Do discounts actually exist for cruises?

[juanarcin]

In the cruise world, I hear A LOT about discounts. My inbox is filled with "sales" that are being held often. I've seen tons of websites that claim to have the biggest discounts for cruises. Visit any major cruise lines website and you'll likely get met with  a giant banner about how much time is left for the biggest sale of the year. I've even had conversations with many non cruisers who are usually under the impression that a free cruise is easy to come by through things like raffles or timeshare presentations.  Yet, I always feel like if I go with a  sale, or click on the big discount links, prices will always vary by about a hundred bucks (not that a hundred is nothing, but its not as noticeable when you're spending thousands). If I get a notification from a major cruiseline that they are having a BOGO deal, I'd expect my $2000 trip to become $1000. Yet somehow it becomes about $1850. Of course its a discount and of course I'll take it! But for an industry that constantly has sales and is known for  finding deals everywhere, I've never seen  a deal that completely made me change my plans. If I have a trip planned at full price for one week and I hear that the biggest sale ever is the week after, I'll compare prices and stick to my current plan because the discount is never worth reconsidering. Don't get me wrong, I love cruising and am always happy with what I paid. I'm not trying to cheap out lol, I'm just wondering how in an ocean of endless deals, I've rarely found a great deal. Am I the only one who feels this way? Curious what the bargain hunters amongst my fellow cruises have experienced.

[AKJonesy]

I feel like I always get a deal but I think only once in 200 cruising days have I booked directly with the cruise line.  To give you an example, on an upcoming 31 day trip which is also available as a back to back, we saved about $3k by NOT booking through the cruise line.  Also, instead of booking it as a 31 day trip which was a little more expensive, we booked it as a back to back trip 14 day and 17 day keeping the same stateroom so there is going to be no move.  That back to back booking was also less. I don't look for the nickel and dime stuff like the OBC, etc if I can get a decent price.  When I can save 3K on a trip, I don't concern myself with a $100 OBC because I'm looking at how much I'm saving.  I have rarely and I mean rarely seen the cruise line beat my online discount cruise booker, and I have a personal cruise consultant as well.  So, for me, I'm not getting any better "experience" or any worries by booking direct through cruise line.  I've used the same online cruise agency for about 15 years.   -   I don't know anything about the casino offers, but I hear they are great.  You can probably do a search on "casino offer" on this site and get information.  I don't think we can link to discount cruise sites otherwise I would do that.  One thing to caution you though is that depending on where you live and how you get to the cruise port may matter.  That is, if you are traveling from far and you need to get there by a flight, the longer lead time could be important.  IDK.  I always book a one or two day in advance of cruise hotel, airbnb etc.  Other people are going to chime in here.  

[AKJonesy]

2 minutes ago, AKJonesy said:

I feel like I always get a deal but I think only once in 200 cruising days have I booked directly with the cruise line.  To give you an example, on an upcoming 31 day trip which is also available as a back to back, we saved about $3k by NOT booking through the cruise line.  Also, instead of booking it as a 31 day trip which was a little more expensive, we booked it as a back to back trip 14 day and 17 day keeping the same stateroom so there is going to be no move.  That back to back booking was also less. I don't look for the nickel and dime stuff like the OBC, etc if I can get a decent price.  When I can save 3K on a trip, I don't concern myself with a $100 OBC because I'm looking at how much I'm saving.  I have rarely and I mean rarely seen the cruise line beat my online discount cruise booker, and I have a personal cruise consultant as well.  So, for me, I'm not getting any better "experience" or any worries by booking direct through cruise line.  I've used the same online cruise agency for about 15 years.   -   I don't know anything about the casino offers, but I hear they are great.  You can probably do a search on "casino offer" on this site and get information.  I don't think we can link to discount cruise sites otherwise I would do that.  One thing to caution you though is that depending on where you live and how you get to the cruise port may matter.  That is, if you are traveling from far and you need to get there by a flight, the longer lead time could be important.  IDK.  I always book a one or two day in advance of cruise hotel, airbnb etc.  Other people are going to chime in here.  I also meant to say, when I get those last minute best deals ever brochures, I go to my online discount cruise agency and compare those best deals to what my agency has one by one.  As I said, I've rarely had the cruise line beat my broker. 

