Tips for Saving Money on a Cruise Vacation on an Australian port, making it easier for you to have an interesting cruise vacation.
Avoid paying for Airfare
Samantha Patton, the product manager at Cruise Traveller recommends availing offers that provide free flights or embarking on a cruise from an Australian port to save money as high demand and limited supply make air travel exorbitantly expensive.
To help customers find such packages easily, their website features a Fly Free tab housing all relevant deals.
Search for items included
According to Patton, the cheapest price doesn’t always mean the best deal when booking a cruise. She advises that starting prices can be misleading as they don’t reveal what’s included in your package.
Some small-ship cruise lines offer all-inclusive fares covering excursions, beverages, and specialty dining – these would cost much more if purchased individually.
Michael Middleton from MyCruises suggests seeking out deals with various inclusions such as Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Free at Sea” promotion which offers bonuses like shore excursion credits and on-board drinks;
Princess’ “Plus” plan gives you access to Wi-Fi and unlimited drinks for a daily fee while Holland America provides passengers with an all-encompassing holiday experience called “Have it All”,
giving them meals, and activities ashore along with several other amenities under one set rate per day of their stay aboard.
Package deals should be taken into consideration
Ashkan Ghasemi from Dreamlines, which organizes holidays for CruiseAway and Cruise 1st suggests that bundling various aspects of your cruise holiday such as flights, accommodations, tours and transfers through an agent who has access to exclusive rates can be very beneficial.
He says “You may find up to a 15% discount in sale with just the booking of a cruise but if you opt for an all-inclusive package deal then expect bigger savings – possibly even more than 50%!”
Steer clear of oscillating exchange rates
Middleton suggests that it’s wise to buy any on-board items that are denominated in a foreign currency beforehand.
By doing so, you can fix the Australian dollar rate at the moment of purchase and sidestep fluctuations in exchange rates when gratuities aren’t already included.
Consider the eleventh-hour
Although it is commonly recommended by experts to book cruises in advance for optimal itinerary and cabin selection, considerable discounts can be obtained by booking local routes at the last minute.
According to Andrew Zhang, CEO of Travel the World Group, “There is a significant amount of available inventory for New Zealand or regional sailings before November ends.
” P&O, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, and Princess have all advertised exclusive offers on departures scheduled later this year.
Conclusion
Cruise Traveller’s product manager, Samantha Patton, suggests booking free flights or a Cruise Vacation at an Australian portto save money on air travel due to high demand and limited supply.
The company’s website features a Fly Free tab for such deals. Patton advises searching for all-inclusive fares, such as Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Free at Sea” promotion, Princess’ “Plus” plan, and Holland America’s “Have it All” package.
Package deals can be beneficial, with up to 50% savings if combined with flights, accommodations, tours, and transfers. Middleton advises buying on-board items in a foreign currency beforehand to avoid fluctuations in exchange rates.
Despite booking cruises in advance, Cruise Vacation on an Australian port or local routes can offer significant discounts, with P&O, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, and Princess offering exclusive offers for departures scheduled later this year.
