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Free Upgrades, Bonus Swag, and Surprising Deep Discounts: How Insiders Cruise

An ocean cruise is a fun and exciting way to take a vacation to any destination in the world. In many cases, the cruise becomes more fun than the destination. Some people avoid cruises because of the fear that cruises are expensive. When you follow the right kind of travel tips, you can get all kinds of discounts with the cruise lines that will make your vacation affordable.

Sign Up With The Cruise Line

pic11 500x354 Free Upgrades, Bonus Swag, and Surprising Deep Discounts: How Insiders Cruise

(Image via Flickr by quinet)

Most travel companies allow customers to register for its preferred traveler groups. These are insiders that get notified of special discounts on travel accommodations, or when the travel company has other promotions going on that will allow the traveler to save money. You should register for as many cruise lines as possible so that you receive notifications of their upcoming promotions. You could get that one email that allows you to take a cruise for a price you never thought you would see.

Stick With The Same Cruise Company

pic21 Free Upgrades, Bonus Swag, and Surprising Deep Discounts: How Insiders Cruise

(Image via Flickr by waldzen)

Cruise lines will often offer discounts to frequent customers such as free room upgrades or complimentary items while aboard the ship, even with European cruise excursions and packages. If you plan on cruising frequently, then stick with the same company and get yourself in a position where you can receive discounts that can save you a lot of money.

Go Off-Season

pic3 Free Upgrades, Bonus Swag, and Surprising Deep Discounts: How Insiders Cruise

(Image via Flickr by Rennett Stowe)

Cruise lines are like any other vacation provider in that they have busy times of the year and quiet times as well. Traveling off-season is a great way to save a lot of money on your cruises, especially if you make a habit out of it each year. If the cruise company sees you as a frequent off-season traveler, it may start giving you room discounts and free swag for each cruise you take.

Give The Cruise Company Some Leeway

pic41 Free Upgrades, Bonus Swag, and Surprising Deep Discounts: How Insiders Cruise

(Image via Flickr by prayitno)

When most people book a cabin on a cruise ship, they will choose a specific cabin in a specific part of the ship. While that may help you get the cabin you want, it can also cost you more money. Most cruise lines have a “guarantee program” that travelers can use to get a cabin and save money at the same time. When you sign up for a guaranteed cabin, you are giving the cruise line leeway in the exact cabin it gives you. The downside is that you may get a cabin in a part of the ship that you do not want. The upside is that you may get an upgrade to a better cabin at no extra cost.

Before you sign up for your next cruise, you should take some steps to help keep your cruising prices down. When you know the ways to get lower prices and free cabin upgrades, then you can spend that money you saved on other parts of your vacation.

 

Resources:

www.cruises.about.com

- www.cruisecritic.com

- www.travelingmamas.com

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