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| The Basics | Book a cruise without floating a loan
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Hardly anyone pays the full price listed in those glitzy brochures. Here are some tips on finding the right trip at the right price.
By Amy B. Crane, Bankrate.com
Dreaming of a leisurely cruise? You're not alone. In 2003, more than 8 million people went on cruises, an increase of 8.3% over 2002, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. If the economy rebounds, the percentage of people choosing a cruise is expected to increase even more in 2004 and 2005.
But before you book, you've got a lot of decisions to make. Destinations range from Alaska to the South Pacific. Cruise ships run the gamut from the cozy -- those ferrying no more than 150 to 300 people -- to the gigantic, with more than 3,000 people.
These ships offer a bewildering variety of amenities, from dozens of restaurants and bars to activities such as virtual golf, rock climbing walls and innumerable pools, hot tubs and spas.
The cruise lines and ships
There are eight major cruise lines and a number of smaller players, each offering different ships and experiences. Carnival, for example, has a fleet of 22 big ships and specializes in cruise experiences with lots of extras, including casinos, nightclubs, gyms and pools.
On the other end of the spectrum is Windstar Cruises, which has two luxury sailing yachts with capacities of 150 and 300 people. Windstar caters to an older crowd with a taste for out-of-the-way, exotic locales such as Bora Bora and Malta.
If you want to go on a cruise but aren't sure what type of cruise would suit you, check out the SureCruise wizard at 02cruise.com, a discount cruise booking Web site. It asks you questions, focusing on your preferences for types of activities, dining, dress and whether you're traveling with kids, and gives you a couple of cruise lines that may best meet your requirements.
"While the cruise lines try to maximize their potential audience by projecting the most broad-based appeal possible, the truth of the matter is that a cruise line that delights one individual could make someone else miserable," says Evan Eggers, president of 02Cruise.com. "Matching a vacationer's personality to that of the cruise line and ship is crucial to having an enjoyable trip."
Just because a cruise line advertises to attract certain passengers doesn't mean that the reality always lives up to the hype. Dennis Genord went on a Caribbean cruise with his wife, 2 1/2-year-old daughter and members of his wife's extended family in July.
What was billed as a family-friendly cruise turned into a nightmare when he found out the activities for children -- including the playroom and pools -- were off-limits to children under 3.
"Our daughter was two months shy of 3 and there was no tolerance for her doing anything," he says. "We couldn't bring her on the top deck because the railings were spaced too far apart, or on any of the decks that had pools because she didn't understand that she couldn't swim."
The lesson: Check out exactly what family-friendly means before you book, Genord advises. This "trust, but verify" attitude applies to other activities too. If you're determined to stay fit on board, check into the fitness room. While you may be imagining a huge gym equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, the reality may be a couple of old treadmills and bikes stuck in a stuffy room on an out-of-the-way deck.
A world of destinations
The range of possible cruise destinations is mind-boggling. For those looking for a weekend getaway, three-night cruises to Bermuda, Key West, Vancouver or Cozumel, Mexico, are popular. Favorite destinations for longer trips include Alaska in the summer, as well as Hawaii, the Greek Islands, the Baltic and the Panama Canal.
For the truly adventurous, cruises of 100 days or more aren't unheard of, but those are extremely expensive. Most vacationers stick with seven- or 10-day cruises that feature multiple port visits with lots to do.
As cruise lines launch newer, larger ships, the ships have become destinations in and of themselves. "Some cruise ships have the feeling of moveable resorts and this is a big option that didn't exist before," says Chris Lafrenz, cruise marketing manager of Liberty Travel.
He notes that not all destinations are available the entire year, so do some research before settling on a time to travel and a particular destination. It's also worthwhile to check out what new ships cruise lines are launching, as they frequently offer specials to fill these new ships during their first few voyages.
Selecting a cabin
As with many other types of travel, the low-end and high-end cabins are the first to go, says Eggers. The cheapest cabins are the inside cabins, which have no windows or portals and are about 175 square feet in size. On the luxury side, Norwegian Cruise Line offers villas with more than 5,500 square feet of living space.
Eggers recommends a 175- to 250-square-foot cabin with a balcony for those willing to spend a bit more. "With a balcony, you can leave the sliding door open at night and hear the ocean, and in the morning order room service and eat breakfast out over the water," he says.
Most cruise lines and cruise travel Web sites offer floor plans so you can see where the different cabins are located. Those in the middle of the vessel are the most stable, and you might look at those if you have a tendency to be seasick.
Genord recommends that you find out what's below and above your potential cabin before you select one. "We were on the second deck from the top and above us was where one of the nightly entertainment venues was located," he says. "We had to listen to the same singer sing the same songs until 11 p.m. every night and then the noises of the staff as they cleaned up and rearranged furniture for the morning."
Travel agent or do-it-yourself?
Unlike other types of vacations, travel agents still dominate the cruise industry. Even do-it-yourself Web sites such as Priceline and 02Cruises.com offer free travel advice to those wanting to book a cruise over the phone.
"We offer cruises with all the major cruise lines and while you can do a lot of the research online, many people want to talk to a cruise consultant to help out with details like selecting a cabin or finding out what types of seatings are available for dinner," says Brian Ek of Priceline.
Talula Guntner, a travel agent and professor of travel and tourism at Northern Virginia Community College, says that an experienced travel agent can help you figure out the best type of cruise line. Many have traveled themselves on a number of the cruise ships.
"It's a travel agent's job to help you find out what your motivations are for going on a cruise, what type activities you'll enjoy and who you'll be traveling with so you can get the best vacation experience," she says.
Some agencies and agents specialize in cruises. They may have the most comprehensive information and also may get the biggest discounts from the cruise lines.
First-time cruisers may need more handholding since there is such a variety in ships and destinations. If you've gone on cruises before and know exactly what you're looking for, you'll probably be more comfortable booking one on your own, either directly through a particular cruise line or through an online discount Web site.
Bargain hunting on the high seas
Since the industry is still so dominated by travel agents who work with the cruise companies, cut-rate bargains aren't as easily found as with, say, air travel or hotels. Even the discount Web sites have similar prices, and the special sale promotions from the cruise lines tend to rotate from one site to another, says Ek.
However, virtually no one pays the full prices advertised in the cruise lines' shiny brochures. As with most other types of travel, booking out by a year or at least six months improves your odds of snagging a good rate.
Cruise lines do demand a deposit when you book, but if fares go down in the meantime, you can usually talk to your travel agent or the cruise line and get them to give you the cheaper rate, says Guntner.
"If you're traveling with a couple of friends or family members, one of the cheapest ways to go on a cruise is to travel with a couple of people and book a small inside cabin," says Lafrenz. "If you aren't planning to do anything in your room but sleep, this is one way you can save money."
Eggers says that traveling during the shoulder seasons -- such as between Labor Day and Christmas, but not including Thanksgiving -- is one way to secure a discount price. Any dates around holidays, such as New Year's and Valentine's Day, and the summer are likely to be more expensive.
If you book your cruise through an airline cruise site, you can rack up lots of frequent-flyer miles as a bonus. United, Continental and American all have cruise sites where you can book a cruise and get your airfare.
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