Great Deals on Europes Seas - Travel
Building on the strong demand for travel in Europe and the Mediterranean this summer and fall, cruise lines move additional ships to the region in hopes of capitalizing on the heavy bookings. Then high fuel prices sent prices soaring, making a European cruise suddenly more expensive for Americans, and forcing cruise lines cut prices to fill ships.
Royal Caribbean, which sent half its fleet of 22 ships in Europe this season offers some of the cheapest rates. Hotwire.com recently listed a seven-night cruise from Venice Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas in late June for as little as $ 499 per person for an inside cabin, about 30 percent of the normal price to the end of June
At the high end, Crystal Cruises has two-for-one rate of $ 7050 per person on summer cruises to Northern Europe. Its sale price fall of 10 trips from southern Europe shows the rate of $ 4,235 per person, a saving of up to $ 8,000.
"The rates on the 2011 summer cruises to Europe and the Mediterranean are the best we've ever seen," said Rich Tucker, manager of business development for CruiseDeals.com in Charlotte, but travelers must act quickly to grab a bargain. Already, he added, "we saw the price hit bottom and begin rebounding."
Indeed, some of the cheapest rates, including a seven-night sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line has been marked down to as low as $ 349 a person a few weeks ago, have already been snapped up. Celebrity Cruises has recently ended a "fly and sail" promotion it ran with reduced rates on airline tickets (from $ 999 per person) and 10 nights from $ 1199 Mediterranean cruises per person. Another result of the demand is shifting the decision to move to Royal Caribbean's 3,114 passenger ship, Navigator of the Seas, originally scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean this winter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he will sail in the Caribbean from November. As part of the switch, the line is the cancellation of a series of 14 night Mediterranean voyages will be held in Barcelona between November and April.
But there are still many bargains. Recent research on the cruise business Cayole.com site turned up six nights Eastern Mediterranean cruise with Royal Caribbean in July from $ 549 per person (originally $ 1.519), and a seven-night cruise Mediterranean on the Norwegian Cruise Line in June from $ 749 per person for a balcony room (originally $ 1,799).
Even without the discounts, all-inclusive nature of cruising - with the ship to provide meals, lodging and transportation between cities - can offer savings and relief of the complications of assembling a complex route of Europe, which normally involves intra-booking rates in Europe, train tickets and hotels.
The biggest obstacle facing the negotiation-cruisers is to find reasonable airfare discounts to go with last-minute cruise. The average rate was lowest in round-trip from New York to five European cities is $ 1,198, up about 8 percent of $ 1,105 for the same period last year, according to Travel Bing.
To bring the fares down, consider sailing in late August, when rates are often lower, recommended Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, which tracks the industry. If you are flexible on dates, you can also consider cashing in your frequent flier miles.
"Whatever you do," she says, "not to succumb to the temptation to Europe without a fantastic deal to make sure you can get affordable air in advance."
To help negate the high cost of airline tickets and keep the travel booking, some packaging lines are also in their ticket deals. Last month, put Oceania Cruises 18 cruises on sale, including eight Mediterranean voyages from September to November from $ 1,999 per person, including round trip coach - over 60 percent off brochure prices.
And the line luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers round-trip ticket in business class for $ 999 per person per trip and reduced rates of $ 10,000 per couple for several European departures. This brings the cost of a 12-night sailing from Istanbul to Athens, for example, $ 5,999 per person, 40 percent less than similar cruise last year.
Other cruise lines are cutting rates so low that the savings will help balance the high cost of the plane to Europe. Holland America Line has completed a sale of European cruise with rates of $ 599 per person on seven-night departures to Scandinavia, $ 699 per person on cruises that visit Italy and Côte d'Azur and $ 899 in other parts of the Mediterranean.
One way to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation is to work with an experienced travel agent can find the best deal for you. Cruises are always one of the few categories in which travel agents have an advantage over DIY online booking.
