Top Cruise Secrets Revealed
There are over 200 cruises to choose from today. But the one thing they all have in common is that a little advance planning and “insider” knowledge can help you save time and money on your next cruise. Here are the “top ten tips”:
1. Maximum flexibility = Maximum savings. Most travelers have some flexibility in their travel dates, especially if they plan ahead. Let your cruise specialist know that you may want to consider alternative sailing dates that may have lower fares available. Keep in mind that cruise lines will offer better prices and benefits on voyages that are not near full capacity.
Tip: Shoulder or off-peak trips offer the deepest price cuts. For example, the departure just after the New Year’s cruise could be substantially lower.
2. Ask if warranties are available. This requires you to have some gaming spirit. Many cruise lines will offer a rate in a particular cabin category instead of an actual stateroom number, and actually guarantee you that rate. Then the cruise line has the option to assign you a stateroom in that category or better.
Sometimes you win and end up in a stateroom several grades higher and other times you end up in exactly the category you were guaranteed to be in. Remember, there are pros and cons to this program.
Tip: Fully understand the process before booking a guarantee.
3.Update programs. Often your cruise specialist can offer a cruise line upgrade program. This means that you book and pay for category ‘B’ and you will be moved to a higher category ‘A’. Once again, there is an element of risk here. Just because a stateroom may be in a higher category doesn’t always mean it will be a more desirable cabin. For example, you can stay in a nice midships balcony stateroom on C deck and get an upgrade to a balcony stateroom on A deck.
While your new assignment may be the same size and have the same amenities, it may end up in a less desirable location, such as near an elevator or at the far end of the ship. And there are outside cabins that have views partially blocked by lifeboats or other equipment. On the other hand, there are many cases of passengers who have been upgraded from various categories to wonderful cabins.
Tip: Let your cruise specialist know that you’ll be considering the upgrades on offer, but you want the final say on any changes before they happen.
4. Eligibility for special rates: One of the reasons that expert cruisers find and stay with a knowledgeable cruise specialist is the fact that there are many special rate programs that may or may not be visible to cruisers. who carry out occasional searches on the web. These include things like regional fares that are available to residents of select states.
Caution: If they offer you a regional rate and you don’t live in that area and you can’t do the residency, don’t do it. Cruise lines have the right to verify your eligibility on the day of departure and collect the difference before boarding. Happens Some of the other special rates being promoted today include active duty and retired military rates, union member rates, police and public safety discounts, airline or hospitality rates and more.
Tip: If your cruise partner is a member of one of these groups, the discounts generally apply to everyone traveling in the same stateroom.
5. Special offers for previous passengers: practically all major cruise lines have a loyalty club for their members with different levels and benefits. Joining is free and entitles you to special benefits and discounts when you book on that line. For many commonly owned cruise lines like Carnival Corporation, the offerings extend to all brands like Carnival, Princess, Holland America, etc. The same goes for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
Hint: Many cruise lines were in business before computers became common and cannot easily retrieve the date of cruises you may have taken several years ago. However, if you send a letter to the cruise line listing the ships and cruises you’ve been on, most will take your word for it and credit you for those unrecorded trips. This could have the effect of moving you from Gold to Platinum status and significantly improve benefits.
6. Check group rates – Many cruise agencies have what is known as block space on ships. That means they have space reserved at group rates, which can be up to 20% lower than individual rates. Many agencies that reserve space for groups reserve multiple cabins for individual clients who might depart on this date.
Although you can travel in a group, your cruise experience will be as an individual traveler. The downside could be that your meal time or section is affected by the group schedule. The advantage is that you can benefit from some group comforts, such as an onboard credit, a free shore excursion, etc.
Tip: If your cruise specialist offers group rates, fully understand the features, benefits and limitations before you book. From the cruise line’s perspective, you are a member of the group and are subject to the group’s policies and procedures.
7. Change of reservation on board. Most cruise lines now allow you to book your next cruise with that line while you’re on board. They may have what is known as a sales consultant on board or even a desk. This is usually a great opportunity to save. In general, the cruise line will offer some important advantages to maintain your loyalty to its brand. Onboard credits on the future cruise can be quite substantial. Upgrades and other benefits are often significant.
Tip: Many cruise lines realize that you may not be sure when and where you want to cruise during your current voyage. Don’t worry, most have a program where you can book on board with the flexibility to switch to other voyages and ships through your cruise specialist when you get home and keep all the benefits. This is a real benefit for you!
8. Look for added value. In recent years, cruise lines have instituted something known in the trade as The Level Playing Field. This was instituted to try to control the rampant discounts and markdowns that occurred in the post-9/11 travel slump. Basically, cruise lines have now been partially successful in putting the genie back in the bottle by requiring cruise agents to all use the same prices.
Because cruise agents do not buy or resell cruises but are paid a commission, published rates are fully controlled by the cruise lines themselves. One of the unintended side effects of Level Playing Field pricing is that cruise lines had to find a way to promote questionable sailing dates. And they did it by creating Value Added features. They can include benefits ranging from discount dollar certificates, onboard credits, prepaid gratuities, free spa treatments, special dining experiences, casino credits to a free bathrobe or camera.
Tip: Ask your cruise specialist to look for sailings that offer added value. They can have a significant impact on your bottom line.
9. Organize your own plane tickets. If you need to fly to your port of embarkation, most cruise lines have flight programs known as air/sea arrangements. The good news is that it includes flights and often meet and greets and transfers. The bad news is that in order to post these add-ons, cruise lines have negotiated rates well in advance and try to set rates based on an average cost.
For you, it usually means that these add-ons can be up to 50% higher than the fares you can get by arranging the flights yourself. The only exception to this in many cases is Europe cruises, where many lines maintain bulk contract rates. So it’s always a good idea to shop around. Most lines allow you to purchase just the transfer package so you can create your own air/sea package at significant savings. And of course, if you have several thousand airline miles collecting dust, this might be a good time to try using them.
Tip: If you’re arranging your own flights, make sure you allow plenty of time for flight delays, etc. Savvy cruisers will often invest in a pre-cruise hotel the night before the cruise to avoid the stress of late-arriving flights. Remember, if the airline leaves you on the tarmac for 7 hours and you miss the boat, that free flight voucher won’t sound very appealing to you. And unfortunately, the airline will not compensate you nor will the cruise line refund your money as it is counted as a no-show.
10. Travel Insurance: What’s the one thing to bring on your cruise that you hope you never use? Travel insurance! As you can see in no. #9 above, things can and do go wrong. An affordable comprehensive travel insurance policy can cover many of these contingencies, including lost luggage, trip interruption, medical evacuation and more.
Your cruise specialist can explain the various programs available to you, as there are several. Make sure you fully understand the coverage and limitation before you accept coverage, and keep in mind that you cannot get coverage retroactively. It’s a small but absolutely vital part of your vacation spending. Keep in mind that very few health insurance policies cover you while you’re out of the country, and basic homeowners policies often don’t compensate for lost luggage or other events. As with land travel, the carrier’s liability to you is extremely limited by your contract, and in the event of a medical emergency on board or ashore, you are responsible for all expenses incurred.
Tip: Cancellation coverage is very specific. Understand what is covered and what is not covered. You can’t decide not to go at the last minute without incurring substantial cancellation fees. And if you have any pre-existing health conditions, this may or may not be a covered event. That’s why it’s important to read the coverage.