Alaska Tourism: Booking Your Cruise

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Booking Your Cruise

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Almost every cruise line publishes brochure prices that are the travel equivalent of a new car's sticker price: wildly inflated in the hope that someone, somewhere, might take them at face value. In reality, especially as sailings get close and it looks as if the line will get stuck with unsold space, cruise lines are almost universally willing to sell their cruises for much, much less. (The small-ship lines tend to be the exception to this rule. Since they have less space to sell and appeal to a more specific market niche, they can often get their initial asking price.)

Traditionally (meaning over the past 30 years or so) people have booked their cruises through travel agents. But, you may be wondering, hasn't the traditional travel agent been replaced by the Internet, and gone the way of typewriters and eight-track tapes? Not exactly. Travel agents are alive and kicking, though the Internet has indeed staked its claim alongside them and knocked some out of business. Some traditional agencies have also created their own websites to try and keep pace.

So which is the better way to book a cruise these days? Good question. The answer can be both. If you're computer savvy, have a good handle on all the elements that go into a cruise, and have narrowed down the choices to a few cruise lines that appeal to you, websites are a great way to trawl the seas at your own pace and check out last-minute deals, which can be dramatic. On the other hand, you'll barely get a stitch of personalized service searching for and booking a cruise online. If something goes wrong or you need help getting a refund or arranging special meals or other matters, you're on your own.

Shopping for Shore Tours

Most cruise-ship passengers sign up for onshore activities and excursions that leave from the dock when they arrive on board. It's easy and convenient, and you can be sure the outing will be timed to your port of call. On the down side, these tend to be the most superficial and highest-priced choices in town and almost always involve large groups. For outdoor activities, trooping down a trail or paddling a sea kayak in a big mob can spoil the experience. There is an alternative, however. A large part of the high shipboard price for shore tours is the cut taken by the cruise line. You can get a much better deal (as much as half off) by arranging your own activities in advance. Most guides will be happy to tailor an outing to your limited time, and you'll probably have a far more intimate experience in the bargain. And it only takes a little advance prep work: Study your ports of call, the activities and operators there (for which this book will be an invaluable guide), and the time you will be ashore, and then make your reservations before you leave, putting down the appropriate deposits and getting directions for making transfers.

Booking a Small Ship Cruise

The small-ship companies in Alaska -- Glacier Bay Cruiseline, American Safari Cruises, Clipper, Cruise West, and Lindblad Expeditions -- all offer real niche-oriented cruise experiences, attracting passengers who have a very good idea of the kind of experience they want (usually educational and/or adventurous, and always casual and small scale). In many cases, a large percentage of passengers on any given cruise will have sailed with the line before. Because of all this, and because the passenger capacity of these small ships is so low (12 to 235), in general you're not going to find the kind of deep discounts you do with the large ships. Still, for the most part these lines rely on agents to handle their bookings, taking very few reservations directly. (Clipper is the exception to this rule, taking most of their Alaska bookings directly, rather than through agents.) All of the lines have a list of agents with whom they do considerable business and can hook you up with one or another of them if you call (or e-mail) and ask for an agent near you.

Booking a Mainstream Cruise

If you don't know a good travel agent already, try to find one through your friends, preferably those who have cruised before. For the most personal service, look for an agent in your local area, and for the most knowledgeable service, look for an agent who has cruising experience. It's perfectly okay to ask an agent questions about his or her personal knowledge of the product, such as whether he or she has ever cruised in Alaska or with one of the lines you're considering. The easiest way to be sure the agent is experienced in booking cruises is to work with an agent at a cruise-only agency (meaning that the whole agency specializes in cruises) or to find an agent who is a cruise specialist (meaning he or she specializes in cruises). If you are calling a full-service travel agency, ask for the cruise desk, which is where you'll find these specialists.

A good and easy rule of thumb to maximize your chances of finding an agent who has cruise experience and who won't rip you off is to book with agencies that are members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) (tel. 212/921-0066; www.cruising.org) or the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA) (tel. 305/663-5626; www.nacoaonline.com). Members of both groups are cruise specialists. Membership in the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) (tel. 800/275-2782; www.astanet.com) assures the agency is monitored for ethical practices, although it does not in itself designate cruise experience.

You can tap into the Internet sites of these organizations for easy access to agents in your area.

The Cost: What's Included and What's Not

However you arrange to buy your cruise, what you basically have in hand at the end is a contract for transportation, lodging, dining, entertainment, housekeeping, and assorted other miscellaneous services that will be provided to you over the course of your vacation. It's important, though, to remember what extras are not included in your cruise fare. Are you getting a price that includes port charges, taxes, fees, and insurance, or are you getting a cruise-only fare? Are airfare and airport transfers included, or do you have to book them separately (either as an add-on to the cruise fare or on your own)? Make sure you're comparing apples with apples when making price comparisons. Read the fine print!