Even better is to combine your own research with the expertise of an agent. CruiseCompete.com, for example, allows you to select the cruise you want to take, and independent travel agents to offer you the best deal. You compare offers from your account, contact the agent with the best rates by phone or e-mail for reservations.
Royal Caribbean, which sent half its fleet of 22 ships in Europe this season offers some of the cheapest rates. Hotwire.com recently listed a seven-night cruise from Venice Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas in late June for as little as $ 499 per person for an inside cabin, about 30 percent of the normal price to the end of June
At the high end, Crystal Cruises has two-for-one rate of $ 7050 per person on summer cruises to Northern Europe. Its sale price fall of 10 trips from southern Europe shows the rate of $ 4,235 per person, a saving of up to $ 8,000.
"The rates on the 2011 summer cruises to Europe and the Mediterranean are the best we've ever seen," said Rich Tucker, manager of business development for CruiseDeals.com in Charlotte, but travelers must act quickly to grab a bargain. Already, he added, "we saw the price hit bottom and begin rebounding."
Indeed, some of the cheapest rates, including a seven-night sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line has been marked down to as low as $ 349 a person a few weeks ago, have already been snapped up. Celebrity Cruises has recently ended a "fly and sail" promotion it ran with reduced rates on airline tickets (from $ 999 per person) and 10 nights from $ 1199 Mediterranean cruises per person. Another result of the demand is shifting the decision to move to Royal Caribbean's 3,114 passenger ship, Navigator of the Seas, originally scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean this winter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he will sail in the Caribbean from November. As part of the switch, the line is the cancellation of a series of 14 night Mediterranean voyages will be held in Barcelona between November and April.
But there are still many bargains. Recent research on the cruise business Cayole.com site turned up six nights Eastern Mediterranean cruise with Royal Caribbean in July from $ 549 per person (originally $ 1.519), and a seven-night cruise Mediterranean on the Norwegian Cruise Line in June from $ 749 per person for a balcony room (originally $ 1,799).
Even without the discounts, all-inclusive nature of cruising - with the ship to provide meals, lodging and transportation between cities - can offer savings and relief of the complications of assembling a complex route of Europe, which normally involves intra-booking rates in Europe, train tickets and hotels.
The biggest obstacle facing the negotiation-cruisers is to find reasonable airfare discounts to go with last-minute cruise. The average rate was lowest in round-trip from New York to five European cities is $ 1,198, up about 8 percent of $ 1,105 for the same period last year, according to Travel Bing.
To bring the fares down, consider sailing in late August, when rates are often lower, recommended Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, which tracks the industry. If you are flexible on dates, you can also consider cashing in your frequent flier miles.
"Whatever you do," she says, "not to succumb to the temptation to Europe without a fantastic deal to make sure you can get affordable air in advance."
To help negate the high cost of airline tickets and keep the travel booking, some packaging lines are also in their ticket deals. Last month, put Oceania Cruises 18 cruises on sale, including eight Mediterranean voyages from September to November from $ 1,999 per person, including round trip coach - over 60 percent off brochure prices.
And the line luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers round-trip ticket in business class for $ 999 per person per trip and reduced rates of $ 10,000 per couple for several European departures. This brings the cost of a 12-night sailing from Istanbul to Athens, for example, $ 5,999 per person, 40 percent less than similar cruise last year.
Other cruise lines are cutting rates so low that the savings will help balance the high cost of the plane to Europe. Holland America Line has completed a sale of European cruise with rates of $ 599 per person on seven-night departures to Scandinavia, $ 699 per person on cruises that visit Italy and Côte d'Azur and $ 899 in other parts of the Mediterranean.
One way to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation is to work with an experienced travel agent can find the best deal for you. Cruises are always one of the few categories in which travel agents have an advantage over DIY online booking.
Even better is to combine your own research with the expertise of an agent. CruiseCompete.com, for example, allows you to select the cruise you want to take, and independent travel agents to offer you the best deal. You compare offers from your account, contact the agent with the best rates by phone or e-mail for reservations.
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