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"Smarter Cruising" Newsletter
May 1, 2007 -- Issue #6

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In This Issue:

1) "Which Destinations Are Bargains This Year?"

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

3) "Smooth Sailing Tip: Planning your 2008 Alaska Cruise"

4) "Rough Seas Ahead?: Trouble at the Canadian Border"

5) "Visit Clark's SMARTER CRUISING BLOG!"

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

1) Which destinations are bargains this year?

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2007 is proving to be a banner year for cruise bargains --
especially in the Caribbean, where demand has been soft
since last fall.

It's not unusual this spring to see week-long Caribbean
cruises going for just a few hundred dollars, around $70 per
day per passenger -- and sometimes as low as $50, even $40
per day per passenger.

Think about that: you can get your accommodations, food (as
much as six meals per day!), entertainment, and of course
transportation for the cost of a motel room or one
nice dinner out in the U.S.

Yes, in all likelihood, you'll pay more than that by the
time your cruise is over, especially for options such as
organized shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, spa
treatments, casino gambling and the like -- should you
choose to indulge.

And if you opt for more expensive cabins or suites than the
more modest ones, you'll pay more as well. But that's
entirely your decision -- incredible bargains are there if
you want them.

According to Alan Fox, CEO of the Internet discount cruise
site VacationstoGo, "The inflation-adjusted price of a
cruise has never been lower."

Industry observers have cited a number of theories why the
demand for Caribbean cruises (and along with it, prices)
has dropped. One is that frequent cruisers are tiring of the
Caribbean and are looking for more far-flung, less crowded
ports.

Another is that recent changes in passport regulations have
convinced U.S. passengers they need passports to cruise the
Caribbean -- even though the passport requirement for sea
travel has been postponed till January 2008.

And perhaps the lingering fear of hurricanes from fall 2005
kept passengers from booking Caribbean cruises last fall
(though that doesn't explain the spring slump).

With lots of "last-minute" deals available, though,
bargain-conscious cruisers have been snapping up cabins for
Caribbean voyages at prices up to 80 percent off brochure
rates.

Ironically, that means prices have been leveling
off a bit in the past few weeks and may even start
going up again, due to the increased demand.

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Alaska and Hawaii offer bargains, too

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Alaska -- traditionally one of the more expensive cruise
destinations because of its relatively short season (May to
September) -- also appears to be in a bit of a downturn this
year.

Again, no one knows the exact reason, though its tremendous
popularity over the past decade or so may be catching up to
it -- the "been there, done that" crowd may be searching for
new destinations and adventures.

That means that even in early May, just as the season is
about to dawn up north, you can still find space on a good many
ships -- and at low prices, too. According to Travel Weekly
magazine, prices are down about 20 percent this year.

Here are some examples:

** CruiseDeals.com is offering deals on a week-long
Norwegian Cruise Line departure from Vancouver to
Alaska on June 17 for prices starting at $549, and
$599 for a similar voyage leaving Seattle June 16;

** CruisesOnly.com is advertising a seven-night Holland
America cruise from Seward to Vancouver, with
oceanview cabins starting at $449;

** VacationsToGo.com is offering a deal on a week-long
Princess cruise departing Whittier, Alaska, on June 21,
starting at $408.

Hawaii is another place to land terrific bargains -- but maybe
only for this year.

Norwegian Cruise Line, which has dominated the Hawaii market,
recently announced it's pulling two ships out of Hawaii by early
2008, an admission that it had created too much supply for
the demand. In all likelihood, with fewer cabins available next
year, prices will rise. But for now, Hawaii cruises are going at
bargain prices similar to those in the Caribbean.

(It may well cost you more to fly to Hawaii, however, than to an
embarkation city for the Caribbean. And unlike Miami,
Houston, New Orleans or other mainland starting points for
Caribbean cruises, not many of us can drive to Hawaii!)

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Europe is in high demand -- but cruising can still be a bargain

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Demand has risen faster for European cruises than any other
destination this year.

The Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Baltic, and river cruising
throughout Europe have all ballooned in popularity over the
past few years.

Last-minute bargains and cut-rate deals for this summer in Europe
are much tougher to find. But, if you're willing to wait till this
fall -- after the summer high season (but when the weather can
still be very pleasant) -- you can find some excellent deals.

Most important, keep in mind that cruising may be the most
economical way of seeing Europe these days, short of donning
a backpack.

The key is that when you book a cruise in the U.S., you can pay
in dollars. But when you travel by land through most countries
in Europe, you have to change your dollars into Euros -- and right
now, the dollar is getting clobbered by the Euro in exchange rates.

(One dollar will only get you .73 Euros, while one Euro is worth
1.35 dollars.)

So Europe -- which is already a very expensive destination --
has become much more so for Americans. Unless, that is, you go by
cruise ship and pre-pay most of your expenses in dollars.

Yes, the initial cruise rates will be higher for Europe than they
are for the Caribbean or Hawaii. But if the Continent is on your
agenda this year, cruising is the way to see it -- without having
to hit the ATM machine several times a day.

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Exotic destinations are hot (not cheap) this year

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2007 is proving to be a bust-out year for exotic cruise
destinations.

Whether you want to voyage to Greenland or the Amazon,
Vietnam or Dubai, you can find a cruise ship ready
to take you there.

Asia, South America, the Arctic, and Antarctica are all in
demand, as cruise passengers seek out variety in far-flung
locales.

Alas, like personal computers in the 1980s and wide-screen
high-definition TV sets today, cruises to remote destinations
are still unusual enough that prices remain relatively high.
(One exception seems to be Australia and the Pacific.)

