"Yeah, right," I muttered while staring at a deal on Royal Caribbean's homepage last week. A countdown clock just below the promotion told me that I only had seven hours, 40 minutes and 28 seconds left to pounce on the offer before it would magically disappear.
I knew it wasn't true. That deal would be back the next day.
I've been tracking the big promotions from the major cruise lines since November. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and a handful of other brands have been running the same standard bargains on their websites for months, each one claiming to have limited-time status.
What began as Black Friday promotions were repurposed and rebranded for wave season — the period during the first quarter of each year when cruise lines offer some of their best deals. Some have been extended as far out as the end of June.
At first, I was thrilled that travelers had additional time to take advantage of the deals. On second thought, I realized that if a deal is set to run for more than half the year, it's no longer a true deal. It becomes the standard baseline for fares and inclusions. All the pressure to book right this second is being manufactured by the cruise lines.
Want to get the best bang for your buck when you book? Don't take a cruise line's deals at face value when it's offering dollars off or percentage discounts off the so-called regular rate.
Here's why those offers you're eyeing right now aren't anything new or special and what you should be looking for instead.
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Cruises are selling so well in 2024 that cruise lines don't need to offer deep discounts or extra perks that will make passengers salivate. In fact, inventory is already limited for the summer and into the fall for many lines. When there's enough demand, the deals don't have to be as good — and right now, they aren't. Sure, that high-percentage discount might catch your eye, but with cruise fares at all-time highs, you might not be saving as much as you think.
Plus, instead of offering extra perks (such as free drinks or Wi-Fi) as part of a limited-time promotion, cruise lines are either making them part of extra-fee packages or making them standard inclusions and pricing sailings accordingly.
Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises will sell you "all-inclusive" package add-ons. Additionally, NCL continues to give passengers the same Free at Sea add-ons it's offered for years. Don't think you're getting something for nothing when the line gives you booking perks, such as free basic Wi-Fi and alcohol packages, shore excursion credits, complimentary dining in specialty restaurants, and free third and fourth
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Ålesund is a picturesque Norwegian city renowned for its striking art nouveau architecture—unique in Norway—and its stunning natural setting. Situated on Norway's west coast, the city serves as a prime port, one that welcomes ever-increasing numbers of people on cruise ships touring the fjords and the Norwegian coastline.
Last year, when Micha Pycke, 40, and Albane Paret, 39, bought an apartment in Ostend — a once run-down Belgian seaside town that, in recent years, has become a favorite of artists and designers — they knew they wanted the place to be, says Pycke, “something more than an Airbnb or holiday home.” Instead, the couple, who co-own the Ghent-based arts- and design-focused communications agency Club Paradis, envisioned what he calls “a new kind of space”: essentially, a gallery where guests could stay overnight. To that end, they’ve filled the 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom, which is on the eighth floor of a ’60s-era building overlooking the North Sea, with works by some of their favorite artists and designers, many of whom are also their clients. In the living room, a lacquered wood coffee table by the Dutch designer Linde Freya Tangelder’s studio, Destroyers/Builders, sits atop a limited-edition rug by the Swiss textile artist Christoph Hefti woven with images of foxes. In one of the bedrooms, a copper-colored, ruched-felt tapestry by Rooms Studio — a women-led company from Tbilisi, Georgia — hangs above a Duo seat by the Belgian team Muller Van Severen for Valerie Objects. And if you like something, you can probably take it with you; most of the pieces are for sale, and Pycke and Paret are also happy to connect guests directly with designers. . —
If you’ve ever sat in an even smaller than usual coach seat, had your flight canceled, or fought with a rude customer service agent—you know the airline you fly can make a huge difference in the pleasantness of your trip.
Beyond the Netherlands’ biggest and best-known cities, a patchwork of farmland, fields, villages and towns laced by canals, polders, dykes and windmills unfolds across the flat, low-lying Dutch landscapes.
It’s an unfortunate truth that air travel has become an overall frustrating experience. With shrinking seats, crowded flights, and rising fees for services like checking a bag, it’s enough to make even the most savvy of travelers exasperated. But a select number of airlines continue to stand out from the rest, with refreshingly smooth operations and passenger-friendly cabins.
As Star Wars fans around the world celebrate May the Fourth, what better way to immerse yourself in the galaxy far, far away than by visiting real-life locations that served as backdrops for some of the most iconic scenes in the saga? Solos was founded in 1982 and now offers a wide range of holidays for globetrotters. From Costa Rica to Canada, Africa to America, India to Iceland, Croatia to the Caribbean, Uzbekistan to the UK, and Norway to New Zealand, Solos has divided its holidays into easy-to-select categories depending on interests. Solos is also keen to challenge the assumption that solo travel is purely for single people. Regardless of age, ability, circumstance, background, gender – there really is something for everyone – especially on these exciting trips below.
Part of the and specialising in ranch holidays across the US and Canada, leading tour operator American Round-Up is thrilled to announce a fresh lineup of captivating Western adventures for 2024. The list includes Ranchlands’ new Paintrock Canyon Ranch, the stylish glamping retreat located at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in Northern Wyoming, and The True Collection’s latest Yellowstone ranch pop-up, the historic Blackwater Creek Ranch only 15 miles from the east gates of America’s first ever national park.
Growing up, my parents loved Costco because they could purchase food for our family of four in bulk for low prices. I remember spending Saturday afternoons exploring the warehouse with my brother while my parents shopped for produce, snacks, and everything in between with their membership.