The bottom value for a cruise is usually not publicly marketed, so it’s important to know the place to look.
Reserving with a journey agent can get you some nice advantages, offering nice worth by serving to you discover cruises, kind teams, schedule actions, and—most of all—get good offers.
I used to be capable of save nearly 60% off a Freedom of the Seas cruise I booked by way of an MEI Journey agent.
I discovered an affordable value for an October crusing on Freedom of the Seas: an oceanview cabin for simply $584 per particular person.
After the price of taxes, charges, and port bills, plus pre-paid gratuities, I ended up paying $1678 whole for the 7-night cruise.
The reserving was for a assure oceanview cabin, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and providing stops at Good Day at CocoCay; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Thomas.
The posted charge on the general public Royal Caribbean web site was $2759 for a similar cruise—$1379 per particular person. So how did I get such a great deal?
I obtained a less expensive value by utilizing my journey agent’s hidden offers
Reductions like this aren’t extremely marketed, and plenty of of them are solely accessible by way of a journey agent.
My journey agent had entry to Royal Caribbean’s hidden offers sheet, which lists discounted sailings throughout the fleet. These secret offers are supplied to journey businesses by the cruise line, and can’t be shared publicly.
You may should go on to a journey agent to seek out related reductions.
Whereas searching the key offers, I discovered nice reductions on sure cruises and was capable of e-book the Freedom of the Seas one straight away.
These charges aren’t supplied to most people and are sometimes particular charges established between the cruise line and the journey company.
The posted total charge for my Freedom of the Seas crusing was roughly $2,759 in whole.
Meaning I saved greater than 60% off the general public charge by utilizing MEI journey.
A less expensive total cruise fare is a superb purpose to succeed in out to a journey agent and e-book a cruise by way of them.
In comparison with an identical Independence of the Seas cruise, I obtained a less expensive deal.
A cruise departing on November 2nd, 2025 from Miami, Florida, prices $1802, or $902 per particular person.
This related 7-night Japanese Caribbean and Good Day cruise in an oceanview cabin has a value nearly $200 over—and that is earlier than gratuities, buying the cruise a 12 months forward of time.
To get entry to those charges, you simply must ask. While you work along with your journey agent, you possibly can ask if there are any particular group charges or company charges accessible.
In my case, I requested for particular charges that existed after which booked these sailings, somewhat than selecting a selected ship and sail date.
The provision of particular charges is determined by a little bit of luck, nevertheless it’s one thing you possibly can ask your agent early within the planning course of.
Why was the cruise so discounted?
A steep low cost can spark suspicion.
Why was the crusing so low-cost? Was there something mistaken with the ship, room, or itinerary?
It is resulting from a mixture of particular negotiated charges between the cruise line and the journey consortium, in addition to the cruies line desirous to fill unsold staterooms.
This simply means fewer rooms on that individual cruise offered and would not level to any deficiencies within the ship or itinerary.
The crusing referred to as upon Good Day at CocoCay; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Thomas, and it was the proper trip to expertise all the pieces the Freedom-Class ship needed to provide.
Nevertheless, as a result of I additionally saved cash by reserving a assure cabin, I ended up getting a less-popular stateroom.
I selected a assured oceanview cabin, that means that Royal Caribbean promised me the oceanview class or higher—however I gave up the power to decide on the stateroom location.
Learn extra: How to save cash on a cruise: 45 skilled ideas
I ended up with a leftover cabin situated low on the ship, on deck 2.
The stateroom had a beautiful porthole window, and clear, trendy facilities. However I rapidly found why different cruisers did not need to e-book that cabin location.
The stateroom skilled fixed noise—from the anchor banging towards the facet of the ship, toes stomping above me, and adjoining neighbors.
Whereas the cabin was nonetheless an pleasing keep, it was a much less fascinating location for a less expensive value.
Is it price reserving with a journey agent?
Are the offers and help price reserving with a journey agent?
Many first-time cruisers do not understand how useful journey brokers will be. They’re additionally normally free to work with! Most good journey brokers are paid a fee from the cruise line, so there isn’t a further price to make use of their providers.
Journey brokers may give you nice offers on sailings, and many individuals aren’t even conscious of hidden offers just like the one I obtained on my Freedom of the Seas cruise.
Vacationers additionally do not know the various methods a journey agent can help, comparable to contacting customer support, organizing massive teams, and reserving shore excursions.
Learn extra: Prime stuff you did not know journey brokers can do to your cruise trip
My MEI journey agent booked the cruise and dealt with the company, eating occasions, and gratuities beforehand.
All I needed to do earlier than the crusing was scheduling, on-line check-in, and packing!
She additionally persistently checked in all through and after my crusing to make sure all went effectively.
If we bumped into any points, our journey agent may work with us, and even name Royal Caribbean customer support and keep on the road for us.
A journey agent is a useful useful resource that gives nice offers and insider cruise data—all at no further price to you.
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