Cruise ship bargains harder to find this year
Last year, cruisers benefited from many deals and discounts but don’t expect the same thing this year, says the New York Times.
Industry experts claim that some “steals” are still floating around out there, but it will require advanced planning, research, and flexibility from the travelers, the newspaper says.
“Certain upgrades and freebies will also be absent this year,” it said.
For example, in 2010 Disney Cruise Line will not offer its Kids Sail Free package and Norwegian Cruise Line will no longer offer its universal $250 onboard credit as it had done last year.
With rates increasing this year, being flexible with vacation dates can be an advantage, other sources say. This is particularly true if cruisers have options on when they want to travel.
However, in comparison to last year, some rates are noticeably rising regardless of departure date.
In 2009, for example, Holland America Line listed 12-day Europe and Panama Canal trips for $999, while this year those same cruises start at $1,199.
Experts recommend booking cruise vacations months in advance to avoid sellouts and to score any possible “early-bird” discounts.
By David Wilkening
David
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