Now’s the time to cruise for deals
Wave season is the time — from January to March — when the people running the analytics departments for cruise lines dig through reams of data and determine sale prices for the year. This year, they have gone beyond the traditional wave season.
More perks than “sale prices,” these deals are designed to entice you to cruise in 2013.
Some offerings are for particular destinations; some stretch into 2014.
Windstar is offering two-forone cruises and two complimentary hotel nights with each cruise on a sale ending April 27.
Azamara Club Cruises has an April sale for cruises from August 1 to July 2014, a doublecategory upgrade and a Choice Air cruise credit of $1,000 per stateroom or 25 per cent off shore excursions, with some qualification.
Oceania will give you (on select sailings) a $140 shipboard credit and half-off deposits plus free airfare, gratuities and free Internet.
Rather than send you to the cruise lines’ websites, I suggest you contact a travel agent who specializes in cruises because, as with every sale, there is some allimportant small print. Funny Cruiser Complaints Hopefully, I am going to put a smile on your face this week. This comes your way courtesy of Bonvoyage.co.uk, a British online travel agency.
It is a sample of some of the complaints from passengers and — would you believe it? — no references to missing ports, ship delays or emergencies.
A lady on a Mediterranean cruise was unhappy with the sound of the sea, claiming it was too loud and kept her from having a good night’s sleep.
She wanted her cabin to be “better soundproofed against the sounds of the sea.”
Two people on a Mediterranean cruise complained the captain was “rude” by failing to comply with the couple’s plans.
Before going ashore, they left him a note.
They advised him that they would return to the ship two hours later than the posted departure time due to having “too much to do in port.”
When the captain left on time, without them, the couple had to catch the ship at another port the next day and wanted to be compensated for the costs of getting there.
A woman on a Celebrity ship demanded a full refund simply because she didn’t see any “celebrities” on board.
She said the company was guilty of “false advertising” because there was none on the ship.
A woman was disappointed her inside cabin did not have a window facing the sea.
Furthermore, she claimed nobody on board was able to install a window for her so she could enjoy the view, and she expected “better service next time.”
Phil’s Pick of the Week This cruise leaves next month, and the price shown, available at the time of writing, is based on per-person double occupancy and does not include fees and taxes.
The cruise leaves on May 28, sailing from Venice to Barcelona over 12 days on the Carnival Legend. Ports are Venice for an overnight, Dubrovnik, Messina, Naples, Rome, Florence, Palma de Mallorca, then into Barcelona.
Starting price is $699 (see Carnival.com or your agent).
Next week, I am in Europe for the inaugural sail of Scenic Tours’ new river cruiser, the Scenic Jewel.