Tag Archives: cruise

Intelligent Cruiser Ofers New Benefits

Posted on by going2oahu

Intelligent Cruiser: Review of The “IntelligentCruiser” Program

Have you been dreaming about relaxing on a luxury cruise ship but find yourself worrying about the fare and incidental expenses?

A new program called IntelligentCruiser has been receiving rave reviews because it is making good on it’s promises… InteligentCruiser promises to educate you quickly on how to book your discount cruise as the lowest price and how to go on all those great cruise excursions without spending any money! The program also tells you about all the “under-the-radar” techniques for saving big on cruises.

I have used Intelligent Cruiser since it’s initial release and have been a VERY satisfied customer. With their cruise discount and savings program, you’ll learn how cruise lines use certain fear tactics to get you to book through them. For example, they’ll try to trap you by making up hypothetical situations like if you return late, experience a problem on an excursion, or fail to arrive back to your cruise ship on time. They’ll tell you that if you do not book through them there are chances that you’ll be ripped off. So, if you are a fully aware and well prepared cruise buyer then you’ll be ready to defend yourself against these types of tactics and get the best deals. You don’t have to pay more for your cruise to get peace of mind and you don’t have to settle for over-crowded and boring excursions.

IntelligentCruiser tells you everything yo need to know about saving money on your cruises. Here are just a few of the things you’ll get with the Intelligent Cruiser program:

  • The KEY to avoiding the most critical mistake that 99% of passengers make.
  • The two vital rules that guarantee you’ll be treated like royalty and be spoiled like crazy by every crew member.
  • How to tap into a treasure chest of savings that even the most experienced cruise passengers don’t know exist.
  • The 6 little-known methods that allow you to CRUISE FOR FREE for the rest of your life…others are using these methods every day, so don’t be left out!
  • How to instantly slash the cost of every spa and salon treatment by 50% so that you can pamper yourself over and over again.
  • How to make the most out of your trip and turn even a budget cruise into a dream vacation!
  • The dirty hidden truth about cruise lines’ shore excursion programs. Let me warn you: You will be left shaking your head in complete disgust with this one.
  • A full list of 57 expert tricks that will guarantee you are the most well-prepared and educated passenger on your ship.
  • How to save an insane amount of money on every tour and activity in every port of call. I’ll uncover the false myths and you’ll instantly save up to 75% on everything you want to do.
  • How to exploit a loophole in cruise line’s casino policies that will actually boost your airline frequent flyer miles in seconds!
  • Discover the only way that you can guarantee your cruise vacation gets off to a perfect, worry-free start.
  • A magical trick to getting an amazing bouquet of fresh flowers in your cabin every single day for absolutely free while everyone else spends a fortune for just one rose!
  • How to stay far away from the money-sucking traps cruise lines use to take advantage of unprepared passengers.
  • A fool-proof method for becoming a member of a cruise line’s Loyalty Program even if you’ve never cruised before. Instantly receive every discount and benefit of a veteran cruiser.

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

Previous Post: 4 Methods for Discovering Discount Cruises

Why Are Disney Cruises More Expensive Than Regular Cruises?

Posted on by going2oahu

Disney Cruise Prices are Expensive

Want to know how Disney Cruise Line get by with charging 10-20 percent more than the more mainstream cruise lines?Here’s our take on it…

Alcoholic Drinks

A huge amount of any cruise line profits comes from the sale of alcoholic beverages drinks. Disney cruises tend to have fewer drinking-age passengers so they make up for that with higher cruise prices.

Gambling

Another enormous amount of cruise ship profits come from the on-board casinos. Disney cruises don’t have ‘em, and that means they must make up for that in their pricing structure as well.

The Disney Experience

The Disney Cruise Line was just recently named the #1 large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in their “Reader’s Cruise Poll.”Disney goes above and beyond when it comes to entertaining and pampering their passengers. There is no other cruise line that comes close in our opinion.

Recommended Reading
Read the Insider’s Guide to Disney World – “great place for information on all things Disney including how to get the VIP Disney Cruise experience and how to get free stuff for your kids!“ 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog 

Previous Post: What To Pack for Cruise Vacation

Cruise Tip to Avoid Port Ripoffs

Posted on by going2oahu

Avoid Cruise Ripoffs at Port

If you’ve already booked a cruise vacation for this summer or fall, good for you! You’re timing couldn’t be better as you’ll enjoy the best travel value that has been available in years.

