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Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 1 Ron Rougeaux... Author Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 2 Welcome! Would you like to save money on your next vacation? Would you like to discover the most enjoyable cruise vacations possible? Who wouldnʼt, right? This guide reveals to you only a small portion of the money saving insider tips, tricks and techniques youʼll find in our Insiderʼs Cruise Package. Many of the tips come from personal experience my wife and I have accumulated from traveling all over the world and working in the travel industry for over a combined sixty five years. We have been on many cruises to different parts of the world with different cruise lines. Weʼve found, through the numerous cruises weʼve been on, that itʼs difficult to find any form of vacationing cheaper and more enjoyable than a cruise. In fact, to prove it to yourself... go to this webpage on the internet: http://cruising.org/planyourcruise/calculator.cfm This is a calculator to let you know how much a “regular vacation” would cost, and it proves how reasonable a cruise can really be. Plus in my mind, besides saving money... a great vacation is not having to worry about getting rental cars, hotel reservations, figuring out how to get to world locations, tickets to entertainment, etc? I hope you find this cruise report helpful. Thank you and happy cruising! Ron Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 3 Limits of Liability/ Disclaimer of Warranty This author and publisher of this book have used their absolute best efforts in preparing this e-book guide, videos, audio’s and bonuses. The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this guide. They disclaim any warranties (expressed or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. The author and publisher do not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any sites listed in this book. All links are for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose. This manual contains material protected under international and federal copyright laws and treaties. Certain photographs and all videos, audios are property of the author and cannot be reproduced without written permission. All information is subject to change without notice or penalty. All material presented is based upon the experience(s) of the author and may or may not be sanctioned by companies mentioned herein. Readers are cautioned to verify information contained herein to their own satisfaction. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 4 Choosing the Best Cruise! Should you use a travel agent? A travel agent who “specializes in cruises only” can certainly be helpful and is usually the best way to go. However, that being said, most travel agents do not have the time to keep up with price changes that can occur... which you ARE able to do on your own using the internet. After youʼve booked your cruise with an agent, a GOOD cruise travel agent will track the price to see if the cost of your cruise has gone down from the price you paid when you booked. If that does happen they should be able to get you a refund for the difference, or at the very least... a cabin upgrade or free perks. Note: Internet travel websites like Expedia and Priceline are basically travel agencies. The difference between them and a normal cruise agent is that they have YOU do a lot of the work. Remember, travel agents commissions are paid by the cruise lines. That being said... itʼs still worth checking out the internet travel sites. You may be able to find an unadvertised special or bargain. Also, be sure to get on the emailing lists to as many cruise websites as possible. Weʼve discovered great discounted cruises this way... waiting in our email box! This might help you decide: The number one recommendation from 9 out of 10 experienced cruise travelers was to find a really "good cruise travel agent". This gives you the best chance of getting a great cruise at a great price. Remember, the travel agent is going to offer you the same price the cruise line would if you contacted them directly. Usually, you cannot get a cruise at a lower price directly through the cruise line. Even though the cruise lines have to pay the agent a commission. Note: Once you book with an agent, all future changes and requests will have to go through that agent. You will not be able to go directly to the cruise line. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 5 My Recommendation To get the absolute best price on your next cruise... hereʼs the technique I recommend. We have used this technique to get great cruise prices and upgrades: • Use an experience travel agent who specializes in cruises to book your cruise and find you the best price and the cruise to match your needs. • You should already be on the mailing lists of as many cruise websites and travel websites as possible to receive cruise specials and sales • After you book your cruise with the travel agent, watch for your cruise in the specials and sales you receive • If you DO find your cruise at a lower price, notify your travel agent to see if he or she can get you: • a refund for the difference • or a cabin upgrade • or some additional perks or freebies How To Choose a “Cruise” Travel Agent Does the agent specialize in cruises only? Have they ever gone on cruises? If so, which cruise lines, which ships, how many times? I certainly wouldn't go with an agent who doesn't like or has never been on a cruise ship. Check if they're a member of the Better Business Bureau, if so... what kind of ratings do they have. Also, ask if they're members of the Cruise Lines International Association and the Travel Institute. