Cruising is one of the most exciting ways of going on vacation. You get the chance to explore different cities and even countries without bothering about catching flights, boarding trains, staying at different hotels, and unpacking and packing a multitude of times. Cruising is a leisure holiday like no other, where you get to explore different port cities offboard and enjoy numerous amenities, activities, and facilities onboard. However, most people avoid cruising thinking about the cost. It is true that cruises can be expensive, but you can make them affordable by choosing the best deals. Here are some tips to grab the best cruise deals.
1. Go for an Inside Cabin
Most cruise advertisements and posters have photos of cruises with couples or families spending time on the balcony of your cruise cabin. While you may have the same dream, it is important to know that a balcony cabin is usually one of the most expensive rooms on the cruise. If you are looking for a cheaper cruise fare, it is best to go for an inside cabin. Located on the interior of the ship, this cabin does not have any windows or balcony. However, they have all the amenities that you would require for a safe and comfortable cruise journey. If you are planning to spend your time exploring the numerous activities and attractions of the cruise, a room with no view may not be bothersome, especially when you can save a lot of money.
2. Look for Early Bird Prices
This is one of the best ways to save money while cruising. Most cruises release their itinerary a minimum of two years before the actual date of sailing. Moreover, all these cruises have early bird prices for those who book the cruise as soon as they are released. This is also one of the best ways of getting your preferred cabin at an affordable price. Booking early is a good idea if you want to go on a cruise holiday during the peak holiday season. Booking months or even a couple of years in advance would ensure that you would not have to pay a surcharge price to cruise during the peak season.
3. Look for Last Minute Deals
While this is exactly the opposite of the previous point, this may also work in certain situations. Many cruises slash the prices of cabins that have not been booked as the date of cruise nears. If you are flexible with your holiday plan and can make last-minute arrangements to go on a holiday, this is a good option. However, this does have its flaws. Last minute deals usually work for off-season and shoulder season cruises. The summer season cruises fill up fast in most cases. So, it is best not to wait for last-minute cruise deals for summer or festive season cruises, as it may often end up in disappointment.
4. Opt for an Off-Season Cruise
The demand for cruise holidays is the highest during summer and spring holidays. The same goes for festivals and special events like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year, Valentine’s Day, etc. Naturally, the cost of cruises is usually higher during these times of the year. If you do not want to splurge on your money, it is best to go on an off-season cruise. Winter months (except during Christmas and New Year) are generally a time when you will find low-cost cruises. Apart from this, shoulder seasons are also great for cruising on a budget. September or October is usually the cheapest month to go on a cruise.
Featured 
Featured 5. Take the Help of a Travel Agent
Hiring a travel agent may seem like an additional expense. Moreover, with booking portals, it is extremely easy to book a cruise for yourself. But it would be surprising to know that you can actually save money while booking a cruise through a travel agent. The main reason for this is that the travel agents have access to rates and deals that are not available to the public. Your travel agent will be able to help you choose a cruise itinerary that fits your requirements and budget.
6. Sail on an Older Ship
The new cruise ships are huge and shiny and include a myriad of brand-new attractions and activities. While the latest ships may sound and look exciting, they can be really expensive as well. If you want to save money, it would be a good idea to go on an older ship. Older ships are smaller, giving you the chance to have an intimate cruising experience. This is also one of the best tips to avoid crowds on your cruise ship. However, this does not mean that you will have to forego comforts and amenities. In fact, many of the older cruises have undergone renovations, ensuring that all the modern comforts are included in them.
7. Book a Guaranteed Cabin
If you are not fussy about the type of cabin or the location of the cabin on the cruise, booking a guaranteed cabin would also help you to get a good deal. A guaranteed cabin means you will have a sure-shot cabin on the cruise itinerary you choose, but the type of cabin you get would rest on the cruise line. In this case, the cabin is assigned just before the cruise sailing date, until all the others are filled. In this case, the chances are high that you would get an inner cabin at a corner of the ship. But this also means that you do not have to pay the fee for picking the room of your choice.