Aside from airfare, which is usually not included in your cruise fare, the priciest addition to your cruise fare, particularly in Alaska, will likely be shore excursions. Ranging from about $35 for a bus tour to $290 or more for a helicopter or seaplane flightseeing excursion, these sightseeing tours are designed to help cruise passengers make the most of their time at the ports the ship visits, but they can add a hefty sum to your vacation costs.

You'll also want to add to your calculations tips for the ship's crew. Tips are given at the end of the cruise, and passengers should reserve at least $10 per passenger per day for tips for the room steward, waiter, and busperson. (In practice, we find that most people tend to give a little more.) Additional tips to other personnel, such as the head waiter or maitre d,' are at your discretion. On the small ships, all tips often go into one pot, which the crew divides up after the cruise.

Most ships charge extra for alcoholic beverages (including wine at dinner) and for soda. Nonbubbly soft drinks, such as lemonade and iced tea, are included in your cruise fare.

Money-Saving Strategies

Cruise pricing is a fluid medium, and there are a number of strategies you can use to save money off the booking price.

Early & Late Booking--The best way to save on an Alaska cruise is to book in advance. In a typical year, lines offer early-bird rates, usually 25% to 30% off the brochure rate, to those who book their Alaska cruise by mid- to late February of the year of the cruise. If the cabins do not fill up by the cutoff date, the early-bird rate may be extended, but it may be slightly lower -- say, a 15% or 20% savings.

It used to be rare to find last-minute deals on Alaska cruises due to their popularity, but over the past few years, with bigger capacity ships in the Alaska market, there has been a proliferation of discounting (with last-minute specials offering up to 50% off and in some cases even more), and that trend is likely to continue for 2006. Keep in mind, though, that last-minute deals are usually for a very limited selection of cabins. Planning your Alaska cruise vacation well in advance and taking advantage of early-booking discounts is still the best way to go.

Shoulder Season Discounts--You can save by booking a cruise in the shoulder months of May or September, when cruise pricing is lower than during the high summer months. Typically, Alaska cruises are divided into budget, low, economy, value, standard, and peak seasons, but since these overlap quite a bit from cruise line to cruise line, we can lump them into three basic periods:

1. Budget/Low/Economy Season: May and September

2. Value/Standard Season: Early June and late August

3. Peak Season: Late June, July, and early to mid-August

Discounts for Third & Fourth Passengers and Groups--Most ships offer highly discounted rates for third and fourth passengers sharing a cabin with two full-fare passengers, even if those two have booked at a discounted rate. It may mean a tight squeeze, but it'll save you a bundle. Some lines offer special rates for kids, usually on a seasonal or select-sailings basis, that may include free or discounted airfare.

One of the best ways to get a cruise deal is to book as a group of at least 16 people in at least eight cabins. The savings include a discounted rate, and at least the cruise portion of the 16th ticket will be free. Ask your travel agent about any group deals they may offer.

Senior Discounts--Seniors may be able to get extra savings on their cruise. Some lines will take 5% off the top for those 55 and up, and the senior rate applies even if the second person in the cabin is younger. Membership in groups such as AARP is not required, but such membership may bring additional savings.

Booking Air Travel Through the Cruise Line

Except during special promotions, airfare to the port of embarkation is rarely included in the cruise rates, so you'll have to purchase airfare on your own or buy it as a package with your cruise through your travel agent or online cruise site. You can usually find information on these "air/sea" programs in the back of cruise line brochures, along with prices. The benefits of booking through the cruise line is that round-trip transfers between the airport and the ship are usually included, and as big customers of the airlines, the cruise lines tend to get decent (if not the best) discounted airfare rates. Also, the cruise line will know your airline schedule, and in the event of delayed flights and other unavoidable snafus, will be able to do more to make sure you and the other people on your flight get on the ship; if you've booked your air transportation separately, you're on your own. The only time it may pay to book your own air transportation is if you are using frequent-flier miles and can get the air for free, or if you are fussy about which carrier you fly or route you take.

Choosing Your Cabin

Cruise-ship cabins run from tiny boxes with accordion doors and bunk beds to palatial multiroom suites with hot tubs on the balcony. Which is right for you? Price will likely be a big factor here, but so should the vacation style you prefer. If, for instance, you plan to spend a lot of quiet time in your cabin, you should probably consider booking the biggest room you can afford. If, conversely, you plan to be out on deck all the time checking out the glaciers and wildlife, you might be just as happy with a smaller (and cheaper) cabin to crash in at the end of the day. Cabins are either inside (without a window or porthole) or outside (with), the latter being more expensive. On the big ships, the more deluxe outside cabins may also come with private verandas. The cabins are usually described by price (highest to lowest), category (suite, deluxe, superior, standard, economy, and others), and furniture configuration ("sitting area with two lower beds," for example).

The cruise line should be informed at the time you make your reservations about any special dietary requests you have. Some lines offer kosher menus, and all will have vegetarian, low-fat, low-salt, and sugar-free options available.

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Alaska Tourism: Booking Your Cruise

Booking Your Cruise

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