Expert tips for securing the best cruise deals in 2024 revealed

One thing that cruise-goers can look forward to in 2024 is a wave of new ships setting sail in the next few months. Yasim Pekel, a travel professional at Blue Cruise, shares key strategies for landing great deals on upcoming cruiseswith minimal effort.
Pekel advises travelers to aim for specific booking periods to get potential deals. Getting an early start is recommended, such as when cruise lines launch sales or start accepting bookings for new itineraries.
But even if you’ve missed the primary window, there’s no need to worry. Just wait until the last minute.
As Pekel puts it: “Booking well in advance or at the last minute can sometimes lead to significant discounts. Cruise lines often offer early bird promotions and last-minute deals. Savings could range from around 20-30% or more for booking early to up to 50% or more for booking late.”
Pekel’s top tip for staying informed about when cruise lines open bookings or roll out specials is signing up for fare alerts on cruise websites, or subscribing to a cruise line’s newsletters. She suggests that following these proactive steps could bring down the original price by 10-20%a substantial save indeed!.
Pekel’s top tip for staying informed about when cruise lines open bookings or roll out specials is signing up for fare alerts on cruise websites, or subscribing to a cruise line’s newsletters. She suggests that following these proactive steps could bring down the original price by 10-20%.
She further advised: “Join the loyalty programs of your preferred cruise lines. Frequent cruisers can enjoy various perks, including discounts and onboard credit. Savings in the form of onboard credits, discounts, and priority benefits can vary but may be several hundred pounds or more.”
Also, when booking, look for onboard credit deals – these could save you hundreds of pounds during your holiday, and often cruise lines will add some onboard credit as an extra incentive to book.

This isn’t the first time a cruise insider has shared their advice for Brits seeking bargains. Grace Sandwiith, Commercial Director at Iglu Cruise, previously suggested booking as early as possible to get the best selection of perks.
She clarified: “It is usually best to book early to be sure of the holiday availability you would like, there are often great deals and early booking incentives when new sailings are launched. If you know exactly what you’d like to book, booking early will ensure availability.
“Summer holidays are often in great demand which is why it’s best to book early for these.”