What's the best way on getting great deals on cruises

[angiem0217]

PayPal is now an option for payment through carnival. They offer 6 months interest free financing. As long as you pay it off in 6 months you will not have to pay any interest

 

 

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[Towel Critter]

I find that the best price for any particular cruise is about 60 days out, unless that particular cruise is filling up fast. As others have said, be flexible. I pick out maybe a half dozen cruises, put them on my favorites bar, and check them daily. This is how I know 60 days out is a crucial time. You won't always get a deal. Sometimes they just aren't there. And they are fewer and farther between than they used to be. But if you follow them closely, you might just find one. My way isn't the only way, and maybe not even the best way, but it has resulted in some pretty good deals for my wife and I. Good luck and happy cruising! Oh, and forget about peak times as far as finding a deal. Look at Fall cruises through early Winter, late January and February. But be aware that Fall cruises bring a certain risk for Hurricanes and Tropical storms. Everything has a price, even good deals.

 

edit: Another tidbit of wisdom. Don't finance a vacation. If you don't have the money, wait until you do.

[Unclearnie]

Since you're almost platinum, you should use the past guest promotion to book your cruise. I have noticed that at least since last March, Carnival has been offering past guest rates at only $20.00 per person above the early saver rates. You get choices of cabin location and you can cancel or change your reservation for free (unless your T/A charges you a fee.)

[bury me at sea]

Four to five years ago I booked Early Saver as soon as possible and got some nice price reductions.

 

In the last couple of years price reductions have been rare.

 

For summer of 2018 I booked Past Guest rate this spring. Price has increased twice and we're still a year out.

 

I believe unless you are able to book a guarantee very close to sailing date, the best bet in today's market is to book as early as possible.

 

With Past Guest rate you can take advantage of price reductions until final payment date, but my recent experience has been you will be happy with your charge as the price on your category steadily increases.

 

Enjoy your cruise however you book.

[nealstuber]

13 of my 14 cruises have been courtesy of the casino as either bounce backs, Premier or Ultra cruises where I have only paid taxes and port fees. I primarily play slots and with the exception of one cruise I have always walked off the ship ahead by $1000+.

 

 

 

You do realize you are a very lucky exception - almost a statistical anomaly! You beat some very poor odds. May your good luck continue.

 

 

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[nealstuber]

Carnival is the cheapest cruise line out there.

 

 

I'm not sure that's true:

1) Pricing on individual sailing vary, I've seen rates for the same cruise at the same time cheaper on NCL, RCCL, and MSC and even princess and X. Depends on how full the ship is after final payment.

2) At least with the two big agencies we use, it's easier to find OBC and other perks with lines other than Carnival and that can offset the price differential (and then some).

3) While I used to agree that average pricing on Carnival was the best, I think MSC has been cheaper in the last couple of years and will be for the foreseeable future, and they match you past guest status. If OP is close to Plat on CCL, it might make sense to make Plat on CCL then try MSC.

 

 

 

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[firegal2539]

In the last three years I have gotten 5 free cruises and 2 reduced fare cruises. Understand that when I say free the cruise lines offered an interior room for free, I had to pay tax and fees about $300. I didn't want an interior so on all 5 I upgraded to an Ocean View, which depending on what cruise line I was on, it cost from about $100 to $250 more.

 

All cruise lines use different systems to rate play. Someone stated that it is the amount of time and how much played, which is correct on most lines. I have played and lost $1,000 on a cruise and played and won $1,000 on a cruise and was given a free cruise, they want me to keep coming back.

 

The most important thing is on the very first night, introduce yourself to the casino manager, you can usually find out there name at Guest Services. I always do that and tell them I want them to rate my play. On Royal the certificates are given out the last night of the cruise and range from $100 to $2000 off of a cruise booked and taken within the next year. NCL emails and sends a letter about a free/reduced cruise.

 

As I said earlier the best thing is to talk to the casino manager and have them explain what it takes to earn a free or reduced cruise.

[apcci2]

Call me impressed - would love to know how you found that sweet deal. Did you use a travel agency or book direct.

 

Happy Sailing!(y)

 

 

I'm impressed

[Bobbysjack]

This phenomenon of getting a free cruise from gambling in the casino has had me intrigued from the first time I heard of it.

 

How much do you have to spend in the casino in order to get one of these offers?

 

On our last cruise which just my husband and I, we (well really just my husband) lost $200 playing the slot machines. I have no idea what amounts others gamble but to us that seemed like a lot of money to lose. I was hoping it would maybe magically qualify us to get a free offer, but I realize that realistically perhaps you would have to lose enough money to have paid for a whole cruise in order to be awarded a "free cruise". Is this true? Or is it just a lucky draw system?

 

I have heard that it is number of spins and not money lost? Is that true? Lol we lost our $200 in about 30 mins of play!!

 

Can anyone shed any light on this? I'm really curious!! I would love to get a free cruise!!!

 

 

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My husband and I took our first cruise in February 2016. We have since taken three cruises and just booked our fourth for October. Two of the four cruises were "Free" from Carnival. (We pay to upgrade, taxes and port fees and gratuities, last cruise $700 for ocean view total) Both my husband and I enjoy the casino, and spend most of our money in the casinos on board the ship. We do not drink much, and I could care less about shopping, (although I also enjoy the art auctions and have purchased a few beautiful pieces) so that is the only place we spend our money. We usually bring $200/day to gamble, each. Sometimes we spend more, sometimes we get lucky and spend less. We frequently earn free drinks, and the casinos hosts send us cookies and what not. Cruising is a good choice for our vacations, because it offers both sun and gambling... with "breaks" for port days. Anyway, I am not sure what the minimum is, but that gives you an idea...

[Moonarino]

I didn't read this entire topic as I usually do, so apologies if I'm repeating anything...

 

I simply say Shop, Shop, Shop. Then shop some more. CCL, several travel agent sites, whatever. Sign up for cruise line emails (create an account on their websites). I say shop around not because one TA might give better discounts or more OBC than another (I find that most of them are pretty much identical), but because you will have a better chance of spotting whatever specials all the cruise sellers have listed.

 

Don't make a decision in a day or two. Look for specials, not just on CCL. Give it time. Shop some more.

 

For instance, last month Princess and/or Celebrity were offering $300 in OBC credits for Ocean View and Balcony staterooms, and the staterooms themselves were comparably priced with Carnival. The only reason I didn't go with that was itinerary. (Carnival has more variety in itinerary than just about anybody out there.)

 

But if you find a cruise you like, with a particular cabin category and location that you like, don't wait too long. Good cabin locations often sell quick. An "adequate" price for a great location will most likely be far better than a great price for a poor location. (Been there done that.)

 

Also shop for different times of the year. I usually go for October-November or April-May, because those periods are often some of the cheapest.

 

Carnival is not necessarily the cheapest you'll find. Shopping in the past 4-6 weeks I found cruises on both RCI Oasis and Allure that were cheaper than Carnival Vista or Magic, and comparable to the Breeze cruise I ended up booking.

 

Shop, shop, shop.