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Smarter Cruising Newsletter -- January 2007

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"Smarter Cruising" Newsletter
January 3, 2007 -- Issue #2

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In This Issue:

1) "Book Early for Great Deals"

2) "It's BARGAIN TIME in the CARIBBEAN"

3) "Take Advantage of These Great Last-Minute Deals!"

4) "Book Soon for Summertime Alaska Cruises"

5) "Rough Seas Ahead?: Alaska Cruisers Tax"

6) "Smooth Sailing Tip: Use Your Own Cell Phone Onboard"

==================== FEATURE EDITORIAL ============

1) Book Early for Great Deals

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In last month's newsletter we talked about the benefits of booking late -- how those with plenty of flexibility can land special "last-minute" bargains on their cruise vacations. (You can find the December 2006 newsletter archived on our website by
clicking here.)

This month we'll look at the benefits of booking early, which can also provide great value in a cruise vacation.

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Why cruise lines encourage early booking

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Nothing makes cruise lines happier than convincing
passengers to book early.

Selling as many cabins as early as possible helps the cruise
lines in their planning and means they don't have to worry
about whether or not a particular ship will fill up.

Best of all, it puts money in their pockets early on.

So to encourage passengers to book cruises as far in advance
as possible, cruise lines will often offer plenty of incentives.

Oceania Cruise Lines, for instance, almost always offers
"two-for-one" deals with "free" airfare for early bookers.
(And if you book your own airfare, they'll usually knock
off hundreds of dollars from the package rates.)

Keep in mind that Oceania always places a deadline date
on these offers, after which they're withdrawn.

Contact Oceania at www.oceaniacruises.com
or 1-800-531-5658.

Cruise lines may also toss in perks like free upgrades
to better cabins and onboard credits for free massages
or drinks.

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Why it makes sense to book early

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Besides taking advantage of such special offers, it makes
sense to book early if you don't have much flexibility
in your travel plans.

For instance, if you:

**need to take your cruise during summer vacation
   when your kids are out of school

**know you're going to need several nearby cabins to
   accommodate a group of friends traveling together

**want to travel to a popular destination such as
   Alaska in the summer

you might be out of luck if you wait too long
to choose your ship dates.

The most desirable cabins (not necessarily the most
expensive) on the most popular routes and on the
most popular ships tend to sell out early.

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Make sure you get the perks you deserve

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If you do book early, don't settle for token discounts or offers
such as a "free bottle of wine!" or "free souvenir photo!" that
don't amount to much at all.

Comb the Internet for the most attractive offers or insist that
your travel agent nail down the best deals you can get.

Fifty percent off printed brochure rates is a good target price,
especially for mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival,
Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian cruise lines, which routinely
offer huge discounts late in the game if a cruise isn't selling
fast enough.

You don't want to book early only to discover that latecomers
are paying much less than you are for the same cruise.

In some cases, a good travel agent can convince a cruise line
to refund the price difference if you "overpaid" by
booking early -- but you should keep on top of this yourself.
Don't depend on your agent to initiate this on his or her own.

Luxury lines or smaller expedition-style cruise ships may
not offer such big discounts for early booking, but many do
sweeten the pot.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com), for instance,
is now offering 35 percent off its regular fares and
complimentary economy airfare (or a $500 credit per
passenger without air) for selected Alaska sailings
this summer, starting in late May 2007.

On some voyages, kids go for free as the third or fourth
passengers in their parents' cabins. But like most early
booking offers, it could be withdrawn at any time.

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For more insider tips on Booking the Best Deal on your cruise

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Are you interested in learning more about landing great
cruise deals by booking early?

Our new eBook, "How to Save Money on Cruises -- Part I:
Booking the Best Deal" is loaded with insider tips and
techniques -- all geared toward saving you lots of money
on your next cruise.

We go into much greater detail about each one of our
insider's tips -- including the benefits of booking early --
than we did here.

Here's what one of our satisfied customers had to say:

"I can speak from experience when I say "How to Save
Money on Cruises" offers a ton of tips that will help save
you money. I was amazed when I read it… the eBook
answered all my questions and gave me the
confidence to book a cruise!"

