category (in 2008 it also earned “Best Cabin Crew” accolades). Little wonder, given Air Berlin’s stance on not nickel-and-diming its passengers; offering complimentary snacks, beverages, and newspapers on-board; as well as flexible booking options that allow customers to modify flights sans the exorbitant, industry-standard change fees. For cutting-edge convenience, the MMS (Multimedia Message Service) program permits flyers to reserve a seat, check in, and have their boarding pass sent directly to their mobile phone. The airline also scores points in the family department – while many budget airlines leave parents feeling like they should apologize for flying with their little ones, this carrier makes a family’s flight more enjoyable with amenities like cots for infants, baby bags (filled with a bottle, bib, and nappy), toys, and special childrens’ dining menus – not to mention the reduced rates for children under 12.
Born of the leading Brazilian highway transportation group, Grupo Aurea, back in ’01, GOL has quickly evolved into Brazil’s second-largest airline, offering up some fierce competition to current lead contender, TAM. Its modernized Boeing fleet (which operates at speeds that are 12 percent faster than similar competitor models) and super-low fare policy, has coupled well with on-board niceties like a nutritious snack menu and a smartly dressed staff (two of Brazil’s most famous stylists, Gloria Coelho and Ricardo Almeida, designed the uniforms). What’s more, GOL has branched out for an expanding international presence, most recently in July announcing a frequent-flyer agreement with Delta that’s sure to put GOL more squarely on the radar of an American clientele.
When JetBlue first took to the skies in 2000, it was a tiny two-line carrier connecting New York City to Buffalo and Fort Lauderdale. Ten years later, the airline’s vast network and stellar reputation (it’s held the highest ranking among low-cost carriers for customer satisfaction by JD Power Associates for five straight years) have exploded on the aviation scene. Its on-board technology is what has really set JetBlue ahead of other budget airlines, with seat-back personal entertainment units that include 36 channels of DIRECTV, XM radio, and pay-per-view movies. What’s more, JetBlue was the first U.S. airline (back in December of ’07) to offer free in-flight e-mail and messaging for Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and BlackBerrys – a perk cherished (at long last) by both business and leisure travelers.
Awards have been jetting towards this Australian budget airline, including its 2009 ranking as the top Australia and New Zealand carrier in the coveted Skytrax’s “Best Low-Cost Airline” category. Launched in 2004, the carrier’s domestic and international services stretch the globe, but not your wallet, with low fares that have been known to tumble below rates of $5 one-way (not including taxes and fees). In fact, the airline – along with sister carriers Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Pacific, all of which parent company Qantas has stakes in – is so confident in its rates, that they’ve put a price-beat guarantee into place for routes to and from Singapore (and other cities) that will beat any competitor airline’s rates by 10 percent. Unlike many budget airlines, Jetstar Airways also offers upgrades to StarClass on international flights, a premium seating area that’s inclusive of food, drinks, and entertainment.
Part of the namesake Indian beer empire, Kingfisher launched in 2005, emerging among a new crop of privately-owned Indian airlines that offer great service, decent food, and clean, modern planes at reasonable prices – others include SpiceJet and IndiGo; another, Jet Airways, is priced higher. Primarily serving India’s rapidly growing and increasingly mobile middle class, these airlines have also transformed the average visitor’s India experience, largely removing those tediously slow, if romantic, train journeys from the equation. What’s more, Kingfisher finalized a contract with OneWorld in June, linking the airline to both American Airlines’ and British Airways’ frequent-flyer programs. Despite some financial problems (nothing new among budget airlines), Kingfisher continues to promise passengers the “royal treatment,” offering on-demand entertainment in its red leather seats (though not in its low-fare class), complimentary gourmet Indian dishes, and a choice between business, economy, or low-fare class seating (on its domestic routes).
If you ever hear a flight attendant tell passengers that if they “don’t know how to operate a seat belt, then you probably shouldn’t be allowed in public unsupervised,” you’re most likely flying Kulula Air. The Johannesburg-based airline is known for its sense of humor, along with its affordable rates. Started in 2001, Kulula Air has brought budget air travel to South Africa and beyond on the African continent. Named for a Zulu (the largest South African ethnic group) word meaning “light, easy, and simple,” Kulula offers a full service of straightforward travel options, including car rentals, adventure outings, and even cellular phone packages. Tip: It has been rumored that wearing green onto the wildly decorated green and blue planes will get you a free Kit Kat from the comedian attendants on board (a fun perk compared to many budget airlines).
Taking speed from the road to the sky, former Formula One race-car driver Niki Lauda founded quirky discount airline NIKI in 2003. Rather than cutting luxury to conserve cost, NIKI relies on quality patron perks to keep bookings booming (it seems to have worked – profits rose by 75 percent between 2008 and 2009, and NIKI added flights to six European cities to its roster in 2010). Extras include complimentary in-flight snacks that forgo the peanuts in favor of hearty sandwiches, plus entertainment options like free magazines, newspapers, TV shows, movies, and radio stations. If you’d like to spend some of the money you saved on the cheap flight, indulge in their on-board store (which hocks everything from earphones to Frisbees to Swarovski jewelry). Or, eat like royalty and upgrade your food to gourmet Demel (think minced veal or yellow chicken curry – a major upgrade from budget airlines’ usual staples), purveyor to the Habsburg court in Vienna.
Experience Porter (established in 2006) at its prime by flying one of its classy planes out of Toronto, its hub city and the site of a sleek departure lounge touting comfy chairs–perfect for unwinding airport stress. If you’d like to stay up and alert, indulge in a complimentary self-serve latte in a heated mug, or opt to get some work done at the business center, where passengers can surf the web with free wireless Internet. In-flight is truly refined: Sip a complimentary glass of beer or wine, stretch out with lots of legroom in the two seat-only configurations (no chance of being the cramped middleman), and enjoy it all in peace and quiet (aircrafts feature a noise and vibration suppression system to dull that flying buzz). Bonus features for those who can’t commit or have busy travel schedules (and more proof that Porter is decidedly atypical among budget airlines): Passengers may purchase their tickets in bulk with a pre-paid “Porter Pass” of up to 100 one-way trips, or opt for a “Freedom Fare,” which allows free flight changes all the way to the day you take off.
Aboard Virgin America, innovation, aesthetics, and comfort blend seamlessly for a flight that will make you feel like a VIP whether or not you splurge for premium seating. Its ambition to “bring great service back to the skies” has inspired a forward-thinking business strategy invested in style, entertainment, and relaxation, as well as the maintenance of attractively low fares. In-flight absinthe sales and a new frequent-flyer mile link with trendy hotel chain Joie de Vivre ups the cool quotient even more, but passengers need only turn on the TV to know that this is a different kind of affordable airline: The CW’s “Fly Girls” reality show (which aired in early 2010) chronicled the lives of five Virgin America flight attendants. Onboard, indigo and violet mood lighting changes throughout the flight, responding to the time of day to help passengers relax. Expect live satellite television, 20 new pay-per-view blockbusters, more than 3,000 MP3s (plus radio and audiobooks), in-flight food ordering, gaming, and a chat function that enables seat-to-seat conversations.

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia.

How to Save Money When Booking a Cruise

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