There was once a time when travelers who wished to book a cruise at the lowest possible price waited until January for the start of Wave Season. That's traditionally when cruise lines lure passengers with inexpensive fares, complimentary airfare, or hundreds of dollars of onboard credit to blow on shore excursions, vintage wines, spa treatments, and the like.
But that was BTR (before the recession). These days cruise lines—even the ultra-luxe that offer true all-inclusive experiences—are offering Wave Season-like bargains right now and, frankly, at fares that are unlikely to be repeated once the economy bounces skyward.
In fact, this may be the best time to book a cruise aboard one of the luxury lines. However, executives from Carnival, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn, and other cruise lines have publicly cautioned recently that the window to snag the cruise deal of the decade may close soon. In fact, both Regent Seven Seas and Silversea are planning to raise prices in October and Oceania will raise prices in January 2010.
2009 and 2010 Sweet Spot Deals
If the month of December is your getaway horizon, look to Seabourn's 208-passenger yacht, Spirit. Five-nights in the Caribbean will set you back just $1,349 per person (regularly $3,760 pp).
Another solid high-end cruise option isn't a cruise ship at all: it's SeaDream Yacht Club's 110-person yacht, SeaDream II. Book a five-night St. Thomas to San Juan sailing for $1,799 per person (that's 67% off the brochure rate).
For those that prefer sailing under wind power, check out Windstar Cruises' three motor-sail-yachts: Wind Spirit, Wind Star, and Wind Surf. The December 12th seven-night roundtrip excursion aboard Wind Star, out of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, is running at $899 per person.
Crystal Cruises, a line that's not usually known for steep discounts, is offering better than two-for-one deals for the rest of the year. No plans for Thanksgiving? Book a seven-night Caribbean roundtrip out of Miami for $2,480 per person (a 55% discount) and receive $500 in onboard credit.
Looking ahead to summer 2010, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is making it easy for you to take the kids or grandkids on their first luxury voyage with a special per child rate of $399 on 11 Alaskan itineraries aboard Navigator. (Similar deals are available for Caribbean, European, and Baltics sailings.)
Not to be outdone, Silversea has announced across the board savings in 2010 with 60% off published fares and free air on more than 150 itineraries. One good deal is Silver Wind's April 19, 2010, 10-night roundtrip out of Venice, which is available for approximately $3,800 per person (brochure rate is $9,795). Book by December 31.
If French Polynesia is on your radar for 2010, this early booking deal—valid until September 30—from Paul Gauguin Cruises is compelling: 50% cruise fare savings plus free roundtrip air from Los Angeles to Tahiti on select cruises of 10 nights or longer aboard m/s Paul Gauguin.
Is the Mediterranean or Scandinavia is on your "must visit" list? Oceania Cruises comes to the table with a $2,000 price reduction off two-for-one fares with free air. Rates are available on select cruises from April through December 2010. For $3,742 per person, you can book a 10-night Mediterranean cruise out of Monte Carlo.
Booking a Luxury Cruise
Your best bet is to book your passage with a travel agent that specializes in high-end cruises. Many lines often offer preferred pricing to the customers of these agents. Consider Brown & Keene Travel, Elite Travel International, and Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo. Alternatively, book with a reputable online agency such as VacationstoGo.com. True bargain hunters will enjoy comparing prices from several agencies at CruiseCompete.com.
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