Cruise Deals

Best cruises for first-timers

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:13:50 +0000

If you talk to friends who’ve gone on a cruise, almost every single one of them will go on and on about how wonderful it was, and how they intend to go again as often as possible. Cruising definitely seems to be addictive, and it’s gaining in popularity every year, but there are still aspects of the experience that aren’t suited to everyone. If you are one of these people who aren’t sure you are going to love it, below are some tips for choosing a cruise that should serve as a good introduction to the experience.

Things some people don’t love about cruises

Being trapped in one (large) environment most of the time
Small cabins
Too much formality
Fixed meal times and restaurant choices
Always being part of a crowd

You can get around most of the above concerns by just choosing the right ship and itinerary for you. It’s really a rare person who walks off a quality cruise and swears off the idea for the future, but just in case you are worried you might be one of these here are some strategies to try:

Start with a shorter long-weekend cruise of only 3 or 4 days

This might be the most effective technique for being sure you enjoy cruising, and it’s also worked extremely well for the cruise industry itself. By pricing these shorter cruises so affordably, they often attract younger people and first-timers to see how much fun this can be, and those same people often sign up for another cruise of 7+ nights shortly thereafter.

Most of these short cruises leave from either Florida (Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami) heading to the Bahamas, or from Los Angeles heading to Baja California. These tend to be popular with locals from those areas as cheap weekends away, but it’s also easy with enough notice to find a cheap flight into these areas, making this easy to pull off for almost anyone. Prices for these tend to start under $300 per person most of the year, and they can even be done for under $200 per person during the off season (fall).

Choose a cruise line that is less formal

If you are worried that you may not like having a set dinner time and a specific dining room each night, you have a couple of great options. Norwegian Cruise Line has about a dozen ships doing all different routes, and they specialize in what they call Freestyle Cruising. On these ships you get to choose from as many as 13 different restaurants at any meal, and go at any time you please. There are no formal dress codes at all, and they offer a wide variety of cabins, most with balconies, so there is something for everyone.

Carnival Cruises is also famous for emphasizing the fun factor over any kind of formality. They have great and varied nightlife on all their ships, so they tend to attract the party crowd and many young people, but there are also plenty of more formal and high-end options on each ship, so you have the choice of mixing and matching your adventures depending on your mood.

Choosing the right cruise for you

Repositioning cruises and why they are such great bargains

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:13:03 +0000

They aren’t ideal for just anybody, but if your schedule and tastes match up with one of the famous “repositioning cruises” you can get the bargain of a lifetime and experience something that most people only dream of.

What is a repositioning cruise?

As the name implies, these are cruises where the ship is making its transition from a route in one part of the world to a route in another. A few of the most common cruise routes (like Los Angeles to Baja California) have the same ships doing them every week of the year, but the vast majority of them do one season in one place and one season in another. When the cruise line is moving the ship from one starting port to the next, they sell passage for this repositioning cruise rather than sail the thing empty at a huge financial loss on the way.

How much do they cost?

If you are looking for a bargain on a longer cruise, then look no further than one of these. One of the catches is that they are almost all between 14 and 28 days in length, so you have to be ready for that time commitment. But as long as you are ready for a longer cruise you can book these for as low as US$50 per day per person, and of course this still includes your room, all meals, and entertainment. Most are a bit more than that, but compared to the price of a normal cruise on the route the ship just came from or is going to, this will always be a major bargain.

What else makes repositioning cruises special?

Aside from the low price, there are a couple of other notable features of these cruises. The most dramatic difference is they almost all include quite a few “days at sea.” Especially the ones that go across the Atlantic or the Pacific, these are in a hurry to reach their destination, so there are typically far fewer port stops. The other thing to take note of is that the low prices often help draw groups aboard, and many of these cruises will have a specific theme or entertainment program. You’ll see this information when you are searching the listings, and most of these things don’t change shipboard life too much for most passengers, so they aren’t really anything to worry about.

What other expenses are involved in repositioning cruises?

Since there are fewer port calls the fees for this are usually much lower, but that can be balanced out by the fact that you’ll need to buy one-way airfare to reach at least one end of the journey. For example, if you live in Atlanta and you are taking a cruise that goes from Italy to Miami, you’ll have to fly yourself to Italy to get on board. Fares for one-way flights are cheaper than they used to be, but mostly for those who can book well in advance. Some cruise companies are also bundling in these one-way flights as well, but either way you have to consider this as part of the overall expense.

What are the most common repositioning routes?

New England/Canada to Florida – September/October
Europe to Florida or Caribbean – September/October
Alaska to Caribbean through Panama Canal – September/October
California to South America – September/October
Caribbean to Hawaii – September/October

Florida to New England/Canada – March/April
Caribbean/Florida to Europe – March/April
Caribbean to Alaska – March/April
South America to California – March/April
Hawaii to Caribbean – March/April

But there are really plenty more where these came from. It’s easy to figure them out when you categorize the summer and winter destinations, and then figure when they’ll be shifting the fleet.

