BARGAINS ROLL IN FOR THE WAVE
Amid marketing rhetoric used to woo vacationers, best to compare all offers
With the dawn of 2016 comes cruising’s Wave Season from January through March. It’s the time of year when cruise lines figure that you have a clean calendar and are ready to book.
In recent times, sales pop up all year long but Wave Season is a large step in filling ships for the year. It’s also when cruise lines change their advertising and marketing slogans.
Nine years ago, Norwegian stressed “Freestyle Cruising” and for whatever reason went to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” and now happily is back to the key word with “Feel Free.”
Crystal Cruises is going with “Where all-inclusive is all-exclusive.” Holland America’s longtime “Signature of Excellence” was scrapped for “Savor the Journey.” Princess wants us to “Come Back New” and Royal Caribbean’s quickie TV commercials ask us to “Come Seek.”
Those are a few signature lines you’ll find online, on the air and in the papers. In talking with travel agents and unimpeachable sources in cruise-line marketing, volatility is a concern.
With that in mind, cruise lines are offering some great deals. One warning — compare! Where perks are offered, does it reduce the price compared to other lines’ prices on a similar journey? Is it per-person or for the cabin ... lots of asterisks. Travel agents don’t charge for advice so have them double-check the fine print.
Norwegian, with several new ships, has a lot more cabins to fill. The following offer depends on cabin and length of cruise and it ends April 10. We can pick one of these four: 1. For each stateroom, a $50 discount on excursions in each port
2. For the first two guests, three to six specialty dinners
3. Beverage package for the entire cruise 4. A 250-minute Wi-Fi package Oceania’s successful OLife Choice is back with free unlimited Wi-Fi and a choice of beverage package, free shore excursion or shipboard credits. How much you receive depends on length of cruise and cabin booked.
Luxury brand Silversea is concentrating on the Mediterranean and Africa with complimentary round-trip airfare, two nights’ hotel for Mediterranean cruises and three nights on African plus shore excursions ... all offered on new bookings.
AmaWaterways, named Best for Dining and Active Cruisers by Cruise Critic, is offering cash discounts on many cruises and including gratuities on some. Solo cruisers are usually shortchanged but not with AMA — no single fees (space available) on ANY 2016 cruises — a savings and solo booking sale that ends Jan. 31.
Emerald Waterways, part of the Scenic brand, has much to offer on select sailings. If you book any suite and sail in Europe before Aug. 31, you get free airfare from select Canadian and U.S. cities. Other choices include reduced airfare of $995. And if you book any 2016 southeast Asian cruises, it comes with free airfare from major North American cities — any cabin. Sale ends Feb. 28.
These are samplers, early in Wave Season. Take your time, compare all the deals and check the currency.