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 If
you thought selecting a cruise was difficult, picking a cabin drove you nuts and choosing among itineraries kept
you up at night, you probably will think that pricing a cruise will send you off the deep end! In reality, it is
not that difficult since cruise lines, in the last few years, have done a good bit to equalize the cruise price
structure. It is much less likely than it was in the past that your dining table mates will have paid half what
you paid for exactly the same category of cabin. Yes, there still is variance in prices but getting a good deal
is probably easier now than it was in the past.
When pricing a cruise the most important aspect is to determine that the cruise is right for your vacation. A great price on a cruise that you do not enjoy does not equate
to a good deal. Personally, we would much rather pay a little more for the cruise we really want rather than settle
for less cruise to save a few dollars. Pick the line you want, the itinerary you want and the ship you want before
you pick the price you want and you'll win out in the end.
Hints on pricing
Time of year: Comparing the same
itineraries, prices are generally higher in the summer than they are in the winter. Prices can be double or more
for the same cruise, same itinerary. This is strictly due to the huge increase in the number of families cruising.
Summer means no school which mean vacations which means supply and demand is at the peak. Likewise, school vacation
periods and holidays are the highest periods in the winter months.
When to book: This has a lot to
do with the popularity of the cruise. If the destination is going to be popular (like the Mediterranean this summer
and next) then you will want to book early. Good cabins sell out fast and if any cabins remain as it gets close
to cruise time, they will command a premium price. Couple that with the fact that airfare will probably also increase
as you get close to sailing time and you could end up paying a small fortune. If the cruise is not real popular
and cabins are not selling quickly, then it probably makes sense to hold off to see how the prices trend. This
can be a balancing act, trying to get a cabin you will be happy with at a price that fits--before the ship sells
out!
Compare cabin categories: There can
be huge differences in prices--cabin category to cabin category--on the same cruise. Sometimes one category of
cabin may be $500 more per person--$1000 per couple--and the cabins are but a couple of doors apart. Look closely
at the price breaks when you compare categories. Likewise, there are sometimes huge premiums being charged for
certain cabins, whether they be veranda cabins or certain cabins in the aft of the ship. We've taken cruises where
we would have spent the amount equal to 2 more cruises on a special cabin. Thanks, but we'll take the extra cruises!
Compare different weeks: You can
often find variances in prices from week to week. If you have a little bit of flexibility you may be able to save
yourself a couple hundred dollars or more. Certain weeks will just sell a bit better than others (and carry the
highest prices). If you are going to the same ports of call, go for the cheaper week!
Flexibility pays: If you are very
flexible (dates as well as itinerary), you are most likely in the driver's seat. These are the cruisers who seem
to always get the rock-bottom prices. You can try resources such as SkyAuction or Last MInuteTravel to research their current cruise
prices.
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