It seems like everyone is promoting some great cruise travel deals online. But if you want the absolute cheapest cruise, check out these secret techniques that no one is talking about.

For visitors with a slow connection or if you prefer the text version, read it here Cruise Travel Deals - 3 Little Known Secrets to Save Big.

 

 

Select military personnel can now snag the ultimate cruise bargain - a no charge cruise as a thank you for their service in the middle east. Any US military who has been in Iraq or Afghanistan currently or in the last year is eligible for a rare freebie.

This one day cruise from Ft Lauderdale, FL to the Grand Bahama island offers soldiers a chance to relax with their family and forget about work for a day. The cruise, run by Discovery Cruise Lines boasts all the amenities of a standard voyage including buffet meals, Vegas-style entertainment, onboard activities like spa and salon services, pools, exercise facilities, and casino.

Voyagers will not pay one red cent for the day which starts at 7:45 am and returns to port in Florida at 10:00 pm. In addition, since many are still overseas or not able to take leave in the short term, the offer will be available through December 2010.

Contact Discovery Cruise Lines directly to make a reservation online at or 1-800-93-SHIPS. You will need your reservation receipt, military ID, and a letter from your unit commander confirming dates of service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

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The first part of this video showed you hidden costs that show up before your leave for your cruise bargain. This second installment focuses on a few unexpected costs that can bite you once you are ready to go on your cruise bargain. Gotcha!

If you missed the first video, watch it here VIDEO: Hidden Costs in Cruise Bargains.

For readers with a slow connection or if you prefer the text version, read it here Cruise Travel Deals - 4 More Hidden Costs You Must Know About.

 

 

Technorati Tags: bargain cruises, cruise bargain, cruise bargains

So you want to go on a cruise and you’ve heard that you can save a lot by snagging a last minute cruise deal? Sounds great, but now what? You’ve always heard about the luxury and indulgence of cruising, and now you are seriously considering how to make it happen. I am going to share some valuable information with you about how to take advantage of those cruise travel deals!

Last Minute Cruise Travel Deals Defined

Cruise lines are in business to make money, just like everyone else. Empty rooms = big LOSS of revenue. So as the departure date looms, and a ship is not booked to capacity, the vendor becomes very motivated to fill that space. You are the lucky winner here. If you have the time flexibility to travel within 4 to 12 weeks, then you should have no trouble finding several fantastic cruise travel deals.

TIPS for Finding Last Minute Cruise Travel Deals

Sign up for enews alerts through cruise lines, and bulk cruise vendors so that you get notified immediately of great deals. This will save you tons of time, and ensure that you are one of the first to know about specials. For a complete list of good travel alerts, visit our sister site Travel for Tightwads (scroll to the bottom of the page). This one is my personal favorite travel news alert services.

Be Ready to Act Quickly

Time is of the essence on last minute cruises, so you need to act on the information quickly. Take the time to determine where you might like to go, how long of a trip you want to take, and some regions you want to cruise in. Don’t forget to research airfare costs to the common ports of departure, such as Ft Lauderdale and Miami for Caribbean cruises, San Diego and Houston for Mexican itineraries, and Seattle and Vancouver for Alaskan jaunts.

Take Note of the Fine Print

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement when you find good cruise travel deals. You see a price that is enticing. You are familiar with the cruie lines and the ports of call, the dates fit, now you are ready to book and don’t want to miss out. But now take a few moments to be absolutely sure about what you are signing up for so that there are no regrets later. Read all the fine print! Here are a couple gotchas to check for:

What kind of room are you signing up for? Inside, outside, balcony, etc? Is it on the bottom level of the ship, near the engine room where surprise noise can really ruin your trip? Close to the bow or stearn of the boat where things can get a little bumpy in rough seas?

Are there hidden costs that you will be suprised by? Any fuel taxes or surcharges? Port taxes that weren’t included in the advertised price? How about the tip policy of the cruise lines? Sometimes they are included & prepaid, sometimes tips are expected at the end of the cruise, sometimes they are automatically added to your onboard tab - find out before you go.

To Insure or Not to Insure?

Trip insurance is often overlooked by cruise travelers, but depending on your situation, may be a cheap investment for peace of mind and to protect your investment. Don’t automatically assume it is wasted money.

Cruise vacations can be an adventure of a lifetime, if you take the time to plan in advance. Last minute cruise travel deals can save you a ton of cash and result in a great getaway for you and your family. Just be sure you know what you are getting into before hand.

Technorati Tags: cheapest cruise, cruise bargain, cruise travel deals

Cruising can be one of the most luxurious adventures you will ever embark on. A cruise world-class service, unlimited fine dining, built-in entertainment, and the chance to experience many places in a floating * resort. But when you are seeking cruise travel deals, there are some hidden gotchas that you need to be aware of in advance. That advertised price of $399 per person for a 5-day Caribbean itinerary sounds like a good cruise travel deal, but is it?

If you’ve never been on a cruise before or never booked one for yourself you may be suprised to know that the fare you ultimately pay for your trip has several components. Often times, advertisements and published fares do not include the hidden extras to appear like cruise travel deals, when in reality they are not a bargain.

This second part of a 2 part article outlines costs that may be incurred once you are onboard the ship. Be sure to check out part 1 “Cruise Travel Deals - 4 Hidden Costs You Must Know About” for info on the unexpected charges and fees at the time of booking and what you can do to minimize them.

