HOW TO CHOOSE A CRUISE

Insider secrets from Anchors Away Cruises & Tours to find the Best Cruise Discounts

Anchors Away Cruises & Tours is hands down the BEST travel agency world wide at which to obtain the very best travel discounts available!

Here are just a few of the discounts programs available for you when booking with Anchors Away Cruises & Tours!
EARLY BOOKING CRUISE DISCOUNTS

Every cruise line establishes a discounted fare structure in their brochure. You will see the “brochure rate” followed by some equivalent to an early booking incentive.

• Princess Cruise Lines calls it’s early booking discount – Love Boat Saver© rate.
• Carnival Cruise Lines names their early booking discount – Super Saver© rate.

These Early Booking Discounts or “EBD’s” may have restrictions as to limited time offer and “book before dates”. It is reasonable to conclude that this rate is the minimum cruise discount you should expect for your cruise deal, if you meet the terms and conditions outlined in the rules and regulations.
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours has special early booking programs Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.


REPEAT PASSENGER SAVINGS PROGRAMS

The majority of cruise lines jealously guard and covet the loyalty of their past passengers. Each cruise line offers incentives (cruise discounts) for their past passengers (often referred to as Alumni) to remain with the cruise line and continue cruising on their ships. Some examples are:
• Princess Cruise Lines - Captain’s Circle Club
• Holland America - Mariner Club
• Norwegian Cruise Line – Latitude Club
• Crystal Cruises – Crystal Society
Past passenger or Alumni cruise discounts can mean significant savings if you have sailed with that cruise line before. Always ask if there are past passenger fares available on the sailing you are interested in (assuming you are a past passenger).

If you are not a past passenger, consider traveling with friends that have sailed on that cruise line before. Most cruise lines will “share the wealth” by allowing a past passenger to book friends and family who have not cruised the line before, a past passenger fare as well. This may be limited to one or two extra cabins at a maximum but well worth investigating. On some sailings past passengers may receive cruise discounts of more than $1,000 per person!

Of special note here is Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival Corporation owns not only Carnival Cruise Lines but Holland America, Seabourn Cruises, Cunard Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, Costa Cruises and most recently Princess Cruises. They offer the VIP or Vacation Interchange Privileges™ program.

If you sail on any of their World’s Leading Cruise Lines™ you will be entitled to the same past-guest savings currently being extended by any of their cruise lines to their past guests. This means, for example, if you have sailed on a Carnival ship, you are eligible for past passenger savings on Windstar Cruises or perhaps a Holland America cruise if you choose.
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours has special repeat passenger Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

REGIONAL SPECIALS
From time to time, cruise lines will offer regional specials based upon geographic areas. You may find an offer, which is restricted as follow:
If you can prove residence in an area where the special is being offered, you may end up with significant savings. At times when a cruise line is faced with a yield challenge on their ships they may look for an area or area where they have not yet sold much space and then discount the space in that area to gain the extra business. They usually will not open the special to everyone because in certain areas they may have done well and frankly don’t want the hassle of clients looking for price changes!
The point here is that often, regional specials or cruise deals, may save you more than past passenger programs and agency group booking discounts. Ask your Vacation Planner booking agent for the “best available fares” for the category you are looking for. Be flexible – if there is a regional promotion the week prior or subsequent to the week you want to go – change your plan and pocket the savings.


SENIORS DISCOUNTS
Yes - it does pay to get older when it comes to cruise discounts! Most cruise lines offer additional discounts (starting about 5% and going much higher) for passengers age 55 and over. Ask your Vacation Planner agent if the particular sailing you are on has a Senior’s Promotion. Compare this price to any groups, regional specials and/or past passenger specials to come up with your lowest rate.
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours has special senior fare Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

CATEGORY “GUARANTEES”
If you are willing to gamble a bit, you can possibly be upgraded to a higher category by booking into what is called a “category guarantee”.

The difference is that with a “normal” reservation you will receive an “assigned” stateroom and you will know the exact number a location of the stateroom.

Under a “category guarantee” you leave it to the cruise line to assign you a cabin just prior to sailing (anywhere from one week to three days prior to sailing). The advantage is you will receive at a minimum, the category you are paying for but you stand a good chance of being upgraded to a better category for no extra charge.

