Why now is the best time to nab a cruise bargain – lines slash thousands of dollars off fares – Cruise Passenger

Cruise operators are offering huge savings to lure customers to use their Future Cruise Credits as research shows that Australians want to travel but are confused about what is required.

The result is that cruise lines are piling on inclusions like reduced-cost flights and upgrades to try and tempt out cruise hesitancy.

Travel Associates Cruise Specialist Kathy Pavlidis says many of the deals in the market place, including upgrades and perks, are about persuading people to use the tens of millions of dollars worth of Future Cruise Credits still in the market place as quickly as possible.

Upper premium line Oceania, for instance, is offering a free stateroom upgrade on select 2022 itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and South America.

There are 23 itineraries on offer for the free upgrade, ranging from seven to 21 days leaving between January and October 22.

This is the first time Oceania has offered these kinds of upgrades and perks because there are millions of dollars worth of FCCs still to be used, she said.

The Exclusive Upgrade Sale offers an upgrade of up to four stateroom categories at no additional cost and you can snap these up anytime in between November 24 and November 30. To make it a bit easier to plan ahead, from today you can preview the relevant sailings and look ahead to being back out on the water.

On a 12-night Northern and Western Europe cruise from Athens, moving from a concierge stateroom to a Penthouse Suite was $9,210 but is now $7,300.

Its sister brand, the ultra-luxe Regent Seven Seas is offering 10 per cent off select voyages in Africa, Alaska and the Caribbean and also US$300 credits per suite.

For those looking to see the Northern Lights, Hurtigruten is offering up to 10 per cent off sailings ranging from six to 16 days, priced from $1734. For instance, the Complete Norway Arctic Winter & Northern Lights 2021-23 voyage includes 34 ports of call, optional shore excursions and more.

Viking is offering savings of up to $8,000 per couple on its 13-day Antarctic Explorer itinerary aboard its two new ships. The savings are broken down as $3000 off the cruise price, plus international flights to the value of $5000 per couple. After discounts, the fare comes to $19,995 per person, valid for Antarctica departures from November 2022 to March 2023.

Until November 30, Ponant is offerings half-priced deposits of 12.5 per cent for all Northern Europe and Mediterranean 2022 departures plus additional savings of 10 per cent when guests book two itineraries back to back.

Celebrity Cruises is offering $400 on flights to Alaska and Europe and 50 per cent off the second guests fare when a couple or two people book together.

Silversea is giving travellers 20 per cent off their next cruise when they book and pay in full by November 30 for select voyages from April 1, 2022 onward. A seven-day Barcelona to Rome cruise, with economy-class airfares and shore excursions are included and the price for an April7 sailing is priced from $6,640 per person.

And Imagine Holidays are offering cruise packages like a Perth Escape with a two-night stay in a five-star Perth hotel and a 14-night cruise aboard theAzamara Quest during Christmas and New Years. The package is priced from $6,699 per person, with savings of up to $3,300 per couple.

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Why now is the best time to nab a cruise bargain - lines slash thousands of dollars off fares - Cruise Passenger