How to get cruise discounts 2 - Best Seasons & Routes

Getting cruise discounts can be a tricky business
but there are some factors that can be used to
stack the cards in your favour – If you know
about them and how to use them. Read on!

***Cabins***

On short season or limited availability cruises
 e.g., Alaska or Norwegian fjords, for example,
balcony cabins on newer ships sell a lot faster
than the lesser cabins on older cruise ships.

Though such premium cabins are more expensive,
the demand is still high enough (and the supply
small enough) that they sell with no problem.
So if you want premium cabins on a specific cruise
I advise you to get in as early as possible – At
least 6 months but a year is better.

***Routes***

Again some more popular than others and sell out
faster. E.g., Vancouver to Anchorage is the most popular
for Alaska cruises with several lines offering on shore
excursions too. These sell fast so if your route is like
this book at least 6 months in advance.

Round Trip cruises that go off from a port and come back to
it often have more spaces closer to the departure date so
if you don't mind that add them as a factor to check out.

Bahamas/Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are slightly
different in that there are so many lines going so often
you have much more choice. But big choice = a lot of
information and chances to find a great deal so again,
planning is essential.

***Late or early season?***

Booking off peak will give you more choices though unless
you're lucky you'll still have to pay more for an ocean
view cabin.

***Avoid Peak times***

Holidays, not surprisingly, sell out first. Spring Break
week in the US, the Christmas-New Year week, and of course
July and August are the busiest times. Even with all the
options places like the Caribbean have such high demand
that you'll need to book 9-12 months in advance to get a
nice cabin on a good sailing.

***Avoid High season***

The late winter/early spring months, Feb-April (in the
Northern Hemisphere) book up next. Many people living in
cold winter zones are looking for relief from the cold.
Even though they won't leave for months, the act of booking
seems to provide some relief from the winter doldrums.

***Best Cruise Discounts time***

Bargains are best September-early December and you could
find good cabins available as short as 60 days before
departure. The weather can still be nice though if you're
going to the Caribbean take account of the possibility of
hurricanes and be prepared to be flexible.

***Use PC Power***

There are a ton of factors to weigh up. I suggest creating
a spreadsheet with a wish/checklist of things you must have
and "nice to have" plus budget. This helps you stay focused
and avoid information overload.

***To start with go online***

See what's about, make a shortlist, and put it all into a
spreadsheet. Then start asking for quotes. Cruise lines
want your business and want to make you happy so that you
come back again and tell your friends – So if they have
good cruise discounts on they will tell you!

Bon voyage :-)

About the Author:

Travel addict Nick lives in Stockholm, Sweden with fiancé
Lena. He moved there after commuting from London every
week for 2 years. All this traveling gave him a lot of
cheap travel deal finding practice. This he's put to work
on his site http://www.mytravelstore.co.uk It's crammed
with dirt cheap discount travels deals including a
dedicated flights & cruise specials section.