Cruises can offer great value for money as your food, travel and entertainment is included - but there are extra costs that can add up. Luckily, one cruise expert has revealed the easy ways you can cut these down, to stick to your holiday budget.
According to recent data, more than 1 in 4 people have been on a cruise and more than half of the population is interested in going on one in the future. If you're in that group, then it is time to get booking. Mid-to-late December is when cruise lines begin rolling out deals, perks and incentives to entice cruisers to set sail over the year ahead.
Yasim Pekel, travel expert at Blue Cruise, has given advice on the ways you can keep the cost of a cruise as low as possible, when booking a sailing for the months ahead. As fun as they may be, cruises can be expensive, especially if you're taking a family who all have different plans for how to make the most of the sailing.
Here are Yasmin's top tips
- Booking early or late: Booking well in advance or at the last minute can sometimes help you to grab significant discounts. Cruise lines often offer early bird promotions and last-minute deals. Savings could range from around 20-30% or more for booking early to up to 50% or more for booking late, if you have the nerve to plan at the last minute. It is looking like 2024 is going to be a particularly busy one for cruise ships, so it may not be the year to gamble on lines not having sold all of their rooms.
- Using fare alerts: Sign up for fare alerts on cruise booking websites or subscribe to cruise line newsletters to receive notifications of price drops and promotions. Savings of 10-20% or more on the original fare are possible by spotting price drops, and the alerts help you be on any small changes. While it may seem a small discount, 10% off on a cruise likely to cost a few hundred pounds per person at least is not to be disregarded.
- Using a travel agent: Travel agents can have access to special rates and promotions that may not be available directly through cruise lines' websites. They may also be able to bag exclusive deals, potentially saving you hundreds of pounds. It is well worth contacting a few to see if they can help you get the online price down.
- Cruise line loyalty programs: Join the loyalty programs of your preferred cruise lines to build up points and secure discounts. Frequent cruisers can enjoy various perks, including discounts and onboard credit. Savings in these forms can vary, but may be several hundred pounds or more if you are savvy in the way you use them.
- Onboard credit: When booking, try negotiating for additional onboard credit as part of your package. Some cruise line sales people may have the power to keep you a little bonus and may be inclined to do so if you're happy and kind to them during the chat.
- Cruise excursions: While shore excursions can be enticing, they can add up. Consider exploring ports of call on your own or booking tours directly with local operators for cost savings. If you can figure out a way to catch the bus or train, or simply walk, you're bound to save a fair amount of moment. (A note from the Mirror travel team - if you're not on an official shore excursion and you're running late on the way back, the ship may not wait for you. When you book onto an official excursion, they do wait if your tour is late, so consider the risk before doing your own thing!).