No vacation beats a cruise vacation in my opinion. You arrive at the cruise terminal and are usually checked in and on board the ship within 30 minutes and from there you are taken care of and pampered more than I have experienced on any luxury hotel or resort. Everything except for certain drinks are included in the cruise price and you can eat delicious meals 24 hours a day and enjoy the cruise ship's entertaining from early morning to late evening.
Of course all this comes with a price tag, and I have seen up to 600% difference between the best lowest and highest price.
First of all you need to be aware of the difference in the cruise prices during the different seasons. The low season is late summer/early fall and you can get incredible good deals during this time of the year. The downside is the risk of hurricanes and possible unbearable heat at the tropic destinations. Personally this is my preferred time to go on a cruise. When you book your cruise you probably book based on the destinations and the amount of cruise days. You need to know that you are guaranteed the amount of cruise days you ordered, but they do not guarantee that you will actually make it to the promised destinations. Circumstances in wind and weather can be reason for the captain to change plans and take you somewhere
Get 50 Percent Off an Extra Room or Night at Wyndham Hotels
Get 50 percent off an extra room for the kids, or get 50 percent off a second night when traveling alone at Wyndham Hotels.
Wake up to Breakfast Deals at Wyndham Hotels
Wyndham Hotels gives you a good reason to rise and shine, with two breakfast deals that cater to families and adults.
Kids Stay Free, Single Parent Specials at SuperClubs
Two SuperClubs properties are offering promotions aimed specifically at families on a budget: Kids can stay for free with a minimum three-night stay, and single parents don't have to pay a single supplement.
Save on Nationwide Family Attractions With CityPass
CityPasses offer up to a 50-percent savings on admissions and the chance to skip entrance lines at select family-friendly attractions in ten North American cities.
Save on Orlando Hotels, Attractions, and More With Free Magicard
Orlando visitors can save on attractions, dining, accommodations, transportation, and shopping with the Orlando CVB's free discount card.
Save on Attractions in Nine U.S. Cities Plus 16 Ski Resorts With Go Cards
Go Card attraction passes for Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle give visitors pre-paid admission to dozens of attractions at a discount.
Save on Universal Orlando Admission With Discounted Online Passes
Universal Orlando Resort is offering a special online ticket deal that allows you seven days of unlimited admission to both the Universal theme parks for $85. That price is just a few dollars more than a regular one-day two-park pass purchased at the gate.
All-inclusive Grand Canyon outings from $336/person
Package includes two nights' lodging, most meals, gift shop coupons, reading materials, and two days of guided hiking and tours.
Take the family to Six Flags San Antonio from $259/night
La Quinta Inn & Suites San Antonio Medical Center offers four tickets to Six Flags Fiesta Texas with its new family package. Rates start at $259, a savings of 10 percent.
Columbus-area water park getaways from $209/night
The Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark offers a package including lodging and four two-day passes to the CoCo Key Water Resort.
Kids Fly Free on Air Tahiti Nui*
Children ages 11 and under can fly free with two paying adults on Air Tahiti Nui. Travel is valid between November and May.
Northeast bus company offers kid's discount of 40 percent
Peter Pan Bus Lines offers a 40 percent discount on fares for kids under 12 traveling with an adult. This Northeast-based bus company serves more than 100 destinations in the region.
Free Bahamas sailings on your birthday
Discovery Cruise Line, a small Florida-based cruise company, offers round-trip sailings to Grand Bahama Island for free during your birthday month, and from $80 per adult and $40 per child age six to 11, for non-birthday boys and girls.
On Greyhound buses, kids travel for free or 40 percent off
Families can save on Greyhound bus travel with discounted kids' fares. Greyhound is the biggest bus company in the U.S., connecting more than 3,100 cities and towns in North America.
Autumn Disney cruise specials from $389, kids sail from $149
For three- and four-day Bahamian sailings this October, November, and December, Disney is offering discounted rates. Adult prices start at $389 and child fares start at $149.
Experience home away from home with family B&B escapes
Families looking for an alternative to standard hotel accommodations may find B&B stays to be a better value.
ResortQuest Hawaii hotels offer free kids' perks and rates from $91/night
Families staying at ResortQuest Hawaii properties can take advantage of free perks for kids. Kids 17 and under stay for free, and kids ages 12 and under receive a special "Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free" ID card that can be used for free meals and admissions to top attractions.
Kids ride for free on national bus service in the U.K.
National Express, a British bus line that services 1,200 destinations throughout the U.K., sells two family discount cards that allow kids up to age 15 to travel for free.
Free fares for kids on Swiss rail service
When parents purchase a "Swiss Pass" for rail travel in Switzerland, they can request a free "Swiss Family Card," that allows children ages six to 15 to ride for no charge. Kids under six always ride free.
Seven-night Disney Caribbean cruises from $849 adult/$189 child
Thinking about next year's vacation? Disney seven-night Caribbean sailings start at $189 per child and $849 per adult.
else and maybe even cancel one or more of the ports you were suppose to arrive in. It has never happened to me, but I believe most cruise lines will credit you for a lost port.
When I go on a cruise I do it primarily for the time I spend on the ship. For that reason I have no problem booking my cruise in September and take the chance with the hurricane season and the captain changing his route. I know I will get my amount of days on the ship and I know I will enjoy every minute of it.
Another way to save on your cruise vacation is to keep and eye on the specials. Go to the cruise lines websites and sign up for their news letters. This way you will get the cruise specials delivered right to your mailbox.
These are the 4 largest cruise lines:
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Princess Cruises Carnival Cruise Line
Happy cruising!
