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CHEAP VACATION PACKAGES
Thinking about taking a great vacation? Well if you keep thinking when are you gonna actually start doing? Take that long awaited vacation today and start travelling the world. Feeling too pinched by the ever-troubled economy to travel? You can still find good deals to get away if you know where to go online first. Many online sites offer amazing discounts if you are looking out for a good cruise packages. Read on to find out the best and affordable deal you could lay your hands on this year. It’s no longer possible to show up at the dock, suitcase in hand, hoping to negotiate your way onboard for the ultimate last minute cruise deal. These days, cruise lines are required by law to submit passenger manifests within 24 to 48 hours of departure. But nabbing a serious bargain is easier than ever.
Last minute cruises defined roughly in industry terms as sailings that depart between several days and three months in the future offer savings to those of us who either procrastinate for a living or enjoy the luxury of cruising on a whim. And even better, the Internet is a terrific resource for deals, and travel agencies regularly receive offers from cruise lines trying to fill ships on close-in voyages. One of the best times to find last minute rates on a particular sailing is 60 to 90 days before departure. This is the last call for most cruise lines and itineraries for some it’s up to 120 days for travelers to cancel existing reservations without penalty. At that point, the cruise line will know exactly how many cabins are left and if there is more space available than the cruise line would like, it will quickly and often heavily reduce the fare so that it can sell out the ship.
There’s a reason why a cruise is being unloaded with little time to spare and it’s not because it’s a hot seller. Calendar-wise, you probably won’t find a last minute bargain on Christmas or New Year’s sailings, Easter week or even Thanksgiving. You might but don’t hold out if you have your heart set on traveling during those times. Odd-duck itineraries don’t always sell well, leading to last minute deals. Among them are repositioning cruises, when vessels change regions for the season and sail unusual routes to get to their new homeports, often across an ocean or sea.
These voyages are usually longer maybe two weeks or so instead of seven days and include lots of sea days, as well as a mishmash of ports, all at a reasonable price. There is a catch: Because these voyages begin in one port and end in another, passengers are responsible for picking up generally expensive one-way or open-jaw airfares. Still, crunch the numbers; if you can find a good deal on airfare, you’ll save big on eleventh-hour repositionings. Though cruise lines have tight restrictions on travel agency discounting, cruise sellers have authorized ways of accessing lower prices or offering different booking bonuses than their competitors. Shop around to look for the best deals.
Many agencies have web pages focusing on last minute deals or weekly bargains emails. And if you don’t see anything you like, call. Often agencies have low prices that they can only tell customers about over the phone. How much of a bargain is a cheap cruise that requires you to spend twice as much on airfare? For instance, you’ll typically see more Anchorage-to-Vancouver voyages on last minute lists than the more affordable round trip Seattle itineraries. Air is typically cheaper on the latter, which sails into and out of the same city. The former has you flying in and out of different airports, including one in Alaska where fares are often high. Account for that cost before committing.
Read each offer very, very carefully because it will specify exactly what your purchase entitles you to. An inside cabin is no bargain if you suffer from claustrophobia. Outside cabins on sale may have obstructed views. Some last minute deals are for guarantee cabins, for which you cannot request a cabin number or location. Look carefully for information on service fees, government taxes and port charges, which often aren’t included in the sale price. And check whether special offers mandate that you pay in full at time of booking or if deposits are nonrefundable.
On the flip side, you’re very likely to find plenty of variety in the Caribbean during peak hurricane season (September through early November) or during the pre-holiday (first week or two of December) and the post-holiday (first two weeks of January) travel lulls. But never rule anything out. Some years, holiday cruises or peak summer sailings don’t sell out like they usually do, and there are surprise bargains on normally popular itineraries.
The most popular cruises change from year to year, but one fact remains: You need to book those cruises early because they sell out fast. What’s the scoop for 2016? The hottest of the hot is Alaska.Other North American destinations, like the Panama Canal and Canada, New England, are also doing well this year. There’s a lot of brand-new hardware ship sin the Caribbean market Vista, Harmony, Anthem, Allure but more inventory rooms in Q3 and Q4.
The Caribbean is nearly always a hot cruise destination, and the newest ships are generally the more sought after, selling out quickly even at higher prices. But with so many huge ships in the region Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas carries 5,479 passengers there will be so many available beds for cruise passengers that the cruise lines will have to work hard to fill them all. And that means deals for travelers who can be flexible on ships and sail dates. Beyond Europe, there are other tricks of the trade for finding a great deal any year. Agents agree that Caribbean cruises in October, November and December just before Christmas often have good deals.
