Cheap Cruise Holidays & Latest Cruises Deals

Is it better to book a cruise directly with the operator or through a travel agent? And what hidden extras should you look for when calculating costs?

Booking direct

In the 1960s, about 90% of all cruises were booked by passengers directly with cruise lines and about 10% were booked by travel agents. Then along came some enterprising travel agents. They saw a golden opportunity and started to act on behalf of the cruise lines, which were happy to accept such bookings because they could then reduce staff and overheads in their sales offices.

Established companies such as American Express and Thomas Cook booked cruises, as did many others, and received a commission. During the 1970s, that percentage quickly reversed. Today, about 80% of all cruises are booked by travel agents, and about 20% are booked direct (including internet bookings).

With all the adverts in the newspapers for cruises, make sure you check what’s included in any offers, particularly when huge discounts tend to catch your eye. For example, make sure that all port charges, government fees, and any additional fuel surcharges are included in the quote.

The internet

While the Internet may be a good resource tool, it is not the place to book your cruise, unless you know exactly what you want. You can’t ask questions, and most of the information provided by the cruise companies is strictly marketing hype. Most sites providing cruise ship reviews have something to sell, and the sound-byte information can be misleading or outdated.

If you do book a cruise with an internet-based cruise agency or wholesaler, you should confirm with the actual cruise line that the booking has been made and that final payment has been received. Note that many internet booking agents are unlicensed and unregulated.

The internet vs travel agents

So, you’ve found a discounted rate for your cruise on the net. That’s fine. But, if a cruise line suddenly offers special discounts for your sailing, or cabin upgrades, or things go wrong with your booking, your internet booking service may prove very unfriendly. Your travel agent, however, can probably work magic in making those special discounts work for you and perhaps even providing upgrades. It’s called personal service.

Large travel agency groups and consortiums, such as American Express, often reserve huge blocks of cabins, and smaller independent agencies can access extensive discounts not available on the internet. Furthermore, the cruise lines consider travel agents as their distribution system, and provide special discounts and value added amenities that are not provided over the internet.

Travel agents

Travel agents do not charge for their services, although they earn a commission from cruise lines. Consider a travel agent as your business advisor, not just a ticket agent. He/she will handle all matters relevant to your booking and should have the latest information on changes of itinerary, cruise fares, fuel surcharges, discounts, and any other related items, including insurance in case you have to cancel prior to sailing. Most travel agents are linked into cruise line computer systems and have access to most shipboard information.

Your travel agent should find exactly the right ship for your needs and lifestyle. Some sell only a limited number of cruises and are known as “preferred suppliers,” because they receive special “overrides” on top of their normal commission (they probably know their limited number of ships well, however).

If you have chosen a ship and cruise, be firm and book exactly what you want, or change agencies. In the UK, look for a member of the Guild of Professional Cruise Agents. ACE (Association for Cruise Education), part of the UK’s Passenger Shipping Association, provides in-depth agent training, as well as a full “bonding” scheme to protect passengers from failed cruise lines. In the US, look for a CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) affiliated agency, or one belonging to the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), or the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA).

Questions to ask a travel agent

* Is air transportation included in the cabin rate quoted? If not, what will be the extra cost?

* What other extra costs will be involved? These can include port charges, insurance, gratuities, shore excursions, laundry, and drinks.

* What is the cruise line’s cancellation policy?

* If I want to make changes to my flight, routing, dates, and so on, will the insurance policy cover everything in case of missed or canceled flights?

* Does your agency deal with only one, or several different insurance companies?

* Does the cruise line offer advance booking discounts or other incentives?

* Do you have preferred suppliers, or do you book any cruise on any cruise ship?

* Have you sailed aboard the ship I want to book or that you are recommending?

* Is your agency bonded and insured? If so, by whom?

* If you book the shore excursions offered by the cruise line, is insurance coverage provided?

* Can I occupy my cabin on the day of disembarkation until I am ready to disembark?

