Where to find best prices on Cruises?

[Happy vacationer]

My family would like to take a cruise next spring. Can anyone tell me where I might find the best prices. We are thinking a 3-4 day cruise and there will be 6 of us total. Only 1 real child, rest will be 17 or older.

 

[Darcy03231]

I start with www.vacationstogo.com get an idea of ship, itinerary and price. I then go to www.cruisecompete.com and enter all of the information. I've saved quite a bit by going through them on my last three cruises- and I ended up booking them all with the same company, Cruises-N-More.

 

[HeatherC]

We love cruises! In fact, we are doing a 7 day over Feb. break instead of Disney this year.

You can start at each cruise lines own website for research and then go from there. Note: Royal Caribbean, unlike the other cruise lines, do not discount their cruises. This means the price is the same everywhere. Where the difference is in what each agent will give you as far as extras like a shipboard credit, bottle of wine, etc..

Other lines still discount so you may find different prices everywhere.

There are so many places to look. Here's a few that I hope will be helpful.


www.cruisecompete.com - you tell them what cruise you are looking at..what ship, sail date and what category cabin. You then get emails with different travel agents best offers.

www.cheapertravel.com - used them a few times, but their service stinks! I use them because they have given us the best shipboard credit. For instance on our 7 night cruise they are giving us $175 credit for each inside cabin and $225 credit for each balcony. (Shipboard credit can be used to purchase things on the ship.) I do all the research first and then contact them to see what they will offer. This site is also good for researching the different ships and itineraries before you book.

www.crucon.com - Their service has always been great for us.


I hope this helps.

Happy planning!
Heather

 

[HeatherC]

Oops forgot to mention:

www.cruisecritic.com

Great site. It's like the DIS but for cruises. How could I forget?

Heather

 

[Green Tea]

www.cruisequick.com is where I always book.

 

[keishashadow]

"real child" lol, i'm thinking pinocchio. Most of the lines charge you a flat amount for guest after the 1st 2 in a cabin - doesn't matter what their age is. DVC is different

I use vacations to go (sign up for newsletter) to obtain military rates and 90 day ticker/sale prices.

fyi, some lines are very liberal & you qualify for military w/DD214; don't have to be active or retired; other police/fire dept rates, etc.

Norwegian offers a final discount (5%) off any rate to certain union members, also the military.

I've found it best to book ASAP then watch the cruiselines sales (carnival comes out every thursday). If you book with one of carnival's PVPs (private vacation planner); you can call them up & ask for "matching" offers.

our upcoming Dec. cruise (booked military rate) has dropped in price 3 times and we've gotten upgrades.

Before final payment you can shop it around on cruisecompete - no problem...i've never had anyone able to beat our price. IMO, not worth the hassle for a $50 OBC.

good luck

 

[plutolovr]

You can start at each cruise lines own website for research and then go from there. Note: Royal Caribbean, unlike the other cruise lines, do not discount their cruises. This means the price is the same everywhere. Where the difference is in what each agent will give you as far as extras like a shipboard credit, bottle of wine, etc..

Other lines still discount so you may find different prices everywhere.

This isn't necessarily true. Royal Caribbean does discount but it's their discount. This is true with pretty much all of the reputable cruise lines. Travel agencies cannot discount any further than what the cruise line is offering themselves. This is to keep a level playing field among agents. Now agencies can offer shipboard credit, gifts, etc. This comes out of their own pockets/commissions.

It's best to book through a travel agency that will keep checking for discount fares. So if you book a cabin now and in two weeks the rate drops, your agent can get you the new rate. Always ask the agent if they do this. If you book yourself, do it with the cruise line directly. Then check weekly if your rate is still good or if it dropped. You can call them yourself and have the rate adjusted.

 

[mamalle]

allseastravel was the best deal for us. I used vacationstogo originally and they dropped the boat with my fla resident rate discount. They said I couldnt get one.. I cancelled with them and rebooked with allseas and saved $800 and was upgraded.

 

[courage]

I have booked three cruises with www.7blueseas.com and I have been very happy. Everything always went fine with no hidden charges. (they include port charges) You can do a site of travel dates, ports and destinations and they will give you prices. You book everything - even pick your room. You can call and talk to an agent anytime you like but I like looking for the best prices on checking my dates on my own.

I have sailed with Commodore, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Disney Wonder and Carnival from Port Canaveral and Miami. (I didn't book the Disney cruise with them, I went directly with Disney )

 

[Happy vacationer]

Thank you for all your reply's. I'm going to research everything this weekend and the info everyone has provided me will sure be helpful.

Thanks again for taking time to help me.

 

[Sunny37]

Can you tell me what cruiselines (other than Carnival) give the military discount with the DD214? My husband served in Desert Storm (he was national guard) and he has veteran status and a DD214. We have used the discount with Carnival, so I just wanted to know what other lines give this discount.

Thanks!

 

[simpilotswife]

If you are a Costco member be sure to try their Travel service. They offer pretty good savings on cruises.

 

[Bob NC]

If you are a Costco member be sure to try their Travel service. They offer pretty good savings on cruises.

They do offer good rates, but I think the biggest Costco travel benefit is really, REALLY cheap trip insurance.

 

[Jetstorm]

I just booked a cruise and had used cruisecompete as mentioned in earlier posts to get quotes. On one cruise cruises-n-more was cheapest, but on the one I just booked Kim's Kruises.net (not .com) was much cheaper and Valerie and Stephanie were so nice and helpful.

 

[kimberh]

I have used Sams Club Travel to book Disney Cruises. I had priced the exact same cabin with Disney... so I was comparing apples to apples... It may have been the trip insurance that made a big difference. It was better and cheaper.

 

[KKB]

We booked our last cruise on bestpricecruises.com. They are almost always the cheapest on a daily basis. We were very happy with the service. We are about to book w/ them again for a RCI cruise for next Oct. ($649 for 7 days on newest ship; mostly new itinerary for us). Mom & Dad are about to book them for a 15 day Hawaii cruise (RT San Diego) on Celebrity for $1399 for an outside cabin!

We booked expedia for our first cruise. (checked best price...they couldn't beat this one deal). I have been happy w/ expedia for many different bookings. They even sent us a coupon for a free bottle of wine at dinner and a free 8x10 photo! (that was NOT listed as a bonus when we bought the cruise!)

I also get the weekly "top 20" from travelzoo.com...AMAZING prices! (cruises, hotels, etc.)

You will get the best prices if you book FAR out (9+ mos.) or late (w/ in 6 weeks). Cheapest to cruise in Sept-Dec (Caribbean). Inside rooms are cheapest. We have stayed inside, outside & balcony...frankly we are never in our room. If I want to see as we dock, I just head up on deck.