There are many factors that you must consider when looking for a budget cruise. The first factor is the time of year that you want to take your vacation. The next consideration is how long in advance you should book your vacation. The last item that you should consider is where on the cruise you should book your room.

When booking a cruise to the Bahamas, the time of year you want to book your cruise in will likely dictate the price you will have to pay for the cruise. Bahamas cruises tend to be more expensive during the winter time, especially in the period leading up to Christmas, than during the summer, fall, and winter seasons. So if you want to book a Bahamas cruise, you will want to book it during the summer, fall, or winter.

You should also book your Bahamas cruise as far in advance as possible to ensure getting some good travel deals. The farther ahead you book in advance, the cheaper your Bahamas cruise will be. If possible, you will want to book your trip at least six months in advance.

Finally, where you have your room on the cruise will dictate the price you will pay for it. State rooms on the outer part of the ship tend to be much more expensive than internal cabins. To ensure that you will get a good deal on your Bahamas cruise, you should opt for an internal cabin.

Getting Bahamas cruise deals is not difficult if you know the factors that you must consider for getting that good deal.

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To fill vacancies, cruise vendors will often give last minute deals and low price travel offers. You can consult a travel agent to find a Cruise according to your budget, schedule, and the place where you wish to go.

Luxury Cruises are normally high priced one, but can be had at a discount when you book a group deal. For example a family, church group, team, work, or other organized group can book at a significant savings and usually the organizer can travel for free when a certain number of rooms are bought. Family cruises have some options like ‘children are free’.

All food and accommodations will be provided by the cruise according to the menus given. The services provided range from onboard entertainment to sight seeing in port, and even spa-style pampering.

Holiday cruises are specially for the ones who has a tight schedule and want to enjoy a special time of year onboard a boat. Educational cruise are offered for students to learn about civilization, history and religions. The Caribbean, Bahamas, Hawaii, the Mediterranean, and Alaska are some of the most popular cruise destinations.

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For visitors with a slow connection or if you prefer the text version, read it here 6 Secrets the Travel Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know About Cruise Travel Deals

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12 Night Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Lines repositioning route from new Orleans to Boston starts at just  $499 per person with up to a $250 shipboard credit. This cruise caribean route runs April 19th and includes stops in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, and Bermuda. Get the details here.

11 Night Transatlantic

Another Norwegian Cruise Lines repositioning cruise bargain from Miami to Dover, England for an amazing $399 per person. Departure on April 17th with ports of call in Portugal, Spain. This one is for the cruise purist with almost every day at sea, but at an incredible $36 a day this may just be the cheapest floating luxury buffet known to man! Upgrade to oceanview for an additional $200. Check it out now.

10 Night Panama Canal

This Princess Cruise Lines itinerary departs Ft. Lauderdale, Florida March 23rd and travels west through the canal, culminating in Acapulco, Mexico. Ports include Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Huatulco on this fantastic budget cruise. Interior rooms start at just $672 and upgrades to oceanview are just $96 more. Book it here.

14 Day South Pacific

This is one of the cheapest cruise deals we’ve seen for South Pacific voyages. This Celebrity Cruise Lines route starts in gorgeous Auckland, NZ on April 12th and hits Tauranga, NZ, the Cook Islands, Tahiti Islands of Moorea, Bora Bora, and Papeete, then finally Hilo and Honolulu, Hawaii. Get your killer winter tan starting at only $899. Learn more and reserve your cabin now.

18 Night South America

Norwegian Cruise Lines is really cutting prices to beat the economy and this exotic roundtrip bargain cruise from Los Angeles includes one-way airfare to Santiago, Chile and one night hotel before next day departure. Ports of call include 3 stops in Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, then back to LA. Check it out here. (Source – TravelZoo Top 20)

7 Day Caribbean

In the super-cheap category, this cruise travel deal is 7 days aboard the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas. Starting at a mere $319, this cruise caribbean deal runs roundtrip from the Dominican Republic and includes stops in Guadelupe, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Lucia. See all the details now.

4 Day Caribbean

Another one of our Bahamas cruise deals for the ultra tightwad cruise traveller, this Carnival Cruise sails roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida and includes two stops in the Bahamas Islands. Fares start at $249 for inside cabin and only $279 for an oceanview upgrade. That’s 70% off the brochure price for this killer cruise travel deal. Grab your cabin here.

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Transatlantic Routes

• 17 Days for $625 – Costa Cruise Lines departing Everglades, FL on March 15th and hitting Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, and Barcelona, as well as several other ports. $747 gets you and oceanview cabin upgrade. Learn more or book it here.
• 11 Days for $474 with up to $100 onboard credit – Norwegian Cruise Lines through CruCon departs Miami enroute to England, Spain, and Azores. Learn more here. Book by 1/12 to get up to $1000 shipboard credit special (varies with room type). *Note: deal souce TravelZoo Top 20 emails.

7 Nights Caribbean from $379

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 8 departure dates in February and March. Itinerary is round-trip from Charleston, SC and stops include Nassau, Grand Bahama, Port Canaveral, and a private island. Step up to oceanview for as little as $429! Reserve your cabin here.

14 Nights South America for $799

Celebrity Cruise Lines departs Buenos Aires, Argentina March 1st and hits 10 ports in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Upgrade to an oceanview room for an additional $99. Get the details here.

7 Nights Mexican Riviera from $349

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 8 departures in February and March with roundtrip itinerary from Los Angeles. Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Find out more here.

12 Days Down-Under for $805

Princess Cruise Lines itinerary departs Sydney February 10th and includes 3 ports in Australia and 5 ports in New Zealand. For $100 more, get an oceanview cabin. Book it today here.

Airfare Specials to Get to the Port of Departure

Fares starting at $39 for US routes via AirTran Airways. Book by 1/15 to take advantage of these specials. Check it out here. *Note: deal souce TravelZoo Top 20 emails.

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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.

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

Port Taxes / Fees

This one may not be a surprise to you that they exist, but you may or may not have been quoted a price that included this charge. Port taxes vary widely depending on the ports of call, but for a 7 day cruise you can expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $150 to $250 per person. Everyone pays these fees, so you can’t avoid them, just make sure when comparing cruise travel deals that you are looking at the complete cost.

Fuel Surcharge

This charge can also really mix-up the value of your cruise travel deal. As a relatively new invention in the cruise industry, fuel surcharges are not standard. You may not see one at all or your may see one that is $100 or more.

Insurance

Actually, there are two types of insurance I’m referring to here – medical traveler’s insurance and trip insurance. The first covers you for any medical incidence on your voyage which may be a lifesaver if your regular medical coverage does not extend outside the US. Trip insurance, on the other hand is protection against unexpected cancellation to ensure you receive at least a partial refund of prepaid fares. Read the fine print on BOTH of these optional charges, so you are not surprised.

Is That All?

Each of those items above will be charged in advance of your trip, but what about once you are on-board the ship? Everything was prepaid since a cruise includes food and entertainment – right? Well, be sure to check out part two of this article Cruise Travel Deals – 4 More Hidden Costs 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

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