With many high street Travel Agents now charging high booking fees, use this easy guide to learn how to book a cruise online and save, simply follow these easy steps:
1. Research and choose a cruise line: Start by researching different cruise lines and their ships. Consider their destinations, itineraries, onboard amenities, and reviews to find the one that suits your preferences and budget.
2. Cruise Sale Finder: Once you have decided on a particular cruise line, use our cruise sale finder to search for the best cruise deals & available rooms. No need to search foreign web sites, we offer live connections to 24 different cruise lines. All our prices are in New Zealand dollars and are designed for NZ residents
3. Select your preferred destination and dates: On our Cruise Sale Finder, simply choose the destination, departure port, and dates for your cruise. You also have the option to select the minimum or maximum duration of your trip. If you don’t have a preferred cruise line simply leave that selection blank
4. Browse available itineraries: After selecting your desired destination and dates, you will be presented with available cruise itineraries. Take your time to explore different options and select the one that interests you the most. You will then need to enter the passenger’s ages, this is so we can search for any seniors fares if over 55 years and any children’s fares if applicable. If you have cruised with the cruise line before, this is also where you can enter your membership details. Our system will then automatically search for any past passenger bonus offers
5. Choose a cabin category: Most cruise lines offer various cabin categories, such as interior, ocean view, balcony, mini-suites and suites. Select the cabin category that suits your preferences and budget. Watch out for Guarantee Cabins! This is where you choose your preferred category, but the cruise line chooses the actual cabin and location onboard which can be the category selected or higher. Note if choosing a guarantee cabin, no special requests are accepted
6. Customise your booking: Once you have chosen your itinerary and cabin category, you may have the opportunity to further customise your trip, or choose different fare inclusions. This could include adding special packages like specialty dining, beverage packages, onboard wifi, or shore excursions packages or credits. Look out for extra perks such as Free Onboard Spending Money to use onboard your cruise.
7. Review your booking details: Before proceeding with the booking, review all the details including the ship, itinerary, cabin, and any additional services or packages you have selected. If you have selected a restricted or non refundable cruise fare, ensure you are comfortable with the conditions and fare rules.
8. Provide passenger information: After reviewing all the details, you will need to provide passenger information, including names, dates of birth, passport numbers, and any special requirements. If you have cruised with the cruise line before ensure you enter your past passenger membership number to take advantage of any extra perks applicable to your membership status
9. Enter payment details: Once you have entered the passenger information, proceed to the payment section. Enter your payment details, which typically includes credit card information. For most cruise lines we also offer the opportunity to make a No Payment hold, this allows you to lock in your fare while you finalise your other travel plans
10. Confirm booking and receive confirmation: After submitting your payment, review all the details once again and click on the "Confirm" or "Book Now" button. You will then receive a confirmation email including your cruise line booking reference number, itinerary details and fare information
11. Check-in and complete necessary documentation: After booking, you will usually receive instructions on how to complete the check-in process online and necessary documentation, such as printing your boarding passes and luggage tags. Check out our Blog on How to get Cruise Ready
12. Take out Travel Insurance to cover you in the event of any unforeseen cancellation and to cover you while you travel. Get an instant online Travel quote here
If you encounter any difficulties or have specific questions, it's always a good idea to contact our CLIA Accredited Cruise Specialists for assistance on Freephone 0800 99 44 88
