Thursday, January 10, 2008

Cheap Cruises - The Best Time To Pick Up A Cheap Cruise

Dean Caporella writes:

The art of finding cheap cruises is relatively easy today. In fact, it's often said it's too easy.

The term cheap cruises has almost lost it's meaning because the simple truth is, cheap prices for cruises today are almost standard.

There has been a revolution in recent years with companies putting bigger and better ships on the water enabling more people to be able to take advantage of cruise holidays.

Finding Cheap Cruises

However, there are still some "secrets" to nailing cheap cruises which many won't be aware of. One of the best times of the year to look for cheap cruise deals is the second half.

If you have a little patience and can be flexible with your travelling times then waiting until the last few months can be very lucrative in terms of making savings.

With the presence now of online booking facilities and information websites the competition is fierce for the vacation dollar. This is also true among the various cruise lines who simply want to fill their cabins before their ships leave port.

Closeout Cruise Deals

Towards the end of the year you should be on the lookout for what are termed as closeout deals. Some of the savings one can make are substantial.

Closeout deals are basically so-called because the end of the year is approaching and with so many cruises scheduled to depart from the various ports around the world, cruise lines look for a last minute rush on cabins.

This is especially so in the northern hemisphere with winter in full flight and the festive season approaching. Many people prefer to stick around home with family and friends and cabins are usually much more available.

Where To Find Closeout Deals

You could simply phone the cruise lines themselves however, a prudent shopper of cheap cruises will head to their local travel agent or simply phone around.

In fact, you don't have to leave this until the last minute as you could talk to travel agents earlier in the year and let them know what you're after and how much you want to spend.

The other excellent source of closeout deals are the online booking services and websites. Like office-based travel agents you also have the option of being alerted to possible deals via regular newsletters.

For more great tips on your next cheap cruise vacation plus, advice on how to prepare and find the best cheap cruises.

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