photo cred: cruisedealsonline.com
Mention a cruise holiday and what do you think? Perhaps it’s a voyage around the Caribbean, stopping off to explore mesmerising new destinations before stepping back onboard to wine and dine your way through the evening. Or maybe your idea of a cruise is a city-hopping break around European coastlines, enjoying a gastronomic journey of discovery inspired by the flavours and vineyards of Spain, France and Italy.
Whatever springs to mind, it’s not likely to be a shoestring holiday or one that’s lacking in the luxury stakes. But thanks to a vast array of cruise deals covering everything from short two-night cruises and local itineraries to cruises to the far-flung corners of the world, a cruise holiday doesn’t have to be reserved for the lucky few.
Late deals are a great place to start. Just like land-based package holidays, cruises will often come down in price a few weeks before the departure date. This is because any cabins that remain empty onboard a cruise will cost the company money – so it’s better to fill the last few remaining cabins at half price than noting at all.
Of course availability on last-minute cruises will be strictly limited and you’ll need to make compromises – for instance, you might get the itinerary you want but not your preferred type of cabin, or you might have to opt for a slightly different itinerary if it means a better price.
If you have your heart set on a certain cruise holiday, whether it’s a specific itinerary on the P&O Arcadia or a Mediterranean cruise on your only available week of the year, you should consider booking well in advance. This way you’ll get to spread the cost of the holiday and you’ll have longer to pay it off – but you’ll also find a number of early bird deals too. This could be a tempting 20% discount or a free upgrade to a superior cabin.
Whatever you’re after and however tight your budget, there’s a whole host of cruise deals out there – it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
