Cheap Alaskan cruises used to be much simpler to find. These days, demand for Inside Passage cruises is higher then ever. As a result, Alaskan cruise deals are increasingly hard to find.
So how can you possibly find a good deal for your cruise? Is it realistic to hope to find low priced fares any more?
The truth is, finding great fares on Alaskan cruise ships is not only still possible, but it's actually quite simple to do, provided you know where and when to look.
I speak with people all the time who are under the impression that the best way to get find cheap Alaskan cruises is to wait until the very last minute before booking.
Now this strategy used to work pretty well, and, in fact, it still works for Caribbean cruises. But there are simply fewer ships sailing in Alaska than in the Caribbean, and this lower supply matched with growing demand means that more and more ships are booking up months in advance, especially for late June, July, and much of August.
The first rooms to sell out are, quite often, balcony rooms - this despite their higher price. Balconies are very desirable in the Inside Passage, as you are constantly passing incredible scenery on both sides of the ship.
So if you have your heart set on a balcony cabin in late June, July or August, the best way to ensure the lowest price is to book a year or more in advance.
How to find the Rock Bottom Discount Alaskan Cruises
The way to find the lowest prices and very best Alaskan cruise deals is to be flexible with your ail date and/or the type of room you book.
Sailing at the very beginning or very end of the cruise season in Alaska, you tend to get the lowest prices. In fact, the first week of May quite often offers the lowest prices of all (not including repositioning cruises).
But perhaps the best way to save big is to book an inside cabin. These are the cabins on an interior hallway with no windows, and they often go for less than half the cost of a balcony room.
Of course, some people
are bothered by the thought of having no windows. For them, there are still great deals to be had.
There are certain outside rooms on most ships that have partially or fully obstructed views. These rooms often have either lifeboats or poles in their windows that block the view. But they do have windows, and this can make a world of difference for anyone who is claustrophobic.
If you look around, you can often find obstructed view rooms for little more than inside rooms - a substantial savings over regular ocean view cabins.
So there are still quite a few ways to find cheap Alaskan cruises. Remember, even with rising fares and escalating fuel costs, cruises still represent a great bargain. For less than the price of a decent hotel, cruises include meals, entertainment, transportation, and, in Alaska, glacier viewing too.
