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How To Save Money On Your Next Cruise With Your Travel Buddy Cruises

What’s your next trip really going to cost you? Travel expenses can add up faster than you might think.
The cruise industry bills cruising as a great value, for one upfront price, your accommodations, meals and trip are paid for. But most cruisers end up spending more.
Learning how to save money on cruises may seem like navigating a maze. After all, you may hear dozens of different prices quoted — all for the same cruise!
Brent Vanderstelt, owner of Your Travel Buddy Cruises says his rule of thumb is to assume he’ll spend half the amount of the cruise fare on incidentals.

But if you pursue these simple strategies — from the initial planning stages to the day you disembark from your ship — you can cruise like royalty and still keep your wallet intact with cash.

First, you want to focus on booking the best deal.

Timing is critical. The best deals are available either by booking early — a year or so before a cruise departs — or by booking late, within two or three months of a ship’s departure.

Early booking deals are usually available through travel agents, such as Your Travel Buddy Network or directly through the cruise lines. Late booking deals are typically offered online by huge Internet discounters, such as Your Travel Buddy Cruises. If you have plenty of flexibility in your travel plans, late bookings are usually the hottest deals going.

The choice of stateroom is another key. If you plan to spend most of your time on deck or in the ship’s public rooms, you can forego pricey extras such as verandahs or even windows — both of which can add hundreds of dollars to your fare.

Smaller cabins, too, can cost thousands of dollars less than elaborate suites. Yet you might be surprised at how roomy the cabins can be on modern cruise ships.

Second, you’ll want to concentrate on tracking down discounts.

You are most likely eligible for discounts on your next cruise:
If you’re traveling as part of a group of friends or family, you can find the best group cruise deals at Group Cruise eBook.
are past age 55, all cruise lines offer sailing at senior rates, many t 1000 imes with groups
have served in the military, most cruise lines offer military discounts
or you have sailed with a particular cruise line in the past (perks and frequent sailer programs)

Policies differ by each cruise line, though, so be sure to ask to your travel agent or online cruise advisor.

You can also find big discounts by choosing off-season sailings or special "repositioning" cruises, in which ships travel from one region to another, such as Alaska to the Caribbean or South America to the Mediterranean.

Most crucial, you’ll want to be alert to saving money onboard.

Many cruise lines offer low upfront fares to fill cabins that would otherwise go empty, figuring they’ll make up any deficits by charging for lots of extras once you board.

These may include alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, casino gambling, "premium" restaurants, souvenir photographs, and, most expensive of all, organized shore excursions, which can cost hundreds of dollars apiece.

Cruise for free, start a group cruise
If you have enough people who are interested in taking a cruise together, then you can earn a free cruise. The cruise line will award a free berth for every so many cabins your group books. This can be as few as five cabins for longer Caribbean, Alaska and European sailings or as many as eight cabins for shorter cruises. There’s typically no cap on the number of free beds you can earn, so as long as you keep booking cabins, you group can keep earning free beds. Visit Group Cruise eBook for more information.
Take Advantage of the FREE Activities

Plenty of things to do on a cruise ship are free, like using the fitness center or catching live performances, from comedy to musical variety.

On Princess Cruises, one way to lure you out of your room is a giant poolside screen, 300 square feet, that shows feature films (including first-run movies and family shows), concerts and even telecasts of events, from the inauguration to the Super Bowl to the Oscars. Princess calls the program "Movies Under the Stars" but there are broadcasts all day as well as at night. The screens are now on Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess, and they’ll be installed in 2009 on Golden Princess, Dawn Princess and Coral Princess.

Remember, though, that all these pricey extras are optional. By carefully establishing an onboard budget — and sticking to it — you can keep spending way down.

Once you know how to save money on cruises, you’re in for smooth sailing with Your Travel Buddy Cruises and Group Cruise eBook.

By: Brent7784

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Technorati Tags: Caribbean cruise, carnival cruise, cruise, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise princess, cruise ship, cruise ships, cruise to, cruises, cruises Caribbean, cruising, Disney cruise, Norwegian cruise

Whether you are an experienced cruise goer or you are interested in learning about getting aboard for your first excursion, you’ll find that there are plenty of options that are open to you and that at the end of the day, you will need to think about what you can do in order to get the results that you need from your experience. Everyone agrees that cruises are fun, and everyone believes that cruises can be the time of your life. They are perfect for almost any vacation setting and you will find that there are a number of different options for you.

