How to Book a Cheap Cruise
By Clint Hale
For golfers, one of the more ideal vacation ideas is a cruise. Not only do cruises allow golfers to get away on the open sea, but they also provide the option of playing golf at multiple locales in a rather short span. Securing a discounted cruise is key to keeping a little extra money in one's pocket for green fees. Fortunately, there are a few tried-and-true ways to book a cheap or discounted cruise.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Search for deals. While online travel sites and individual cruise lines feature discounts, the best prices are often found on cruise-specific websites. These include CruiseCheap.com, LastMinuteCruise.com and CheapoAir.com, which all compile the best deals from around the Internet into one central hub. These sites allow you to sort by destination, season, number of stops, duration, and much more. Some also offer special packages, including those tailored to golf-specific vacationers.
Book well in advance, or at the last minute. Cruise lines are avid about booking up their cruises far in advance, and are willing to give deals to those who commit early. Meanwhile, cancellations and non-full-cruises often pave the way for last-minute specials. Check with individual cruise lines on advance and last-minute deals.
Book close to home. Rather than catching a flight and then a taxi to a cruise port, it's in your financial interest to depart close to home. While those in the Midwest, northern United States, and other locales have little say in the matter, those living near the coastlines of Texas, California and Florida are not at a loss for desirable cruise departure points within driving distance. Plus, you won't have to worry about checking your precious golf clubs at the airport.
Travel during the "off season." This holds particularly true for cruises to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Bahamas, and other beach resorts. Most travelers choose to book cruises around spring and summer, due to school and vacation schedules and optimal weather. However, cruise lines are more apt to offer deals for the non-peak seasons of winter and fall in hopes of filling their cruises to capacity.
Tips & Warnings
Consult as many resources as possible in getting quotes and price estimates.
About The Author
Clint Hale has worked for a number of media outlets throughout his seven-year career, including the San Antonio Express-News (for whom he covered golf, football, and general features) and Examiner.com. He earned a Journalism degree from the University of Texas.
