Simple Tips To Easily Find Cheaper Cruise Prices

With so many luxury cruise lines offering discount cruises and cruise deals, it is very rare that you will ever have to pay the full brochure price for a luxury cruise. But allow me to give you some great tips on finding even better cruise bargains on luxury cruise lines that will suit your travel requirements.

There are so many cruise deals out there that getting a discount from the advertised prices should be relatively easy however, there are a few things you should consider before diving in and just booking the first cruise deal you come across.

What do you want from your cruise?

Research Research Research. Remember, with cruises you are going to be on board your ship for the duration of your holiday. It's not like a package holiday where if you dislike the resort you can simply pack up and leave - here you are captive so if you love the ship this is excellent - but if you hate your ship it is going to be the holiday from hell.

If you want a peaceful, romantic cruise away from the kids for a week it's no good booking on a family friendly cruise that is tailored to non-stop entertainment. Imagine trying to quietly relax by the pool with hundreds of screaming kids running amok all day (Personal nightmare- Aargh!!).

Similarly if you want a family cruise with lots to occupy the kids you don't want to be sat next to the pool with nothing to do and the kids constantly nagging you that they are bored. So decide from the outset what you want from your cruise and have it clear in your mind.

How much will it cost?

Once you have narrowed down the cruise liners that you are interested in, find out how much the cruise lines themselves are offering the holidays for (You can do this by visiting a cruise lines website). This will give you the starting point for your cruise bargain hunt and give you an ideal benchmark for comparison when you actually come face to face with a real cruise bargain.

Important note: Finding a luxury cruise bargain does not work in the same way as flights or hotels where you can grab last minute bargains – these are few and far between with cruises so don't rely on this in the same way that you would for a flight or hotel.

Use A Specialist Or Preferred Travel Agent

Cruises can be fairly complex to book, so when it comes to cruising, finding a specialist or using your own preferred travel agent is undoubtedly the best option.

If you don't already have one, a Primo Vacations Membership includes access to your very own full service travel agency. With a current cruise inventory of approximately 13,000 cruise itineraries - that's about 4,000 more than Expedia - your perfect cruise is waiting.

A good travel agent will listen to your requirements and solve your travel needs to the best of their ability and whilst they might not be the very cheapest on every occasion they will, over time, provide the most consistent, long term and best travel experience for you within your budget.

If you are interested in a specific cruise line or destination make this known to them.

A Good Travel Agent will also do a lot of research on your behalf. They will ask what your priorities are for your cruise, what you hope to experience, see and do; along with asking you questions to get the answers they need to help determine which cruise is right for you - and don't be offended if the agent asks you what your budget is.

It's perfectly acceptable to shop around, but tell agents that you are doing so and what prices you have got already. A good way to prepare yourself is to search through some websites and see what bargains are available beforehand.

Other Tips To Bear In Mind

Children often pay full adult price on cruises if they are taking a full adult berth, so keep an eye open for child friendly cruise deals if you intend sharing your cabin with your children.

Some cruise lines offer the option of booking a cabin grade but not a specific cabin. This might work for you if the cruise line has spare cabins to upgrade you to the next grade or beyond, BUT the down side is that you run the risk of ending up in one of the worst cabins in the particular grade you paid for – such as close to or adjoining a disco, showroom or major service areas where noise levels are higher - you have been warned.

If you like to or intend to cruise regularly, look out for and take advantage of repeat booking incentives or loyalty programs - Cruise lines like to retain their customers and keep them happy.

Book Your Luxury Cruise Deal

Just like my earlier post on finding the best flight deals, bear in mind that looking for the absolute cheapest deal lower than all others is like looking for the holy grail – it will never be found. Despite what they may tell you, No travel agent can truly guarantee you the cheapest deal. Time wasted looking for an extra $20 saving could be extremely costly particularly if the original deal has since disappeared by the time you get back to it.

What you should be looking for is the best solution to your travel needs that provides the best travel experience for you within your budget. So when you feel comfortable that you have found a great cruise deal, don't waste further time and effort – book it!!

The best option for finding a great cruise deal is to use a specialist or your own preferred travel agent, particularly if you travel regularly, to do all of the hard work for you.

By taking the time to follow some or all of the suggestions above, I guarantee that you will secure a great deal on your next cruise.

And finally, Remember, the cheapest price doesn't necessarily represent the best value.

Safe and Happy Travelling