Join a Cruise Club Here

If you are or plan to be a "frequent cruiser", joining a cruise club may be the thing for you.



Cruise clubs offer not only the chance of cheaper prices but deals that may come with a lot of extras and special privileges that can make your cruise even that much more enjoyable.



There are a couple of different types of cruise clubs. There are those that are offered by cruise specialists who can find the best deals from all of the top cruise lines. Your membership not only gets you the cruise of your dreams booked, but tips on everything cruise-related like how get ready for your trip. Their websites are full of handy information including reviews and advice from other club members about their experiences.



Other benefits of cruise clubs like this can sometimes include the best deals on getting foreign currency. You might even get to go aboard a ship before booking to get a feel for what the cabins are like, sample the food, and check out all of the other amenities.



Joining a club dedicated to cruising like this is normally free and gets you the latest news about special cruise offers, usually much lower than the prices shown on cruise line brochures. A cruise booked through a club can include free cabin upgrades, free parking at airports or port parking lots.



Another type of cruise club are those offered by individual cruise line. They give free memberships to their cruise clubs after you sail with them for the first time. Some of these cruise line specific clubs are the Carnival Past Guest Recognition Program, Disney’s different levels of their Castaway Club, the MSC club and the Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society. The more you sail with a cruise line, the more club benefits you are likely to have. Some of the many benefits of this style of cruise club include:



· Early notification of special offers.

· Discounts on suites and staterooms.

· Early booking – This allows you to be one of the first to book new cruises offered by the cruise line.

· Priority planning lets you book early for shore excursions, spa and salon treatments, and other activities on the cruise.

· Priority check in lets you be among the first to board.



Onboard benefits include:



· Discounts towards merchandise purchased on board.

· A special gift waiting in your cabin.

· Private parties for members only.

· Even more savings if you book your next cruise on board.



Most of these clubs allow you to accumulate points for things like booking with that cruise line and purchasing upgrades. These points can be used for discounts on future cruises.



Discount Cruise Club article by Alicia Chewe