Paying for a Cruise Holiday

Yes, if you work out how to save, how to pay for your cruise and how to get the best deal. Most people have to pay a deposit of between ten and twenty percent and settle the whole amount around sixty days before departure, although it’s common to have to pay off earlybird bookings even earlier than this.

1. Booking well in advance means that you can put money aside to help pay for your dream trip: some people book as much as 18 months ahead for a major cruise which allows them to pay off in regular instalments.
2. Even if you can’t make such an advanced commitment, paying off your holiday in chunks can make the whole process less painful. If you book three months or so in advance, making fortnightly payments towards it can help spread the load. Remember that payments made by credit card can sometimes incur a fee and if they push up your balance, you can end up paying more for your holiday than you planned. And if you prefer to save for your holiday before booking, consider some of the building society 30 and 60 day access accounts which can earn you more interest than bank accounts.
3. You can save money by booking a holiday in stages: if you know where you’re going to sail from, you can book airfares first, then accommodation and then book your cruise when you think the cabin prices are as good as they will get.
4. Honeymooners are increasingly asking people to pay towards their honeymoon in lieu of a gift, which is a great way to upgrade parts of your cruise such as the excursions once you know how much you have to spend.