But stay tuned -- as cruise lines send more ships into ever more
exotic waters, chances are that competition will send prices
dropping a bit. And I'll keep you posted when they do.

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For insider tips on Booking the Best Deal on your cruise

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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
when you book your next cruise.

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

"If you have booked a cruise and have not read 'How to
Save Money on Cruises -- Part I: Booking the Best Deal'
by Clark Norton cancel the cruise immediately.

"Rebook the cruise only after you have read every word
and have memorized the 'Smooth Sailing Tips.'

"Not only will you save money and time, you will feel you
are in the know and that you are in charge and
control of your vacation.

"It will really be smooth sailing."

-- Louie Richmond, Seattle, Washington

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," check out:

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! Visit:

www.smartercruising.com

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2) Take Advantage of These Great Last-Minute Deals!

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** Book by May 4 for early-bird Costa specials
next winter at OnlineVacationCenter.com.
Both Western and Eastern Caribbean roundtrips
from Ft, Lauderdale are available. For instance,
you can land a balcony cabin on a seven-night
Costa cruise in the Western Caribbean on January
6, 12 or 20, 2008, for just $699, or a seven-night
Costa cruise in the Eastern Caribbean departing
December 16, 2007, or January 5 or March 23,
2008. An additional $200 will land you a suite.

** For a week-long Royal Caribbean cruise from
Galveston, Texas, to Mexico and Central America
on May 20, you can get an inside cabin starting
at just $549; available at VacationsToGo.com (ask
for Fast Deal #21228).

** Take a seven-night Norwegian Cruise Line Hawaii
cruise roundtrip from Honolulu departing May 6
starting at $499, offered by OnlyFunVacations.com.

** CruisesOnly.com is offering three-night
Bahamas cruises from Miami on Royal
Caribbean starting at $249 and four-night
Western Caribbean cruises from Miami to Cozumel on
Carnival (both May to October) starting at just
$199 -- up to 75 percent savings off the brochure
rates.

** Other offers from CruisesOnly.com: a three-night
Royal Caribbean Barcelona to Corsica sailing departing
May 10 for just $169 ($269 for a suite); and a
three-night Royal Caribbean French Riviera cruise out
of Barcelona May 17, also starting at $169.

** Norwegian Cruise Line is currently staging its
"Spring For It" promotion, offering onboard
credits for $25 up to $450 (depending on type
of cabin and occupancy) for any sailings between
October 1, 2007, and March 31, 2008. Book by
June 18, 2007.

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

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 to find out more.

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3) Smooth Sailing Tip: Planning your 2008 Alaska cruise

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If you aren't able to take an Alaska cruise in the
summer of 2007, you may want to start planning ahead
for the 2008 season. It's only a year away, and these
days it can pay to book a year in advance, especially
if you need certain types of cabins or are traveling
with a large group.

One of my favorite websites, AlaskaCruisingReport.com,
has just posted the first comprehensive list of all the
cruise lines -- 15 in number -- expected to sail to
Alaska in 2008. (The list may grow, but it's current
as of this time.)

The site breaks down the ships by size (megaships,
mid-sized, and small expedition-style ships) and also
has a section on ferries.

Whether you're thinking of taking an Alaska cruise this
year or next, I highly recommend cruising over to Alaska
Cruising Report for insights into the ships and ports
that make Alaska such a compelling destination.

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4) Rough Seas Ahead?: Trouble at the Canadian border

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This one could really hurt if you've ever been convicted
of a crime -- even a misdemeanor -- in the United States.
(That could mean something like pot smoking, shoplifting,
or reckless driving, and it doesn't matter if it was last
week or a youthful indiscretion decades ago.)

You arrive in Canada, perhaps while on a cruise or just
ready to start one (such as embarking in Vancouver for
Alaska). The immigration official runs your name through
a computer. The official then tells you that because of
your criminal record, you can't enter Canada.

Ouch! End of cruise. Or, if you're entering Canadian waters
in the middle of a cruise, end of shore excursions or any
other Canada touring.

And just because you may have entered Canada successfully
many times in the past doesn't mean you'll skate through
now. It's not that the laws have changed -- it's that the
technology has improved to allow the Canadian border
officials the ability to access criminal records.

The crowning blow? You won't be able to get a refund on
your cruise fare. The cruise lines won't give it, and
even your travel insurance won't cover it.

If you think you may be in jeopardy on this score, and
have plenty of lead time before you plan to travel to or
through Canada, you may be able to head the trouble off
at the pass by acquiring a Temporary Resident Permit.

The permit allows you to travel freely in Canada for one
year, but may take up to six months for processing.
Applications are considered on an individual basis,
depending on the circumstances behind your conviction
in the U.S. and other factors.

In short, there are no guarantees, but there is hope.

You can also apply for a permanent Rehabilitation
document, which lasts for life, but is more complicated
and expensive to obtain.

For more information, go to www.bordercrossing.ca or
contact the nearest Canadian consulate.

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5) Visit Clark's SMARTER CRUISING BLOG!

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If you haven't had a chance yet to check out my
new Smarter Cruising Blog, you can find it at
http://SmarterCruising.blogspot.com.

It's loaded with up-to-date tips for saving money
on cruises in a wide variety of ways.

Please come for a visit -- I've recently done postings on
freebies offered by both Peter Deilmann and Discovery World
Cruises on upcoming European voyages, as well as other
items of interest to Smarter Cruisers.

And keep checking back often -- I'll be posting new items
frequently.

Happy cruising,

Clark Norton

The Smarter Cruiser

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