When you’re planning a vacation, there are so many choices it can be overwhelming. A vacation is a big investment of time and money. Research shows that the average person who plans their own trip online spends over 30 hours researching it. That’s almost a whole work week and many people spend more time than that! How can you avoid wasting your time and money, and get to relaxing faster on a 2023 Cruise? Our tips on how to choose a cruise.
There are 18 cruise lines and almost 800 cruises in Alaska alone – that’s a lot to research. Save yourself time by working with an expert to pick your 2023 cruise..
Tip 1: Before You Choose a Cruise, Think!
Ask yourself, what are you looking to get from your 2023 cruise. Are you looking for something the whole family can enjoy? Perhaps a romantic trip for two? Is there a destination you have in mind?
The most important question to ask though, what is your budget? Since the pandemic began, more travelers have decided to upgrade their travel and splash out on something they might not have before. Not everyone wants that though and it’s about what works for you!
If you are using a travel agent, and you should, tell them clearly what you want so they can help you plan your perfect trip.
Tip 2: Consider Value Over Price For A 2023 Cruise
All too often, travelers get drawn in by a low advertised price of a cruise, only to find out at the end of the cruise they owe money for all sorts of things. Items like “port fees and taxes”, wi-fi, soft drinks, even coffees and dining! These costs all add up to nickel and dime you, and this doesn’t even include shore excursions.
If you’re planning a 2023 cruise, that more expensive looking one might be a better value. Look behind the curtain of a “good deal” and make an informed decision. We’ve seen far too many people book a “cheap” cruise, then end up spending more money on all the extras, than if they had booked a “more expensive” cruise that included more. Don’t let that happen to you.
Several cruise lines engage in, what we feel, is more honest pricing that includes beverages, Wi-Fi, port fees, and other valuable things like photographs from professionals. Booking a 2023 cruise with one of them can result in a better experience.
Tip 3: How to Choose a Cruise to Get the Best Price?
While last minute deals still exist, nowadays the cruise lines often make the best offers to those who book early. We always suggest booking as early as you can with a refundable deposit. With a refundable deposit, it’s easier to get the price reduced if the price drops later.
Doing this trick can be hard to pull off though, since you have to remember to constantly check for price changes. That’s a big advantage that many travel agents, like us, can offer clients. If you book a 2023 cruise using a travel agent, we watch for price drops and will reach out if there’s a way to reduce what you pay or even upgrade without increasing the price.
Tip 4: Booking The Cruise
Once you’ve decided on what 2023 cruise you want to take and when you want to take it, now it’s time to book it. That’s not where the stress ends though.
When COVID hit in 2020, we had quite a few clients booked into cruises. Some of these cruises cost tens of thousands of dollars! We were able to get all of our clients a refund. If these clients had booked the cruises themselves, they would have to fight for refunds on their own. There are horror stories of people struggling to get their money back for vacations that never happened.
Good travel agents fight for their clients in those situations, like we did. And just because COVID is more under control, there are other emergencies that happen. Car crashes, sudden illness, even job loss. By working with us, we can make it easier for you to recover your money if something goes wrong before your trip.
The craziest thing is, many people are not aware that it doesn’t cost you anything to book with a travel agent. There are exceptions to that, as some travel agents are charging an upfront planning fee, but many, like us, do not. In addition, the travel agent will have your back if things don’t go right.
Working with a travel advisor can be the best way to choose a cruise.
Tip 5: Cruising Is the Best Way to Travel with Friends and Family
We think a cruise is the perfect way for a group of friends and family to travel together. We’ve done it many times. Everyone gets to the same place at the same time. On board, you can spend as much, or as little, time together as you wish.
It’s great for multi-generational travel as the kids can have fun all day in the children’s program while Mom and Dad visit the spa and Grandma and the aunties play pickleball or take a painting class. Or all the adults just sip margaritas by the pool. Some groups only see each other at dinner because they are so busy. And the children’s programs are so much fun it can be hard to get the kids to leave at the end of the day.
The ship’s photographers will be happy to take as many pictures of your group as want with no sitting fees. You only pay for the pictures you want. No obligation!
Finally, if your group is large enough, there can be extra perks and discounts available. A good travel agent can not only help you choose a cruise but can save you many headaches by keeping track of what all the aunts and uncles and nephews and nieces want.
Tip 6: Cabin Selection on a 2023 Cruise
Some people care passionately about their cabin location, others not so much. If you don’t care, you can often choose to book a “guarantee” cabin at a slightly lower price. This means they guarantee you a cabin in that category such a balcony or suite, but you won’t know which exact one it is until just before you board.
When choosing a cabin, here are some things to think about:
- Who will share what kinds of cabins? If the kids are teens, you can book a balcony cabin for the parents and an inside cabin, across the hall, for the kids.
- Do you need the cabins to be close together?
- Does the cruise ship sail up a coastline? (We’re looking at you Alaska) If it does, then one side of the ship is going to have far better cabin views than others.
Tip 7: Upgrades
In the not-too-distant-past, veteran cruisers would sometimes experience the “Upgrade Fairy,” meaning the cruise line gave them a free upgrade. Nowadays, that is incredibly rare. More and more cruise lines have programs in which you can make blind bids on upgrades should they become available. Some examples are Princess Upgrades, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up, and Celebrity’s Move Up.
We hope these 7 tips help you choose your cruise. If you need tips on getting the price on airfare, check out this post.
Check out this recent New York Times article describing why so many people of all ages are taking their first cruise.
If Athens is on your itinerary, be sure to read our article about one of the best museums in the world, the Acropolis Museum.
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