The little-known cruise booking trick that could end up saving you hundreds
Every week, 9Travel shares a top travel tip from our readers or something our writers find. Have something to share? Email us at travel@nine.com.au for a chance to be featured in an upcoming story.
There's no worse feeling than booking a flight or a hotel for your holiday, only to look later on and find out that the price has dropped.
However, there's a little-known secret when it comes to booking cruises which could make sure this never happens to you again.
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Cruising is consistently becoming more popular, year on year. Getty
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With some cruise lines, if the price drops once you have booked your holiday, you can contact the company and see if you can secure the new price and get some money back.
This week's 9Travel tip comes courtesy of Aussies Scott and Leanne Gordon, who have not only notched up a total of 57 cruises, but have 12 more booked.
The Brisbane pair in their 50s have retired early from their jobs - Leanne in HR and Scott as an electrical engineer - to hit the seas and cruise as much as possible.
Known as @cruisingtravelllers online, they have sailed on all the major lines and have plenty more tips for first timers.
For example – book early, but also pay attention to prices.
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Scott and Leanne have not only notched up a total of 57 cruises. Supplied
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"Booking early can secure better pricing, while repositioning cruises and shoulder seasons can offer great deals," they told 9Travel.
It's also worth monitoring the price after you book, they add.
"Some cruise lines allow repricing before final payment if fares drop - though a few have introduced change fees, so check the terms carefully and make sure you're still coming out ahead."
Flying in on the day of your cruise is a big blunder. Getty
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Meanwhile, another one of our biggest tips for cruising - which can save you money and a lot of stress - is about arriving in your port city ahead of the departure.
Don't fly in on the day of a cruise to save money if you don't live near the port.
In some cases, like if you've booked flights via the cruise company, the ship will wait if you're delayed.
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But most of the time, the ship will set sail without you if you're not there.
If your flight is delayed, you could miss connections, which mayset you back even more.
Not all cruise ports are actually close to the city either; for example, in Rome, ships actually leave from Civitavecchia, which is an hour away.
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