Winter
Caribbean
Hawaii
South America/Panama Canal
Asia
Mexico

Summer
Alaska
New England/Canada
Europe/Mediterranean

Choosing the right cruise for you

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:12:27 +0000

Before you begin shopping for a specific cruise, you’ll want to know what your options are. The first cruise offer you see might seem very tempting, but there are hundreds of different cruises from which to choose, and plenty of ways to save money along the way, so you should consider the big picture before you commit.

How long would you like to go for?

The most popular cruises are:

3 or 4 nights – Most of these go from Southern California to Baja California and back, or from the Miami area to the Bahamas and back.
7 nights – In a week you can do an extensive tour of the Caribbean, or of the Mexican Riviera, or of Alaska starting from the Seattle area.
10 nights+ – You can go to many different places with an open schedule, with Hawaii, the South Pacific, through the Panama Canal, and the Mediterranean (leaving from Europe) being the most popular among them.

What time of year would you like to go?

Caribbean – These go year-round, though June is slow and July through September is officially the hurricane season, so these cruises tend to be cheap and they have a tiny chance of being disrupted. Christmas through March is the peak season.

Baja Mexico – These 3 or 4-night cruises go all year round and there isn’t really a cheap season.

Mexican Riviera – These week-long cruises that usually stop in Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, and/or Mazatlan go from October through May, and are often the same ships that go to Alaska during summer.

Panama Canal – These longer cruises normally start in September and go through May.

Tahiti/South Pacific – These epic cruises go from November through April.

Hawaii – The 10+ day Hawaii cruises go all the way from September through May, just like the Panama Canal cruises.

Mediterranean – The Mediterranean Sea is colder than many people expect, and so cruises only go from April through October, and summer is peak season so deals can be found in the fringe months.

What is your budget?

Most cruises start around $100 per day, per person, but of course they can go up to many times that price if you want a suite with a balcony and other extras. It’s also not difficult to find cruises that are well under $100 per person per day, but for those you have to approach things differently. The absolute lowest prices tend to be available a full year in advance (often onboard that same cruise itself) and also with “last-minute” deals, which actually tend to be offered between one and four weeks ahead of the sailing date.

There are downsides to both these options, of course, since booking a year in advance means you are locking yourself in for something long before you know if you’ll be in the right mood at that time, and booking at the “last minute” means having to choose from what’s still available at the time. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the last-minute offers tend to be for cruises that aren’t the most popular at that time of year, so you have to be flexible and open-minded if you are looking for the “cheapest” cruise.
Keep this in mind when comparing prices of cruises

This is a common speech among fans of cruise vacations, but it’s important to be clear what you need to budget for and what you don’t. The price you see listed for your cruise will not include airfare to the initial port, although most online outlets will happily price that part in once you are ready to buy. So a cheap cruise out of Miami might not be so cheap if it costs you $600 roundtrip per person just to get there and back.

The other part to remember is that almost everything you’ll do is included in the price. A couple considering a cruise that costs $799 each for a week might think that $1,600 is quite expensive, but remember that this covers your accommodation, food, and entertainment for the entire sail. If you instead decide to have a romantic week in San Francisco, the hotel for the week would easily cost $1,600 alone, and then after meals and entertainment you’d likely double that.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:12:40 +0000

Royal Caribbean is one of the major cruise companies, with an impressive list of destinations served and a ship in its fleet that is the largest passenger vessel on earth. Despite the company’s name, the list of places you can go with a Royal Caribbean cruise goes far beyond the Caribbean – including Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Panama Canal and South America. And if you think that is impressive, consider that the company also has private resorts in Haiti (yes, Haiti) and the Bahamas which are exclusively used by guests on its ships. The bottom line is that if a cruise is in your future, you will want to seriously consider making it a Royal Caribbean cruise.

But as with many things that are undeniably fabulous, Royal Caribbean cruises come at a price. The good news is that even Royal Caribbean offers discounts and deals now and again. And if you look to the left, you will see of the deals which are currently on offer from this cruise line. Now, these deals will change regularly as the old offers get booked up or expire and new offers become available, so it would be a good idea (in other words, you should do this) to bookmark this page and check back frequently so you are ready to jump on a great deal as soon as it is posted.

Certainly, one of the great perks of a cruise is that you have paid for the bulk of your vacation expenses up front, allowing you to budget better for your holiday and (assuming you can keep trinket purchases to a minimum) not get hit with credit card surprises months later. But even with that in mind, getting a great deal or a discount on a Royal Caribbean cruise will make the whole experience even sweeter.