Sometimes and depending on the ship’s yield, this upgrade may be several categories. The only downside is if you want to avoid the bow or aft (very front or very back) you may be assigned there so it might not be worth the gamble to you.
There are several types of “category guarantees” to be aware of.
• ROS – (Run of Ship): This is generally the lowest fare you can get on the ship. You will not know what type of cabin or where it is located usually until the week of sailing. But you will get the lowest rate available and could end up with good upgrades. The cabin could be an inside or an outside.
• INSIDE ROS: - Same as above only you have restricted it to Inside Cabins only and you will get the lowest available rate for an inside cabin with potential for upgrades. (Sometimes referred to as category “Z” guarantee).
• OUTSIDE ROS: - Same as above only you have restricted it to Outside Cabins only and you will get the lowest available rate for an outside or ocean view cabin with potential for upgrades. (Sometimes referred to as category “Y” guarantee).
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours has special “guarantee” booking programs Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

SPECIFIC CATEGORY GUARANTEE
Ship cabins are laid out on decks and are given category numbers or letters. You can select a specific category to guarantee and will receive the lowest rate for that category – you will get at least the category you guarantee but leave the cruise line the option to upgrade you without charge. For example, on Holland America, a category H stateroom is the minimum view cabin. If you select category H, you will receive at least an ocean view cabin, but may receive upgrades to more expensive categories without any upgrade charge. You won’t know your cabin up front but if this doesn’t cause you anxiety, it may be worth it to try for the upgrade.
Talk to your booking agent about how full a particular sailing is and look carefully at the deck plans. Some categories have very few cabins and if you can book a guarantee you will likely get an upgrade without having to pay more money!
A note about upgrades: An upgrade is basically moving you from a lower category to a higher category without charging you for the upgrade. Essentially with this cruise deal, you are getting a higher priced (not necessarily different layout) cabin than you paid for.
Some cruise lines (notably Princess Cruises) asks us at the time of booking whether you would be willing to receive an upgrade if one becomes available. Not a stupid question! If you are adamant that you want a specific cabin on a ship, ensure you tell your Vacation Planner booking agent “no upgrades”. You generally have the right to approve the upgrade before they move you. Under many “past passenger” programs, an upgrade may be extended to thank you for your loyalty. This is not automatic but upgrades are generally extended to past passengers before “first time” passengers.
Keep in mind booking a “guarantee” DOES NOT guarantee you a higher category, and sometimes a higher category can be on a lower deck, but if you would like to take the chance of receiving a cabin that would have cost you more than you spent without any additional costs – ask your Vacation Planner booking agent to book you as a “guarantee” worse case scenario is you receive a cabin in the category that you paid for!
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours has special “guarantee” booking programs Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

THIRD & FOURTH PASSENGERS IN A CABIN
If you don’t mind sharing your cabin with a third or fourth person, you can achieve significant cruise discounts for these passengers.
This is ideally suited for families, say, Mom and Dad, junior and his sister. Remember that the space available is generally the same as a double occupancy cabin and so may be constrained - but it is often better than paying the same double occupancy rate for another cabin.
You will receive one rate per person for the first two passengers in the cabin and then a discounted rate for the third and/or fourth passenger in the cabin. The discount will be on the cruise fare only. Port charges, taxes and air fare will not normally be discounted. In addition, if the third and fourth guests are children there may be a “kid’s rate” available. Generally, children under two will be free but you may have to pay port charges and taxes.
Costa and MSC Cruises even have many dates where children under 19 – SAIL FREE!
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours keeps up on all of the latest promotions for families and 3rd and 4th passengers, for details we have Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

BOOKING ON BOARD
Once you are on board you may want to consider booking your next cruise with an on board cruise line representatives.
Cruise lines recognize the best time to sell you another cruise is while you are enjoying a present cruise. Often they will make available attractive offerings, cruise discounts or incentives for you, such as reduced deposit requirements, additional amenities or shipboard credits. The deposit is fully refundable and you will have locked in the incentives.
Some cruise lines will allow you to leave the ship and destination open and you can discuss alternatives with your booking agent once you return home.
Be sure to tell the onboard reservation agent to assign your booking to Anchors Away Cruises & Tours! The cruise line will advise us of your reservation and your Anchors Away Vacation Planning agent will oversee the entire booking until the time of sailing. Your agent will also confirm to you whether the offer is indeed the best possible value or whether there are other options you may wish to consider. As an added bonus only Anchors Away allows you to combine any additional discounts and promotions that we may have on the particular sailing IN ADDITION to the incentives you received by booking onboard!
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours keeps up on all of the latest promotions for booking onboard, for details we have Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.

