What is a tried and true way of finding discount alaska cruise tickets?

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David in Kenai

Others have recommended shoulder-season travel (May, September) and I agree. Bring an extra warm layer, but everything will be less crowded, cheaper, and a few freezing nights really knock down the bugs.

I'd add:

Consider "re-positioning" cruises. The ones in May that get the ships to Alaska (from Mexico or Japan, etc) and ones in September that get them back. They don't do as many touristy stops, but they do stop in places few people get to (the Aleutians islands, for instance). Therefore they tend to attract more experienced travellers and nature-study types looking to get to less travelled places.

Also consider the Alaska State Ferry system. A whole lot cheaper and more flexible than the cruise lines. If you want a cabin, you'll be fixed on the sailing dates you select, just like the cruise ship. It won't have 5 swimming pools and 7 sqaure meals a day, but will stop in the same towns. And cruise past the same fjords, eagles and whales. The State Ferry is at its best if you're willing to bring a sleeping bag, sleep in the covered, heated Solarium with all the locals and if you want to step off one ship and spend 3 days or two weeks in Juneau, or Ketchikan or Sitka or Haines, etc, you can board the next ferry travelling in your direction at no additional cost.

We've considered doing what friends have done and going free on a smaller ship by being the ship's physician. But paying full fare is probably cheaper for most people than going to medical school <g>.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

The best way to get the LOWEST price for an Alaska cruise is to book very early and by that I mean 9 to 12 months in advance. The second thing you need to know is that the Alaska cruise season is from mid-May through Mid-September ONLY and the prices are the lowest in May and September, the first couple cruises of the season and the last couple. The reason is simple; its a bit cooler during those trips. BUT, its just as enjoyable and its really not freezing cold.

A few years ago we went in May and the temperatures at most of the port stops were in the 60's and in Anchorage, after cruising we did a land tour, it was in the 70's. Regardless of when you go it will likely be raining a little in Ketchikan and Juneau but not enough to prevent you doing tours and seeing things. It will also be cold, and I mean hat and gloves cold, when you get up close to the glaciers.

So Book early and think May or September to get the best price. ALSO, you can see the cruise specials for Alaska right on the cruise line web sites. Just go to the web sites and click on/ search for Alaska cruises and you can compare the prices by date.

We did our cruise on Princess (which I highly recommend) but Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Celebrity are also first class cruise lines. You may get a lower price on Carnival or NCL, but its my experience that the others have better cruises.

Here's a little extra:

The best Alaska cruise experience is the CRUISE-TOUR. Princess, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean all run cruise tours which take you by train all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Princess and RC have special domed train cars for this. Your best chance to see wild animals will be if you do a cruise-tour where you go further north after cruising the inside passage. The only animals you are likely to see in the inside passage is seals. On these tours You can arrange to stop for a night or two in Taketna, or Denali National Park. This will be your best opportunity to see Moose, Caribou, eagle, wolf, and bear. But you really need two days at Denali so that you have time to get one of the Park Service's buses that go deep into the park. Regular tour buses , cars and campers can only go about 3 or 4 miles into the park. The Park Service runs buses about 17 miles into the park, but you must get to the visitor center very early to reserve a spot on one of their buses. The train stops going north and south do not get you to Denali in time or allow enough time for the deep back country buses. With Princess, Holland America, and RC you can do the tour part first and then go to Seward or Whittier to get on ship for the inside passage part.

my4sonsnme

Check out vacationstogo.com for starters. They list prices on Alaska options, including cruise tours. This is a good starting point.

When you finish choosing, check with cruisecompete.com. These days, the cruise fare is more fixed than ever- so what you "get" is the free stuff an agent throws in---- prepaid tips, wine, spa, etc.

smb26

a good site for cheap tickets is http://www.ticketsavvy.com good luck! and have fun!

cat8082

You may find it out from the websites or from travel agencies. Here is one of the sites for budget travel tips http://funfunship.ws

randall_nd

There are many budget travel web sites. One is VacationsToGo.com Also, if you are within driving distance of the pier, you can be on a list for last minute deals. Cruise lines like to have every stateroom full, even if they sell the last few at cost.

Pricing of cruises is like pricing of airlines. Sometimes it's cheapest far in advance, but if they have empty beds/seats, they sometimes lower the prices.

So if you have your heart set on a particular cruise, and the price looks OK to you, just book it. If you wait, it may sell out. But booking far in advance is not always the cheapest.

A few tried-and-true ways of cruising for less that I've used:

(a) Go in the low season. For Alaska, the least expensive time will be at the beginning and end of the season (May and September). These are cheaper for two reasons: (1) it's colder than in the summer, (2) school is in session, so families aren't driving up demand. On the plus side, the ports are less crowded.

(b) Book as part of a group organized by a travel agent. Groups of a dozen or more people get special rates. So sometimes travel agents will put together a "group" of people who may not actually know one another, but they get the group discount. You don't have to hang out with the "group" and the only down-side is these bookings are limited to particular sailings/ships and sometimes certain types of cabins (inside, or no balcony). If you are a member of AAA, talk to their travel department; they're good.

(c) Register for cruise line specials. On each cruise line's website there's a place to sign up. Then if they have a sale they will let you know. My husband and I got a ridiculously good price on a last-minute Caribbean cruise this way.

In terms of scams, I wouldn't worry too much as long as you are dealing with a CLIA-registered travel agent (look for the CLIA logo) or the cruise line directly. The worst that's likely to happen is a lazy agent might not get you the very best deal, or a deal that looks great in an ad isn't so great once you add in the price of a decent cabin, taxes, etc.

That said, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is....

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