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The Question:
How can we save money when booking a popular cruise?
I’m a parent looking to book a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship. But for a family of seven, the cruise prices are extremely high. We have two young babies, plus a 7, 11 and 13 YO. I was wondering if you had any deal recommendations or tips for saving money on a cruise on a popular new ship.
FamiliesGo! Replies With 5 Money-Saving Tips:
It’s difficult, but there are ways to keep costs down on a cruise vacation on a popular new ship.
Cruise lines tend to launch a new group or class of cruise ships over several years. Ships within the same class will have a lot of similarities, though the latest will always have tweaks to differentiate it from the previous ships.
New ships are always in high demand, and rates are often significantly higher than for other ships in the same class or for similar itineraries and amenities on other lines. And no matter which line you choose, the cheapest rooms typically sell out first.
In short, your ability to save money on a popular new ship is going to be limited, but here are some ideas for trimming the size of your cruise fares at least a bit:
Learn The Ship’s Schedule
Ships typically sail within different regions in the summer and winter and the prices are usually different.
If the ship is more important than the itinerary, check travel dates at several different times of the year, including non-school-break weeks if you can manage it. Some sailings offer better starting prices, but others will offer better discounts for kids, so keep your eye on the total.
The further ahead you can book, the more easily you’ll be able to book those less expensive state rooms.
Take a Shorter Trip
Cruise lines sometimes offer three- or four-night trips on a new ship for people who just want to experience the latest offerings. Three or four days is enough time to sample what’s new on a ship, especially if you skip the one port day.
More Planning Help:
• 5 Tips To Make The Most of A Royal Caribbean Cruise
• How The MSC Divina Stacks Up For A Family Cruise
• 12 Questions To Ask Before You Book Your Next Cruise
Deal With The Cruise Line Directly
In general, I’ve had the best luck booking directly with the cruise company, and it’s worth calling instead of booking online because the agents can be very helpful.
You can ask which sailings for this ship will have the best deals for your group and if there are any sales or new discounts coming up that you should wait for. They might even tell you when prices will start to drop for the new ship.
Regardless of how you actually configure yourselves when you get on board, when you book, put an adult in each room. Kids-sail-free deals and other discounted child fares usually require the kids to bunk with an adult. Spreading the adults out will allow you to maximize these offers.
Sometimes you can save money by letting them assign you to a room instead of you choosing them in advance.
The rooms will be in whatever class you book, so you won’t have any surprises. Better still, if all the rooms in your chosen class book up, you might luck out with a free upgrade. Just make sure that they can honor any requirements you have for adjoining or adjacent rooms if you choose this option.
Whatever room you book, steer clear of upselling. Few parents have time to sip enough cocktails to make a drinks package worth it. And you’ll probably be happier if your kids can’t drink all the soda they want to.
One more idea: If you like the cruise line and have done more than one cruise, join its loyalty program. You might get preferential rates or perks like extra onboard credits, which won’t save you money but will help your money go further.
Do A Little Online Price Hunting
It can’t hurt to check for deals on sites like Expedia, Cruise Critic, Cruise Direct, Cruise Compete and Cruise Plum. One of my most cruise-savvy travel-writer friends likes VacationsToGo, but you have to register with the site to see the deals.
Of course, for a new, in-demand ship, prices could be more or less the same as what the cruise company is listing — unless you wait until the very last minute. And very few families can manage that.
Travel Agents might know about specials and be willing to hunt around for the best rates for your travel dates. But they aren’t going to secure discounts unique to them.
Choose An Older Ship In the Newest Class
Finally, once a new ship is launched, the previous ones in the same class lose some of their caché as interest shifts to the new kid on the block. But some of these other ships are still fairly new, often less than five years old.
And they have many of the same room options, amenities, entertainment and activities as the new one does, along with their own unique features. Their rates will start well below the new ship.
You can always book one of these for your next vacation and wait for prices and demand to slacken on the latest ship.
A Note About Age Requirements on Cruise Ships
You don’t say how old the babies are. Keep in mind that many cruise lines do not allow infants younger than 6 months to sail.
Babies usually need to be at least 12 months old on cruises that have three or more consecutive days at sea. Port days on a cruise line’s private island are sometimes considered at-sea days for this policy.
Most cruise companies also require someone 21 years or older in every state room unless the state rooms connect.
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Photos Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.