where do i get the best deal for a cruise online?

Answer 1

You can find an inexpensive cruise online if you just take the time to look, and know where to look. I always suggest looking on the cruise line web sites rather than cruise wholesalers and travel agent sites. The cruise lines' web sites have all of the information you will want or need and you can reserve and make payments directly to them online. That's how I have booked my last few cruises.

Many cruise lines offer the same cruise and sometimes a cruise line will have a different price for each time that cruise departs. So the first thing you should do when shopping and planning is be very flexible on your dates. You will get a good deal if you go when the "deal" is available, which may not necessarily be on the date you have in mind. Second, book early. Forget all of what you heard about waiting until the last minute to get one of the cabins that has not been sold. There may not be any last minute bargains and what do you do if your dates come and there's no cruise space available. What you get at the last minute is the leavings; those cabins no one wants.

So shop around. Here's an example of how the same cruise can be a different price on different dates:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

Scroll down the page. Look at the prices for Sept 07 and then look at how much lower they are for Sept 08.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

Note the different prices for the same cruise and how some dates are called "Hot ", meaning the prices are the cheapest on those dates.

Some people will tell you to go on Carnival because it is the budget cruise line. I suggest you look at all of the other lines and get a better cruise on RC, NCL, Princess or Celebrity. It may cost just a few dollars more, but you will enjoy it more.

Answer 2

The cruise lines don't like anyone discounting the cruises, and will cut off travel agents who sell cruises at a discount. Check out the cruise line's web site, and you may find some deals on cruises sailing in the next month or so that aren't sold out. Also look for repositioning cruises, they are often cheaper than regular cruises. A repositioning cruise is one where the ship is changing locations, for example, I did one from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada. The ship went to Mexico in the winter, and Alaska in the summer, and was repositioning inbetween the two. Look at the cruise line's web site for prices at different times, the price of the same cruise can vary significantly from one time to another. For example, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the same cruise will be about half what it would be at New Years. Don't forget that the price of a cruise includes not only travel, but food and entertainment, and is thus often very reasonable compared to other forms of travel.
Once you've traveled with a cruise line, you'll be on their mailing list, and will get offers for discounted cruises. Maybe you could go on a short cruise to get on their list, then book the dream cruise.

Answer 3

i would do research on the cruise you want to take, the time of year, and the specific cruise line and then check some of the main cruise travel websites.
they all are similar prices usually. sometimes you can find a bargain. look at these websites.
cruiseclues.com
cruisecritic.com

Answer 4

I always book through the cruise lines website. If you book through the cruise line you will not run into any glitches. Best prices for cruises can be found through a local travel agent. I have saved as much as 25% through a agent. Sometimes when I book through a travel agent they give me complimentary first class.

Answer 5

http://www.travade.com

This site which is owned by YTB was given the Pinnacle Award, the highest award Carnival Cruise Lines gives out, for more bookings through them than any other site. This happened last week.

Give them a try and see! Click on 'cruise packages'

Answer 6

Try this site http://www.glennbrookstravel.com

Answer 7

simply vacationstogo.com