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, juanarcin said:

In the cruise world, I hear A LOT about discounts. My inbox is filled with "sales" that are being held often. I've seen tons of websites that claim to have the biggest discounts for cruises. Visit any major cruise lines website and you'll likely get met with  a giant banner about how much time is left for the biggest sale of the year. I've even had conversations with many non cruisers who are usually under the impression that a free cruise is easy to come by through things like raffles or timeshare presentations.  Yet, I always feel like if I go with a  sale, or click on the big discount links, prices will always vary by about a hundred bucks (not that a hundred is nothing, but its not as noticeable when you're spending thousands). If I get a notification from a major cruiseline that they are having a BOGO deal, I'd expect my $2000 trip to become $1000. Yet somehow it becomes about $1850. Of course its a discount and of course I'll take it! But for an industry that constantly has sales and is known for  finding deals everywhere, I've never seen  a deal that completely made me change my plans. If I have a trip planned at full price for one week and I hear that the biggest sale ever is the week after, I'll compare prices and stick to my current plan because the discount is never worth reconsidering. Don't get me wrong, I love cruising and am always happy with what I paid. I'm not trying to cheap out lol, I'm just wondering how in an ocean of endless deals, I've rarely found a great deal. Am I the only one who feels this way? Curious what the bargain hunters amongst my fellow cruises have experienced.

Perhaps you haven’t looked hard enough.

We’re currently on a 23 day Oceania cruise that offered an “extraordinary savings” sale after our final payment had been made. Because we had “booked onboard,” we had a “price drop match” guarantee. That translated to more than $3k in our favor.

We’re also about to probably change a future Oceania cruise from the old “O Life” deal to the new “Simply More” deal which will add a significant increase in our onboard amenities at approximately the same fare cost.

[Hlitner]

My goodness, deals do exist if one shops around and uses math instead of "feelings."  For example, we just booked a future Seabourn cruise while aboard a Seabourn ship.  They had a special pre-release (prior to releasing the cruise to agencies or having it online) deal of 10% off.  This was further increased by another 5% off because we booked aboard.  We than had it transferred to one of our favored cruise agencies who added over $2000 of On Board Credit (or a post cruise rebate).  

 

We have long posted that folks should be able to routinely save 7-10% I(when netting for on board credits and other perks) by simply shopping around among reputable high volume cruise agencies.  This works on nearly all cruise lines although savings can be much larger on certain lines.  Taking advantage of legitimate sales/promotions offered by the cruise lines in conjunction with a a cruise/travel agencies "enhancement" can yield major savings.  Just keep in mind that most "deals" are somewhat based on a percentage savings which means the more expensive the booking the more you will save.  A person booking a lower priced week cruise might only save a few hundred dollars (or less) while somebody booking a World Cruise could save over $10,000.

 

Hank

[new_cruiser]

Some cruises get big discounts on some sales, but not all of them do. 

 

I mainly cruise on a Windstar, a line with small ships (the biggest are 312 passengers). I'll sometimes watch a cruise I want and book if there is a good sale price. Other times when we particularly like an itinerary, we will book at the current price. In either case, I'll watch the price until the end of the Price Assurance Policy (which coincides with final payment). Twice over many cruises, the price has never gone down, on one it went up quite a bit from where we booked - both were very nice itineraries that are less frequent and the ship booked full or near full so it's obvious why the line never felt a need to put them on sale. 

 

Many times I've gotten a moderate discount - a few hundred. A few times, I've gotten a big discount - something over $1000. I had a 23-day Cruise Collector last spring where there was a December sale just before the end of the price assurance policy - the price went down enough that I upgraded from Ocean View to Balcony (a French Balcony) and still got a nice fare reduction. The price went back up after the sale and never came back down to anywhere near what I paid - actually, what I paid as a solo for the crossing plus the following 10-day segment was less than the 10-day segment pp double occupancy price after the sale. They honored my initial no solo supplement price when they repriced to the sale. That was a pretty rare deal. 

