Cheapest Cruise Prices
From LoveToKnow Cruises
Finding the cheapest cruise prices is a great way for travelers to enjoy all the benefits of a cruise vacation at affordable rates. LoveToKnow Cruises recently spoke with Lisa Rivers of MyBestFareFinder.com and top cruise travel agent Kristi Hocutt of Cruise.com about how reverse auctions work for finding discount cruises, as well as other tips for finding the best price cruises.
About Our Experts
Lisa Rivers is the Marketing Director of MyBestFareFinder.com and has sailed on more than 20 cruises.
From Lisa: I just love cruising and depending on the purpose, or my mood, I may pick a small intimate inland river cruise or cross the ocean on a giant super liner. My favorites include Celebrity when cruising with my family and Regent Seven Seas when my husband and I are alone and splurging! We recently sailed in the Eastern Mediterranean and one of the most amazing ports of call was Kusadasi, Turkey, where we did a full day excursion to the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. Wow... What an interesting, intimate, and historical experience.
Kristi Hocutt is a Cruise Sales Expert for | Cruise.com, and she has taken more than a dozen cruises with different lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Premier Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Cheapest Cruise Prices Interview
What exactly is a reverse auction?
Lisa: You may have heard of another reverse auction website, LendingTree.com, where banks compete to offer you the best mortgage rate. The format works nearly the same way for buying cruises by allowing you to enter your desired sailing information and receive multiple quotes from expert cruise travel agents. Instead of shopping all across town for the best cruise price, or visiting numerous travel websites, you can sit back and relax while all the legwork is done for you. With websites such as MyBestFareFinder.com there is no cost to use the service, and your privacy is protected while you compare and contrast cruise quotes. It is totally up to you to make contact with the agent of your choice when you want more information.
What makes a reverse auction a great way to find the cheapest cruise prices?
Lisa: A standard auction tends to increase prices as buyers compete against each other. Conversely, a reverse auction drives your cruise price down because multiple travel agents are competing against each other to earn your business. Additionally, your chance of finding the best price or deal is greatly improved because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of agents across the world who will know about your request and have the ability to provide a quotation. Often there is a small independent travel agent hidden away somewhere with one or two staterooms of unsold group space that has better pricing and amenities than can be found anywhere online or offline. Somewhere there is a buyer, maybe you, who wants this deal, but how do you find each other? That is the beauty of the reverse auction format.
How can different agents submit different prices for the same cruise?
Lisa: The pricing of cruises has become so fluid and dynamic that there is no simple answer. It is a full time job keeping track of pricing which is why you need the help of an expert travel agent. Some agents may have better pricing due to higher sales volume on certain cruise lines or even on certain sailings. Other agents may have access to group space, reserved years before the actual sailing date, with pricing or amenities no longer available or not generally publicized. Additionally there are ever changing promotions by region, state, agency, age, occupation, and many other variables that can affect the price. Using a reverse auction website frees you from this pricing madness and allows the travel agent with the best price to find you.
Are any cruise destinations cheaper or more expensive than others?
Kristi: There are many cruise destinations available to all types of passengers and their budgets in today's economy. The three to four day Bahamas cruises and three to four day Baja Mexico cruises are great values for a quick vacation. There are more expensive cruises out there from a 10 day Panama Canal to a 14 day Greek Isles cruise.
What passengers can get the best deals from a reverse auction?
Lisa: All cruise passengers can benefit from a reverse auction. It doesn't matter if you are looking for a short, long, cheap, expensive, river, ocean, large ship, small ship, family, single, group, or any other type of cruise. It does help to have a specific cruise line and itinerary in mind and therefore may initially appeal more to the experienced cruiser who knows exactly what they want. New cruisers will also be well served because they will receive expert advice and low priced quotes from several types of agents. They can then compare and contrast the different agent quotes, without pressure. The online reverse auction concept is versatile because it combines the pricing power of competition with one-on-one service from expert cruise specialists all in one convenient place.
If the quotes a passenger receives still aren't in their budget, what can they do to make the cruise cheaper?
Kristi: When a customer receives a quote from their agent and it is not where it needs to be for their budget, they still have options. They can look at another sail date that has lower rates, look at a shorter cruise, or select another destination. There is still a way that an agent can accommodate their budget, as long as it is realistic.
Which cruise lines offer some of the best deals?
Kristi: All of the cruise lines have remarkable deals. They each have different specials to offer to clients: On board credits, free category upgrades, and other types of discounts as well. It would be hard to just narrow down to one line when they all offer specials.
Is there one time of year that is best to cruise for cheaper prices?
Kristi: The best time of year to cruise would be after Labor Day going into the third week in November. I usually find the cheapest deals at that time.
What other tips do you have for travelers interested in cheaper prices on cruises?
Kristi: My advice is to plan, plan, plan. Look around for the best deals and always ask your agent is this the lowest price. Ask for perks, it never hurts to ask! Also, booking in advance is a great peace of mind to secure your rate and space on the cruise you choose. Waiting until the last minute will not guarantee you the lowest price. If the ship is filling up the cruise lines will more than likely raise the rates.
Thank You!
Thank you, Lisa and Kristi, for taking the time to share your tips and expertise on the cheapest cruise prices!
For more information on reverse auctions, visit MyBestFareFinder.com. Contact Kristi Hocutt at 1-888-333-3116 ext. 510 to book your next cruise vacation at a great rate.
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