Tips & Tricks for Understanding Cruise Deals
If we’ve learned anything from our customers since we launched ShipIcons, it’s that cruise prices can be confusing if you’ve never bought one before. Deals and discounts can change by the ship, the date, and the season. Our aim is to make prices transparent and easy to understand, but it’s not uncommon to get a question like “Can I combine a senior discount with a military discount?” In an effort to illuminate how cruise deals and pricing work, let’s look at pricing rules and standard discounts.
How Deals Work
Something that’s often difficult to understand about rates and deals in the cruise industry versus other travel industries is that prices are highly controlled by the supplier. In this case, the cruise line has a lot of say in exactly what prices to publish for any cabins they offer. In the past, a lot of confusion about cruise pricing occurred because agents varied in how they advertised any extras they may have added to a deal. Some agents would use their commission from the sale to advertise a discount, while others would divide up the price by pulling out “port fees,” making things especially complicated for consumers.
The term “port fees” still confuses a lot of us, but this was basically a portion of a cruise fare that a travel agency doesn’t make commission on because it’s related to the fees that cruise ships pay per passenger as they visit various ports. Today, most cruise lines have rewritten their policies in order to reign in the confusion and keep things simple for agents advertising deals. You won’t often see the word “discount” in advertising for cruise deals, and agents can no longer reference “port fees.” Typically you will just see the full fare without taxes in an advertisement or on a website.
There are, however, a lot of great ways to enjoy a discounted rate on your cruise if you qualify. Here’s an outline of how those discounted rates work, and how you can make smart, money-saving choices when you book your cruise!
Senior, 55+, and AARP Discounts
Each line has its own way of describing the discounts they offer to the elders of any generation, but they all tend to apply to people who’ve passed their 55th year. What can be confusing about cruising is that these don’t apply all the time on every sailing. Instead, a cruise line will offer a senior rate on specific sailings to encourage seniors to book. Some may even limit the quantity of cabins sold at this rate for a sailing. There may also be a small window of availability. Check too early or too late and it may not be offered.
It’s worth noting that Princess Cruises and Holland America Cruises never offer special rates for senior cruisers, so keep that in mind when you’re searching for the best rates on a cruise itinerary.
Police and Firefighter Discounts
Like senior rates, police and firefighter rates can vary in their availability. You won’t find them on every sailing, but they can be a nice deal when you do. Celebrity, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean are notable lines where you’ll find these discounts offered on select sailings.
Military Discounts
If you’re active duty military personnel for United States or Canadian military, you can find deals for yourself or even your spouse while you’re deployed. Conditions vary per line, but some extend the offer to veterans and honorably discharged members. Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean all offer military discounts to spouses of deceased members of the military or those who are currently deployed.
Past Guest Offers
Past guest rates may be more common than any other deals. These are usually a reduction on the total price, but sometimes include bonuses beyond the typical past guest benefits. These may come in the form of onboard credits or a free upgrade. Like other types of offers, past guest rates aren’t offered on every single sailing and there may be a small window of availability.
Regional Discounts
To encourage cruisers who have to travel farther to get to the port, a cruise line may offer rates that apply to residents of specific states. For example, many of these will show up for California residents when a line hopes to entice them to come all the way to Florida. These rates are usually in limited supply, so if you find a good one, it’s smart to jump on it.
How to Multiply a Special Rate
Let’s close with a tip about making that special rate go a bit farther. When it comes to rates that apply to seniors, military, police, or firemen, only one person in the cabin must meet the requirements to secure the rate. With that in mind, you might be able to save a bit more by splitting up your seniors when booking a family vacation. Strategic use of your passengers who qualify for special deals can turn typical deal hunting into an art of its own.