How to Plan and Book a Cruise for Less

Many vacationers are under the impression that cruise vacations are only for the rich and famous. While there are some cruises that are incredibly expensive, most are not. For the family that takes vacations that are a week or so long, a cruise vacation can prove to be no more costly than an extended vacation by car. The key is to find the right cruise for the right price.

Most families of four or less should not have trouble finding a cruise that fits the budget.

The first two people in a stateroom carry the bulk of the cost. The third and fourth guests in the same room are much cheaper. This makes the cost per person go down considerably for a cruise. For example, the first two people in a stateroom for a seven day cruise might cost $800 each. The next two will cost $400 or less per person. With food, room, and entertainment costs all covered by the ticket price, this can easily be within the reach of many families today.

The key to finding the best prices is timing.

You need to be able to have some flexibility with the date for your vacation to get the lowest possible fares. Certain cruises and dates can offer ticket prices that give a savings between one third and one half off. Even going one week earlier or later can save hundreds of dollars in some cases.

You want to book when you get the price you need.

This may seem like a simple remark. However, if you can book a cruise with a low price guarantee by booking early, this can be a great way to go. I once booked a cruise about 7 or 8 months ahead with this type of guarantee. When I found the price advertised for several dollars less, I contacted the agent and the cruise line reduced my price.

Most of the time, the best prices are found between 2 and 4 months before the sailing date.

If you wait too long to book, you risk losing out on the cabin category that you prefer. It might lessen your cruise experience if you fail to secure a balcony or a window. So, the time to book is when you hit your price target rather than trying to find the absolute bottom price.

Some cruise lines are generally a little cheaper than others.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean tend to be a little less expensive than their competitors. Do not let this keep you from checking other lines. Even the pricier lines can sometimes drop their rates if they feel that a certain ship might not fill up. Go to sites like Expedia, Hotdeals, Vacationstogo, and a few others to search for the best prices in your selected dates and destinations. Call the cruise line directly and see if they will match the rate or throw in some extras. Once you have the found the best deal that you can, book the cruise. Prices sometimes go up instead of down. Waiting is not always a good idea.

Complete all online paper work and print out your documents.

After completing the pre-cruise registration work, print out your boarding, parking, and other information. Only print the information about the shore excursions that actually interest you. When you are sure of which excursions that you want to take, go ahead and book your spot. If you are uncertain about one or more the excursions, you can usually get them booked after you board. Some do fill up completely. So, booking sooner can be better.

Set up your transportation to the pier.

You will need to decide whether you are driving, flying, or taking another form of transportation to the terminal. During the time before you depart for the cruise, set up as much of this part of your trip as possible including lodging. Make sure that your passport is up to date and convenient to locate. Set your travel budget which should include at least a few hundred dollars for tips and spending on the trip.