8. Go for a Lesser-Known Departure Port
The port you choose to begin your cruise holiday also affects the price you pay for the cruise. If you are flexible in terms of the departure or embarkation port, you can choose a lesser-known port rather than a popular one for your cruise holiday. Lesser-known ports usually do not have the facilities to cater to large ships, ensuring that your total booking cost also comes down. For instance, you would find a European cruise that starts from Spain’s Port of Algeciras (Spain) is cheaper than the one beginning from Barcelona. The flip side of this is that you may have to travel more to reach the embarkation port.
9. Check for Special Deals or Discounts
Some cruises offer special discounts or deal to certain sections of society. These deals are often awarded to military personnel and even senior citizens. Apart from this, some cruises also offer residency deals. For instance, a 10-15% discount to residents of a particular state or city is a marketing strategy to attract more people from a particular city. If you have already zeroed in on a cruise that you like, check if they offer such deals or discounts. Alternatively, you can also search for cruise lines that have special deals for residents, military veterans, senior citizens, and more.
10. Book a Group Cruise
Booking a group cruise is one of the perfect answers to the question of how to find the best cruise deals. If you are planning to cruise with your extended family or a group of friends, you can enjoy the perks of a group discount. Cruise lines offer a good deal or a discount for groups that book multiple rooms. For some cruises, it may be a minimum of five rooms, while for others it could be more. If you are willing to book for 10 or more people, cruise lines may offer you some good deals like onboard credit, discounts on cruise fare, special offers on specialty dining or drinks packages, and more.
11. Look for Kids’ Sail Free Promo
Traveling with kids is fun, but let’s accept that it is quite expensive as well. One way to reduce this cost is to look for Kids Sail Free promo codes. Some cruise lines offer this promo to families traveling with kids. This usually gets you the chance to book one cruise that lets the third and/or fourth passenger travel for free. Some of these promos also include free onboard credit, access to kids’ clubs and activities, discounted fares for kids, etc. The age limit of kids to avail this deal could be below 12 or below 17, depending on the cruise line.
12. Stay Loyal to One Cruise
You may find it tempting to try different cruise lines, but there are some advantages to sticking to a single one. Most cruise lines offer loyalty points to their frequent passengers or cruises, which you can use to get a discount on your cruise packages. Some cruise lines also offer special perks like free laundry services, cabin upgrades, access to private clubs or lounges, complimentary dinner in specialty restaurants, and more. Sometimes, if you have enough credit, you may also get a free cruise on your favorite cruise ship.
Featured 
Featured 13. Choose a Repositioning Cruise
A repositioning cruise is a one-way cruise that begins at one port and ends at another. These cruises usually have long sailing dates and visits to lesser-known ports. Due to these reasons, they are not in high demand and hence are available at lower rates than round-trip cruises. If you are fine with the conditions, a repositioning cruise would help you to reduce your cruise costs.
14. Compare Prices
You may have a favorite booking platform. But before you book your cruise, it would be a good idea to check the rates of the same cruise package on different portals. There is a chance that another booking portal may have a different (lesser rate) than the one you originally checked. Hence, you must take time to go through the different portals and their cruise packages before you choose the one that suits your requirements and budget perfectly.
15. Sign Up for Promotions
Sign up for promotional emails of cruise lines that you like. Sometimes, these promotional emails come with special offers, last-minute deals, and more. If you keep track of these emails, you are likely to find a deal that would make it possible for you to go on a cruise without breaking your budget. Do not forget to follow the social media handles of the cruises, so that you gain from their flash sales and spot giveaways.
Conclusion
The best cruise deals may not always be available. Also, not all these tips would work all the time. But with a cruise travel agent, things could be managed easily. So, look for a reliable cruise agent to book a memorable cruise holiday.
