Finding The Lowest Price On Your Next Cruise!

This is a category where there are three rules of thumb to help find you the lowest price cruise vacation based on your criteria and circumstances.

1.  Never book your cruises directly from a cruise line.  You will always pay a minimum of 6% to 10% (up to 40%) higher price than booking through BestCruiseBuy.com.  We have access to the best available rates directly from the cruise line.  Our prices are even better because we reduce our commission to give back to our clients. 

2.  Decide how flexible you are.  If you are very flexible and have several weeks or months to wait for a highly discounted cruise to become available, it could be better to wait for last minutes cruise specials, which normally come out about 4 weeks prior to the departure date.  This works best when looking for cabins for two people as availability becomes very scarce for cabins that will accomodate more than two passengers.  It also really depends on how well the cruise is selling.  In 2009, we found rates falling all the time but in 2010, we are seeing the opposite and rates are creeping up as people return to taking their vacations.  

But, if you are not very flexible (i.e. you have a specific vacation time), then book as soon as possible.  At BestCruiseBuy.com, we monitor the rates for every client once booked.  If rates go down, we contact the cruise line to request the lower rates.  Also, many of the cruise lines have come out with some very attractive early booking incentives.  Now you can get the best cabin selection at the best rates.     

It is also a great idea to sign up for our blast e-mail cruise specials.  Most cruise specials have a very limited number of cabins available and it is first come, first serve.

3.  Always call to book your cruise.  Cruise Search engines (including our own) average 80% of the time showing the lowest cruise price; however, 20% of the time there are lower rates available such as senior rates, resident rates, website restricted fares, group rates for individuals and many other cruise fares that are not available on ANY cruise website.  (The cruise lines have mandated that these fares not be shown on ALL cruise websites).

Following these three rules can potentially save you hundred of dollars on your next cruise vacation or save you the headache of finding out the cruise that you wanted to take is now sold out.