Cruising for bargains
No one is spared in a global economic downturn. From the green grocer to high-end couturiers, motel chains to international airlines, everyone is tightening their belts.
In the cruise industry, it’s a buyer’s market. Companies are creating innovative deals such as children sailing for free or passengers being able to hop on board at their homeport – thus avoiding airfares.
But what if I lose my job?
Feeling tentative about booking because you don’t know if you’ll be working tomorrow? Norwegian Cruise Lines’ “BookSafe” ensures your money is refunded if you lose your job. CruiseAssurance, offered by cruise retailers CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., provides the same peace of mind.
With the industry as tentative about what the future holds as its passengers, it’s prudent to wait until the last minute until booking. That’s when the price slashing begins. Keep in mind that cruise companies are very sophisticated when it comes to figuring out what to charge; Carnival's computer system, for instance, can implement price changes up to four times daily.
If you don’t want to run the risk of not getting on your desired ship, some lines will guarantee prices so that you can book now for a future sailing and, if the cost changes in your favour, you will either get an upgrade or shipboard credit.
Still looking for a deal? You may want to consider a repositioning cruise when companies move their ships from one location to another based on season and climate changes. Typically, these bargains are sold out by mid-March. Not this year. Many ships still have capacity and some at prices as low as $40 per person per day. Check out portsandbows.com for the latest deals. Here are a couple of examples:
- Norwegian Cruise Lines’ 33-day trip from San Francisco to Buenos Aires starts down the coast of Mexico, with ports in Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and then into the Chilean port of Valparaiso. From there, the traditional South American cruise includes plenty of Chilean ports around Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands then heads north to Montevideo and into Buenos Aires. Total price is $1,969 US. The cruise departs Nov. 3 on the Norwegian Sun.
- The third of Royal Caribbean's transatlantic cruises departs on Nov. 29 for a 14-night trip from Barcelona to Galveston, Texas, on the Voyage of the Seas. The price, $759, works out to $55 per night.
If you are seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Cunard’s brand new Queen Elizabeth embarks on her maiden voyage October 12th next year. The trip is a 13-night cruise from the homeport of Southampton to the Atlantic Isles. Bookings will be available starting April 2nd.
With Cruise Lines International Association, North America's largest cruise industry body, predicting that the industry will bounce back along with the economy in 2010, savvy travelers will be making this the year of the cruise vacation.
This article is original content on More.ca