Here are some things you need to be aware of before you leave for your next cruise travel deal:

Tips

Tipping the staff, and more specifically your cabin porter, is customary on a cruise ship. The method by which you do so varies widely. Some tipping is voluntary. Some tipping is included in the cost of the fare. And some tipping is mandatory and automatically added onto your onboard tab. In many cases, you will need cash to handle this expense. This is an area you will want to be informed about so that you are not greeted with any unpleasant suprises at the end of your voyage. It’s safe to assume that if you got a really great cruise travel deal, that less will be included in the base price of the fare.

Beverages

In the good old days, you used to get all non-alcoholic beverages for free on most ships. Times have changed and the industry has collectively moved towards more ala carte services. Of course, you will expect to pay for alcohol, but the list of free beverages no longer includes soda or bottled water on many of the budget cruises. Look for the unlimited soda plan if it’s available, especially for kids, as it will pay off. Also, it’s a good idea to bring a nice portable water bottle for everyone in your family so you can fill up frequently and avoid paying for bottled water or soda.

Shore Excursions

Shore excursions are planned group trips available for each port of call your cruise ship visits. There are usually many to choose from suiting all types of different interests and activity levels. Shore excursions will often be the highlight of your cruise travel deal, but can also be a significant expense if you are not careful. Some are as little as $25 per person and go up in price quickly to as much as $300 or even more depending on the type of events included. These costs can be conveniently added to your onboard tab, but you will want to carefully consider which and how many to do or your bill could be a whole lot bigger than you ever intended. It’s always a good idea to pick just a couple of events and make sure that they are the ones that you and your family want most to do, rather than trying to do everything. It’s better to choose one really spectacular excursion than to try to do two or three less expensive ones that won’t be nearly as memorable.

Spa & Salon Treatments

Many folks hear about the luxury of a cruise ship and envision a full-body massage from a gorgeous masseuse on a shady sun deck. Well, that image can be fulfilled, but you didn’t think it would be free, did you? Or how about a pedicure for that perfect look by the pool? These treatments are for many a big attraction aboard ship, but you will find that since there is no competitive businesses onboard the price is nobody’s bargain. One exception is to book spa and salon treatments on days when the boat is in port. Most folks will prefer to experience the sights onshore, so those days offer discounted prices for those that choose to stay on the boat.

Be careful about extra expenses once you are onboard or your cruise travel deal will start to look like a steal - for the Cruise line! Cruises offer a wonderful variety of free entertainment, so don’t assume that you must pay extra to have a good time.

More Hidden Costs

If you missed the first part of this article, be sure to read about hidden costs at the time you book your cruise travel deals here Cruise Travel Deals - 4 Hidden Cost You Must Know About.

WATCH THE VIDEOS INSTEAD

If you prefer to watch a video version of this information, catch both part 1 and part 2 here:

• VIDEO - Hidden Costs in Cruise Bargains
• VIDEO - More Hidden Costs in Cruise Bargains

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Find out what your travel agent doesn’t want you to know about discount cruise travel deals. Before you book your next cruise, watch this video for the inside scoop.

If you like this video, be sure to watch the second part about hidden costs after you book your cruise bargain here VIDEO - More Hidden Costs in Cruise Bargains.

For visitors with a slow connection or if you prefer the text version, read it here Cruise Travel Deals - 4 Hidden Costs You Must Know About.

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: bargain cruises, cheapest cruise, cruise bargain, cruise travel deals

First Timer Warning! Hey newbie cruisers, I’m talking to you!

So you’ve always wanted to take a cruise vacation and now you’ve finally found a cheap cruise deal. Well, that’s awesome and you are gonna love it, but let me offer you just a few tips to help you avoid the most common rookie cruiser mistakes! You see, cheap cruise deals are just not quite like other types of travel. Your time is more regimented and you are often confined to the boat. I will show you how to cruise like a seasoned veteran and get the maximum enjoyment out of your voyage.

Book It Early

They say the early-bird gets the worm and specialty cruise events are no exception to that tried and true rule. Popular shore excursions will always sell out within a few hours of leaving port. You have the option to book online from home and avoid the crowds entirely, with unlimited research sources. If you can’t book online, then be sure to do it first thing when you get onboard the boat. Same goes for spa and salon treatments. If you have your heart set on a massage, then book it asap. Days at sea are most popular, but veteran cruisers know that spa services are discounted when the boat is in port.

Over Planning

Many people have a tendency to want to “do it all” on their first cheap cruise deal. There is so much to do onboard and in port, it is tempting to plan packed days, nights, and just plain overdo it. Be sure to allow for some downtime to recharge between events and get a reasonable amount of sleep. Relax - it’s a vacation!

Mind Your Body

Cruises are about indulgence and if you’ve not been on one before, you may not realize that you need to pace yourself. Rich food, alcohol, gambling, late nights partying, and too much sun can easily take your toll. You don’t want to find yourself watching from the sidelines due to a flu, hangover, sunstroke, or just general discomfort. Be sure to drink plenty of water, sleep well, and consider a quick work-out to get your body right. Even if you got a spectacular cheap cruise deal, it won’t be a deal at all if you get sick.

Timing is Everything

Cheap cruise deals are even more seasonal than other types of travel. Of course you want to catch the best weather and suit your personal schedule, but have you considered…. Cheap cruise deals in spring are the most popular (as well as most expensive), and include lots of spring break travelers, kids, and families. Cheap cruise deals on fall Caribbean routes run the risk of bad weather, altered itineraries, and even last-minute cancellations due to hurricanes.

Cabin Fever

You can expect an undesirable cabin on most cheap cruise deals. An inside cabin with no windows is almost a certainty, and you may even find yourself near the noisy engine room, or towards the end of the boat where the ride is rough. Upgrades to a better room may not be too expensive and it never hurts to ask before you book your cheap cruise deal.

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