How to Get a Senior Discount on Cruise Lines

People over 50 can save big with senior travel discounts. Although many airlines have reduced or dropped senior airfares, most cruise lines offer seniors deeply discounted rates on exciting or relaxing cruises. By combining information, planning and flexibility, seniors can save a bundle on cruises.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Email account

1. Subscribe to free newsletters and travel discount alerts from general travel websites and senior oriented websites. Alerts by email are usually updated more often than newsletters. Frommers, Smarter Travel, and Senior Journal are trusted sites that have excellent coverage of senior cruise specials.

2. Check companies that specialize in senior cruises for discounts on group travel. They often provide deeply discounted rates or free cruises for the group's organizer. Get your booking cost further reduced by referring friends or family who book cruises.

3. Visit last minute vacation sites, travel auctions and cruise consolidators to get deep discounts on unsold cabin spaces. Find these by looking on the Internet travel sites and trusted sources like USA Today Travel (print or Internet) and Frommers.

4. Take a volunteer vacation cruise. In addition to helping others and seeing your destination from the resident's viewpoint, you will cut the cost of your cruise travel. Many trips offered by non-profits may also be tax deductible.

Tips & Warnings

• Off-season cruises are often much cheaper than regular season. Adding a senior discount can reduce your travel costs even more. Caribbean cruises are less expensive during the summer and more expensive during winter.
• Buy trip interruption, lost baggage and medical travel insurance for any cruise trip.
• Always use a credit card to purchase vacation travel. If a dispute arises, your credit card company can help get your money back.
• Not all consolidators are trustworthy. Check with the Better Business Bureau and get recommendations from trusted sites like Frommers.

Resources

• Visit frommers.com for senior discounts on cruises.
• Visit smartertravel.com for senior travel deals.
• Visit seniorjournal.com for travel deals and senior information.
• Educational and volunteer trips can be found at travelwithachallenge.com.

[hillcrest]

on 12/5/2008 Senior Discount
Hillcrest Guest House, St. John, US Virgin Islands
All rates were reduced by 20% off. Senior citizens receive additional 5% off.

www.HillcrestStJohn.com