River Cruises

How to Get a Good Deal on River Cruises
River cruises are available on the world’s most fascinating waterways. These scenic, relaxing cruises allow you to gently sail in exotic destinations while acquainting yourself with a region’s culture, history, and attractions at a leisurely pace. From visiting medieval castles to exploring quaint villages by foot, there are an endless number of shore excursions to enjoy when you take a river cruise.

River cruises are an especially popular option in Western Europe, which is home to some of the most fabled waterways on the planet. They are also available in China, Egypt, Southeast Asia, and Russia/Ukraine. Although these cruises have the reputation of being expensive, river cruise deals aren’t difficult to find as long as you start planning well in advance and shop around for the best price. Here are some tips for finding the best river cruise bargains.

Book Early
You can get excellent river cruise deals by booking your cruise in advance. Many river cruise lines offer two-for-one discounts to early bookers.

Book Your Next Cruise While You’re Still Onboard
If you’re going on a river cruise and would like to go on another one in the future, book your next cruise onboard. River cruise lines offer deep discounts to passengers who book their next cruise with them while they’re still onboard.

Be Flexible
The more flexible you are about dates and destinations, the more likely you are to find good river cruise deals. Sometimes, shifting your cruise dates by a few days or weeks can make a big difference in the cost of your trip. Furthermore, you may find promotional fares for some destinations, so keep your options open.

Comparison Shop
Although it’s common knowledge that you can find the best bargains on cruises by comparison shopping, most people fail to take that advice and book directly with the cruise line instead. If you want to find the best river cruise deals, however, it’s essential that you shop around and compare prices.

Contact the cruise line directly to find out what price they offer and then use that price as your starting point. Then, research prices on several cruise aggregate websites and sign up for cruise deal alerts so you receive an email every time a good deal that meets your needs comes up. Cruise aggregate sites typically offer the best bargains because they work in bulk, but you may also be able to find special discounts and promotional fares on the websites of cruise lines.

Find out If You Qualify for Discounts
When you contact cruise lines, find out if you qualify for any discounts. Factors that may qualify you for discounts include your age, your state of residence, and whether you’ve been a customer of the same cruise line before.

Book a Package
You will most likely have to fly to the port of departure to take your cruise, so look for a cruise package that includes airfare. You can find the best river cruise deals by booking a package that includes airfare because cruise lines purchase flights in bulk and are therefore able to offer discounts.