Saving on Cruise Bookings
Saving on Cruise Bookings
How to Save Money on Cruises: Insider Tips and Tricks
We all love a good cruise vacation, don’t we? The idea of sailing across the open seas, exploring new destinations, and indulging in endless buffets is enough to make anyone excited. But what if I told you that you can make your cruise experience even better by saving money and getting extra perks? Yes, you heard it right! In this article, we will share three insider methods to help you save money on cruises and make the most out of your trip.
Method 1: Booking a cruise with rewards credit cards
Booking a cruise can be a complicated ordeal, especially when you’re trying to earn or redeem credit card rewards at the same time. So, what’s the best strategy? According to Ted Rossman of Creditcards.com, the key is to keep it simple and flexible. Instead of relying on cruise-branded credit cards that offer meager rewards and limit your options to just one cruise line, consider using a flexible travel rewards card or a cash back card.
By booking with a travel rewards credit card, you can unlock travel-related perks like travel assistance and no foreign transaction fees. Here are some of Rossman’s favorite travel cards for maximizing the points you earn when booking a cruise:
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns five points for every dollar booked through its travel portal. Chase works with almost every cruise line except for Disney, and they will even match the price of any package you find at a partner cruise website. Plus, they are currently offering 60,000 bonus points worth $750 in travel when redeemed on the Chase travel portal.
- The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns five miles for every dollar booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar on all other purchases. New cardholders can get a tempting 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months.
If managing points or miles for booking and redeeming travel sounds like a hassle, don’t worry! You can keep it simple with one of the best cash back credit cards. Take, for example, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, which offers unlimited three points back on each dollar spent on travel, restaurants, gas, and other categories, and one point back on everything else. It comes with a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus points, worth a $200 cash redemption value, when you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months. Plus, there’s no annual fee!
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Method 2: Wholesale club memberships
If you’re a fan of the perks a Costco Membership can give you, you’re in for a treat. Costco offers some of the cheapest cruise packages on the market, especially under its Kirkland brand. They also partner with Disney and other major cruise lines, giving you a wide array of options to choose from. An entry-level Costco membership costs $60 per year, making it a worthwhile investment for frequent cruisers.
But wait, there’s more! BJ’s Wholesale Club also has incredible travel discounts for its members. When you book a cruise through BJ’s travel portal, you can receive up to a $500 BJ’s gift card. They offer discounts on major cruise lines and everything you may need for your trip, including airfare, rental cars, and hotels. The lowest membership tier at BJ’s costs $55 per year, making it an affordable option for budget-minded travelers.
Both Costco and BJ’s also provide last-minute deals on cruises, some of which are incredibly cheap. For example, Costco is currently advertising a four-night Caribbean cruise on a Carnival ship for $585 per person, plus taxes and fees. BJ’s is touting a seven-day MSC cruise to the Bahamas and Florida for an even lower price of $419 per person. These deals typically cover “interior” rooms with no windows or portholes, perfect for cruisers on a budget.
Method 3: Travel agents
Remember travel agents? While the internet may have decimated the industry, travel agents still offer real value to clients, especially when it comes to booking a cruise. Let’s face it, arranging a cruise vacation can be exceptionally complicated, with various pricing tiers, perks, and multiple payment deadlines to keep track of. This is where a good travel agent can become your best friend.
A reputable travel agent can help you find a great deal, understand pricing tiers and perks, and take care of all the nitty-gritty details for you. The best part? You don’t have to pay the travel agent any direct fees since they typically earn commissions from the cruise lines. To find a trusted agent, ask for recommendations from family and friends who cruise. You can also read reviews on the Better Business Bureau’s website or consider looking for an accredited agent through the American Society of Travel Agents’ consumer site, Travel Sense.
Before You Lift Anchor
Before you set sail on your dream cruise vacation, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. The cruise industry isn’t always picture-perfect, as we’ve seen with recent norovirus or COVID-19 outbreaks that put passengers at risk and ruined vacations. Additionally, cruises contribute significantly to pollution, with an average ship having a carbon footprint equivalent to that of 12,000 cars.
If environmental issues are important to you, consider choosing a cruise line with a higher rating in the most recent Cruise Ship Report Card from Friends of the Earth. In 2022, Regent Seven Seas and Disney were the top-rated lines, known for their commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism practices. For a sense of how clean and sanitary a cruise ship or cruise line is, you can conduct a search on the CDC’s Advanced Cruiseship Inspection Search tool.
By following these insider tips and tricks, you can save money on cruises while still enjoying a fantastic travel experience. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next cruise adventure and get ready for a vacation of a lifetime!
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*Credit card offers checked as of August 1, 2023.