Another thing that most people will agree on is that cruises are going to be expensive! Even if you initially get a good deal, by the time that you come home, you will find that you could be in all sorts of trouble when it comes to understanding what you have spent. If you want to make sure that you are going to get the right amount of value for the money that you put in, you will find that you need to take a look at the resources offered by Cheap Cruise Shore Excursions.

With Cheap Cruise Shore Excursions, you’ll find that you are in the position to call the shots. In the first place, one of the first things that you will realize is that being on the boat and taking a look at what the boat has to offer is not something that is terribly pricey. Instead, you will find that there are a number of different things that will add up, but one thing that will quickly start piling up the green is the fact that the on shore excursions are so expensive. Especially when you are looking at doing something that will has been provided by the ship itself, you will find that you are in a situation where you need to think about making sure that you are going to get the right results.

When you look at Cheap Cruise Shore Excursions, you will find that there are many alternatives towards making sure that you don’t need to worry about the money that is being spent. You don’t have to go on the cruise supported or arranged excursions, no matter what the cruises tell you.

Many cruises will play on your fears of other places not being safe, or of being left behind if there is a schedule problem If you are worried about these, you’ll find that you don’t have to be worried any more. Take some time to really consider what your options are. You can play it safe -and expensive!- at the cruise’s beck and call, or you can try for your own unique experience.

Take some time and really think about what your options are when it comes to getting the right amount of work done when it comes to your cruise. Look into what you are interested in and make sure that you don’t compromise. Look into everything that Cheap Cruise Shore Excursions can offer you and when you see what’s there, you can bet that you aren’t looking back!

Author: Brian Garvin

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Garvin

Technorati Tags: Caribbean cruise, carnival cruise, cruise, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise princess, cruise ship, cruise ships, cruise to, cruises, cruises Caribbean, cruising, Disney cruise, Norwegian cruise

It is a nice afternoon and you are sitting comfortably, enjoying a good time at your home, and just when you think that things cannot go any better, the phone rings. It is a travel agent, letting you know that you just won a cruise trip! Sounds great, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, if something like this happens to you, most probably you are about to be conned.

There a lot of companies working hard to get your money, through scams and cons. One of them gives away cruises for free or at a very reasonable (or should I say unreasonable?) prices. It is important that you are aware that this scam is going on, so that you can avoid becoming a victim.

They way they work, is by calling you and telling you that you won a free cruise, or that you are eligible for a special offer. In both cases, either because they are charging you a small price for the cruise or because they claim that you need to pay only for the port fees, the agent will try to get your credit card information.

Once they have this information, they will be able to place any charges they wish to on to your credit card. If this is not the case, and you are actually offered a free cruise, be prepared for the worse experience in your life. Remember that nothing comes for free, so be sure that these people are on to something.

If you have never been on a cruise you are probably excited for this whole new experience. And if you have been on a cruise before, you are ready to enjoy some classy and elegant time. But you will be shocked when you see the ship you will be traveling on: A dirty and awfully smelly ship.

There is nothing classy about this free cruise, that is for sure. The food is terrible, the pools are shut down, the rooms are so small you can barely fit in them, and when you think it cannot go worse, the true colors of your free cruise are revealed. You are about to go through one of the worst scams ever.

You will be "asked" to attend a timeshare sales presentation. If you decide you do not want to, they will add up more charges to your credit card. They claim they work with Ramada Inn hotels, but it is not true. You will be staying at a hotel whose name includes the word Ramada, but they are definitely not Ramada Inn.

Plus, the hotels are fifteen miles from the beach, in an ugly and dangerous area. Of course, you cannot expect to get a refund. A lot of people tried to and were unsuccessful. So be aware, this is nothing else than a timeshare scam. You will end up spending a lot of money.

Most of their victims are currently working with attorneys and with the B.B.B, but where not successful in getting their money back yet. It is highly advisable that you do your research before accepting an offer for a cheap cruise; most probably it is a scam. Remember the old saying, if it is too good to be true, then it probably is.

Author: Julian Lenox

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Lenox

Technorati Tags: Caribbean cruise, carnival cruise, cruise, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise princess, cruise ship, cruise ships, cruise to, cruises, cruises Caribbean, cruising, Disney cruise, Norwegian cruise

Essential Tips For Scoring The Best Cruise Deals

Looking for great cruise deals? Well you are in luck. Thanks to the recession, prices are plummeting and there is no better time than now to get cruising. In the past, purchasing a cruise generally involved visiting a travel agent, leafing through a few brochures, and booking a trip. Nowadays, due to the growth of the industry, there are a lot more packages and offers to weed through in order to find the best bargains. Here are some essential tips for scoring the best discounts.