Reservations

Plan ahead and book early. After choosing a ship, cruise, date, and cabin, you pay a deposit that is roughly 10 percent for long cruises, 20 percent for short cruises. The balance is normally payable 45 to 60 days before departure. For a late reservation, you pay in full when space is confirmed (when booking via the internet, for example). Cruise lines reserve the right to change prices in the event of tax increases, fluctuating exchange rates, fuel surcharges, or other costs beyond their control.

When you make your reservation, also make special dining requests known, and any seating preferences. It’s useful to keep a note of them.

After the line has received full payment, your cruise ticket will be sent by mail, or as an e-document. Check all documents. Make sure the ship, date, and cruise details are correct. Verify connecting flight times that seem suspiciously short

Extra costs

Cruise brochures boldly proclaim that “almost everything’s included,” but in most cases you will find this is not true. In fact, for some cruises “all-exclusive” would be a more appropriate term. In the recent credit crisis, many cruise lines cut their fares dramatically in order to attract business. At the same time, the cost of many onboard items went up. So allow for extra onboard costs.

Your fare covers the ship as transportation, your cabin, meals, entertainment, activities, and service on board; it typically does not include alcoholic beverages, laundry, dry cleaning or valet services, shore excursions, meals ashore, gratuities, port charges, cancellation insurance, optional onboard activities such as gambling.

Expect to spend about $25 a day per person on extras, plus another $10–$12 a day per person in gratuities. Genuine exceptions can be found in some small ships (those with fewer than 600 passengers) where just about everything is included.

Calculate the total cost of your cruise (not including any extra-cost services you might decide you want once on board) with the help of your travel agent. Here are the approximate prices per person for a typical seven-day cruise aboard a well-rated mid-size or large cruise ship, based on an outside-view two-bed cabin:

Cruise fare            $1,000
Port charges          $100 (if not included)
Gratuities              $50
Total per person    $1,150

This is less than $165 per person per day. For this price, you wouldn’t get a decent hotel room, without meals, in London, Miami, New York, Tokyo, or Venice.

However, your 7-day cruise can become expensive when you start adding on any extras. For example, add two flight-seeing excursions in Alaska (at about $250 each), two cappuccinos each a day ($25), a scotch and soda each a day ($35), a massage ($125), 7 mineral waters ($28), 30 minutes’ access to the internet for emails ($15), three other assorted excursions ($150), and gratuities ($50). That’s an extra $928  – without even one bottle of wine with dinner! So a couple will need to add an extra $1,856  for a 7-day cruise, plus the cruise fare, of course, and the cost of getting to and from your local airport, or ship port.

Discounts and incentives

Book ahead to get the best discounts (discounts decrease closer to the cruise date).

You may be able to reserve a cabin grade, but not a specific cabin — “tba” (to be assigned). Some lines will accept this arrangement and may even upgrade you. It is useful to know that the first cabins to be sold out are usually those at minimum and maximum rates. Note: Premium rates apply to Christmas/New Year cruises.
 
Cancellation and refunds

Do take out full cancellation insurance (if it is not included), as cruises (and air transportation to/from them) must be paid in full before your tickets are issued.  Otherwise, if you cancel at the last minute - even for medical reasons - you could lose the whole fare.  Insurance coverage can be obtained from your travel agent or from an independent company, and paying by credit card makes sense (you'll probably get your money back if the agency goes bust) or through the internet).

Cruise lines usually accept cancellations more than 30 days before sailing, but all change full fare if you don't turn up on sailing day.  Other cancellation fees depend on the cruise and length of trip.  Many lines do not return port taxes, which are not part of the cruise fare.

Medical insurance

Whether you intend to travel overseas or cruise down a local river, and your present medical insurance does not cover you, you should look into extra coverage for your cruise.  A 'passenger protection programme' may be offered by the cruise line, the charge for which will appear on your final invoice, unless you decline. It is worth every penny, and it typically covers such things as evacuation by air ambulance (Medivac), high-limit baggage, baggage transfers, personal liability, and missed departure.

Port taxes/Handling charges

These are assessed by individual port authorities and are usually shown in the brochure. Port charges form part of the final payment, although they can be changed right up to the day of embarkation. 
Fuel surcharges

Cruise lines publish their brochures a year ahead. If oil and other fuel costs rise in the interim, a fuel surcharge may be imposed, in addition to the quoted fare.