BACK TO BACK CRUISES
Many cruise lines offer alternating cruise between the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and other exotic destinations (including Europe!) you can stay on the ship extending your 7 or 10 day vacation to 14 or 20 days, visiting many different ports. Often there will be an incentive or cruise discount to do the back to back. It may not be much (anywhere from $100 to 10%) but it is a way to extend your vacation for less.
REPOSITIONING CRUISES
Cruise lines move their ships from and to different markets at specific times of the year or when a new ship enters the market and needs to be positioned to its home port. For example, April will see a large number of ships move from the Caribbean to the Alaska market. October will see the reverse. Often these sailings are long, and you may get significant discounts for taking advantage of the repositioning.

New launches may feature a unique itinerary as the ship positions from its port of construction to its port of operation and cruise discounts may apply to this type of sailing.
Anchors Away Cruises & Tours SPECIALIZES in repositioning cruises, many times even including airfare! For details we have Vacation Planning agents standing by waiting for your call 800-391-2469.
Important Note:

Cruise operators release their sailing schedules one year or more from time of departure. Popular cruises, especially those during holidays, school vacations and the summer, sell out quickly -- and the cruise fares rarely go on sale. The farther out you book your cruise, the better the price you will get. This is generally fact - not fiction.

The closer it gets to sailing date the higher the price may be. Buyers are often deceived by "last-minute deals" where the "last-minute" deal price is still higher than the rate you would have paid if you booked a year and a half ago. It does not pay to put off booking in the hope you might get a lower rate down the road.

More often than not, the closer to the sailing date, the higher the price can go and there are fewer choices of cabins. The best time to book is when you know you want to go. It doesn't matter if the price goes up or down after you book, if you are confident and excited about going then you know you got the best rate at the time.

Also, some cruise lines will protect the pricing if they lower it, however they don't come to you. You need to watch the pricing after you book or have your agent do it for you. Besides the price and cabin availability, the cost of waiting may be missing the cruise altogether.
MILITARY CRUISE FARES

Celebrate your return from duty by taking a cruise vacation with your loved ones.
Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line & Royal Caribbean International appreciate the commitment made by the US Armed Forces and are happy to extend special military discounts to members of every branch of service. Through the military cruise discounts program US military personnel can book their cruise staterooms at savings up to 50% off the published fares. Specials rates are available on select ships and sailings dates.

Active, Retired, Reserve and Honorably Discharged Military Personnel can enjoy these fantastic discounts. This Military Promotion is capacity controlled so please call now! Anchors Away military cruise discount specialists are awaiting your call.

Understanding Cruise Pricing
Before you start shopping for cruise discounts, please understand what the components of cruise pricing are. Some are discountable by the cruise line, some are not:
CRUISE FARE – the actual fare charged by the cruise line for passage on the ship. The cruise line has full flexibility with this fare and cruise discounts are usually from this component of your cruise cost and this is where the cruise deal comes from!
PORT CHARGES, DEPARTURE TAX, CUSTOMS FEES, IMMIGRATION FEE and OTHER GOVERNMENT FEES – charges levied on the cruise line for a particular sailing that are non-discount able. Some of these components are often called "NCF’s”.
AIR FARE OR OTHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS – costs of getting you to the port of embarkation and disembarkation. Not usually discounted but often subsidized.




How to Choose a Cruise


1. Call Anchors Away - our Vacation Planning agents are the most knowledgeable there is! We have access to specials and cruise deals that no other agencies have.

2. Decide where and when you want to cruise and the port you want to embark from. There are Caribbean and Asian sails nearly year-round. Alaskan cruises take place only in the summer, as do most cruises in Europe. Trips through the Panama Canal take place in spring and fall.

3. Decide who will be joining you on the cruise. Families have different needs and entertainment requirements than singles or couples.

4. Outline the activities that appeal to you: ports of call, shore excursions, onboard facilities and amenities.

5. Decide if you have a preference about ship size. Large ships have more entertainment choices, while small ships have a more personal approach to service.

6. Determine your budget. Cruise lines give discounts for early bookings. You can also affect your costs by altering cruise dates, the length of your cruise and the region you sail to.

7. Ask about the typical age group of those sailing on a particular line or ship. This can help you determine whether you'll be compatible with your fellow passengers.

8. Choose the level of formality you prefer. Some ships demand formal or business attire at certain dinners. Other ships cater to vacationers who want to wear only casual clothing.


Tips:
Be aware that some taxes port fees are often not included in advertised prices. They can add to your cruise costs.

Budget for tips to shipboard waiters, room stewards and service personnel. Ships often have suggested amounts, depending on the length of the cruise.

Pack light. Getting on and off ships is not as easy as picking up your luggage at the airport.

Bring along toiletries, film and sunscreen. They can be quite expensive onboard.