Thursday, March 02, 2006

Fantastic Cruise Vacations Abound at the Last Minute

Cruise Vacations
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:
Ø Fine & casual dining
Ø 24-hour room service
Ø Swimming pool
Ø Fitness centers & spa facilities
Ø Day spa and beauty salon
Ø A variety of lounges and stages with world-class entertainment
Ø Casinos
Ø 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:

Ø Start watching about two months before your vacation, and check back often – special discounts are snapped up quickly.
Ø 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.
Ø 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.
Ø Online is the best and quickest way to stay informed – the Internet constantly updates information on cruise deals as cruise lines post available openings.
Ø 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 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. Discount Cruise

Cruise Vacations

posted by Hugh Goble @ 1:56 AM 1 comments

Cruise Vacations have Something for Everyone!

Cruise Vacations

The traditional view of cruises has been that they’re for couples who are getting away for romance and adventure. More recently people have also begun thinking about cruises as a way for singles to meet each other and have a great time as well. But even that is a limited view of cruising. The reality is that there are cruise packages available today for everybody – if you like to travel and are looking for a unique vacation opportunity, a cruise offers more diversity and choice than any other kind vacation out there!

Cruise Packages Cater to Every Group and Need
There are cruise packages for couples, singles, groups of friends and families, and each of these take into consideration the specific needs and interests of these groups. This is what makes a cruise vacation so special – the attention to detail and specialized service. Most vacation packages simply can’t provide this kind of service.

Family cruises can be amazing bargains when you’re traveling with your children because the cruise ship staff takes care of your children’s entertainment needs from the moment they step aboard ship. Kid-rated movies, live kid-friendly theaters, pizza parlors, organized games and activities and free baby sitting for the younger ones mean you’ll have the opportunity to have some couples time while your kids have a blast! The best part is the all-inclusive price – they can play, watch, swim and eat to their hearts’ content! How many hotels give you that?

Worried that teens will be bored? Not a problem! Cruise packages with families in mind have age-specific activities planned that range from crafts for the younger set to karaoke and coffee houses for the teens, so you’re practically guaranteed to find something for every age group.

Honeymoon cruises cater to your desire for romance and pampering. Little extras like champagne and chocolates are typically included in the price of your cruise, and discounts are usually offered for luxury accommodations onshore when you get to your port of call if you are staying there a few days. You can also upgrade for a small fee and get extras that really stand out, such as chocolate covered strawberries and canapés in your room, breakfast in bed and matching robes to take home with you.

Let the cruise ship know ahead of time that you’re on your honeymoon and you’ll almost always receive some free gifts as well, and a special invitation to dine at the Captain’s table one evening. It’s thoughtful touches like this that make a honeymoon cruise such a popular choice.

Cruise ship staff members are some of the most highly trained in the world, and excel at being both unobtrusive and ever-present to cater to your needs, making your honeymoon magical in every way. For a romantic vacation getaway, a honeymoon cruise can’t be beat. Fine dining, spas, world class entertainment, sumptuous rooms and moonlit nights with sea breezes all combine to make these romantic cruise packages a honeymoon vacation you’ll never forget.

Girlfriends’ Getaway Cruises are the newest alternative to Girls Night Out. Hey, we all have those days when we throw up our hands and say, “I can’t take it anymore!” don’t we? Why not take a two or three day discount cruise for the weekend? It’s so much nicer than the yearly trip to the outlet malls! Pack up your bathing suits and get ready to relax!

A three-day vacation with the girls can be all about you – spas, saunas, drinks on the deck while reading a great paperback. Nights of relaxing and chatting or seeing a great show; or maybe playing the slots in the casino. It’s three days of just the girls, and when you go home you’ll be refreshed, relaxed and full of great memories!

You can get a great discount on three day cruises that will bring in the weekend at a lower cost than driving to those outlets, renting a hotel room and buying all of your meals in restaurants – and the food will be better, too. No driving around looking for the nearest movie theater, no looking for something to do – it’s all right there on board ship.

Singles Cruises are usually booked as groups of singles onboard cruise ships that may have other groups as well, but because the singles group organizer is buying a block of rooms to keep the singles all together you can get a great discount on this kind of vacation. If you’re looking to meet and mingle with other singles, these cruise packages offer activities, dining and dancing with other singles onboard.

These have become increasingly popular and are also a great way to enjoy great vacation destinations – why not go snorkeling off Nassau or shopping in the Bahamas and meet some great eligible singles, too? Today’s single professionals don’t want to wait until they find someone special to enjoy the finer things in life, and a singles cruise means they can enjoy an amazing vacation and find someone special at the same time!

Cruise Packages to Fit Your Vacation Schedule
Cruise packages come in several different sizes to fit your budget and your time constraints. You can even start with a day cruise if you’d like to try out your “sea legs” and see what cruises are all about. But be warned – once you’ve tried a day cruise, you’ll be ready to book the next step up, and you’ll be looking at four day, seven day or longer cruises!

If you’re looking for a great getaway for a long weekend, check into the three- and four-day cruise packages that are available; you can find savings of up to 50% on these if you book in advance and are flexible on which port you leave from.

For a longer vacation, there are cruise packages of a variety of lengths, with the most common lengths being seven day, eleven day, and then two and three week cruises. For seriously intense vacations, you can even book a discount cruise that’s a month or two months long (travel around the world on a cruise ship, anyone?). The fabulous thing about a really long cruise is that the discount is often substantial – an empty cabin is expensive for a cruise ship, so they’ll offer it a significant discount rather than have it sit empty for two months, so be sure to check out all possibilities – you may be surprised by what you can afford!

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 lot about last minute discount 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 Discount Cruise

Cruise Vacations

posted by Hugh Goble @ 1:42 AM 1 comments