How To Make The Most Of Royal Caribbean Cruise Bookings
Tired of the hidden costs that arise when booking a cruise trip? Travellers looking to book a family-friendly getaway can make use of the following tips on how to save money and make the most of their cruise experience aboard Royal Caribbean International trips.
Cruise fares vary considerably and there are ways to keep the cost of your next Royal Caribbean cruise low and save some of your money for other things (like spending it onboard your cruise), here are the top five tips to help save money, get the most entertainment and indulge in the best dining experiences:
1 – Plan early or book last minute to save money: If you know your vacation plans well in advance, booking early is one of the best ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise. As more and more people book a cruise, inventory drops, and prices go up. Booking more than a year in advance will garner the lowest rates for quite some time for your desired cruise ship, maybe even best prices on the most sought-after staterooms. Booking last minute is clearly the opposite of what would be advised but when all else fails, Royal Caribbean will offer unfilled space on their ships for a significant discount.
2 – Look for the free activities: Royal Caribbean International ships like Symphony of the Seas, have some of the most exciting and state-of-the-art activities aboard. Some of the Broadway shows (Hairspray) are included in the fare. On Symphony of the Seas, you can zip line nine decks above the Boardwalk on a path that measures 82 feet from start to finish. The AquaTheater is arguably one of the top entertainment venues on any Royal Caribbean ship, because it offers some of the very best shows the cruise has developed. Onboard Symphony of the Seas, performances of “AquaNation” and “HiRo” promise unexpected stunts and extraordinary acrobatics. No two shows are the same, making it worth seeing twice. Miniature golf has been a timeless family activity, and on Symphony of the Seas you can play on the green as often as you like, while enjoying some beautiful views of the ocean that surrounds you. No reservations are required, just show up and grab a putter and ball.
3 – Use your credit card rewards: Credit card rewards programs have never been more competitive and if you use credit cards to pay for every day purchases, you can rack up savings for your next Royal Caribbean cruise quickly. By saving your points, you can cash out your reward points close to your cruise date to help reduce the cost of your cruise fare or help pay for things on your cruise.
4 – Look for booking incentives: Booking incentives like onboard credit, free gratuities and complimentary unlimited drink packages can save you hundreds of dollars and it’s important to see what offers are out there. Travel agents are often the best people to assist in finding these booking incentive deals.
5 – Book specialty dining in advance: Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants offer some great food in addition to the dining experiences elsewhere on the ship. Book these in advance to get an advantage over your fellow guests and lock in the price of the restaurant, so if Royal Caribbean raises its prices, you are set. Royal Caribbean will charge you for the specialty restaurant at the time of booking but that will be one less charge on your SeaPass account later. This can be done through Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner site. Once logged in, navigate to Dining & Beverage and select the restaurant you wish to dine at.
The most important thing to remember is to pace yourself and relax, there is so much to be done and a lot of time during which you can enjoy it.
