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The bottom worth for a cruise is usually not publicly marketed, so it’s a must to know the place to look.
Reserving with a journey agent can get you some nice advantages, offering nice worth by serving to you discover cruises, kind teams, schedule actions, and—most of all—get good offers.
I used to be capable of save virtually 60% off a Freedom of the Seas cruise I booked by means of an MEI Journey agent.
I discovered an affordable worth for an October crusing on Freedom of the Seas: an oceanview cabin for simply $584 per individual.
After the price of taxes, charges, and port bills, plus pre-paid gratuities, I ended up paying $1678 whole for the 7-night cruise.
The reserving was for a assure oceanview cabin, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and providing stops at Good Day at CocoCay; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Thomas.
The posted fee on the general public Royal Caribbean web site was $2759 for a similar cruise—$1379 per individual. So how did I get such a superb deal?
I received a less expensive worth by utilizing my journey agent’s hidden offers
Reductions like this aren’t extremely marketed, and lots of of them are solely accessible by means of a journey agent.
My journey agent had entry to Royal Caribbean’s hidden offers sheet, which lists discounted sailings throughout the fleet. These secret offers are supplied to journey companies by the cruise line, and can’t be shared publicly.
You may should go on to a journey agent to seek out comparable reductions.
Whereas looking the key offers, I discovered nice reductions on sure cruises and was capable of ebook the Freedom of the Seas one immediately.
These charges aren’t supplied to most of the people and are sometimes particular charges established between the cruise line and the journey company.
The posted total fee for my Freedom of the Seas crusing was roughly $2,759 in whole.
Which means I saved greater than 60% off the general public fee by utilizing MEI journey.
A less expensive total cruise fare is a good motive to succeed in out to a journey agent and ebook a cruise by means of them.
In comparison with an analogous Independence of the Seas cruise, I received a a lot cheaper deal.
A cruise departing on November 2nd, 2025 from Miami, Florida, prices $1802, or $902 per individual.
This comparable 7-night Japanese Caribbean and Good Day cruise in an oceanview cabin has a worth virtually $200 over—and that is earlier than gratuities, buying the cruise a yr forward of time.
To get entry to those charges, you simply have to ask. While you work together with your journey agent, you’ll be able to ask if there are any particular group charges or company charges accessible.
In my case, I requested for particular charges that existed after which booked these sailings, fairly than selecting a selected ship and sail date.
The provision of particular charges is determined by a little bit of luck, however it’s one thing you’ll be able to ask your agent early within the planning course of.
Why was the cruise so discounted?
A steep low cost can spark suspicion.
Why was the crusing so low-cost? Was there something mistaken with the ship, room, or itinerary?
It is because of a mixture of particular negotiated charges between the cruise line and the journey consortium, in addition to the cruies line desirous to fill unsold staterooms.
This simply means fewer rooms on that exact cruise offered and would not level to any deficiencies within the ship or itinerary.
The crusing known as upon Good Day at CocoCay; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Thomas, and it was the proper trip to expertise all the pieces the Freedom-Class ship needed to supply.
Nevertheless, as a result of I additionally saved cash by reserving a assure cabin, I ended up getting a less-popular stateroom.
I selected a assured oceanview cabin, which means that Royal Caribbean promised me the oceanview class or higher—however I gave up the flexibility to decide on the stateroom location.
Learn extra: How to economize on a cruise: 45 professional suggestions
I ended up with a leftover cabin situated low on the ship, on deck 2.
The stateroom had a stunning porthole window, and clear, fashionable facilities. However I rapidly found why different cruisers did not need to ebook that cabin location.
The stateroom skilled fixed noise—from the anchor banging towards the aspect of the ship, toes stomping above me, and adjoining neighbors.
Whereas the cabin was nonetheless an gratifying keep, it was a much less fascinating location for a less expensive worth.
Is it value reserving with a journey agent?
Are the offers and help value reserving with a journey agent?
Many first-time cruisers do not know the way useful journey brokers might be. They’re additionally normally free to work with! Most good journey brokers are paid a fee from the cruise line, so there isn’t any further value to make use of their providers.
Journey brokers can provide you nice offers on sailings, and many individuals aren’t even conscious of hidden offers just like the one I received on my Freedom of the Seas cruise.
Vacationers additionally do not know the numerous methods a journey agent can help, similar to contacting customer support, organizing massive teams, and reserving shore excursions.
Learn extra: Prime stuff you did not know journey brokers can do in your cruise trip
My MEI journey agent booked the cruise and dealt with the friends, eating instances, and gratuities beforehand.
All I needed to do earlier than the crusing was scheduling, on-line check-in, and packing!
She additionally persistently checked in all through and after my crusing to make sure all went properly.
If we bumped into any points, our journey agent might work with us, and even name Royal Caribbean customer support and keep on the road for us.
A journey agent is a useful useful resource that gives nice offers and insider cruise information—all at no further value to you.
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