Tue 16 May 2006
Posted by Travelman under Travel
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Search for “cruise deals” on Google, and you’ll get 6.5 million results. You could spend hours combing these websites for low prices, special offers, and signs that the seller is legit. With no guidance but your own Web savvy and research skills, you may despair that a great deal is hard to find online.
The process can be easier than you think if you know where and how to look. I can’t tell you which of the many online cruise sellers are the best, but I can give you advice on how to conduct an effective search. The following tips—peppered with insider advice from two major online travel agencies—will put you on the path to uncovering the best the Web has to offer.
Bigger is better
Cruise lines and cruise sellers work hand in hand to sell cruises. Therefore, an online agency that regularly sells a high volume of cruises will have more negotiating power with the cruise lines than a small agency or one that doesn’t specialize in cruise vacations.
“Pricing is determined by the cruise lines, and they can decide to sell a cruise at a discount just with Expedia,” says Katie Dienes, spokesperson for Expedia.com. When you’re searching for an online cruise agent, look for companies that focus on cruises or for big names such as Expedia and Travelocity. These sellers have clout with the cruise lines that can result in better deals for you.
Focus on extra value
Many consumers don’t know that cruise prices don’t vary much from seller to seller. The cruise lines tell agencies what prices they can advertise, and agents can try to angle for a better offer. More often than not, the difference between cruise deals lies in the add-ons, not the dollars and cents.
Both online and bricks-and-mortar travel agencies will negotiate extra perks for their clients, such as complimentary Champagne, spa treatments, insignia merchandise, photos taken by the ship’s photographer, shore excursions, and ship credit. If you’re not seeing differences in cruise fares, look to the add-ons to save you money.
Timing is everything
When you do your online cruise search can greatly affect the fares you’ll find. “Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have a one-day sale every Tuesday, and Carnival has a one-day sale every Wednesday. Norwegian and Holland America hold sales week by week,” says David Crooks, vice president of cruise product for World Travel Holdings, whose cruise brands include CruisesOnly, Cruises.com, CruiseOne, and Cruises Inc. Not all itineraries are discounted on these days, but you’ll have a better chance of finding low rates on a cruise line’s sale day than on any other.
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