Wave season is here again. For some of you, that could mean 鈥渨aving鈥� goodbye to friends and neighbours who have had it with the recent unbearably cold weather, snow and wind in many parts of the country and who are heading south.
Or it may mean making plans to cruise in 2014. That鈥檚 traditionally what Wave Season 鈥� from January to March 鈥� means to travellers who are enticed into booking cruises well ahead of departure.
As Cruisecritic.com noted recently: 鈥淲ave Season deals are for travellers who want value for money, such as an upgrade to a nicer cabin or free onboard credit for some guilt-free indulgence at the spa or onboard boutiques.鈥�
However, a cheaper price could become available if you wait until closer to your departure.
Before you jump in, double-check all offers. The first step is to check each sale鈥檚 expiry date. Some cruise lines offer a promotion that lasts only a few days, others go on for weeks or months.
Compare the price of the upgrade 鈥� for example, an ocean-view to a balcony stateroom 鈥� to ensure the savings are there.
Compare any discount airfares that may be part of a sales package against fares offered by discount airlines around the same dates as the cruise. And compare sale prices with those on cruise lines of similar quality.
Most importantly, get a travel agent who specializes in cruises to check out the deal. In some cases, cruise agents may have additional perks or better pricing than those shown by the cruise line.
Hear are a few sales that prime the pump:
鈥� The Italian cruise line MSC is now sailing the Caribbean year-round with its newest ship, the Divina. To help get established in the market, MSC is offering 鈥渆mployee pricing鈥� on several cruises from the ship鈥檚 home port, Miami.
For example, there鈥檚 an April 26 Western Caribbean departure (seven days) to Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay that starts at $399.
鈥� Royal Caribbean has a Wave Season offer that expires Feb. 28 on all its 21 ships cruising between March 1 to Dec. 31. Customers get a $75 credit for booking an ocean-view cabin, a $150 credit for a balcony and a $300 credit for a suite.
鈥� Princess is offering its 鈥渢hree for free鈥� sale, which also expires Feb. 28. Passengers receive benefits worth up to $280 鈥� shore-excursion spending money, a framed keepsake photo and a bottle of wine.
The sale also includes a reduced deposit, only $100, to secure the cruise.
These are just three examples. Over the next few months, you will find a steady diet of Wave Season sales as cruise lines analyze which markets are living up to expectations and which are not.
All these sale prices and Phil鈥檚 Pick were available at time of writing.
Phil鈥檚 Pick of the Week:March 21, Fort Lauderdale to Rome: 25 days on Holland America鈥檚 Noordam.
Ports include Ponta Delgada, Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Calvi, Florence/Pisa, Tunis, Palermo, Naples (for the island of Capri and Sorrento).
Ocean-view price starts at $1,952, per person based on double occupancy. Go to Hollandamerica.com or contact your cruise travel agent.
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Visit portsandbows.com for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter. Phil Reimer can be contacted directly at [email protected].
