Travel
Like The
"Rich and Famous. . ."
Discover How A Pauper
Travels Like A King!
Fantastic Cruise Deals Abound at
the Last Minute
by: Lori Wilkerson
Being a spur of the moment person has its
advantages. It means you
can “seize the day” and run with it, enjoying an opportunity when it
comes your way. So the next time you’ve lined up your vacation time and
decided you’re just going to drive to the nearest lake or maybe visit
some relatives, keep an open mind and check in on the great online
cruise deals that show up as you get closer to your vacation dates.
You may discover that as your vacation rolls
around the deals
are getting better and better, and you simply can’t pass up the
opportunity to take advantage of the great offers out there. At first
glance you may tell yourself that even with the reduced cost of a
cruise you’re still paying more to go on a cruise than you are to drive
to a popular lake resort of beachfront rental property, but the
discounts on last minute cruises are great bargains because they’re all
inclusive!
All-inclusive Means Savings on Entertainment and
Meals
A cruise includes your entire trip, the
accommodations, all of
your meals (and the meals onboard ship are fantastic!), and all of the
ship’s entertainment, from dancing to Vegas style shows. Compare that
to your vacation and you’ll discover that by the time you add up your
room, transportation, meals and entertainment expenses, the cruise
deals that are available at the last minute just don’t compare to your
routine vacation plans – the cruises are much better!
Think about the total relaxation factor – no
trying to find a
good restaurant or wondering if there’s anything decent in the way of
entertainment. On a cruise vacation, everything’s right there, every
night. Your vacation is filled with every kind of entertainment,
relaxation and fine dining imaginable even before you get to your ports
of call!
Some of the amenities found on the typical cruise
ship – and available with last-minute cruise deals – include:
Fine & casual dining
24-hour room service
Swimming pool
Fitness centers & spa facilities
Day spa and beauty salon
A variety of lounges and stages with
world-class entertainment
Casinos
Duty-free gift shops
Is there a vacation anywhere that provides all of
this in one
location, all within walking distance, with gorgeous vistas of water
and moonlight thrown in?
Finding Sizzling Hot Cruise Deals is Easy
How do you find fantastic cruise deals? The best
way is to be
flexible – keep in mind that there are several reasons that last minute
berths open up on cruise ships. Most commonly, cruise ships simply
don’t fill every one of their rooms on most cruises, and they
understand that it makes more sense to offer these spaces at a discount
than it does to leave these rooms empty. The level of service and
amenities are exactly the same as that for passengers paying full
price!
There are also sometimes last minute cancellations
for whatever
reason, and the cruise company will try to fill these rooms as well.
After all, they had anticipated having these sales and when a
cancellation comes through at the last minute, they will want to fill
that spot.
Tips for Getting the Best Cruise Deals
You can compound your cruise savings by booking
last minute
deals during off-season times when the rates are lower to begin with or
cruising to destinations that you find intriguing but have unusual
departure dates. A few general guidelines for finding great last minute
cruise deals are:
Start watching about two months before your
vacation, and check back often – special discounts are snapped up
quickly.
Be flexible – if you can shift your travel
dates by a few days one way or the other you may be able to save even
more.
Be
adventurous – if you see a fabulous deal on an exotic cruise to
someplace you’ve never thought of but that sounds intriguing – go for
it! This is the time to use the savings to invest in broadening your
horizons.
Online is the best and quickest way to stay
informed – the
Internet constantly updates information on cruise deals as cruise lines
post available openings.
Know what you’re looking for – there are so
many kinds of
cruises now available with different themes that it can be confusing.
If you and your husband are going, don’t bother looking at singles
cruises – the savings isn’t worth being surrounded by singles. But a
cruise geared toward honeymooners might put a bit of spark back in your
marriage, especially if you’re looking for an anniversary getaway!
Theme Cruises are the New Trend in Packaged Cruise
Deals
You can find some great savings on theme cruises,
a new trend
for people with special interests or hobbies. Because these cruises
cater to very specific tastes, the price of open spots can drop more
quickly when they are discounted because they realize the chances of
filling the spots may not be as high as for a general cruise.
So if you’re interested in a last minute cruise
and also
happen to be a food and wine connoisseur, you may be able to find a
drastically discounted price on a Wine Tasting or Chef’s Taste of
Cultures cruise, combining two interests and saving money at the same
time.
There are also cruises that correspond with times
of the year,
such as foliage cruises or whale watching cruises that may offer
special savings if they have cancellations since these are only offered
during small windows in time. If you happen to hit one of these, you
can expect some really amazing discounts on unique, once-in-a-lifetime
cruise opportunities.
Trade Up to a Cruise for a Lifetime of Memories
So when that staid vacation is planned and you’ve
already
blocked out your vacation days at the office, don’t be afraid to
periodically check out the last minute cruise deals that can be found
at rock bottom prices if you book just a few weeks in advance. Throw
caution to the winds and pass on the lakeside fishing trip in favor of
an unforgettable cruise to the Bahamas – with last minute bargains and
fabulous all-inclusive packages you can turn that ho-hum trip into
truly memorable one!
About The Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who
loves her job
because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world
every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything,
and a lot about last minute cruise, cruise discounts, and cruise deals.
Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, "Hot, Hot, Hot," throughout an
entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau. More Cruise articles at can be
found at www.discount-cruise.biz.
Todays Travel Tip
Most people would say that overbooking is an evil of the airlines.
You can however use this to your advantage. If you get to your
flights early you can voluntary to be bumped and get discounted
flights, meal vouchers, option to not travel and obtain a refund,
hotel accommodation, or ground transportation. This book goes
into greater detail on how to use overbooking to your advantage. Check back tomorrow for
another tip.
P.S.
If you have ever wanted to travel like the "rich and famous," here is
your opportunity. The Pauper's Secret Confessions alone, are
worth 10 times the cost of this book. Never take another trip
without being prepared!
