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
Free Ticket With Aeromexico*
Traveling with friends or family? Consider Aeromexico's latest offer—buy four tickets and receive the fifth fare free. Destinations include Mexico City, Los Cabos, Merida, Monterrey, and others. Travel is available into December.
All Seasons: Up to 50 Percent Off Weekend Stays
Get up to 50 percent off last-minute weekend stays with All Seasons Hotels. Plus, all stays come with daily breakfast, wireless Internet, and free coffee, tea, and water.
Walt Disney World: Summer Savings Up To 40% Off
This summer save when you visit Disney. Kids stay free plus save 15% to 40% at select Disney Resort hotels and treat your family to a fun-filled getaway for stays most nights now through October 2, 2010.
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.
Wyndham Hotels: Free Nights, $100 American Express Card, and More
Get a 5th night free & $100 American Express Gift Card when you stay 5 consecutive nights at Wyndham locations in California, the Caribbean, & Mexico.
Novotel: Save up to 45 Percent
Novotel Hotels packages include special offers for families and discounted rates in the city. Many offers include free breakfast, and the lowest hotel rates are guaranteed when you book through Novotel's website.
Top Five Weekend Getaways for July 2010
Whether you want to travel to the ballpark, a winery, the beach, or somewhere in between, these five destinations have got you covered.
Top 10 Weekend Getaways for May 2010
May means spring, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and a summer full of barbecues around the corner. Get away for less at one of these 10 destinations. Offers include free nights, free food and drinks, unlimited rounds of golf, and more.
December Weekend Getaways From $50/Night
Psst... a secret for you. If you're able to get away during the busy holiday season, you'll find some of the best weekend getaway deals of the year. Squeeze in a quick trip this season and get a great bang for your buck.
November Weekend Getaways From $70/Night
If you have some flexibility in your schedule, hoteliers around the country have promotions to entice you to take a weekend away. Rates for November getaways start at $70 per night
October Weekend Getaways From $45/Night
Autumn is one of the best seasons for taking a weekend getaway, with crisp afternoons, beautiful foliage, and harvest bounties in many parts of the country. Even better, there are plenty of deals, too.
September Weekend Getaways From $99/Night
Fall tends to bring affordable travel deals in abundance, and this year is no exception. Leisure travel providers offer promotions to entice travelers to visit, starting at $99 per night.
Disney Cruise Specials From $450
For three- and four-day Bahamian sailings this May and June, Disney is offering discounted rates. Adult prices start at $450.
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 through 15 to ride for no charge. Kids under six always ride free.
Disney Caribbean Cruises From $632/Adult, $207/Child
Thinking about next year's vacation? Disney seven-night Caribbean sailings start at $207 per child and $632 per adult.
Tourist Passes From $48/Adult, $38/Child
Go Card discount passes for Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, and Seattle, among others, give visitors pre-paid admission to dozens of 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.
CityPass Offers up to 50 Percent Off Family Attractions
CityPasses offer up to 50 percent off on admissions and the chance to skip entrance lines at select family-friendly attractions in 10 North American cities.
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, from $50 per adult, and free for children 12 and under.
On Greyhound, 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.
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.
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!