Cruise prices, especially for cruise ship departures within a month, remain at an all time low. You’ll need to be aware however, of the attempt to make up some of that money from passengers at port. Our advice is that you do your homework…

The best way to protect your cruise vacation investment is to do some basic pre-departure investigative homework. Find out as much as you possibly can about the ports you’ll be visiting. Bone up on the culture, the sightseeing attractions, the shopping opportunities, and most importantly the local transportation. That way, you’ll increase your enjoyment of each port while decreasing your chance of being gouged.

Recommended Reading
Read Insider Cruise Tips and Secrets – “We wished we would have had someone to tell us these cruise secrets before we booked our first cruise!“ 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog 

 

The Carnival Cruise "Smeller" Commercial

Posted on by going2oahu

I just saw Carnival Cruises’ “New Ship Smell” commercial on TV – the one with the nerdy guy in a track suit exploring the new Carnival ships.

It’s pretty funny really. This geek kinda’ guy starts exploring a Carnival Cruise ship and starts smelling things like the railings and decorations. It got me to wondering what types of new features these Carnival cruise ships must have.

If you recall, Carnival Cruise branding has always been strong on “FUN”. I wonder how these newer ships are implementing that concept in term of amenities,itineraries, etc.

These new ships, the Carnival “Splendor” and the Carnival “Dream” have fun and features for all ages.

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

Cruise Coupon – Carnival Cruise from $42 Night Plus Free Hotel

Posted on by going2oahu

Carnival Cruise Coupon (Expires May 21, 2012)

Searching for cruise coupons? With this Carnival Cruise coupon, you can escape the cold and book yourself a “fun ship” cruise for just $42 per night with a free hotel stay included. The deal ends on February 21st so hurry!

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

Previous Post: Review of the “Intelligent Cruiser” eBook

Planning a Cruise Vacation… Where Do I Begin?

Posted on by going2oahu

Where Do I Begin?
Are you considering a cruise vacation but you really don’t know where to start? Have you started shoping for a cruise vacation? Did you do your cruise shopping online? Were you successful in getting the best cruise vacation for your money? Have you booked your cruise or do you have too many questions to make the committment?

How to Shop for Cruises
You can find information about cruise vacations everywhere – from friends, travel agents, newspapers, magazines, and online cruise specialists to name just a few. While cruise information abounds, your best bet is to begin the research process on your own.

Plan Your Destination
Think about where you would like to cruise… Should it be a tropical vacation to escape cold weather, maybe a fascinating Alaskan cruise, perhaps a European cultural cruise, or maybe even a high seas adventure cruise? Search the web and you’ll find merchant links, articles about cruises, sample itineraries, etc. which will help you focus your wish list down to one or two options.

Pick Your Itinerary
Once you have decided on your cruise destination, it’s time to start defining your itinerary. The nice thing about doing this online is that you will not have a sales agent pushing a particular cruise for commission. You can investigate this yourself, looking for cruise lines that travel to your dream destination.

Choose Your Cruise Line
This question requires you to look inward at your own particular lifestyle. What would you like and expect a cruise vacation to be? Remember that different cruise lines offer different break points on pricing, different levels of luxury, even different styles.The higher priced cruise lines usually offer a higher level of service (cuisine, excursions, and staff members per passenger). That doesn’t mean that you should automatically chose a higher priced cruise line however – just something to consider. In fact, you may want a more “freestyling” tupe of cruise that is offered by Norwegian Cruise Lines or Carnival Cruises. Their cruises tend to be more fun and relaxed than the more formal choices like Radisson Seven Seas. Your cruise line choice becomes a matter of personal preference at this point.

Pick Your Stateroom
Choosing your level of stateroom is a matter of taste as well as budget. If you don’t plan to spend much time in your room, you might consider an interior room to save some money. “Ocean view” rooms provide passengers with a window to the ocean which can be kind of nice. My preference is a stateroom with a private deck where I can sit in privacy to enjoy the fresh sea air.  I will mention that all staterooms are comfy, and you will surely enjoy your room regardless of choice. 

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

Previous Post: Cruise Coupon – Carnival Cruise from $42 Night Plus Free Hotel

Does the Price of a Cruise Include All Expenses?

Posted on by going2oahu

Q. Does the Price of a Cruise Include All Expenses?

A. I can’t tell you how many time I’ve seen distressed faces on cruise passengers while waiting to disembark. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve witnessed couples fighting over the money that was spent on their “all-inclusive” cruise. A fairly close friend of mine went so far as to say she would never set foot on a cruise ship again after the money she was forced to pay on her first cruise several years ago. She booked what she believed to be a very sweet deal, but she ended up paying more than five times that amount when it was all said and done. While the cruise worked out initially to be the cheapest vacation option, it ended up being the most expensive option by the time she factored in all of the extra costs.

