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