5 Reasons to Cruise in '09 |
 Cruise vacations are becoming more and more attractive travel options this year, thanks to added incentives cruise lines hope will stir wary travelers out of their staycation stupors. Call it the upside of a down economy. Previously unheard of discounts and extras are becoming standards - and not just from budget cruise lines, according to a recent USA Today story.
Recession or no recession, avid cruisers will tell you there's always a good reason to hop on the nearest ship. Onboard entertainment, various ports of call, multi-generational activities, great food - those are evergreen reasons. This year, you can add these additional 5 reasons to cruise to the list:
Big discounts: One excellent example of this comes from luxury line Oceania Cruises. For the first time ever, Oceania is wooing would-be cruise travelers with $1,000 per person discounts on many of its cruises to Europe this year. Cruise select Norwegian Cruise Line South America itineraries this year, and you'll save 50 percent on the cost of a traveling companion's cruise.
Europe incentives: Oceania isn't the only cruise line dying to get travelers to Europe this year. Crystal Cruises is knocking $1,500 per person off the price of certain European trips this year for customers who book early - by March 31, 2009. And we hear that Regent Seven Seas is throwing free airfare and shore excursions in with some of its 2009 Europe cruises.
Great prices for last-minute travel: If you want to travel in the coming weeks, the options get even better. A slow booking season in 2008 means plenty of space still available on trips departing in the next 60 days. These days, it's certainly possible to find airfare-inclusive package cruise deals that break down to $100 a day or less.
Hefty on-board credits: Look out for sizable on-board credit promotions. Norwegian Cruise Lines, for example, is offering up to $500 per stateroom in on-board credits through its Freestyle Resolution: Spend Our Money promotion. Celebrity Cruises is offering up to $200 per stateroom in on-board credits to those who book their 2009 cruise by Jan. 19.
Free upgrades: Perks are just coming from the high-end cruise lines, either. Carnival Cruise Lines, known for its affordability, is offering free upgrades to the best available stateroom when you book by Jan. 23.
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POSTED BY SYSADMIN - TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009
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