This type of experience is completely unnecessary and can be completely avoided by doing some advance planning. You’ll need to know what the cruise line expects you to pay extra for, and then YOU decide what you’re willing to spend. Just lke you do at home, weigh the cost versus benefit of everything very carefully. If it’s a necessary expense and vital to the cruise experience, then spend away. But if it’s simply “fluff,” then just say no!

Remember to keep careful track of your spending while onboard. Some cruise lines now allow you check your account balance live at any time on your stateroom television. If this option is not available however, make a quick stop at the purser’s desk to get a printout of your account status. You should use this account information to adjust your spending patterns daily. If you go over budget, simply tighten the belt to get back on track

I recommend some studying before your set sail on your first cruise so that you’ll be in the know on everything. There’s an eBook called Cruising On A Budget – How To Go On Exciting Cruises Without Draining Your Bank that I highly recommend. It use to cost $47 but the company has reduced it to $9.97 which makes it a steal. Get to know this material backward and forward, even put it on your travel laptop, and you’ll be certain to have a much better cruise experience.

You can get it on the Wings of Success Website.

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

Previous Post: Cruise Strategy: Search Kayak, Then Bid Sky Auction

The Cruise Ship Embarkation Process

Posted on by going2oahu

Cruise Ship Boarding Tips
Your cruise vacation dreams are now a reality. You’ve packed your bags, filled out your cruise documentation, and you’re about to start your adventure. But are you really ready to go? Here are some tips about the embarkation process that you’d be wise to take care of before you head out for your cruise vacation:

Travel Documents and a Change of Clothes
Keep all of your travel documents on your person, including tickets for the cruise, travelers vouchers, your passport, and the immigration forms that the cruise line sent you in advance. By travelers vouchers, I mean bus vouchers that your cruise line sent you to get you from the ship from the airport. Also pack a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage in case it gets delayed.

Standing in Lines is Expected
When you get to the ship, keep a cool head because the embarkation process can be a little chaotic. There are going to be lines, especially at the beginning of the check in process. There will be lots of stressed out people in line so take some deep breaths, relax, and take things in stride. Many of the major cruise lines have loyalty or reward programs and may even have preferred check in areas. Check on this with your travel agent because it can save you lots of time.

Credit Card Required
When checking in, you’ll be required to give the cruise line a credit card for incidentals and on board charges. Keep your room card with you because it serves as your on board credit card and also identifies you for getting on and off the cruise ship at ports of call. Here’s a good tip. If you get to your ship early enough you’ll get two benefits – you’ll get to have lunch on board and you’ll get the best shot at getting the spa and beauty appointments you want.

Smile for the Camera
Just before getting to the gangway you will likely be stopped to pose for a picture that will be taken to commemorate your trip. The picture will be displayed in the cruise ship’s photo gallery in case you decide to purchase it. Get past the photographer and you’re on your way. Happy Cruising!

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

 

How to Search for Cruises Using Booking Buddy

Posted on by going2oahu

The Booking Buddy Cruise Search Advantage

I love the Booking Buddy search engine for cruises because the output is so much simpler to understand than the traditional cruise websites. Booking Buddy’s reach is broad, quoting rates for all major cruiselines in one place. Booking Buddy’s co-founder and CEO Steve Hafner says this about his business,

“We created the site to meet the needs of today’s consumers who are frustrated at having to search multiple sites to find the best deal. With just one click, visitors at bookingbuddy.com will be able to see prices and services in real-time.”

He goes on to say,

“bookingbuddy.com’s reach is so comprehensive that consumers will often find an itinerary on bookingbuddy.com that they may not have found on their own. Not only does bookingbuddy.com provide consumers with more travel options than any other site, but it also gives consumers the freedom to choose where to buy their travel.”

If you would like to give the Booking Buddy search engine a try, look up – there’s a Booking Buddy search engine just above this post!

Recommended Reading
Read the Intelligent Cruiser eBook – “an absolute treasure chest of cruise savings. We learned so much about cruise ship discounts and as a result were able to get our cruise fare reduced by $400 without any effort at all.” 
       – Last Minute Cruise Specials Blog

 

Disney Cruise Line is Family Friendly

Posted on by going2oahu

Disney Cruise Line is Family Friendly Cruises are becoming very popular with families, however some parents are not even considerng cruises because they don’t think there will be enough entertainment or other children…