11 December 2008 by Don.

It’s 15 degrees outside - and it will be in February.   It’s snowing - and it will be in February.  The winds are blowing out of the North.  The snow is drifting and the wind chill has falling to well below zero - and it will be in February.

But you’re wearing a bathing suite, sitting by the pool, drinking a Bahama Mama on your way to Saint Thomas where the temperature is 84 - and it will be in February.

I’m looking for people who want to escape from the Winter Doldrums.  I’ve got the perfect cruise to do it.  Email me now before you get frozen out of some great deals.

Posted in When to Cruise, Why Cruise | 1 Comment »

12 November 2008 by Don.

I hope that you were paying attention when you saw that big yellow Low Shoulder sign.  I assume that you safely got past that spot in the road.   You may not see a warning sign right now, but you still need to watch of those shoulders.  It’s important that you pay attention because right now, I’m talking about cruises.  What do low shoulders have to do with cruises?

Well, people are always asking me when they can get the best price on a cruise.  The simple answer is the Shoulder-Season - that brief period between Prime-Season and Off-Season.  If the price is the most important factor and you have some flexibility in your schedule, the Shoulder-Season is the place to look.

The Shoulder-Season may not have the warmest weather and you may need to schedule your vacation around the school calendar, but it’s the time to get some of the best prices.
One of the most obvious examples is an Alaska Cruise in May or September. If you don’t have children in school, it’s a great time for you to get a bargain on a fantastic cruise.  It may be a little cooler, but just bring another sweater and enjoy the savings.

The Mediterranean cruise season tends to start a little earlier and last a little longer than Alaska with the best prices generally in early April and late October.  The weather won’t be as warm but the crowds will be smaller.

South America and Antarctica have a short season during our winter (there summer).   Prices ramp up quickly with the highest prices will be over Christmas and New-Years holidays. Early November and late February are considered the Shoulder-Season in the southern hemisphere.

The Caribbean has an extended year-round popularity with no off-season. The large number of cruise ships sailing the Caribbean keep the prices steady for most of the year.   Predictably, the prices go up for cruises during a few extremely popular periods.  The Christmas and New-year holiday, Spring Break week, and mid-summer are always in high demand and you need to book early to get the best stateroom on your first choice of cruise ships.

Posted in When to Cruise, Specials | 1 Comment »