Last-minute "deals" seem to get a lot of press, but many of the best prices are offered to those who book their cruise cabins early. Many cruise lines, including Carnival Cruises (carnival.com) and Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.com), offer deep discounts to those who book well in advance of their departure. What's more, early booking gets you the most sought-after cabins and your choice of popular shore excursions and dining room seating times.
Choosing a cruise that departs from your home state can also save you money. Florida residents as well as those in California, Texas and Louisiana can take advantage of special pricing with cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises (celebritycruises.com) if they depart from a port in their state of residence. Note: only one person in the cabin need be a resident of the departure state.
Just like the airlines, many cruise companies reward past customers for their loyalty with discounts on future cruises, special perks and advance notice of sales. Discounts start with just your second cruise on most lines. Pick the cruise line that best fits your cruising style and join clubs such as Holland America's Mariner Society (hollandamerica.com), Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society or Celebrity Cruise Line's Captain's Club.
Another good way to save money on a cruise is to form a group. You could even travel for free. Don't worry if you don't have a big family or a large circle of friends. Any 16 people (eight cabins) constitutes a group on most cruise lines. These can be church members, neighbors, people you work with or complete strangers. Most cruise lines offer one free berth -- 1/2 cabin -- for each 15 people in your group. Airfare, taxes and fees are additional. Book more people in your group and you get even more free passages. In addition, many cruise lines offer additional amenities to groups, such as group photographs and complimentary cocktail parties.