-- Melody Moser, Mays Landing, New Jersey

I know that many of you are planning to book a cruise
for 2007 in the next month or two. Don't go into "battle"
negotiating your fare without being armed with all the
money-saving secrets contained in "How to Save
Money on Cruises -- Part I: Booking the Best Deal!"

To learn more about "How to Save Money on Cruises --
Part I: Booking the Best Deal," click here:

www.smartercruising.com

And if you order right away, we'll even throw in FREE
bonus books on saving on airfare, and on how to avoid
airfare altogether! Don't miss out! Click here:

www.smartercruising.com

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2) It's BARGAIN TIME in the CARIBBEAN

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Advance bookings for 2007 Caribbean sailings have been
soft this past year. The reasons aren't entirely clear,
because, overall, cruising is still one of the hottest trends
in travel.

But whatever the reason, that's good news for those of you
who want to book a 2007 Caribbean cruise -- including those
who want to get away this winter.

Because there's a fire sale going on right now, and you could
be on your way to a fun and sun vacation for just a few
hundred dollars.

Some lines are offering Caribbean cruises for well under $100
a night -- including shipboard lodging, transportation, food, and
entertainment. Try beating that at a land-based resort!

Consider these Caribbean cruise deals that recently came
across my desk:

**A five-day Royal Caribbean cruise leaving Galveston,
   Texas, for Cozumel and other points in Mexico on
   February 4, starting at $249
   (available at www.vacationstogo.com)

**A three-day Carnival cruise to Nassau, Bahamas,
   leaving Port Canaveral, Florida, every week from
   January 11 to March 15, with starting rates ranging
   from $199 to $299 (go to www.carnival.com)

**A seven-day Princess cruise to St. Maarten, the US
   Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas leaving February 11
   out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, starting at $491
   (available at www.bestpricecruises.com)

**A seven-day Holland America cruise leaving
   February 25 from Tampa, Florida, starting at $549
   (available at www.vacationstogo.com)

**A seven-day Norwegian Cruise Line voyage leaving
   March 4 from Miami through the Eastern Caribbean
   (including Puerto Rico, Antigua, and the US
   Virgin Islands), starting at $499
   (available at www.cruise.com)

**A seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise leaving
   January 28 from Port Canaveral, Florida, for the
   western Caribbean (including Jamaica, Grand Cayman,
   and Cozumel, Mexico), starting at $599
   (available at www.cruisesonly.com)

**A seven-night Celebrity cruise leaving January 14 or
   February 11 from Fort Lauderdale to the Dominican
   Republic, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and the
   Bahamas, starting at $649 (available at the Cruise
   Value Center, www.mycruisevalue.com)

And there are dozens more equally enticing bargains. But if
you're in the market for one, act fast -- with prices like these,
some similar sailings this winter have sold out.
 
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3) "Take Advantage of These Great Last-Minute Deals!"

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Carnival is offering two-category upgrades on
selected three- to eight-day cruises throughout 2007 if booked
by February 15.

Initial rates are as low as $229 for three-day cruises.

To get this deal, talk to a travel agent or call Carnival
and ask for rate code CPS2.

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For more insider tips on Tracking Down Discounts on your cruise

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Do you know how to track down discounts and deals
like the ones listed above?

If not -- or if you simply want to save hundreds or even
thousands of dollars by landing great discounts on your
next cruise -- I highly recommend that you check out our
new eBook, "How to Save Money on Cruises -- Part II:
Tracking Down Discounts" here:

http://www.smartercruising.com/trackingdowndiscounts/index.html

It's filled with all new information about snagging discounts
for families or other groups, singles, and seasonal specials,
among many other money-saving topics.

And if you order this eBook right away, you'll receive two FREE
bonus books:
 
1)       How to Cruise for Free

2)       Go Mini-Cruising

… perfect for weekend getaways! Click here:

http://www.smartercruising.com/trackingdowndiscounts/index.html

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4) "Book Soon for Summertime Alaska Cruises"

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As January sets in, a trip to Alaska may not seem like your
top priority at the moment. But -- in keeping with our earlier feature
on Booking Early -- it's a good time to start some serious planning
if cruising the 50th state is on your wish list for the New Year.

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A short season means high demand

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Because Alaska cruises run only from May to September, demand
can run high for the relatively short season, so to make sure you
get the kind of ship you want at an affordable price, it pays
to book early.