 

Another time, we had booked a 14-day cruise and had considered adding the 17-day after that but didn't. About month before our cruise, the 17-day went on sale for a really low price and we added it. The 14-day was one of the ones I mentioned above that never went on sale. 

 

We usually get some OBC from our TA - more on more expensive cruises, just a bit on cheap cruises.

 

I recently went on a Royal Caribbean cruise with family - my only cruise on a mainstream line since our first cruise in 2005. We had booked after final payment and I'd initially booked an ocean view guarantee. The balcony guarantee would appear for a few days, then disappear for a few days and then come back. I saw it for a couple hundred more pp than I had paid, which was less than the its price when I initially booked, and I thought about it but it was gone before I jumped, then came back at just about $100 more and I jumped on it. So that price was fairly fluid - not by a lot in absolute $ but the initial price wasn't much so % wise, it was a pretty good discount. 

Edited September 7, 2023 by new_cruiser

[Szt]

I totally know what you mean. I’ve had the same thought. I’ve talked to other cruisers who live in port areas and find great deals on last minute cruises. We live too far to take advantage of those. I don’t even give those 75% off or 2nd guest free a second look anymore. And the “last day” scare doesn’t phase me because it’s always extended. 
We don’t usually do super expensive cruises anyway so, like you said, the prices don’t change much. However, we have seen better than average rates offered when you book while on a cruise. I think NCL always offers the 2 for one cruise next cert. while on a cruise. So you can save up to $500 by buying 4 (max) $250 certs for $500 total. But you can’t use them all for one cabin on one cruise. 
I will also say, the deal I found for our upcoming cruise was pretty awesome. Best I’ve seen. But we are traveling in Nov so maybe that’s why. 
Also, if you get an offer for a “free” cruise to do a timeshare presentation. Don’t do it. I used to sell these. It’s never as easy to book as they make it sound and the sales presentations are super high pressure. 

[Honolulu Blue]

17 hours ago, juanarcin said:

In the cruise world, I hear A LOT about discounts. My inbox is filled with "sales" that are being held often. I've seen tons of websites that claim to have the biggest discounts for cruises. Visit any major cruise lines website and you'll likely get met with  a giant banner about how much time is left for the biggest sale of the year. I've even had conversations with many non cruisers who are usually under the impression that a free cruise is easy to come by through things like raffles or timeshare presentations.  Yet, I always feel like if I go with a  sale, or click on the big discount links, prices will always vary by about a hundred bucks (not that a hundred is nothing, but its not as noticeable when you're spending thousands). If I get a notification from a major cruiseline that they are having a BOGO deal, I'd expect my $2000 trip to become $1000. Yet somehow it becomes about $1850. Of course its a discount and of course I'll take it! But for an industry that constantly has sales and is known for  finding deals everywhere, I've never seen  a deal that completely made me change my plans. If I have a trip planned at full price for one week and I hear that the biggest sale ever is the week after, I'll compare prices and stick to my current plan because the discount is never worth reconsidering. Don't get me wrong, I love cruising and am always happy with what I paid. I'm not trying to cheap out lol, I'm just wondering how in an ocean of endless deals, I've rarely found a great deal. Am I the only one who feels this way? Curious what the bargain hunters amongst my fellow cruises have experienced.

Most cruise line offers are the same old discounts offered in different ways.  But there are better discounts out there, sometimes... here's my story.

 

Last year I got offers for various weeklong sailings to Alaska from June to August for $50-$100 for each cruise.  With the offer OBC and the shareholder bennies, they would have been very close to free.  No, this wasn't a casino offer - I'm not actually sure why I was the lucky one, but it was hooked to the cruise line and my status there.  I had to decline them all because I'm a wage slave with limited time off and Alaska wasn't enough to move me off it.  I haven't seen any offers quite like it since. ☹️

 

 

[Joebucks]

Deals do exist, but one of the biggest mistakes is thinking all cruise lines are created equally. When people boast about getting 15% off or $3k back, they often aren't telling you that it's a $15,000 cruise. Don't think a mass market cruise will get you the same.

