Friday, November 7, 2008

Locating The Best Cruise Deals

Spending vacation time aboard a cruise ship is very popular and growing more popular all the time, even amongst those who have never set foot on a cruise ship in their life. The benefits are widely known and this puts cruises on many wish lists. Often, people are just waiting to find discount cruise travel opportunities so they can afford a cruise line vacation. Cruise deals are actually not that difficult to find if you know where to look. Below are a few tips to help you find them.

Finding deals comes down to a combination of having a good strategy, being in the right place at the right time, and being able to take swift and decisive action to book hot deals when you find them. It is the principle of supply and demand that still rules when it comes to the rates. If the cruise lines have more ships out on the water than they are able to easily fill, then discount cruise travel deals start to appear. If they are enjoying quick bookings and people clamoring to get aboard, then the travel deals disappear and the prices start to climb.

Any time one of the cruise lines builds a new ship and puts it into service, they have a sudden increase in their passenger capacity, especially if the new ship is a "megaliner." This is a time when the cruise companies will offer special cruise deals to introduce people to the new vessel and to hopefully sell all accommodations. Additionally, the other companies will often lower their rates in order to stay competitive.

One of the best ways to enjoy hot deals on cruises is to be as flexible as possible with the category of ship and the type of cabin you are willing to book. It is also a good idea to book your cruise at least 90 days ahead of the departure date. For the best discount cruise travel deals, it is advisable to book four to six months ahead because the rates are generally lower when the ship is far from full capacity. However, if you can be super-flexible about when you can leave, then you might be able to find super hot deals on last minute travel.

When you are considering the available deals, be sure to remember that the rates for cruises include all your meals aboard ship, your on-ship entertainment, and most of the onboard activities such as movies, live shows, gym usage, games and sports, and dance classes. Some people are more than satisfied with all of the food, fun and activities that are included in the "all inclusive" price.

If you discovered great cruise deals and ultimately got a break on your ticket price, then bravo to you and happy sailing. However, you will have some additional expenses of which you should be aware. It is customary, and expected, for you to tip the service staff. Plan on about $10 per day to cover this expense. Bottled water, soda pop, and alcoholic beverages are not included in your ticket fare, so you need to budget for your needs in this area as well. Also the shore excursions, special spa services and extra classes, such as yoga, need to be paid for separately.



If you are thinking about a vacation for you and your family and are looking for some flexibility in the things you do, you have to look into a cruise. You can sail the high seas to the Caribbean, Mexico or even the Mediterranean. If the destination is on the water, some cruise line will be on its way. Cruises such as these are excellent vacations for just about anyone. The children can discover activities that are fun while adults are getting away for some private time. Fun, sun and water are all the ingredients you need to have an incredible vacation. For more information, click here:


To learn more additional educational knowledge go here Royal Caribbean International Cruises and at Deal On Caribbean Luxury Cruises also Cruise Vacations Strengths And Weaknesses

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