Luxury Cruise Deals

We have sailed on the major lines-RCCL, Princess and soon to be HA...Based on our preferences and typical land vacations we would like to try a luxury cruise line. I have looked at prices a little and I always try to get a deal by going places in the off season. I know cruising is a little different but I thought I would ask to see if there were any ways to get good deals on these luxury ships? Is there a good time of year to go or a particular cruise line that offers better specials?

We have sailed on the major lines-RCCL, Princess and soon to be HA...Based on our preferences and typical land vacations we would like to try a luxury cruise line. I have looked at prices a little and I always try to get a deal by going places in the off season. I know cruising is a little different but I thought I would ask to see if there were any ways to get good deals on these luxury ships? Is there a good time of year to go or a particular cruise line that offers better specials?

The best bets, I have found, on luxury cruise deals are either a transatlantic crossing, or to cruise on off times, like between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Also, be sure to have a reputable TA work with you. One who specialises in luxury travel.

Host Dan

My brother loved Crystal and we would compare notes. Unfortunately, he passed away just under a year ago.

My wife and I are very satisfied with X and RCCL, but the only way that we will cruise on either line is in a full suite. That gives us the opportunity to dine in...........on nights that we don't want to dress up for a formal dinner, have guests in for dinner, throw a party in our cabin...........for about the same price as a balcony cabin on Crystal.

Rick

As Host Dan mentioned, you will find some discounted cruises on Luxury lines such as crossings and a few cruises during other part of the year. The key is to book early so that you can get some of the lower price accommodations.

Some of the luxury cruise lines include Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Sea Dream and Silversea. Some are all inclusive and others are not. I would read about each of them and then start looking at prices and then think through the size of the ship. You will find that the size of the ships do vary with one I mentioned carrying as few as 100 passengers, another one carrying 200 passengers, and some carrying upwards to 800 or more passengers.

Some people enjoy the very small ships as they can sail to ports that many of the larger ones cannot get into. Some enjoy the small ships on the crossings but for others they don't want to be on such small ships with all the sea days. So, think through what size ship you would prefer and whether or not you prefer sea days or ports or a combination of both as you work through your decision

Four good sources in my opinion.

1. Look at the web sites for the luxury cruise lines.

2. A great book that gives you a nice summary writeup on each ship is ocean cruising written by douglas ward and published by Berlitz. Yes, he provides ratings on each ship and scores the ship in about five major categories but his narrative provides some nice information on each ship.

3. Look at each of these cruise lines postings on cruise critic. I go with the 90/10 rule. This means that until I try the product for myself if my sense is that 90% of the folks post similar comments (eg,. 90% like this or 90% do not like this) I take this as being correct until I experience it for myself.

4. As Host Dan said find a TA who specializes in luxury cruising. But specializes is the key. Don't find someone who mainly does bookings on mass market ships. Find someone who mainly books clients on the luxury cruise lines and if possible has sailed with several of these cruise lines.

And, once you've sailed on a luxury line many will provide on board booking discounts and past passenger discounts and the discounts are quite a bit more than you would find on cruise lines that are mass market or premium cruise lines.

Keith