 

As with most "deals" in any industry, anywhere, it's marketing teams piquing the interest of people who are absolutely obsessed over feeling like they got a deal, without actually getting anything special. I'm a believer that even the luxury lines that you are able to get a "big discount" on have that built into the price to create a price perception. 

[capriccio]

The cruise line we are most familiar with, Princess, allows travel agents to discount Princess cruises but they are not allowed to advertise the lower fares; you must contact an agent for a quote.  In the more than decade we have used our TA we have always received at least a 7% discount over the Princess rate and frequently a 10% and occasionally as high as a 12% discount.  She often throws in a group OBC too.

[fruitmachine]

As long as they cover your chosen line, use CruisePlum, and in the details about each sailing they have a graph showing price for each cabin type over time.

 

With that information at your fingertips, you soon realise that most deals are not what they purport to be.  Those that are, you can leap on.

[George C]

We definitely have had bargains my next cruise have a grand suite on oasis class for 2400 each.

[Toofarfromthesea]

7 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

As long as they cover your chosen line, use CruisePlum, and in the details about each sailing they have a graph showing price for each cabin type over time.

 

With that information at your fingertips, you soon realise that most deals are not what they purport to be.  Those that are, you can leap on.

 

I just heard about CruisePlum 2 days ago and I'm amazed that I had never heard of it before despite being a semi-regular here for years

[ceeceeDee]

I've always been a bit skeptical, however ............... We booked and paid the small initial deposit on a 10 day cruise for Christmas 2024 around 3 months ago. I've always found the best deals are for super early bookings. I've been monitoring the price of our cruise and two days ago noticed that the price of our room category with the same benefits had dropped by just over $1,000!!! I immediately rang the cruise line and cancelled our original booking and immediately re-booked on the same phone call. Got exactly the same cabin with all the same benefits (except the onboard credit was reduced to $200, originally $400). Only stipulation was that we were required to pay the deposit in full rather than finalising it in April next year. Happy to do so.

[shipgeeks]

For a number of years we have used a very large online agency (phone and email contact with our agent) which has a Group department.  If a group is being arranged for the cruise we want, we have sometimes been added to the group, giving us an additional discount.

One time we arrived at MDR and learned that we were at a large table set up for 11.  It turned out that the Head Waiter took the group booking seriously, and seated us together.  I think he was quite shocked that we didn't know each other.  It turned out to be an excellent mix of people, from all over the country.

By the way, once I've made a booking, I never look at prices again.  If I'm satisfied at the outset, I'm satisfied.  

Edited September 9, 2023 by shipgeeks
add

[ceeceeDee]

I don't as a rule look at new prices for a cruise I've booked, but after reading several posts on this forum, I decided that this time I would. Definitely paid off this time around with a saving of $1,000! Thanks Cruise Critic posters for the advice!

[Tapi]

I've found some great deals over the years. But they required some research and flexibility. 

 

• Some cruise lines offer better pricing if you go through a TA, and the discount can vary considerably from one to another. Comparison shopping, and doing some old fashioned telephone calling may yield some pricing that you'll never find online.
• Check for different promotions that may not normally be published. For example, military, interline, residency, first responders, teachers, seniors, kids sail free, etc.
• Expand your search. You may be set on doing a Caribbean cruise on a specific cruise line, but you may realize that it's considerably cheaper to sail the Mediterranean on a different cruise line during the same time period. 
• Keep checking for price drops after you booked. Prices tend to increase as cabins are sold and inventory goes down, but many times, there are considerable price drops closer to sailing if a particular sailing isn't selling well. 
• Don't assume that the budget, more family friendly cruise lines always offer the best pricing. Sometimes, premium or more luxury cruise lines offer better pricing on similar itineraries. 

 

All of these are examples of how I've personally saved money. We've saved A LOT by following these rules, and in the process we've discovered new destinations and new cruise lines.

