- 1). Travel in a down economy. Cruise ships are finding it difficult to fill a ship as travel is just beginning to pick up again after the recession. Some luxury cruise lines are temporarily waiving the single supplement to attract travelers. The savings can amount to $5,000 or more.
- 2). Book a cruise as soon as it becomes available. Some companies waive the single supplement for the first few clients -- an incentive to book early in hopes that the ship will fill up. Begin looking at least six months before the cruise departs, and ask a travel agent to alert you when new cruises become available to get in on the "early bird specials."
- 3). Wait until the last minute to book. This can be a risky move, but for travelers without many obligations who can leave on a whim, waiting for the remainders can equal huge savings. Cruise ships will sell empty spots through the day of departure, so pack your bags and head to the port to claim a vacant spot.
- 4). Look into a "single share," suggests Debi Saeger, a travel consultant in Valdosta, GA. Cruise lines sometimes offer a matching service to pair travelers with a same-sex roommate who share a double-occupancy room. Many ships do not have single-person cabins, so this is a good option to diffuse the cost of a larger room.
- 5). Cruise during the low season when all rates are lower. There may still be a single supplement during this time, but the savings on regular fare are significant. The low seasons for Alaska cruises are May and September. For the Caribbean, low seasons are late April to May and September to early January, excluding holidays. For the Southern Mediterranean, winter is the low season. For eastern and western Mediterranean, March to April and September to November are low seasons. For Bermuda, April to May and September to October are the low seasons. Canadian and New England cruises are in low season in July and August. Hawaii experiences several low seasons in late August, late November, February and May. Low season for the Mexican Riviera is early January and May, and October to November. Baltic and northern European low season is early June and September.
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