Find a Good Travel Agent

A travel agent can help you stay on top of the latest deals and keep track of price drops. A good travel agent can also advise you on whether or not it is worthwhile to purchase a package or opt for separate airfare. Rely on the expertise of a travel agent to help you determine which deals are good and which deals are too good to be true.

Timing is Everything

You can typically get the best deals when you book around six months in advance but of course last-minute deals are also available. Booking a cruise during shoulder season can save you around 20 to 30 percent off the typical rate. However, you can also find great deals during the ‘wave period’ which falls between January and March. The wave period is the busiest period for Caribbean cruise lines and sometimes there are hot bargains to be had.

Call the Cruise Line

Call the company directly before booking to find out if they are offering any specials. Sometimes when you find discounts online they are actually not as good as what you can get when you book directly with the company. You may be able to get additional discounts if you have ridden the cruise line before, you fall in a certain age group, or you are traveling with a group. The price quote you receive from a cruise line should be the starting point for your bargain hunting efforts.

Stay Close to Home

To avoid paying airfare and dealing with the hassle of flying, select cruises departing from ports close to your hometown. You can save yourself a lot of money and trouble by doing so. An increasing number of cruise lines are expanding operations so find out whether there are ships departing from ports near you.

Compare Prices Online

Find a website catering to travel deals that regularly publishes the best 1000 bargains found all over the web. Subscribing to updates provided by such a website will allow you to stay informed about the best cruise deals without having to visit every travel deals site out there.

Check the Sunday Paper

Sunday papers in large metropolitan areas, particularly in cruise embarkation cities, often publish ads featuring great bargains. Check the online edition of the newspaper if you aren’t a subscriber or head to the local library to check out the latest Sunday edition.

Negotiate with Travel Agents or the Cruise Line

After you’ve done some comparison shopping, try to negotiate lower prices on the quotes you have received. Many times a travel agent will try hard to beat the lowest quote you have gotten. If you aren’t able to negotiate a lower price, try negotiating onboard extras instead.

By: Melissa Schwarz

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Technorati Tags: Caribbean cruise, carnival cruise, cruise, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise princess, cruise ship, cruise ships, cruise to, cruises, cruises Caribbean, cruising, Disney cruise, Norwegian cruise

One of the best ways to send your vacation is by going on a cruise. A wonderful cruise will take away all your stress and give you memories to last for years to come. However you do not want to spend a lot of money on your vacations. There are a number of cheap cruises that are there that will enable you to save a lot of money and experience a fantastic time on-board.

Here are some guidelines to finding cheap cruise lines.

Search the web

The internet makes available a wealth of information on the cheap cruise deals that are available with different cruise lines. With some extensive searching you are sure to come across a host of attractive options. Compare shop and select the best deal. Cruise companies offer regular updates. Keep checking these to know about impeding offers.

Try off season cruises

Prices during off season drop considerably for most of the cruise lines. You can check out the low season months of a particular cruise line and opt to travel during that time. The bets part is that you will get the same facilities but at reduced prices.

Inaugural cruises

Another great way you can travel cheap is by opting for the inaugural cruise. These offer discounted rates at the start to lure travelers and be sure to avail this wonderful opportunity.

Check big vacation suppliers

The large suppliers generally offer low prices. There are a number of online suppliers that make available affordable cruise trips. With some research you can find these big suppliers and check out their rates.

Book very early or very late

The prices of the cruise lines drop significantly when you are booking very early or very late. This way you can save a lot of money on your travel.

Consult a travel expert

It is important to plan carefully while planning a cheap cruise. A good option is to consult a travel expert. If you do not have the time to search the web, this is a good way to know about the best deals that are on offer.

Check reviews

There are many reviews that have been submitted by previous travelers about cheap cruises. You can check out these reviews and this will help you know the best cheap cruise deals that you can avail of.

There are plenty of cruise ships sailing today which means more competition among them and better prices for you. With the tips above you can surely find that great cheap cruise deal that you have been looking for. Finally it is important that you select the right cruise line. Ensure that you will be satisfied by what it has to offer and you will be able to have the trip of your dreams.

Author: Steven Kirby

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Kirby

Technorati Tags: Caribbean cruise, carnival cruise, cruise, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise princess, cruise ship, cruise ships, cruise to, cruises, cruises Caribbean, cruising, Disney cruise, Norwegian cruise