CATCH THE WAVE
Incentive season for cruisers
Returning from a recent cruise, I sat in the busy terminal in Miami International Airport and decided it was time to answer some reader emails. Most were quite nice, but there were a handful that made me glad I don’t write about politics.
I mean, this is cruising! Surely, this is supposed to be fun?
The interesting thing is that I started out just like you: reading Ports + Bows in the newspaper every Saturday. One day, after years of taking cruises as my preferred vacation, I left my career in the animation industry in Vancouver and started writing about ships and the sea. I certainly didn’t do it for the money, let me tell you. I did it because I genuinely love cruising — and this was always the most exciting time of year for me to book a cruise.
We’re in the midst now of what the cruise industry calls “Wave Season.” If you’re not familiar with it, Wave Season is a great incentive period in which cruise lines try to drum up new bookings by offering some great deals and perks to those who book cruises during this period, which typically extends well into January and February. Call it the cure for the post-holiday blues.
In the old days, price drops were the most common perk, but today, cruise lines offer something even better: added-value incentives. A cruise line might throw in the gratuities or take the booking deposit down to something absurdly affordable. Some lines might have complimentary drink packages or dining experiences, while others still will dangle the free Wi-Fi carrot to see who nibbles.
The thing with Wave Season is that sometimes you’ll get the best deals by trying a line you’ve never sailed with before, or a ship you’re not familiar with. In fact, the way to get the best Wave Season deal is to be as flexible as possible. Pick a week (or two) when you want to travel, and have a look online to see which lines are offering what during that time frame. These specials will be listed on the cruise line’s websites, or on a larger site like Expedia CruiseShipCenters.
There are almost always conditions, so read the fine print or ask your favourite travel agent for help.
A few tips for getting the best Wave Season deals:
TRY SOMETHING NEW
Either a new ship, a new line or a new destination. I’ve met folks who have sailed 47 times, but on the same line to the same place. That is fine and dandy, but what else is out there? You may “leave” your favourite cruise line only to discover that one which is just as enjoyable has been waiting there all along.
BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE
Sure, there are last-minute cruise deals out there, but that last-minute airfare is a killer. Unless you live a block or two away from your embarkation port (I’m looking at you, Vancouverites), that last-minute deal will probably balance out when you throw in the cost of flights and a hotel. Instead, book early: you’ve got longer to pay for your cruise, and more time to properly research hotel and airfare options.
DON’T FEAR THE MEGASHIP
Just because a ship holds 5,000 passengers doesn’t mean it offers a miserable cruise experience. And for you big-ship folks, don’t be afraid to try a small ship. That “small is beautiful” catchphrase is accurate, particularly when it comes to the worlds of expedition, river and niche sailing cruises.
EXPLORE CANADA
There are so many cool Canadian companies that offer cruises right in our own backyard, from Maple Leaf Adventures (mapleleafadventures.com) and Outer Shores Expeditions (outershores.ca) on the West Coast to Adventure Canada’s (adventurecanada.com) explorations of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Canadian Arctic. And more mainstream cruise lines are beginning to focus on Canadian ports of call, like Seabourn’s (cruise.center/ seabourn) new B.C.-centric itineraries in Alaska, and Holland
America Line’s (cruise.center/ holland) extended season in the Maritimes.
Finally, keep on emailing. Let me know what you like and what you don’t like, or if you’ve got a ship or a line you want me to cover but haven’t yet. I’m always up for a good maritime challenge.
Happy (New Year) cruising. Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com