3 Cruise Lines That Offer Discounts for Feds
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Cruises offer one of the best vacation values. After all, a cruise lets you visit several locations while paying for one lodging spot and travel fees in one fell swoop. Even better, you don’t have to pack and unpack several times as you change ports.
Federal workers can get help picking out cruises with the best values and destinations, during both the prime season and off-season.
If you’re searching for the best available cruise deals at any time, FedCruise.com is a great resource for federal employee cruise discounts. This website allows you to save big on your dream cruise — whether that’s an ocean or river cruise. They can also help you choose the perfect cruise and book it for you if you prefer.
Here are three cruise lines that provide extra discounts for federal workers:
MSC Cruise Line
Don’t let the name fool you, the Mediterranean Shipping Company cruise line offers trips all over the world. Sail to Cuba, Alaska, the Caribbean, southern Europe, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more. Any of these trips will cross off locations from your bucket list, and booking in advance can help you net some great deals.
On top of that, MSC offers discounts of up to 10% for active and retired U.S. and Canadian government employees as well as their spouses, parents, parents-in-law and dependent children. 10% off is applicable on balcony, suites and staterooms; 5% discount is applicable on interior and ocean view staterooms.
Call your travel agent or MSC Cruises to book. Federal workers can also sail with their kids for free: children 11 and under sail free as 3rd/4th guest in same stateroom with two full fare paying adults.
MSC’s federal specials save you money, which makes your time on and off the water even better.
Royal Caribbean International
If you’re thinking of sticking close to the Caribbean or even want to explore the American coastlines, Royal Caribbean International can take you there. Royal Caribbean offers cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Cuba, Bermuda, Canada and New England, Transatlantic, and even to Australia and New Zealand.
The cruise line allows kids to sail free on some cruises when booked early, so that can be your best bet for sailing with your family, especially if there are a lot of children coming along for the ride.
All federal employees can receive up to $150 onboard spending money for drinks and other extras on certain cruises. Senior federal workers age 55 and older can also get special per person rates, which can help reduce the overall cost of the trip and make for a fantastic retirement adventure.
AmaWaterways
If the ocean doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always the option of taking a river cruise. AmaWaterways specializes in these types of trips, letting you explore rivers around the world. Some of their trips include Nuremberg and Amsterdam; Portugal and Spain; Arles and Lyon; Paris and Normandy; and more.
AmaWaterways also has several specialty cruises that follow specific themes. The cruise line offers specialty wine itineraries that travel along rivers and stop at several European wine regions. Cruisers get to sample different wines, making this a perfect vacation for wine lovers. They also offer Christmas market cruises, which let you explore traditional shopping locations during the holiday season.
Federal workers can save as much as $750 per person on both wine and Christmas market cruises. In addition, they can receive up to $500 in onboard spending money, making for an even more luxurious river cruise experience.
Other Cruise Lines with Federal Discounts
In addition to these cruise lines, it’s also possible to find federal discounts from other companies, including:
- Azamara
- Crystal
- Cunard
- Oceania
- Regent
- Viking River Cruises
- Uniworld
Exact discounts will depend on available deals, time of year, and other factors, so be sure to continually check up on the best deals for your preferred trip. The more money you save when you book, the more funds you have to thoroughly enjoy the rest of your vacation time, both on the ship and in port.
Where Else to Look for Cruise Discounts
The federal discounts above are great, but there are other opportunities to find cruise bargains when you book with certain travel sites. Here are some good options for finding cruise deals:
Expedia
This is a staple in travel booking, Expedia allows you to get a great price and find bonuses for onboard credits and other extras when you use a specific credit card for your purchase or book by a certain date. The site also has a cruise tip calculator to help you better prepare for any additional onboard expenses.
CruiseDirect.com
Unlike other travel sites, which give you travel options for any type of trip, CruiseDirect.com specializes in cruise destinations and bookings. The site always has ongoing discounts and specials, plus you can sign up for their deals via a mailing list. Best of all: When you book with CruiseDirect.com, you don’t have to pay a booking fee.
Travelocity
If you think you may need to change your travel plans or even cancel a booking, Travelocity lets you book without having to worry about cancelation fees, which is a reassuring feature. The site also provide discounts if you happen to find a lower price for your cruise after booking, and the site has many different cruise options from which to choose.
Hotels
To save even more on your trip, you can search for hotel discounts, especially if your trip involves flying overseas to reach your port. Depending on where you book, you may even be able to get additional discounts for reserving your cruise and hotel from the same place. Many hotel chains also offer federal discounts, such as Marriot, Starwood, Hyatt, Best Western, IHG Hotels, Hilton, and Choice Hotels. Shop around and get the best possible deal on your trip.
Whether you want to go on one cruise or several, taking advantage of federal discounts is a great way to get a bargain on your vacation. So look over these options, pick your preferred destination, and happy sailing!
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