Finding a Carnival cruise discount is going to be easy if you are willing to spend some time researching. Not all discounts are really going to save you money. In reality, some ‘discounts’ will end up costing you more. If you want to book a cruise vacation for cheap, there are some great ways to take advantage of different Carnival cruise discount options, you just need to know what to watch for.
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New and Revamped Ship Discounts
The cruise line industry is a competitive one. If the cruise lines don’t keep their ships up to date, they can’t keep people coming back for more. A good way to score a Carnival cruise discount is to look for ships that are new, or have just been rereleased back in to the fleet. Carnival cruises will often be cheaper as they introduce the ship in to the fleet. There are several reasons for this. First, it helps to build the hype and draw potential cruisers to that specific ship. Secondly, it’s not uncommon for a new ship to have new staff. While they have been thoroughly trained, sometimes the only way to really get in to the swing of things is to just get right in and start. It’s expected to have a few kinks on a new itinerary or a new cruise ship. Most people who are experienced cruisers will understand this, and won’t mind paying a little less for the experience. This shouldn’t deter you whatsoever from taking these cruises. In almost all cases everything will run smoothly. The worst that usually happens is slightly longer service for meals as the staff gets acclimated to the new ship. If you are a patient person this is a great method for landing a worthwhile Carnival cruise discount.
Frequent Cruise Programs
All cruise lines have programs set up to reward those who cruise frequently with them. Carnival cruise lines is no exception to this. Signing up for the program is free, and you get points with every cruise you book. As long as you’ve taken at least one cruise with Carnival in the past you’ll qualify for special cruises just for past guests. These can be great discounts. For instance, for 2011 they offer a 5 day Caribbean cruise for less than $550 per person. That’s almost 20% off the standard rate for that cruise. You can also get free upgrades with your stateroom when you book this special. The Carnival cruise discount for these specials rotates out a few times a year, so be sure to check back frequently to see what is available. On top of these specials you can earn different member status levels that will give you perks and discounts based on the number of cruises you take. As an example, those who have platinum member status will enjoy on board credits that represent a certain percentage of the cruise cost. For your 25th cruise, you’ll get a 25% on board credit. This means if the cruise you’re taking is $1000 per person, you’ll end up with $250 on board credit for each person cruising. This goes up with each milestone. The 50th cruise will give you 50%, 75th cruise will give you 75%, and your 100th cruise will give you a free cruise entirely. While it may seem impossible to earn that many cruises, if you cruise regularly it’s not that difficult. If you take 2 cruises each year with your family of 4, you’ll end up on your 25th cruise milestone in just a little over 3 years.
Early Saver Savings
The Early Saver Savings program with Carnival cruise lines is probably one of the most popular options for Carnival cruise discounts. These allow you to book cruises early on and save 20% or more on your next vacation. If you visit the Carnival cruise website you’ll see a tab for this. You can choose to search for cruises that are 3-5 days in length, or 6-8 days in length. You’ll also be able to sort the cruise options by departure port, cost, time of year, and more. If you use this option you could book a 4 day cruise for under $200 per person. You won’t find other cruise packages that offer these kinds of prices. Of course, this means you’ll need to book from 6 months to a year in advance, but this isn’t a problem for most people considering work schedules can be hectic.
Cruise to Nowhere and Transpacific Carnival Cruise Discount Options
If you just want to take an extended weekend vacation, finding a Carnival cruise discount on a cruise to nowhere is a great idea. These cruises depart from several points on the US coasts and simply cruise out for a day, then come back. You can choose to depart from New York City, Norfolk, VA, San Diego, CA, or Vancouver, BC, Canada. There are no port calls for these cruises. The idea is just to enjoy everything the cruise ship offers and blow off some steam. You can find these cruises for under $200 per person. The Transpacific cruise is another good option for those who want an extended vacation. This cruise is offered once every year in September. The cruise will depart from Hawaii and end in Australia. The Carnival cruise discount for this cruise is designed to entice people to consider this. This repositioning cruise will give you the chance to explore French Polynesia, the Fiji Islands, and more. These types of cruises are typically very expensive, but with the Carnival transpacific deal you can sail for under $90 per person per day.
Finding cheap cruises is possible if you spend a little time planning and researching. Carnival cruise discount options are out there for the taking if you just take the time to find them.
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