Comment on Cruise deals abundant in industry rocked by woes

Cruise deals abundant in industry rocked by woes

Cruise deals abundant in industry rocked by woes Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 7:14 am, Friday, April 26, 2013 Recent images of a cruise ship limping back to port after an engine malfunction didn't do the cruise industry any favors heading into the summer vacation season. [...] cringe-worthy accounts from passengers who had to make do without power or working toilets for five days may have turned some travelers off cruising for good. [...] for those undeterred by the nightmare that befell the Carnival Triumph in February, nor that of several other headline-grabbing woes that afflicted some of Carnival Corp.'s other ships over the past year, this is a good time to save money on a cruise vacation, experts say. [...] it's not just Carnival that has had to discount its fares to coax back passengers. An economic slowdown in Europe has opened the door to savings on cruises that sail around ports in the Mediterranean Sea, says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, an online cruise reviews guide published by The Independent Traveler Inc. In general, to take advantage of these added incentives, travelers need to book at least four to six months in advance to get the ship, travel dates and state room of choice, adds Carrie Finley-Bajak, CEO of cruising information site CruiseBuzz Booking a vacation on one of these repositioning cruises can be significantly cheaper than a regular itinerary that hits several stops before returning to a home port. An older traveler looking for a refined cruise probably wouldn't be happy on a party ship festooned with nightclubs, basketball courts and other attractions aimed at younger passengers. [...] getting on cruise company mailing lists can tip you off to sales in advance. A cruise vacation has a lot of components to sort out, from air travel to the departure port, to offshore activities that often are not included in your cruise costs. “A travel agent will have access to all the ships and current pricing and promotions,” says Finley-Bajak. “If anybody says cruising is all-inclusive, they're crazy,” says Spencer Brown, adding that one always pays extra to gamble in the casino, visit the spa, use the Internet, eat at certain restaurants and for onshore excursions. There may also be a hotel stay before your departure, government taxes, fees and gratuities to cover.

 

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