Cruise Offers - EXPOSED!

Advertising … I think we all have a love/hate relationship with it.  We love the great Superbowl ads and want to get the best deals.  But we hate when we get hit with the fine print and the deals are not quite what we expected.    My boys are tired of hearing me scold them when they say something is ‘free’ I counter with - it is ‘included’ as nothing is free and someone is paying for it.  It is cruise ‘Wave Season’ with some of the cruise lines best offers of the year,  so  I thought it would be a good idea to decompose the offers the cruise lines have been promoting.    The great benefit of working with a travel professional is we can distinguish between the so-so offers and ones that are really great.

Onboard Credit

This is the one appears to be straight forward.  Many cruise lines and our agency offer shipboard credit to be used when purchasing items onboard.  Most clients see the large number in the ad ‘$300 Shipboard Credit’, but fail to see the word UP TO.  Is the $300 value a valid offer – yes – if you book a suite.  If you book a less expensive stateroom that amount might be as low as $25.  Also some cruise lines will increase the fare to pay for the shipboard credit they are offering.  Carnival does this routinely.   Sometimes it is better to book a different discounted fare instead of the fare that has the shipboard credit.  We always check all the different rate codes to ensure the best value.

The Never Ending Sale

I am sure many of you have seen the Sandals Resort ads on TV offering up to 60% off for a limited time.   Sandals ALWAYS has the ‘up to 60% off’ sale - some weeks they might add small enhancements such as an airfare credit, special dinner, spa credit, or nothing.  Oceania and some other luxury lines have their ‘Two for One’ sale that almost never ends as well.

Two for One Sale

Speaking of Oceania … they have made this one famous and it is an offer I dislike and wish they would discontinue.   Oceania and some other luxury lines have ‘full fares’ that almost no one ever pays and then advertises them on sale with Two for One.  To confuse matters the rates you will see advertised includes the discounts which at times leads for some frustrated clients when they see this offer.

Buy One Get One Half Off / Kids Sail Free

This offer can be hit and miss depending on the sailing and cruise line.  I have seen where some sailings have raised the fares to account for some of the discounts and others where this is truly a very good deal.

85% off cruise fares

A competing agency religiously uses this marketing strategy.  What they do not tell you is that the 85% discount is off the ‘brochure price’ that no one ever pays.  It is like looking at the back of the hotel room door where they have the maximum price for the room listed.  That rack rate is usually exponentially more than you will ever pay for that room.

Free Airfare

You guessed it - not really free - but included.  In most cases we can remove the free air to reduce the price of the cruise.  We always check if the current fares are less than the 'free air' to ensure our clients get the best value.  Some clients can use air miles and save by not utilizing the air from the cruise line.

OUR ADVICE:  Always use a travel professional as we can sort through the sometimes conflicting offers and ensure you get the best value.

Happy Cruising!