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Seven
ways to get the best cruise deals
1.
Two-for-1 or second passengers cruise free: One of the best
cruise discounts currently available to consumers. Offered on a
consistent but selective basis by many cruise lines. Generally these
deals are for the cruise only but sometimes include airfare from
selected cities.
2.
Better than 2-for-1: This promotion often used by Holland
America and Princess Cruise lines. Offers 2-for-1 plus an additional
$500 off per person.
3.
Added value: Offers deals like "book a 14-day cruise and
get seven days free" or free shore excursions. One cruise line
offered a free $700 camera if passengers sailed on a specific date.
Commonly used by Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa and
Orient Lines.
4.
Flat rate specials: Usually gives one fixed price for the
best available cabin at time of booking. Commonly used by Princess
and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
5.
Senior citizens specials: Reduced rates for seniors on select
sailing is commonly used by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Costa and
Norwegian Cruise lines. One passenger in the cabin must be at least
55 years old.
6.
Discount for full payment in advance: Popular with Silversea
and Seabourn.
7.
First-time cruiser discount: Seabourn has offered discounts
up to $500 per person to passengers booking the line for the first
time.
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Now’s
the time to start planning how to beat the cold-weather blues. It’s
also the best time to book a cruise and get a good deal, according
to travel agents.
Close
your eyes and picture yourself lounging poolside in a
red-and-white-striped deck chair, slathered with suntan oil and
sipping a mango colada. Your foot is tapping to the rhythm of
calypso music beating in the background as you cruise along at 25
knots. You and a thousand other snowbirds are making your way to an
exotic port of call. You have nothing more pressing on your daily
agenda than eating lunch and deciding what to wear dancing that
night — making a note to yourself to close leave the disco in time
to hit the midnight buffet.
What
better way to escape the harsh reality of a Midwestern winter than
to treat yourself to a cruise? And now’s the time to begin
planning that winter vacation.
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Cruise
facts
*An
estimated six million people cruised in 1999, compared with
only half a million a year in the early 1970s.
*57
million Americans say they want to take a cruise.
*A
record 17,663 cruises were offered at the beginning of this
year — a 50 percent increase over previous years.
*The
top three cruise destinations are the Caribbean, Europe and
Alaska.
*There
are more than 1,800 ports of call worldwide.
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Regina
Washum, a travel agent with Astro Travel in Lincoln, said people of
all ages book cruises to a variety of locations.
"It’s
a mix, according to what I’ve been selling," she said.
"It’s a variety." She’s been booking local customers
from young couples to senior citizens.
Whether
you want to do nothing but sit in an deck chair and eat 14 times a
day or keep busy every minute of every hour of the day, a cruise can
suit everybody. No wonder February is National Cruise Vacation
Month. What better time to head for a tropical locale than in the
dead of winter?
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column in this section]
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According
to statistics released by the Cruise Lines International
Association, more than half of today’s cruise takers are between
the ages of 25 and 60, with average household incomes under $60,000.
It may be a surprise to some, but cruising is not just a luxury
enjoyed by the wealthy but an affordable vacation for everyone.
Washum
said people are now booking cruises for next spring and summer, and
it’s hard to pinpoint the most popular length of trip. She said
people are making plans for cruises ranging from three and four days
to 10 and 11 days.
One
of the reasons travel agents like cruises is because the customer
knows what it’s going to cost — at least 90 percent of it. The
all-encompassing components of a cruise make it an especially good
fit for senior citizens, but Washum said young couples also like the
easy, relaxing way to see the world.
Cruises
offer nonstop activities, such as special lectures, programs, games
and dancing, and a wide variety of shore excursions. Most ships have
modern medical facilities and satellite communications equipment.
Once
your white Christmas is over and you’ve had several chances to
build a snowman with your grandkids and soak up the warmth of a fire
with your cat nestled on your lap, the weather starts to get on
everyone’s nerves.
So
if you decide to do something about it and go on a cruise, the first
thing you need to do is decide how long you want to be gone. Cruises
are offered from two days to more than 100 days, but the most
popular cruises last between three and 14 days.
Local
travel agents recommend examining cruise brochures and deciding
where you might want to go, keeping in mind that it is rarely
necessary to pay the price listed in a cruise brochure. Asking
friends and family where they’ve been is also helpful, but
consulting a qualified cruise expert and travel agent is one the
best ways to gather information.
You
also need to decide on how much you want to spend, and there are
cruise vacations to suit every budget, from the cost-conscious to
very expensive. Cruise fares include all meals, cabin, on-board
daytime activities, parties and entertainment.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
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