Air/Sea packages

If your cruise fare includes air transportation (as in a one-way or round-trip air ticket), then airline arrangements usually cannot be changed without paying a premium, as cruise lines often book group space on aircraft to obtain the lowest rates.

If you do make changes, remember that, if the airline cancels your flight, the cruise line is under no obligation to help you or return your cruise fare if you don’t reach the ship on time. If flying to a foreign country, allow extra time (particularly in winter) for flight delays and cancellations.

Airlines often use a “hub-and-spoke” system, which can prove frustrating. Because of changes to air schedules, cruise and air tickets may not be sent to passengers until a few days before the cruise.

In Europe, air/sea packages generally start at a major metropolitan airport; some include first-class rail travel from outlying districts. In the United States, many cruise lines include connecting flights from suburban airports convenient to the traveler. Remember that, if you fly and want to lock your check-in baggage, use a TSA (Transportation Security Administration)-approved security lock.

Most cruise lines allow you to fly out to join a ship in one port and fly home from another. An advantage is that you only have to check your baggage once at the departure airport and the baggage transfer from plane to ship is handled for you. This does not include intercontinental fly/ cruises, where you must claim your baggage at the airport on arrival to clear it though customs.

Travel insurance

Note that cruise lines and travel agents routinely sell travel cover policies that, on close inspection, appear to wriggle out of payment due to a litany of exclusion clauses, most of which are never explained. Examples:

* “Pre-existing” medical conditions – ignoring this ­little gem could cost you dearly.

* “Valuables” left unattended on a tour bus, even though the tour guide says it is safe and that the driver will lock the door.

Getting the best travel insurance deal:

* Allow time to shop around and don’t accept the first travel insurance policy you are offered.

* Read the contract carefully and make sure you know exactly what you are covered for.

* If you purchase your own air transportation, it may not cover you if the airline fails, or if bad weather prevents you from joining your ship on time.

* Beware of the “box ticking” approach to travel cover, which is often done quickly at the travel agent’s office in lieu of providing expert advice. Insurers should not, in reality, be allowed to apply exclusions that have not been clearly pointed out to the policyholder.

* Ask for a detailed explanation of all exclusions, excesses, and limitations.

* Check out the procedure you need to follow if you are the victim of a crime, such as your wallet or camera being stolen while on a shore excursion. If anything does happen, always obtain a police report as soon as possible. Note that many insurance policies will reimburse you only for the secondhand value of any lost or stolen item, rather than the full cost of replacement, and you may be required to produce the original receipt for any such items claimed.

* Watch out for exclusions for “hazardous sports.” These could include things typically offered as shore excursions aboard ships. Examples: horse riding (there goes that horse riding on the beach excursion in Jamaica) or cycling (mountain biking excursions), jet skiing (most beaches), or ziplining.

* If you purchase travel cover over the internet, check the credentials of the company underwriting the scheme. It is best to deal with well-established names, and not to take what appears to be the cheapest deal offered.

Typical Extra-cost Items

“Alternative” dining (cover charge) $15–$30 a person    

Baby-sitting (per hour) $5

Bottled water $2.50–$7 (per bottle)

Cappuccino/espresso  $2–$3

Cartoon character bedtime “tuck-In” service    $20

Wash one shirt  $2–$3

Dry-clean dress  $4–$7.50

Dry-clean jacket  $4–$8

Golf simulator $20 (30 minutes)

Group bicycling class $10 per class

Hair wash/set $25–$50

Haircut (men) $25

Ice cream $2–$3.75

In-cabin movies $6.95–$12.95

Internet connection $0.50 per minute

Kick-boxing class $10 per class

Laundry soap $1–$1.50

Massage $2-plus a minute (plus tip)

Satellite phone/fax $4.95–$15 per minute

Send/receive e-mails $0.50–$0.75 per minute

Shuttle bus in ports of call $2–$4

Sodas (soft drinks) $1–$2