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 6 Before Booking Your Next Cruise Who's going on the cruise: The whole family, teenagers, young children, someone with limited physical and or mental abilities? Knowing who's going will help you decide the type and size of cabin you'll need. What kind of activities do you like to do? All cruise lines have a look and feel of their own. Make sure you check into the cruise and cruise line you're considering, and that they fit in with what youʼre looking for in a cruise. You certainly don't want to book a "spring break" college age type of cruise if you're retired or have young children with you. Do your research BEFORE you book! Where do you want to go? The Caribbean? Europe? the Far East? Which locations you want to see, for how long and how much youʼre willing to pay... will all be questions to ensure you enjoy the “absolute finest” cruise vacation you could imagine. What's included in a normal cruise price your receive? So you wont get sticker shock, here is whatʼs included and NOT included in the quoted cruise price: • Included: Everything that's on the cruise ship. Your cabin, recreation, food, entertainment, gym, etc. • Not included: Alcohol, gratuity, port of call excursions, deluxe spa facilities, method of getting to and from the ship (unless youʼve booked a air/cruise package), government fees (about $50 per person). Port charges will add an additional $150 to $200 per person. First determine where in the world you would like to go The Caribbean is the most popular destination and includes the Bahamas, Jamaica and other popular tropical destinations. This area is especially popular with United States citizens because its close, warm and tropical and in seven days you're able to stop at many beautiful destinations. How long do you want to go? Cruises are available anywhere from 3 to 120 days and longer. Remember, if you're having to pay for airfare to and from the cruise port, your airfare could end up being a large percentage of the total expenses for the cruise... especially if the cruise is of short duration. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 7 A point to consider is if you're able to drive to the departure cruise port: You can save a LOT of money by not having to pay for airfare. Instead, do a one-way auto rental. Will you have children traveling with you? If so, you'll definitely want to find a cruise line and a specific cruise ship and cruise which caters to children. If you are taking children, check to see if the cruise has in-cabin babysitting services available... some cruise lines do. Important considerations if YOU DON'T want to be on a ship with children and college students! Generally the longer cruises (more than 14 days) will have older and retired couples because of school schedules. ASK the cruise ship line or your agent before booking how many children will be on this cruise? • Also, be sure to ask yourself... is it spring break? • Are the children still in school? Again, if you donʼt want children on your cruise... double check the time of year and whether itʼs during spring break or the holidays. These are busy times when children and college students will most likely be on board. Are you booking your cruise to relax? If so, don't pick a party cruise ship or a theme cruise. What's a theme cruise? These cruises provide more of what you want your cruise to be. Here are some examples: a certain type of food and nationality theme, fitness theme cruises, wildlife cruises, etc. If interested to find which theme cruises are available, check with your travel agent or type in "theme cruises" (with the quotations) in Google. Are you considering a kid's camp on your next cruise? If so, be sure to get the SPECIFICS about the campʼs requirements, ages, and operating hours. You don't want to have ANY surprises when you get on board. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 8 We all like the newest possible for most everything we use It's no different with cruise ships. Find out how old the ship is youʼre considering going on? How large or small is it? The age of the ship can have a real impact on your comfort during the cruise. Newer ships will usually have less broken items and fewer problems. Theyʼll have the latest in technology to give the smoothest ride and the latest in entertainment like water slides. Note: Usually the shorter duration the cruise, the older the cruise ship and more beat up. Of course, this shouldn't mean the service would be any better or worse than a newer ship. Want more information? The cruise line trade association website is at: http://Cruising.org This website is loaded with information about all of the major cruise lines, their ships, their policies, stateroom amenities, dining, singles, tipping policies, which cruise line(s) sail to a specific part of the world and much more. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 9 Before you go! Easy Hints and Tips to Prepare for Your Next Cruise! 1. Check the internet to discover as much information about the cruise line, cruise ship, and area of the world you're considering going to. 2. Ask yourself why are you going on this cruise? Is it to lounge on the beaches in the sun? If so, a caribbean cruise probably would be your best bet. Is it to enjoy staying on the ship... relaxing, enjoying the food and on board activities? If so, maybe a transatlantic type of cruise would be best... or a cruise with fewer ports of call. 3. Check with friends or co-workers who have been on cruises. Did they enjoy themselves on a certain cruise line? Cruise ship? What did they NOT like? 4. This question is often asked: When is the most in-demand time of year for cruises? July and August... are the warmest and probably the most “in demand” months of the year for most cruise lines. What this means is... your chances of getting a great bargain by waiting until the last minute to book your cabin goes down considerably. If youʼre considering a cruise you would really like to go on, you would be better off booking it as far ahead as possible. 5. Here's a great tip for Alaska and all parts of the world: If you're traveling with others, try to book your rooms on different sides of the ship. This way, when a scenic point is off one side of the ship, you'll be able to view it from your traveling companions room... or visa versa. