Cheap Cruises

admin answers:

For a group of twelve you may not get much of a deal. Besides you have to have a parent/guardian in each state room.

The best chance I can think of is going directly through a LOCAL travel agent. They may be able to use their contacts to get you some sort of deal. Plus they know what is and isn’t possible this day and age with cruise lines.

admin answers:

I think you can find something affordable if you cruise during the off-peak time of year. If you can depart from Miami, Florida, you can get good deals. You can surf that site for many other deals/ports.
For example…$159pp September 17 and 24 in 2010 for a 3-day cruise.

Http://vacationstogo.com/ticker.cfm

Hope I helped!!

admin answers:

I don’t agree that it is necessary to book through a travel agent, especially if you are comfortable doing a little research online yourself. Although travel agents are usually paid by the cruise lines and not directly by you, many do add fees for booking flights that you can just as easily do yourself.

Travel agents earn bigger commissions from some companies than others and sometimes have incentives and promotions to encourage them to book with a particular company. They also have their own preferences that aren’t necessarily the same as yours, all of which can cause them to lead you in a direction that might not be the best deal for you.

I have found the best deals by going to the travel websites that specialize in cruises. It is a convenient and relatively unbiased way to compare all of the different cruise lines and ships going to a specific destination and/or by departure port. My favorite is cruises direct: http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3894326-10928750 I’ve booked cruises with them several times and their prices and service has always been great.

Gather your information and decide on a handful of cruises that you think would work best for you and then compare prices on a several sites for the same cruises to see which would give you the best deal. Be sure to look for bonuses like free upgrades and shipboard credits, too. I have found that the cruise line websites do NOT have the best prices.

You can book your flight to and from the departure port when you book the cruise. There are pros and cons – the Pro is if you book the flights as part of the cruise package if there is a flight delay, the cruise ship company will usually assist in working to get fights rebooked in time for departure. The con is that the flights sometimes aren’t the best prices or most convenient route or the airline you might prefer.

I usually book my own flights separately, but book it to arrive by the afternoon the day before the cruise departs and spend the night in a hotel near the cruise terminal that offers free shuttle service to the dock. You can probably save quite a bit of money on your flight to the departure port if you can drive to a nearby US city and fly from there: http://www.expedia.ca/p/promos/border-city-deals.htm?afflid=aff.wd.promo.border-city-deals.flight&affcid=cj3894326. There are lots of hotels near major airports that offer Fly and Park deals that will give you free or reduced price parking for a week if you spend the night before your flight at the hotel.

I would recommend scheduling your return flight for the afternoon the day the ship returns to allow for any possible delays or traffic congestion.

admin answers:

Caribbean Cruises

http://www.cruisecritic.com/

The cheapest prices I can find on Caribbean vacations
http://www.cheapcaribbean.com/

admin answers:

Having a good agent is the key to getting the best cruise deals. Cruise lines run different specials throughout the month as well as residency specials, senior rates, military rates, past guest rates, etc. Your agent should find these specials for you. Rates can also change as a cruise departure gets closer- sometimes up or sometimes down. If the rates goes down before the final payment date, your agent can get the price adjusted for you. (Your rate is protected once you make your deposit so it will never go up.) If you get enough people to sail with you, you can also qualify for group rates, which can be considerably cheaper.

The cheapest time to cruise the Caribbean is in the fall and early winter. Travel is always cheapest between Thanksgiving and Christmas (but not including those weeks).

Cruises are great for kids. They all have kids programs and promote new friendships between the children. It will also allow time alone for adults should you desire some. Ask your agent for specifics on each line’s program.

Airfare can be tricky. It can change several times throughout the day so try several online searches over the course of several days. Also, try alternative airports and check one way flights on different airlines. You might come up with a combination that is cheaper. Lastly, try calling the airlines for a quote. Although the rates are usually cheaper online, occassionally you come up with a cheaper rate by calling.

An expedited passport can be obtained through “Passport Express” online. You do not need a passport to cruise the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico or South America until 12/31/06. Until that date, you can use an original or certified copy of your birth certificate AND a photo ID.