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Cruise Lines Enticing Cruisers

2022 has definitely been a transition year for cruising. While it is certainly recovering from the pandemic, it is not all the way at capacity. We know that occupancy levels have been down along with revenue across cruise lines.

While that’s not good news for the cruise line, it can be good news for you, the cruiser. Cruise lines are offering deals, discounts, and promotions to fill their rooms. Senior director of marketing at Expedia Cruises, John Mast, stated, “Cruise lines are bringing in strong offers and promotions at the moment to bring travelers back.”

Here are some of the offerings:

Cruise lines are offering the popular buy now, pay later approach. It is exactly as it sounds. You book a cruise now and make installment payments over time. The ability to book a cruise without coming up with the total costs at once is a big attraction for cruisers concerned about spending money and inflation. 

It is possible to use this option on virtually every major cruise line including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess Cruises, Holland America, and more.

Cruise lines have also offered airfare discounts. For example, Norwegian Cruise Lines has offered two-for-one airfare promotions in order to book more cruisers. This is not a normal discount, but it does happen.

AmaWaterways is currently offering complimentary pre- or post-river cruise land packages. It gives cruisers an opportunity to spend up to four extra nights at their destination before or after their cruise. If a cruiser is flying to a European destination, this can be an attractive offer to allow the cruise line to pay for your hotel and a destination tour.

Perhaps the most attractive right now is some cruise prices are as low as they’ve been. As was reported last week, Royal Caribbean is offering a 3-night sailing to the Bahamas for $99 along with some other deeply discounted sailings. It’s not just Royal Caribbean either. Multiple cruise lines have discounted sailings or other offerings right now.

There is no way to know how long these specials will last because everything is constantly changing, but for now, if you are looking to book a cruise, there is a deal to be made. Cruises have always been a great vacation value, and still are a better value for your dollar than a land vacation. They are just even a little sweeter right now.

How about you? Have you snagged any deals?