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 10 Cruise Line Contact Information Sign up with these companies to receive email and U.S. mail cruise specials Azamara Cruises http://www.azamaracruises.com 1-877-222-2526 Celebrity Cruise Lines: http:www.celebritycruises.com 1-800-647-2251 Carnival Cruise Lines http://www.carnival.com 1-888-227-6482 Costa Cruise Lines http://www.costacruise.com 1-800-462-6782 Crystal Cruise Line http://www.crystalcruises.com 1-866-446-6625 Cunard Line http://www.cunardline.com 1-800-728-6273 Disney Cruise Line http://www.disneycruise.com 1-800-951-3532 Holland America http://www.HollandAmerica.com 1-877-724-5425 MSC Cruises http://www.msccruises.com 1-800-666-9333 Norwegian Cruise Line http://www.ncl.com 1-866-625-1166 Princess Cruises http://www.princess.com 1-800-774-6237 Royal Caribbean http://www.royalcaribbean.com 1-866-562-7625 Seabourn Cruise Lines http://www.seabourn.com 1-800-929-9391 Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 11 Save Money With Cabin Selection Which cabin will work for you? Determining what priced cabin will work for you is fairly easy. If you have money to afford a more expensive cabin without regretting spending the extra money... then my recommendation is to go for it. If you don't have the extra money and you decide to get the least expensive inside cabin... you will more than happy with those accommodations. After all... most of your time will be spent at the pool, on shore excursions and doing the many other activities that are available on the ship. So, if you think you can still enjoy a cabin without a veranda (outside balcony) and located in the middle section of the ship, then book it and you can save a substantial amount. But, in the same token... when you have your own veranda you won't have to fight the crowds for a public spot on the ship when passing a scenic location. Also, it might be a good idea not to get a cabin on the promenade deck which is usually the jogging deck (depending on the ship). People might be able to see in your room and the noise level can be higher than other areas. Basically what you get with the more expensive rooms are: They are larger and they have a view and/or a veranda. Another point, usually the more expensive rooms are higher up and exterior-located on the ship. The thing is, the smoother ride is in the lower part in the ship. Where's the best location on the ship for the smoothest ride... • Usually the lower in the ship the better • The center of the ship from front to back • Then the aft of the ship • The forward part of the ship... which has the most movement Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 12 To recap: • The lower in the ship and the more towards the center, the smoother the ride. • The higher you go on the ship, the more the waves will affect the movement of the cabin. But, remember... all of todayʼs ships have stabilizers and movement is marginal... even in rough seas. We have been on fairly rough seas, but because of the stabilizing action of the modern ships... the ride has been fairly smooth and comfortable. • We have also had cabins in the very aft portion of the ship and the ride has been very good... even in rough water. Probably the worst position of the ship is in the forward portion of the ship where the ship is cutting through the water. But, even then, because of the stabilizers... the ride has been smooth. • Another point, the larger the ship, the better the ride will be... because of the size of the ship. • Also, its a good idea to go online and study the deck plan of the ship youʼre considering going on before booking. You want to see if the cabin youʼre interested in is near a noisy area? Elevators, nightclubs, jogging track. If youʼre getting an ocean view cabin... will your view be obstructed by lifeboats, cleaning equipment, etc? Whereʼs the most convenient location on board? This really depends on the ship. On our last cruise we were on deck level four with the main lobby being on level two. But, the main eating area was on level nine. Usually itʼs not possible to find the perfect location, and with many of todays modern ships having many elevators... its kind of irrelevant. A point to consider if youʼre disabled: You may want to request a room near an elevator for convenience. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 13 Hidden Cruise Costs Cut back on non-essential expenses: While shopping is part of any vacation, be sure to stay within your budget. Donʼt go on a shopping spree at every port. Take advantage of on-ship sales. If there are items youʼd like to purchase on ship, wait until they go on sale which would probably towards the end of the cruise. To save money, skip the areas on ship that cost money: Don't use: • The casino • The spa • Specialty restaurants that charge money • Art auctions • Gift shops • Speciality classes like fitness or other services that charge per hour activities... especially the spa area • The bars Not included in the price of your cruise ticket: • Alcohol • Gratuity (tips) • Port of call excursions • Deluxe spa facilities • Getting to and from the ship • Government fees, about $50 per person • Port charges, $150 to $200 per person Laundry service: Depending on the cruise length, laundry service will probably be required. The price varies by cruise line. On the last cruise we took, the cost was $20 for as many items as could be stuffed in a laundry bag. However, certain ships have self-service laundry facilities... allowing you money to save money if you do it yourself. Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 14 Consider renting a car at your port of calls With a rental car and for a fairly inexpensive amount, you'll be able to see your port of call on your own, at your own schedule. This is where doing internet research at home can pay big dividends. Youʼll be able to see town distances, normal auto rental costs, etc. Also, donʼt hesitate to ask the cruise ship front desk for information they can provide about taxis, buses, etc. They are there to help you enjoy your cruise... on and off the ship! Cruise Tips, Tricks & Techniques... Saving You Time and Money! © Copyright 2009 Cruise-Tips Insiders Package All Rights Reserved 15 Thank you! Iʼm hope this cruise report has given you some money and time saving tips and ideas you can use towards your next cruise. Youʼll find much more in our Cruise Insiderʼs Package at: www.cruise-tips.com/cruise_videos/index.html In this package you will find: 1. Seventeen Videos 2. 58 minute MP3 audio 3. Three ebooks ...all designed to get you the most enjoyable and inexpensive cruise possible! ...and now that youʼre a “Cruise-Tips” member... youʼll receive free cruise money saving and time saving tips, updates and videos! Also, our website at: www.Cruise-Tips.com is constantly being added with new tips, tricks and techniques as we receive them. Thank you for your purchase, and happy cruising! Ron
