How to Save Money on a Fall Cruise

Fall is the perfect time to take a cruise. As children head back to school, most families aren't able to get away for a vacation. And since families are the number one type of cruise vacationer, cruise prices drop significantly in the fall. The weather is still perfect for fall cruises, and you will often receive discounts on your cabin and ship credit to use on your vacation. By using the tips below, you can save even more money on already reduced cruise prices.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit card for reservations
• Passport

1. Visit the cruise line websites. Sometimes, you can find great fall sales on the websites of the individual cruise line. Select a cruise line like Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian, and then check their site under the sales and deals tabs. You can read reviews of the cruise lines on various travel websites like TripAdvisor.com to find out which cruise line is the best for your needs.

2. Join a customer program. If you've sailed before, you probably know about the preferred customer programs that most cruise ship lines have. By signing up and agreeing to receive emails about special sailings, you can get first notice of impending fall sales.

3. Check cruise clearinghouse companies. Some companies like Vacationstogo.com offer a clearinghouse of discount cabins and special priced cruises, including special fall sales. These can be especially good if you aren't set on a particular destination.

4. Take a last minute cruise. Many websites offer last-minute deals for unreserved cabins on cruises sailing within 90 days. Waiting until the last minute could score you even deeper discounts on last-minute fall cruises. Look for these last-minute deals on websites like CruiseCritic.com and Vacationstogo.com.

5. Bring a friend. Sailing solo can be costly. Make sure to travel with a companion to take advantage of the best prices for cabins.

Resources

• Vacations to Go
• Cruise Critic
• Cruises at TravelZoo.com