The overriding idea that most people have of cruises is that they are expensive, often prohibitively so. But while that may be the case for some cruises, there are just as many (and probably more, in fact) where the price is not as high as you think, especially if you put the following tips for booking a cheap cruise into practice. Follow our guide and you may well find yourself all at sea (in the best possible way!) sooner than you think.
Last Call
Book your cruise at “last call” to snag a great deal before passenger lists are submitted to authorities. Last call marks your final booking chance—don’t miss it
Last call timing varies by cruise line, so research your destination and cruise company before booking. Some last-minute calls occur just 30 days before sailing; others close bookings up to 120 days in advance. At last call, cruise lines assess available cabins and may drop prices sharply to boost bookings.
Travel Time
Just as important as knowing when to book the lowest-cost cruise is knowing when to travel. At peak times, such as Christmas and New Year’s, there will be far fewer spare cabins, and prices may not drop significantly, if at all. For the best deals, try cruising during the off-peak season instead. For the Mediterranean, that’s between October and April (excluding Christmas and New Year).
Define What You Want, Then Compromise
What is it that you really want from a cruise? Where do you most want to see? Narrowing these things down to must-haves and would-be nice-to-haves will help hone your choices, so be prepared to make compromises. There will be things that you can’t do without, such as accessibility considerations or places that you just have to see, so use these as your starting points.
Drive
Some cruises may start a fair distance from your home, so you may wish to book flights to get there more quickly. This can significantly add to the overall cost of your holiday, so if you don’t have to fly, consider driving instead. It will be much cheaper, even if it will take a little longer. If you can incorporate the drive into your holiday and see some sights along the way, it will make the experience much more enjoyable. It’s all about weighing up time versus cost – which is more important to you?
There are numerous ways to keep the costs down when planning a cruise holiday. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save, so do a little homework before you go, and you could end up spending a lot less than you originally planned.
Image credits; Image credits