 

 

 

[Tapi]

2 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

By the way, once I've made a booking, I never look at prices again.  If I'm satisfied at the outset, I'm satisfied.  

I'm glad that I compulsively check for price drops. Just got a refund of $2,400 for a 2024 that I had already paid in full. 🤑

[shipgeeks]

12 hours ago, Tapi said:

I'm glad that I compulsively check for price drops. Just got a refund of $2,400 for a 2024 that I had already paid in full. 🤑

LOL, if I got a refund of $2,400 it would mean I got at least two nice long cruises for free!

[Tapi]

18 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

LOL, if I got a refund of $2,400 it would mean I got at least two nice long cruises for free!

Exactly! I already applied the unexpected refund towards a deposit for another cruise, and I paid for another cruise in full. 😂

[Flatbush Flyer]

5 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

LOL, if I got a refund of $2,400 it would mean I got at least two nice long cruises for free!

For $2400 (for two cruises!), what do you consider “long?” And are you talking about door-to-door travel (including air and pre/post cruise land travel)?

[Toofarfromthesea]

Other than going to the cruise line site and mock booking your cruise, how do you check for price drops?  Are there any particular tools you use?

[teeeej]

On 9/7/2023 at 3:47 AM, Honolulu Blue said:

Most cruise line offers are the same old discounts offered in different ways.  But there are better discounts out there, sometimes... here's my story.

 

Last year I got offers for various weeklong sailings to Alaska from June to August for $50-$100 for each cruise.  With the offer OBC and the shareholder bennies, they would have been very close to free.  No, this wasn't a casino offer - I'm not actually sure why I was the lucky one, but it was hooked to the cruise line and my status there.  I had to decline them all because I'm a wage slave with limited time off and Alaska wasn't enough to move me off it.  I haven't seen any offers quite like it since. ☹️

 

 

Out of curiosity, what cruise line? 

 

I thought maybe people would get targeted based on how much they spend when on a cruise. My dad gets "almost free" offers on Carnival, but I don't. I don't know if it's because he is older, has higher status with them, tends to spend more onboard, or none of the above. 😄 

[Honolulu Blue]

38 minutes ago, teeeej said:

Out of curiosity, what cruise line? 

 

I thought maybe people would get targeted based on how much they spend when on a cruise. My dad gets "almost free" offers on Carnival, but I don't. I don't know if it's because he is older, has higher status with them, tends to spend more onboard, or none of the above. 😄 

The offer I referred to in my post was from Carnival.  

[Hlitner]

Yes, you can save money (not always in the form of a "discount") but you will need to use a decent cruise/travel agency (we strongly suggest using a high volume reputable cruise agency) and preferably one that is part of a large consortium.  Your savings might come in the form of a discount, but it is more likely to be in the form of an onboard credit. pre-paid gratutities, etc.  As a general rule we save 7-10% on most of or bookings (when compared to what it costs if you book direct with the cruise line) simply because we use decent cruise agencies.  

 

There are other ways to get big discounts, but they generally involve things like gambler discounts (for those that spend a lot of time in the casino and are tracked), Interline rates (for folks who work in the travel industry), etc.  

 

Regarding the gambler deals, some of these are quite good.  Folks that spend a lot of time in the casinos (on certain lines) can sometimes get cruises for almost free (they usually must pay the taxes/fees).  On the other hand, they may spend many hours a day gambling (not my idea of a vacation) and since the odds always favor the casino they may actually pay more for their free cruise then folks who pay the normal price :).

 

Another way to get discounts, in terms of a lower price, is with last minute bookings (within a few days or weeks of a cruise).  Over the years we have gotten some amazing last minute deals but one must be flexible, able to travel on relatively short notice, not be choosy about their cabin category or location, etc.  The best of these deals will generally be found through the usual reputable high volume cruise agencies.  In many cases, the cruise agencies are not permitted to advertise their best deals which is why it makes sense to get on the private e-mail lists of several decent agencies.  I would further advise that last minute deals are the kind of thing that when you see a good deal you need to act quickly!  Here today, gone in a few hours is the nature of the game.

 

Hank