Cruise Deals:Don't Miss The Big Savings

Finding a cruise deal is not as difficult as you might tthink.  All it really takes is effort and patience.  Here are some tips to help.

Title: A Fabulous Cruise Deal? How To Find One!

Author: Linda Woods

For some people, a cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. For others, it's an annual event. But whether you're a frequent sailor or a first timer, a cruise deal is a must for those of us on a vacation budget. Avoid going in blindly and  picking up any and all cruise brochures from a travel agent and then picking the first itinerary that appeals to you. In your breathless excitement to start  packing, you might miss some big savings.

No one pays full price if they can help it and everyone looks to score better value for their money. If you were buying a new car, wouldn't you do all you could to negotiate for lower prices and better perks? Of course, and it's the same with a cruise deal.

1. Be a smart shopper. As with anything, it's buyer beware. Shop
around and know what you're getting for your money. You could
consult with a travel agent to find a great cruise deal. Or, you
could be your own travel agent. Some online companies will have
oods is a freelance writer and radio talk show host with a focus
on healisecured a collection of staterooms at a group discount
and then can pass along the savings to you. Travel agents can
usually add bonuses like free upgrades, free travel insurance,
shipboard credits or coupons for on board discounts.

2. Compare, compare, compare. Allow yourself enough time to
analyze the kind of cruise deal that different companies offer
in terms of perks and base pricing. Some websites provide a
handy price comparison tool that enables you to put various
offers side by side and see which represents the best value for
you.

3. Take advantage of industry competition. There are many cruise
lines around and each has several ships. With so much business
to offer, your vacation dollar is valuable to all of them. Be an
opportunist. Put up your hand and say: "I want to buy a cruise"
and let them all vie for your attention. Try one of the websites
where you can list your requirements. These are then passed on
to competing cruise line companies. It's the same as those
websites that look for the best price on electrical goods and
new or used cars. The result will be a cruise deal that's best
for you, based on your criteria.

4. Consider a one-way cruise. A fabulous cruise deal can be
found if you can take advantage of a one-way sailing. When a
cruise company dispatches a vessel to a new destination (ending
a season or beginning a new one), it's called a "repositioning"
sailing. They are often longer than usual; feature fewer ports
of call and more days at sea, so a different kind of passenger
takes these trips. As such, the rates per day are often cheaper
than those of normal sailings.

5. Don't cruise alone. If you travel alone, the cost of cruising
skyrockets. To have a cabin all to yourself, you will be
required to pay in the vicinity of one and a half times the
regular single fare. So why not take along a companion? And if
you bring along nine of your closest friends, you're likely to
score group rates on your cruise deal, with a satisfying
discount.

You work hard all year to save up for your vacation. Do a little
homework and it will pay off. Plus, you'll enjoy your trip so
much more if it doesn't put you into debt!

About the author:
Linda Woods is a freelance writer and radio talk show host with
a focus on healing, self-help and empowerment. Get information
about cruising at http://www.takethatcruise.com. Be sure to
check out our  cruise deal  pages.

we hope you enjoyed this article about how to find fabulous cruise deals.  Feel free to share your comments with us.