Readers in Colorado who belong to AAA can check out my latest
piece on Alaska cruising in the January issue of EnCompass
magazine ("Cruising Alaska -- A Discovery for All Generations").

But for everyone else, I can briefly sum up this year's Alaska cruise
scene like this: Alaska cruising is more popular than ever, with
some 45 different ships on 15 cruise lines plying the
Inside Passage, the Gulf of Alaska, and even the remote waters
of the Aleutian islands.

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Bargains are available

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While it's not always easy to find good bargains on Alaska cruises,
you can still find a fair number of big-ship cruises whose rates fall
under $1,000 per passenger.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a one-week
Inside Passage Cruise out of Seattle on May 5 starting at $649,
available at www.americasvacationcenter.com.

Keep in mind that the mainstream big-ship lines -- such as Carnival,
Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian -- often keep initial fares low
because they know that most passengers will spend plenty of
additional money once they're onboard.

Shore excursions are particularly profitable for the cruise lines,
especially in Alaska, where they sell adventurous excursions like
helicopter flights over glaciers or dogsled expeditions for
hundreds of dollars a person.

Before booking one of these mainstream cruise lines, consider
carefully what organized shore excursions -- if any -- you want or
can afford to take. Be sure to check out the cruise line's website for
descriptions and prices.

Then be just as certain to check out the shore excursions
offered by independent suppliers -- go to www.dollyvarden.com
or www.portcompass.com for two good ones.

By signing up with the independent suppliers, you may be able
to save 10 or 15 percent off cruise line prices, which can add up
for a family over a week's time.

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Consider small-ship cruises as well

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Finally, total up the potential additional expenses to see what
your cruise will really cost, beyond the base price.

Then compare that with the cost of a small-ship, expedition-style
cruise, such as those offered by American Safari Cruises,
Cruise West, and Lindblad Expeditions.

Expect to pay a considerably higher base price for small ship
cruises than on the big mainstream lines.

However, the small ships can offer real value by providing a
quality overall experience in Alaska.

For instance, they can go places where larger ships cannot,
such as off-the-beaten path ports or narrow fjords. And since
some include shore excursions in their base prices, they may
not be as expensive as they first seem.

For lots of good detail on the upcoming Alaska cruise season,
I recommend the website www.AlaskaCruisingReport.com.

It's thorough and reliable, and provides a good run-down on
the various Alaska-based cruise lines and ports of call.

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For more tips on saving money on shore excursions

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Don't let the cruise lines milk you out of your money!

"How to Save Money on Cruises -- Part III: Saving Money
Onboard" gives you all the information you need to
make smart choices onboard your ship. Learn more at:

www.SmarterCruising.com/SavingMoneyOnboard/index.html.

And if you order today, I'll include FREE bonus books on
how to save money in port and on how to arrange your own
shore excursions!

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5) "Rough Seas Ahead?: Alaska Cruisers Tax"

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Alas, Alaska voters have authorized a new $50 per passenger
tax on cruise ship visitors, beginning in the summer of 2007 --
an unfortunate attempt to channel your hard-earned vacation
dollars directly into their own coffers.

Thus, expect Alaska cruise rates to increase at least $50
this year, not counting normal inflation.

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6) "Smooth Sailing Tip: Use Your Own Cell Phone Onboard"

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Following in the wake of several other cruise lines -- including
Carnival, Norwegian, Oceania, and Crystal -- Holland America
will offer all of its passengers the ability to use their own
cell phones or personal digital assistants (such as
Blackberries) at sea, starting in March 2007.

Both calling and text messaging will be available through
the newly introduced technology.

While passengers will have to pay international roaming
charges -- which are expected to run about $2 to $5
a minute -- these should be much less than having to use
the shipboard telephones or renting satellite phones, both
of which can run $10 a minute.

The only problem is that you may have to listen to all your
fellow passengers calling their friends, families, and
business associates while you're trying to enjoy some
peace and quiet on deck.

A few cruise lines, such as Oceania and Silversea, are
setting aside special public areas for cell phone use, while
labeling other public spaces as "quiet zones" away
from the blare.  

That sounds like the best of both worlds to us!

Happy cruising,

Clark Norton

The Smarter Cruiser

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