Because today's cruise ships are extremely large, operators can offer individual clients lower rates in exchange for early booking. These offers are usually for off-season or select sailings. Also, sites may or may not even be upfront enough to reveal which cruises have early-bird promos, nor what the original cruise rates are, until you book with them.
For instance, the Holland America cruise line site simply announces they're offering up to 50 percent off on deposits for all its 2010 fall Caribbean trips, which leave either from Tampa or Fort Lauderdale. In contrast, Carnival Cruises offers an August 2010 to January 2011 series of short Caribbean cruises at the "lowest rate" possible, with some per-head rates as low as $159 or $219, if you book a trip with them three months in advance.
Holland America Line (North America / Corporate Headquarters)
300 Elliott Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
U.S.A.
1-877-932-4259
hollandamerica.com
Carnival Cruise Lines
3644 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
U.S.A.
1-888-227-6482
carnival.com
Conversely, discounts are also offered to clients who book a vacation on the last minute. Watch the cruise and travel agency sites carefully to get this sort of discount---because they post these deals on the last minute, too.
For example, Princess Cruises posted a last minute cruise deal for as low as $429 per head for a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean, leaving Florida on September 12, 2010. Around the same time, Norwegian Cruise Line posted a last-minute discount on a 14-day roundtrip from Miami through the Bahamas, set to depart on September 4 and 18, 2010, for as low as $1,299. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International simultaneously posted a 7-day Caribbean tour departing Fort Lauderdale also on September 4 and 18, 2010, for as low as $1,029, aboard the celebrated "Oasis of the Seas", the world's current largest passenger cruise vessel.
Royal Caribbean International
Corporate Guest Relations
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132
U.S.A.
1-800-256-6649
royalcaribbean.com
Princess Cruises
24844 Rockefeller Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
U.S.A.
1-800-PRINCESS
princess.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
U.S.A.
1-866-234-7350
www2.ncl.com
American senior citizens aged 55 years or older are frequently given discounts. But these are for selected cruises only, and discounts aren't always specified until you make a booking.
For instance, Royal Caribbean International states that they offer special discounted sailings for their senior-citizen guests several times each year. One example is a 4-day Caribbean cruise aboard their ship "Grandeur of the Seas" which leaves Fort Lauderdale on September 2, 16 and 30, 2010 and offers a "Senior Special" discount.
Another example is the Norwegian Cruise Line's 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on October 10, 2010, departing from Miami, which will provide discounts to seniors.
Royal Caribbean International
Corporate Guest Relations
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132
U.S.A.
1-800-256-6649
royalcaribbean.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
U.S.A.
1-866-234-7350
www2.ncl.com