As this is being written, the Royal Caribbean deals on offer include a seven-day Caribbean cruise for $649, a five-day Caribbean cruise for $334, and a four-day Mexico/Baja cruise for $249. There is also an offer listed which, in addition to providing a discount on any cruise you choose, comes with $100 of on-board spending money.

Singles Cruises

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:12:15 +0000

If you are single and looking for new and interesting ways to meet other singles, there is only so much you can do within a 25-mile radius of your house. After awhile, you are going to start running into the same people over and over again – and while they may be nice, it is nice to cast a wider net now and then. That is one of the many reasons why singles cruises are so popular.

There are several companies which organize singles cruises, but taking a singles cruise does not mean the entire ship is taken over by singles – it just means that only the people who booked the singles cruise option will get to take part in the fun private activities which are organized on each cruise. These activities are in addition to the great amenities aboard every cruise ship, too.

The cruise lines on which you can take singles cruises include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America and MSC Cruises, each of which has a different personality – Carnival prides itself on its “fun ships” attitude, for instance, and Holland America is one of the premium cruise lines. So keep in mind that the cruise company you choose to take a singles cruise on will help determine the kinds of singles you will meet on the trip.

To get the best deals on singles cruises, be sure to check out our list of specials and discounts on the left. The list will change regularly as new deals are added and old deals get sold out, so be sure to check back often to see what is new. And if there are no deals listed when you visit, do not worry – you can check back tomorrow and the list may be full, or you can build your own singles cruise using the search box above. The search feature allows you to price compare cruises on different websites so you know you are getting the best deal.

Princess Cruises

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:11:19 +0000

One of the more famous cruise lines in the United States has to be Princess Cruises – if for no other reason than an entire generation of people who grew up watching “The Love Boat” think that is what cruises are supposed to be. And why not? Especially now, when Princess Cruises sail to so many destinations around the world and provide so many of the amenities we have come to expect when taking a cruise.

In addition to the usual destinations served by most cruise lines, Princess Cruises also includes more exciting and exotic cruise destinations, too. You can get a Princess Cruise to Alaska, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and Europe. And then for something a little bit different, try a Princess Cruise to Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South America, or Tahiti. If you really cannot decide where to go, Princess Cruises offers the ultimate escape – a World Cruise. This is a 107-day trip that stops in some of the most famous destinations around the globe, all in one trip. The best part may be that you only have to unpack once!

Now, considering how little vacation time most of us get each year, taking a 107-day cruise might not be feasible. But taking a short cruise is definitely something to consider. Taking a cruise can save you money over other types of vacations, but that does not mean you should not hunt for the best deals possible anyway, right? Well, our list of Princess Cruise deals on the left is a great place to start.

The deals available on this list change frequently, as old deals get sold out or expire and new deals get offered, so what you see today is not necessarily going to be the same list you will see tomorrow. That is why we recommend that you bookmark this page and check it often, whether you are planning a cruise vacation now or in the future. It is a great way to keep up to date with the kinds of discounts and deals being offered, so you know a great deal when you see one and can grab it before it is gone.

At the time of this writing, there are two Princess Cruise deals offered. One is a seven-day Mexico cruise departing from Los Angeles for $649 per person. The other is a seven-day Caribbean cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for $604 per person. Both of these deals are excellent value for the money, but great deals do not last very long – so there is likely to be something different available when you check in. No matter what is on offer, you are likely to find at least one that is tempting and that works for you.

Norwegian Cruises

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:11:01 +0000

Despite the name, Norwegian Cruise Lines is not, in fact, based in Norway. The cruise company is based in Florida, although it was founded in the 1960s by Norwegians – so perhaps that makes the whole thing okay. Norwegian Cruise Lines advertises its “freestyle cruising,” meaning there are not the usual set times or assigned seating for meals and also that formal wear is not a requirement, as a major benefit of its cruises. This can be a real perk if other cruises you have taken have seemed too restrictive – you are on vacation, after all.

The Norwegian Cruise Lines list of destinations served is impressive, and includes the usual suspects like Alaska, the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera along with more far-flung places like Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Europe and South America. There are even interesting cruises to places you might not think of as being cruise destinations, like Canada and the Pacific Coast of the United States. And for those of you who are really pressed for time but want a seriously quick getaway, Norwegian Cruise Lines also offers weekend cruises and (for the truly busy) “One Nighters.”

No matter what kind of cruise you decide to take, or what your destination is, you do not want to be paying too much for your vacation – you work hard for that money, you should not give any more of it to the cruise company than you have to! So check out the list of Norwegian cruise deals to the left – these are only offered for a limited time, and this list could change from one day to the next, but chances are that there should be one deal available when you visit that works for you and tempts you into a cruise vacation.

Because the deals can change frequently, we recommend that you bookmark this page and check back often to make sure you do not miss out on a great deal. This way you can keep track of what kinds of deals are offered and then, when you are finally ready to book your cruise, you know a great cruise discount when you see one.

