The team here at CruiseNow.com has put together a few key steps that will make booking your cruise vacation a snap! A cruise can be a complicated vacation to book, so working with a knowledgeable cruise agent or website is a must.
Here are the steps we recommend you follow when booking your next cruise.
Step 1: Locate the Cruise Company you can trust
When you’ve finally made that decision to start planning your cruise vacation, the first thing you should do is locate a cruise agency or website that can help you. We recommend working with a cruise-only travel agency. Agencies that specialize in just cruises are a bit more educated about the products, prices, and destinations than travel agencies that “do it all”.
Of course, we are biased but we believe that we have created that “perfect agency” here at CruiseNow.
A good cruise-only travel agency can offer you the following benefits:
- Knowledge and Advice – A top producing cruise agency should have agents on staff that understand the cruise industry and can work with you to put you and your family on the right ship and itinerary. Our own Personal Cruise Guides are second to none in keeping up with the latest trends and information inside the cruise industry. Getting to know you and your vacation needs is what they do, so working with an expert is a must. In addition always speak with a travel agent when making that reservation. Calling the cruise line direct is not the best way to go. They only know their product and will, obviously, only push their cruise line. A good cruise only expert, like CruiseNow, will offer you what’s in your best interest, and the best part? There is never a fee for our services!
- Better Prices- Booking with a top cruise agency will also provide you with the best possible cruise rates when you are booking your vacation. A cruise agency will know that there are many different rate options for you and depending upon your age, state of residency, past passenger status or more, can find the lowest rates. Our Personal Cruise Guides make sure that every option is reviewed with you so your cruise rates are the very best.
- Convenience – A good cruise only agency is open and available when you need them. Our website is available 24 hours a day for you to research, plan and even book directly online. Our Personal Cruise Guides are available a majority of the day to help you over the phone. We do allow them to sleep a little though.
Step 2: Decide on a Cruise and work on your budget
After either speaking directly with a cruise only agent or researching yourself online the next step is to pick the ship, sailing date and itinerary that works best for you and your family. A budget is also an important part of the process. Have a dollar amount in mind you want to spend. Once you have chosen your cruise, read how to choose the perfect cabin for your perfect cruise! Once you have that down, we recommend moving ahead to the next step.
Step 3: Getting the Best Rate on your Cruise Vacation
Once you’ve locked down a cruise line, ship, sailing date and itinerary you need to see what is the best rate you can get on this sailing. This is where your Personal Cruise Guide is so invaluable. As we mentioned above there are many factors that can affect your rate in a positive way.
Most websites, including CruiseNow.com, cannot always advertise the very lowest possible rate when you are checking them online. We always recommend calling in and speaking to us to see if you or your family qualify for a lower “restricted” rate option.
Some of those are, including but not limited to, the following:
- State of Residency – Many cruise lines offer better rates based upon your state of residency.
- Senior Rates or AARP member – Some cruise lines offer lower rates to passengers if you are over the age of 55 or a member of AARP.
- Military or retired military – Many cruise lines will offer passengers lower rates if you are currently or retired military.
- Past Passenger of the Cruise Line – If you have cruised with your line of choice before, that could impact your rates or stateroom category.
- Group travel – If you are traveling with a group of cabins, we can sometimes find a group rate for you along with additional amenities.
There are other qualifiers as well not listed here and the cruise lines are adding new ones all the time. Our team stays on top of these and will make sure you are offered the lowest rate at the time of booking. Make sure you call us to double check your reservation if you booked directly online, sometimes you may qualify for a lower rate you didn’t know about! So it is always a good idea to confirm with a Personal Cruise Guide.
Cruise rates are a tricky thing. Many websites will display rates and certain amenities that do not always translate over to your reservation. Our advice, find an agent you trust and work with them. It’s confusing out there, especially when it comes to pricing, calling and discussing rates with a Personal Cruise Guide is your best bet.
Step 4: Paying for your Cruise
The hard part is done and now you just need to pay for that vacation. Most cruise lines require you to pay for the vacation in full at least 75 days before your departure. If your cruise departs outside of 75 days you may put down a small deposit per person and then make the final payment at the 75 day mark. Always, always, always ask your cruise agent about the cancellation policy of the cruise line. All cruise lines have cancellation penalties if you have to cancel your cruise after you pay your reservation in full.
The best way to protect yourself from the unexpected is to purchase cruise protection insurance from your cruise agency. It is an inexpensive addition and hopefully you do not use it, but could save you immensely in more ways than one! Large top producing cruise agencies have negotiated rates on cruise protection insurance and will discuss this option with you when you make your cruise reservation.
We always recommend making your cruise payment by credit card as it is the easiest, most convenient method of payment plus a credit card does offer more protection than a cash payment for you. Also make sure your cruise agency has your payment charged by the cruise line directly and not themselves. Unfortunately there are scam internet travel companies out there and having the payment made directly by the cruise line protects you from those ‘fly by night’ online travel agencies.
Step 5: Complete and Gather your Cruise Documentation
After making your final payment for the cruise. You will have the opportunity to fill out your pre cruise documentation on the cruise line’s website. The CruiseNow Customer Service department will send you all the information regarding how to do this soon after your final payment is processed. You will also have the opportunity to pre-reserve onboard services, like specialty dining reservations and spa appointments during your online registration process.
You can also plan and book shore excursions directly online. Before booking shore excursions with the cruise lines be sure to visit CruiseNow.com and see our list of excursions. Many times our excursions are better, longer and cheaper than booking direct with the cruise line.
All cruise lines require proof of citizenship when boarding your vessel. To make sure you have no issues at the pier, we highly recommend that you have a valid passport book with you when boarding. Sometimes a birth certificate and valid photo ID are acceptable. To be on the safe side call your Personal Cruise Guide and ask about the required documents.
Step 6: Enjoy your Cruise
This is the best step! Set sail and enjoy your cruise. If we have all done our homework correctly you should have the vacation of a lifetime.
Be sure to make certain that you have printed the boarding passes from the cruise line’s website and have those with you along with your passport when you arrive.
Most cruise lines will allow you to start boarding around 11:30 am. So arrive early and have a small backpack or piece of luggage with a change of clothes, medicines and quick essentials with you. Normally you’ll check your larger luggage at the pier and that is brought directly to your stateroom, but many times that delivery can be hours after you board.
Step 7: Plan your next Cruise Onboard
If you’re having the time of your life, which we expect you will, go ahead and book your next cruise while on board this one. Most cruise lines have cruise reservation experts on board, and if you book while on board will give you extra amenities you won’t receive if you wait and book when you get home.
Don’t worry CruiseNow will still be your travel agent and the cruise line will notify us of your next reservation. Our customer care team will put together your invoice and information on that next cruise and send it to you. Many times it is waiting for you when you get home.
Step 8: Recommend a Cruise to your friends
It isn’t fair, keeping your new vacation love to yourself, right?! Be sure when you get home to tell all your friends about your wonderful vacation experience. We hope you will also tell them about your experience with us! We promise to take the same great care of your friends that we did with you.
Our goal here at CruiseNow is to make sure our employees have fun working here AND customers enjoy working with us. We take what we do very seriously, but always want to make sure everyone (including you) is having a good time! Life’s too short. 
We can’t wait to help you plan your cruise vacation!
Live Now. Dream Now. Cruise Now!
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