silvermist3

Hi!

I live very close to the nyc cruise port that's on 12th ave and midtown and have a very flexible schedule right now. I was wondering if there was any easy way to find out about all last minute cruises that are deeply discounted?

I know there are a ton of cruise discount sites, but it is a lot to sift through and I wanted to ask if anyone knew of a forum or particular site that would post NYC based cruises that are selling for 50% off or a steep discount leaving within a few days or week?

And any idea how low the discounts or price could go if you say book a balcony 3 days before the cruise? I am specifically looking for steep discount cruise from NYC to Bermuda or possibly Bahamas and wondering potentially what's the lowest price you could get for a balcony.

Thanks so much!!

Sassafrass

Look at vacationtogo.com in the 90 day sticker. Scan the section of cruises to the Bahamas or Bermuda to see last minute stuff, then also fill out the special request form at the bottom with those destinations, and it will tell you instantly what is going and the prices. You could also check Bayonne, NJ, which is close to you, and some depart from Baltimore, which isn't that long of a drive for you, especially since you don't have to go through the city to get to the port.

All depends on ship, etc., but a quick look shows 7 days from $299+ (inside cabin) to $599+ (balcony) from NY., and $499+ (balcony) from Baltimore for 7 days.

With weather this time of year, you might not even need the balcony.

Eschew

I find the best source is the cruise line's own web site. You can subscribe to the cruise line's own last minute deals where they email you on a regular basis. I don't live close to a cruise port but some deals are so good that I am severley tempted.

The last one I've got was 10 days East Med cruise for $649 further discounted to under $400, round trip Rome, departure date Nov 27.

Sassafrass

Eschew, I saw that listed in VTG too and was wishing I could take advantage of it - too many family obligations this year. What a deal! The OP could probably get cheap airfare from NY to Rome too.

Eschew

Sassafrass, when is your next trip?

Sassafrass

Eschew, I wish I knew for sure. We've hardly been anywhere this year, not out of the US even once. I'm feeling ready to go - anywhere - plane, train or boat, but all kinds of things (family, illness, sick pets) tend to get in the way. We would like to go to Prague for/before Christmas, but kids would have fits about that. Also, DH may need to go to Ireland then, so we are looking at winter or spring for cruise to Carribean with friends and perhaps a TA to Europe.

I haven't subscribed to the cruise line's, though I get lots of e-mail offers from the ones we've cruised. Are their deals really better, do you think?

BTW, I always come here first for info because you guys were so kind, helpful and encouraging when we were venturing on our first cruise. Some of you have done so much cruising, you know as much or more than anyone on any other forum. Thanks.

Eschew

Thank you for the kind words Sassafrass, there is a small circle of "die-hards" around here, and with the fear of missing someone, I won't name them, but you know who they are, you have met some of us.

DW and I made a resolution that we will take a minimum of 2 trips a year, 3 if we can, come H*** or High Water. Where possible, we combine business trips and stayed after business meetings, but those will be "short hauls".

We have told our kids that we are no longer saving for retirement and instead, spending our retirment money before retiring; might as well travel while we are able. I have seen so many people who wanted to travel after retirement but after retirement, they eitehr physically can't, or became challenging or limited to activity due to age, health, cost, whatever.

One thing we are trying to do is to get our adult children to travel with us, even if it costs us extra money paying part of their fare. Our young son and his girl friend will be joining us on an Eastern Carribbeam criue later this month. They will spend 2 weeks with us and hopefully, that will help the "bonding" with the parents before they get married next year. 3 days pre-cruise at our favorite spot on Hollywood Beach, 1 week cruise and then as a compromise (they go to Disney every year), 4 days at the new Disney Art of Animation resort. We are booked into the "little Mermaid" room .

Next year, DIL wanted to go to Alaska so that would be August. We have a long bucket list and we hope to knock them all off before we kick the bucket.

I subscribe to 4 airline newsletter (get email once a week on wedensdays on seat sales), half a dozen hotel chains (weekend getaways, last minute deals) and the cruise lines that we cared about (Princess, Celebrity, RCCL, Carnival etc). What I find is the deals that they offer is the same as the TA's, except better selections.

Places such as vacationtogo will typically pick a handful of the offerings where there are lots of inventories (and there is a reason why there are lots of empty spaces) whereas the one direct from the cruise lines shows all offerings so we keep an eye out for places we wanted to go, and not necessary just deals.

As an example, we would never book on that 10 days east med for $400 as it was offer by a cruise line that has a reputation of spotty service, among other negatives. But I know for sure a friend of mine is booking it for their family of 5 as it is such a great price that they don't care about everything else, including the higher cost airfare, transfers etc where the TA (or cruise line) will make some money back.

Some people will go by price alone but we learned long time ago that cheapest is not necessary the best value. We weight out the cost versus value and quality. SInce there are so few "vacation time" and we don't want to waste it on a less than satifactory journey.

ninasdream

I agree with Sassafrass & I even made the same pledge, because after 3 summers in lovely Cape May, I am itching for wider horizons. You can sometimes get good deals from the cruise line website. I also subscribe to vtg, I also just Google, and check Direct Line Cruises. Good luck.

TheCruiseGirl

In addition to other comments...
Vacationstogo.com is a good source for last minute cruise deal. Yet it is always good to have a travel agent who might add some additional amenities in the addition to the sale. If you are planning to travel a lot and have a big company, find a travel agent or travel consultant, it is free for you, will save a time and money, and, if something happens during your trip, will help you to find a solution!

Sassafrass

Eschew, just to let you know, not long after my last posting here, my DD in St Kitts, had emergency surgery and we flew down there. So, not under the best of circumstances, but we did take a trip. We had been to St Kitts one day on that first cruise four years ago. Since DD did just fine, it ended up being a wonderful few days - so much so that we are going back at the end of Jan to celebrate our 47th anniversary there.

Rhea58

Another vote for vacationstogo. As a single I have found them to be quite competitive, they usually throw in some perks & are responsive to email queries.

Eschew

Sassafrass, isn't life grand and things works out in its own mysterous way? Glad to hear your DD is okay and you ended up having a mini vacation out of it.

47th anniversary? Wow! You must have got married really early then? You don't look a day older than 49!