As this is being written, some of the Norwegian Cruise deals include a seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise for $649, a seven-day Caribbean cruise for $579, a seven-day Mexico cruise for $499 and a seven-day Bermuda cruise for $499. Check back soon to see what new cruise deals are available!

Cruises to Mexico

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:10:27 +0000

Many people take trips to Mexico but only see one town – they stick to the one beach resort they know, and never venture further than their favorite beach chair. But if you want to explore more cities in Mexico without sacrificing the relaxing luxury of that favorite beach chair, however, check into the many Mexico cruises which are available.

Cruises make it easy to cover lots of ground without the daily hassle of packing and unpacking, or moving from one hotel to another. Perhaps the biggest perk of Mexico cruises is that your hotel moves with you. Of course, the fabulous beaches at the various ports of call does not hurt, either. And this way you are not limited to the one city you fly in and out of, you get to visit several places.

You might think that Mexico cruises would be really expensive, but most of the time they are a great bargain vacation option. What is more, there are almost always great Mexico cruise deals available to make the price even better. You will find cruise specials on the list to the left of this page. Specials like this change regularly, as new deals are added and the old ones get sold out, so it is a good idea to bookmark this page and check back often to make sure you always know what cruise deals are offered at any given time.

Even if you are not planning a Mexico cruise at the moment, knowing the kinds of deals which are available will help you recognize a particularly amazing deal when you see it. Then you will be ready to pounce on that great deal right away – you will have already done your research ahead of time! At the time of this writing, some of the deals available include a seven-day Mexico cruise for $649 per person, a seven-day Mexico cruise for $499 per person, and a four-day Mexico cruise for only $249 per person.

No related posts.

Cruises to Hawaii

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:09:03 +0000

It does not have to be the middle of winter when you start thinking about basking in the glow of the Hawaiian sun – vacations to the island state are popular almost any time of year. Of course, when you are tired of waiting for your fingers to thaw before you can type the first email of the morning, or when you start to forget what trees look like when they have leaves on them – that is when Hawaii cruises really sound their best.

Since everyone else is thinking about Hawaii cruises right about the same time that you are, it can seem like finding a great deal on a cruise vacation would be tough to do. But just as cruises to Hawaii are popular year-round, cruise companies are offering discounts year-round, too. You just need to know where to look, and you need to learn to know a good deal when you see one. The good news is that we can help you with both of those things.

First, we give you one place to look for Hawaii cruise deals – we have gathered information from several different websites and put it all in one place so that you do not have to hop around to find what you are looking for. The list to the left includes great deals on Hawaii cruises from several different sources. Second, by staying on top of the kinds of deals offered on the list to the left, you can become an educated cruise shopper – which means that by the time you are ready to book your trip, you will know what kinds of prices you should be paying.

So, we recommend that you bookmark this page and visit regularly to see both what Hawaii cruises have discounts or specials running, and also so you can begin your cruise deal education. This list can change frequently as new deals come in and old ones get sold out, so it may look different from day to day. And if nothing is on that list, never fear – there could be several discount cruises on the list tomorrow. In the meantime, you can use the search box above to build your own Hawaii cruise.

Galveston Cruises

BootsnAll — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:08:44 +0000

You might be looking at this page and thinking, “Galveston cruises? Who wants to take a cruise to Galveston?” No, we are not talking about cruise trips that explore the hidden treasures of Galveston Island – we are talking about the many cruises which depart from Galveston Island to points more exotic, including both the Western and Eastern Caribbean as well as the Mexican coast. And when you are looking for alternatives to the two coastal extremes of Florida and California (the departure points for most Caribbean and Mexican cruises), Galveston is a great option.

The cruise lines which operate regularly scheduled Galveston cruises are Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean, which gives you more itineraries and departure dates to choose from than if you were just looking at one cruise company. It also means you can take advantage of more special offers and discounts than the ones put out by just one company. Because even though taking a cruise is a great way to stay within your travel budget, you can do better than paying full price when you get a cruise discount.

These Galveston cruise discounts can be hard to track down, especially if you think you have to hunt through several travel websites in order to find them all. Instead of doing that, however, just keep an eye on the list to the left on this page – it is a regularly updated feed from several different travel sources and will help keep you updated on what the newest and greatest offers are. Because the list changes frequently, it is a good idea to bookmark this page and check back often – you never know what kinds of deals will be available.

And if you do not see anything listed when you check this page, do not worry – the list is updated regularly, so it might just be full of great Galveston cruise deals tomorrow. On the other hand, if you do not have time to wait and really want to book your cruise vacation today, you can build your own Galveston cruise using the search box above. With that search tool, you can do cost comparisons between several different websites so you know you are getting the best deal out there.