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No Need to Spend a Fortune When You Cruise!

By: Mario Lapheww

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In these recessionary times, do not be discouraged in planning a relaxing holiday by sailing on a cruise. Fewer people are booking cruise vacations nowadays, while at the same time, bigger and much larger cruise ships are being built and launched. So what does it mean? It means you have the advantage since the cruise companies are really eager to get your business. Use this to your advantage and review the following guidelines.

PRE-BOARDING CONSIDERATIONS

Here's how to find the lowest fare at the best time.
•Checking the bulk buyers
Check out cruise consolidators. Consolidators purchase groups of cabins from the cruise lines and re-sell them at big cost savings to you. Even though most of these offers do not include your plane fare, the cost savings are so great, you will still come out ahead. On the web, you can find them at such sites as cruisebrothers dot com or cruiseone dot com, all of them showing discounted cruises on a regular basis.

•Don't forget the 'shoulder season'
The 'shoulder season' is that period in between a destination's high and low seasons. The rates are lower during these periods, because fewer people are escaping the winters. For example, try sailing to Alaska in mid-May or early September, to the Caribbean in late April or Septemberber and October, to Hawaii in late August, late November, February, or May or to the Mediterranean in March or November. The advantage does not stop at lower prices. Cruise lines also offer special packages to get you to sign up during these slow time periods.

•Check if school is out
Steer clear of any time kids are on holiday, such as spring or summer break. If the kids are all on holiday, cabin prices are at their peak. This is why cruise prices are real bargains right after Labor Day or following Thanksgiving.

•All set ? .. Book it!
If your schedule is flexible, try to book your cruise until the last minute. The closer you get to the real departure date, the lower the pricing gets as most cruise lines begin to quietly unload empty cabins to augment their returns. Note: 'Last minute' is a relative term. For example, security regulations now call for cruise lines to finalize their passenger list as early as 4 days ahead of departure.

POST BOARDING CONSIDERATIONS
Since cruise lines almost try to give away the cabins just to get you on board, they try to make it up later during the cruise. Here's how to keep your budget afloat.

FACTOR IN TIPPING
Make sure you know if the cruise lines have already factored in the gratuities or if they will leave it up to the passengers. To help you figure out how much to give or not to give, go to cruisetip dot tpkeller dot com, and you will get a very good breakdown on how much to give by services (i.e. waiters, head waiter, chambermaids and so on).

MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THE MAIN DINING ROOM
More and more cruise ships have specialty-restaurants to give passengers options beyond the cost-included main dining room and midnight buffet. On some cruise lines, for instance, dinner at one of their designer restaurants can run you a minimum of $50 per guest!

YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR BOOZE
Remember that BYOB does not apply to cruise lines. Most cruise lines frown on this, and some actually employ a 'liquor retention team' to seize alcohol not purchased on board. The bottles are returned to you at the end of the cruise.

Follow these simple tips and you are on your way to getting the best value for your money while enjoying that well deserved cruise holiday!

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Mario is a bored retiree who is living in the middle of the Las Vegas desert. In an effort to relieve his boredom, while at the same time make some money on the side, he has gotten into promoting a varied collection of sites, such as the Excalibur Las Vegas where he goes when his budget is tight or the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas which he visits when he's loaded.

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