Senior Traveler Magazine's Dawn Gesualdi recently sat down with Raye & Marty Trencher, cruise travel experts and Editor's and Publishers of the online publication, for comments on how Seniors can save on travel expenses in a tight economy.

CRUISE CHEAP: Cruise travel costs are escalating, with big fuel surcharges looming just around the corner, but that doesn’t have to get in the way of Seniors sailing the seven seas during their golden years. From planning to packing, from discount rates to departure dates, to insider deals for the 55-and-over crowd, retirees on a budget can still afford to cruise just about anywhere in the world.

Raye & Marty....

What are the top thing retirees can do to save on cruise fares, fuel surcharges and extra fees?

First, when it comes to fuel surcharges, there is not much you can do, accept plan on it.  It will cost around $9.00 a day per person, so for a senior couple that an additional $126.00. The cruise line may not as yet imposed the fee for your cruise, but in their passenger contract they reserve the right to do so, even after you have paid for your cruise, right up to departure day.

 

Sail when it's cheaper. The best deals can be found on Transatlantic, Caribbean and repositioning cruises during the off season periods of late August, September, October and November, also known as hurricane season. 

7 day cruises can be had during the off season for as little as $399 per person!

Early May and mid-September, are a great time to get good deals on those Alaska Cruises and Europe Cruises.

Most of all be flexible. When looking for the best prices, be flexible with your dates and see which sailings offer the best fares. If your thinking about Alaska, there are different prices for Southbound or Northbound Alaska sailings, yet the cruise and itinerary are virtually the same. You just sail in a different direction. Being flexible about your dates can potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
 

Senior Rates are not necessarily your best deal. Most cruise lines offer Senior Rates on selected sailings. But Senior Rates may not be your best rate. Seniors should ask if a Resident Rate or a Retired Military Rate is available. Often these type of rates are several hundred dollars cheaper than the all-ready discounted rate for the general public.

 

Shop around for price quotes. Don’t book direct with the Cruise Line. Chances are you'll pay too much and miss out on some perks only your travel agent  offers. Call local neighborhood travel agents, contact online cruise agents, and try membership clubs like AAA, BJ's or Sam’s Club. You'd be surprised how many cruise deals are out there for the same ship and sailing date you have in mind. 

Even if the price is the same, some agents offer; free cabin upgrades, or shipboard spending credits as an incentive to book with their company.  These "sweetened" deals are just as good as saving money off the cruise fare. 

Do your research, then before you pick the best one based solely on price, find out everything you need to know about the company you are about to do business with.
 

Keep your onboard spending in check. Cruise ships use a cashless system, taking your credit card information prior to sailing and issuing a boarding card that also doubles as your room key ( similar in size to your credit card ).

When you buy something in the gift shop, or order a drink,  the staff simply swipes your room key and your purchase is recorded to your onboard account.

This sort of “credit card like” spending can lead to 'Pay My Bill" shock when you read what it cost you, when you get your final bill on the last night of your cruise.  It’s very easy to lose track of what's going on. So, check your bill daily with Guest Services or the Purser's Desk. Most newer ships let you check you account via the TV in your cabin. Checking daily lets you know how close you are to staying on budget and lets you see if you need to change your buying habits before it’s too late.

Be sure to save the receipts for each purchase. At the end of the cruise you can easily compare those receipts with what's on your bill to insure accuracy.
 

See the sights on your own. You can go inline and reserve shore excursions at the cruise line's web site. it's easy and convenient, but not the most economical. You are better off doing it yourself. 

Most of the land based operators ( sightseeing tour companies )  the cruise line hires also take bookings directly. So look up the tour company online ( Google it ) then call, find out the price and compare it to what the cruise line is offering. You can also arrange sightseeing tours with online sightseeing tour brokers.  Compare cruise line shore excursion rates with those at companies such as PortPromotions.com, ShoreTrips.com  Viator.com, Shore Excursions Group.  Chances are you will save 10-20% off the cruise line's prices.

However, if your non cruise line sponsored tour runs into any mechanical trouble or otherwise is late getting you back to the ship, you could be waiving goodbye from the pier as your ship sails off into the sunset without you.

Better yet,  use public transportation to get you where you want to go.  Do your own walking tour of the port with a little help from a map you downloaded online off the Web and a guidebook you bought at Barnes and Noble.

Once again, do your research, then before you pick the best sightseeing operator based solely on price, find out everything you need to know about the company you are about to do business with.

What is the most effective way to save money on a cruise?

 

Book Early or Book Late.

 

The best discounts are going to those who book 9 -12 months ahead of sailing and those that book last minute.  The first week a new sailing schedule comes out, prices are at their lowest as the cruise lines want to capture as much business early on as they can. Millions of dollars of "deposit" money is is at stake during that first week.

Every week thereafter, prices will vary, most often going up as the ship's best cabins and locations book up. Prices will not decrease for weeks, but if the ship fails to sell out, prices may go down close to sailing. These so-called last minute cruise deals often are comparable to the prices offered during the first week the sailing was put on offer.  However, you are still better off booking early if you want the best choice of available cabin categories and locations on the ship.  

If the price goes down, most cruises lines will lower the price in the form of a price adjustment or shipboard credit. However, Seniors need to stay on top of things, always checking online or with their Travel Agent, as you  or your Travel Agent has to call the cruise line and ask for an adjustment, they won’t do it on their own.

 

Raye & Marty...

What other advice do you have for retirees looking to save on cruises?

 

Be aware. the cruise line’s airfare offer may not be in your best interest.

Most cruise lines offer as part of a package or as an optional item,  airfare from your hometown ( closest airport ) to the port at an extra cost.

However, from our experience, you can almost always get it cheaper on your own. You also have greater flexibility when come to flight times, use of frequent flyer miles etc. You can also take advantage of special e-mail offers if you are registered with an airline.  Arrange your flight schedule and purchase your air tickets yourself.

Better yet, book a "Cruise Close To Home" on a ship that sails from a port that’s within driving distance of home.  Skip the airport, save the money.
 

Plan Ahead. Book your next cruise while onboard ship.  Pick the cruise of your choice, or no specific sailing date at all. Just place a small deposit to your account ( much less than if you wait and do it from home ) and you'll receive a great deal on your cruise fare, and shipboard credits as well. 

If you did not mention your Travel Agent to the clerk onboard, You can transfer the booking to then when you get home and maybe take advantage of any offers the agent is making, as well.
 

And, we would add one question to Ms. Gesualdi's list:
 

Should seniors purchase trip insurance?

 

Always.

 

Seniors should make sure they get a policy that includes coverage for medical conditions and emergency evacuation services. We have always used TravelGuard and have been very pleased with the service, or you can check with your travel agent. Your health insurance plan may not cover the cost of medical treatment when you are outside the USA. Medicare does not. And, cruise ship doctors charge hefty fees for their services. A shot from the ships medical center could be $200 or more! Fortunately, most insurance companies will reimburse you for that. 

 

It's also important to read the details of the policy before you buy it. Understand the coverage to make sure you can get reimbursed for services directly related to your particular health situation. There is nothing worse then buying a cheap trip insurance policy, only to find out after the fact that what happened to you on vacation was not included, and your doctor and hospital bills came to over $30,000!