Looking for a great vacation for you and your family? Want to make sure you find the best cruise travel deals available? The travel industry has changed a lot in the last 10 years and more and more adventurers are booking their own travel online. This cuts out the middle-man (travel agent) and ensures that you can research the details yourself and get a great cruise travel deal. The question isn’t where can you get a cruise deal, it’s how do you find one that you can feel confident about and know that you are not getting ripped off.

As with most significant expenditures, you will want to do a bit of research to make sure you are getting the best cruise travel deal. Since you are likely not going to rely on a professional to advise you, a little bit of time spent in the planning stages is prudent. Things you should always investigate:

Ports of Call

Which ones do you want to visit? What exact itinerary fits for you? You never want to pick a cruise simply because it looks like a travel good deal. It needs to be one you and your family would choose, even if price weren’t an issue.

cruise ship at sunset

Cruise Lines

Same rules apply here. You haven’t saved anything on your cruise travel deal if you simply choose a lesser quality cruise line to save a buck. If you don’t want entry-level accommodations, don’t choose a boat known for budget travelers. The food won’t be as good, the service less attentive, and at the end of the day you will not feel like you got a bargain.

Hidden Fees

All cruises have additional charges beyond just the standard traveler fare. But some choose to introduce them ala cart, while others offer a “full meal deal.” You cannot avoid costs like port taxes, tips, and beverage fees, but just make sure when looking at multiple advertised prices or fare quotes that they are comparable in terms of what is included. A 5 day cruise for $399 sounds like a pretty good price until you realize there is $179 for port taxes on top of it, a $49 fuel surcharge, and a mandatory onboard 10% tip that will be added to your bill at the end of the voyage. It turns out that the better cruise travel deal was the competitor offering a similar cruise for $549, but all of those charges were bundled into the deal from the beginning. Buyer beware.

Learn more about hidden fees in the 2 part feature Cruise Travel Deals – 4 Hidden Costs You Must Know About.

What is the Buzz?

Especially if you are a first-time cruiser or are trying a cruise line that you have not been on before, it’s a good idea to find out what others are saying. Online forums, traveler review, friends, family, and coworkers are a good source of experience to draw on. Remember that there are always going to be complainers and you can’t please everyone all the time, but if 60% of travelers say they would never again take a cruise travel deal from Company X, then you may want to heed their advice.

Great cruise travel deals can be found from many different websites and a variety of providers. Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia will offer some decent prices and specialists like Cheap Cruises and Cruises Only run great deals on any flavor of cruise you like. Just make sure you know what you are buying so that you can get on with enjoying the vacation of a lifetime!

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