Time for a cheap cruise?

"To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

Depending on your point of reference, you may recognize that as a quote from Ecclesiastes 3:1, or lyrics to a Pete Seger song made famous by the Byrds.



Some may not recognize the words at all, but completely grasp the concept.

And a few will believe the world is an all or nothing place filled with haves and have-nots.

They hear about people going on fabulous cruises and believe they could never be among those fortunate voyagers of the seas.

Actually, when "Turn, Turn, Turn" was a hit, destination cruises for the masses were in the embryonic stage of development, so my generation definitely lived through a time in life when we never considered the concept of cruising.  When "The Love Boat" appeared on TV in the 1970's, that changed.

As cruising caught on, most people looked only at the least expensive rooms available, just wanting to be part of the action that took place in the public spaces.  When you think about it, few scenes from "The Love Boat" take place in staterooms.  And the old Pacific Princess used in that show was a very primative ship.



It didn't take long for passengers to realize that if they were going to spend a few days on the ocean, they should have a window to appreciate the views, so they spent a little more.

There will always be wealthy folks who insist on the finest accommodations, but in the 1990's, Princess introduced balcony rooms, an intermediary step between porthole rooms and large suites.

Suddenly, a room that visually opened up to the great sea views, with just enough outdoor space to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or read a book, became an affordable choice.

The concept caught on with all the major cruise lines, and before long, most experienced cruisers insisted on at least a balcony room.

Simultaneously, ships have continued their never-ending improvement, adding jaw-dropping features like Royal Caribbean or re-shaping Modern Luxury like Celebrity.

Now in play are pre-paid amenities like open bar packages, shore excursions, gratuities or even air from your home city.  They may be "free," but they are factored into pricing.



While experienced cruisers have no trouble justifying the value, not everyone can get everything they want all the time.

If it is a time for you to be thrifty, I can still help you get on the best cruise for your needs.

There are lots of affordable cruises available on older ships.  And yes, we represent Carnival, which has more close-to-home cruises than anyone.

There's a new counter-trend, where cruise lines offer interior rooms stripped of amenities on terrific ships for a third of the price of balcony rooms, for example.  This is a terrific way to try cruising for the first time or slip in an extra trip.

If you're an American on the sidelines thinking you can never afford a cruise, you're probably wrong, especially if you set a goal and put aside a little money each week to save for it.

Then again, if you've reached a stage of life where you have limited vacation days but enough money to splurge for the Suite life or at least something north of the bare minimum, I'll be happy to help you book the trip of your dreams.

"Better service leads to better trips!"