Cruises are one-stop shopping for travelers. Accommodation, transportation, dining, and entertainment all in one, taking the complexity out of planning your vacation.
But there's more to booking a cruise than first-time passengers realize.
From a wide range of lineups to additional services like drink packages and excursions that cost extra, guests can have a lot of decisions to make along the way. “There's a huge difference between booking a hotel in advance and booking a cruise line,” said Andy Knowles, a luxury travel advisor with Fora Travel.
How far in advance should I book?
Booking in advance usually results in better rates, but travelers may also be able to find last-minute bargains if cruise lines are trying to secure seats (Find Cruise Deals (Click here for USA TODAY's guide to).
“I think most of my clients book at least six months in advance, if not more,” Knowles says.
Do I need to use a travel agent to book my cruise?
Although it is possible to book a cruise without a travel agent, there are some advantages to using a travel agent.
Alyssa Griffin, whose YouTube channel Griff & Alyssa makes videos about cruising with her husband Karen, said she started working with an agent about five years ago.
“I don't know why I didn't hire a travel agent sooner,” said Griffin, who has been on “at least” 60 cruises (she also briefly worked as a travel agent in 2018-2019). ).
Initially, she found coordinating the trip herself fun and easy, but working with an agent “reduced the stress of planning, and the agent can make suggestions that you wouldn't necessarily think of.” “They will provide you with information and information.”
They help clients determine which routes, ships, and destinations are best suited. Also, if a traveler encounters a problem or has a question, an agent will be available to assist them on their behalf, which is helpful considering customer service call wait times can be long. That's a great advantage.
“You'll also get some nice perks like on-board credits, and some will even leave a bottle of wine or chocolate-covered strawberries in your room,” she added. Additionally, most customers do not charge for their services since they earn a commission from the cruise line.
Knowles encouraged travelers to use an advisor who is familiar with the type of trip they are planning, whether it's a family vacation or a romantic getaway.
Many cruise lines have in-house vacation planners who assist prospective guests with the booking process. Travelers may be able to find cheaper rates on third-party booking sites (although some customers using these booking sites may have to jump through hoops if something goes wrong). (No.)
Do I need to book my flight through a cruise line?
Knowles says that while airfare and cruise packages can be “very attractive and worthwhile,” there may be some limitations. “What I would say for the vast majority of cruise lines is that you book flights through their own platforms, which just adds a third-party element and sometimes takes things out of your control. “It will be,” he said.
For example, if a traveler needs to make a change, he said, they will have to go through the cruise line. And while you may be able to enumerate your general preferences, choosing exactly the seat you want on a plane is not so easy.
Are cruises all-inclusive?
it depends. Cruise line fares include items that are often sold a la carte on land, allowing you to technically enjoy the entire voyage without paying more than the ticket price.
However, from alcoholic beverages to laundry, there are many additional charges that aren't included in the base price of mainstream brands, so depending on your priorities, you could end up paying a hefty surcharge. That's where packages come in handy, and higher stateroom categories often include even more perks.
Luxury cruise lines and river cruise lines also tend to bundle more fares into the base fare, although their policies vary.
Do I need a restaurant reservation?
necessarily. Mainstream cruise lines have traditionally offered early or late seating in their dining rooms, but in recent years many cruise lines have introduced flexible dining hours, and many casual walk-up venues is also open for dinner. Some lines don't have traditional dining rooms at all.
However, if you want to eat at a specialty restaurant, which usually costs an additional fee, you'll likely need to make a reservation. Passengers may be able to book last minute, but it's worth making a reservation before the cruise.
“We always recommend booking in advance to make sure you get something,” Knowles says. Reservations usually begin 30 to 60 days before departure.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be fixed in one location” as it’s very easy to make changes if a guest changes their mind. You can usually do this through the cruise line's app.
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When should I book my tour?
The same goes for excursions. “I always tell people that if there's a particular tour that (the client) says, 'This is something I absolutely want to do, this is something I absolutely have to do,' it's best to book it as early as possible.” Please make sure you have access to it,” Knowles said.
That said, cruise lines typically offer “quite a few experiences at each location,” and they've never had a customer board where every tour was sold out.
Are gratuities included in the cruise price?
Mainstream cruise lines charge passengers a tip per person per day. Fares are automatically added to your onboard account, and passengers can usually adjust the fare before disembarking.
Passengers can also pay tips in advance. Tips are automatically included in the fare on many high-end routes.
Do I have to pay extra in advance?
Guests can purchase add-ons during the cruise, such as Wi-Fi and drink packages, which may be sold at lower rates in advance. Knowles said there is usually “some kind of incentive for booking in advance.”
“So if you book a $250 bar package on the flight, you'll probably pay $200 upfront,” he said. If you know you want to book one day, he recommended pulling the trigger early.
Mr. Griffin agreed, saying that the convenience is also good. “I'm the type of person who just wants to get on the boat and don't care how much it costs once I get there,” she said. “So if you prepare all of this in advance, it will feel more like an all-inclusive vacation.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
