Avoid Cruise Deal Pitfalls (Scroll down for an article on this topic) The salt spray beckons.  Perhaps you’ve caught some re-runs of the fabulous old Love Boat series and are drawn to the thought of lolling around on a sun drenched deck watching beautiful bodies stroll by.  You may even dream of being served hulled-out pineapple halves filled with alcoholic potions topped with miniature umbrellas.  The fantasy is there, so how do you turn it into a reality?  By finding the best cruise deal you can, of course! Searching for a good price and a fantastic itinerary is easier than you might think thanks to the bottomless pit of information that is on the Internet.  Great offers abound and each one seems better than the previous so it’s important that you sift through the reams of data and compare not just pricing, but onboard standards, ports of call, inclusions and the reputation of each respective cruise line.  The best cruise deal on the planet may not actually be what’s best for you.  Why book a cheap trip on a totally family-oriented vessel if you’re a single person looking for love and romance on the high seas?  And if you’re an elderly couple hoping to mingle with others and enjoy a slightly slower pace, you certainly don’t want to be bowled over by party-hard 20-somethings in the corridors or be kept awake by cabin parties.   Each company offers a different cruise deal.  Here are some examples: Book by a certain date and receive a free two-category upgrade. Receive up to $300 shipboard credit plus prepaid gratuities. Take a friend for half price! Book select sailings and save big bucks with free airfare and up to $250 of shipboard credit. Book and pay for an ocean view or higher cabin by a particular date and receive 15% off the price of your stateroom. Book by a certain date and save 50% on the cost of your choice of tour excursions.   Make appropriate comparisons Each cruise deal has its virtues but some may not suit you.  For instance, price may be the single most important determining factor for you so stateroom upgrades may be irrelevant.  After all, many people go on cruises for the nightlife and to indulge in as many activities as possible so the size of their cabin is really of no consequence.   The fine print It’s vital that you read the fine print on any cruise deal before handing over your money.  You need to find out what will happen if the itinerary changes due to unforseen weather hazards, political unrest or if some other reason forces the elimination of any ports of call from the planned itinerary.  Will you get part of your money back or will you forfeit it under the terms of the reservation?  Will this particular cruise line apply a shipboard credit in lieu or will you receive some other compensation?  Ask about any eventualities that may occur and what will be done to protect your investment.  A cruise deal is not much of a deal if you miss out on what you were hoping to do and see.   Package deals A cruise deal that includes airfare from your home to the departure port may represent a huge saving, or it could be more expensive than if you’d organized the flights yourself.  Try calculating it both ways to see which would result in the greater savings.   Be flexible It would be wonderful to have the resources to pay for whatever you want at any time of the year that you want.  If money were no object, you wouldn’t even be reading this, but since you’re hoping to save money, you’re going to have to be flexible about sailing dates, ports of call, accommodation styles, cruise companies and so on.  Think unlike an excited tourist and work your way up.  Plan your vacation for the chilliest time of year because that’s when you’ll find the best cruise deal.  Even if it’s blowing a gale or your car is wearing snow tires at home, out at sea you could be counting puffy white clouds in a sunny sky.   “A day late and a dollar short” … not on a cruise Look for a last minute cruise deal.  For cruise companies, 60 days out from departure date is the cut-off point for paid-up passengers wanting to cancel their reservations without incurring a penalty.  At 60 days prior, the company will be sure of how many new passengers they need to find and if the number is significant, then they’ll want to attract last minute travellers … at a greatly reduced fare.  Keep an eye out for cruises leaving within two months.   Always remember, a cruise deal is no deal at all if it ends up costing you more.