Where can I find affordable cruises?

[filthiestfis]

My mum would like to go on a cruise around Europe next summer but as we have never been on one have absolutely no idea where to book the cheapest. I realise that july/august is the most expensive time to travel but thats when she wants to go.

[mrsann]

We cruise regularly on a fairly tight budget and always use cruise brokers NOT high street travel agents. Reliable brokers are Voyana, 1st 4 Cruising JustaCruise and cruise first but generally the standard is pretty high. Always phone two or three brokers for quotes and compare, don't be afraid to haggle either as you often get extra discounts that way! There are some really good offers for next summer Med. cruises in this weekend papers (if you've already thrown yours out try to beg a copy of the Mail or Express!) The offers for Grand Princess Med cruises fr next summer are very good indeed and it's a lovey but very big ship with fantastically high standards. Base line prices are as low as �999 pp for an inside cabin which is about half price. If I can help you more please contact me as my partner and I are very good at finding bargain cruises!

[jno]

Buy the Telegraph on a Saturday morning and check out the travel section: it's been chock full of half-price cruise offers for months. With a credit crunch on, shipping lines can't just cancel their bookings like Thomsons, they've got the ships and they have to sail full or empty, so they slash their rates to fill the cabins.

Cheapest is very probably going to be Ocean Village, which is low-cost, no black-tie dinners, lots of families (but is in trouble so they're selling it at the end of 2010). Fancier ships will probably cost more.

Anyway, have a look at this site, and the other ones mrsann mentioned, and why not sign up top right for their weekly emails of special offers - I have.

http://www.cruise.co.uk/

[mrsann]

We have checked out Ocean Village several times but find it generally works our more expensive than other cruise lines due to the add ons Perhaps that's why they are in financial trouble! Can really recommend NCL for value MSC are good but on most of their ships you have to pat for water at dinner which mounts up (alternative is to fill a water bottle at the lunch time buffet and chill it in your fridge prior to dinner) Princess look more expensive but realy work out cheaper than many if you shop around for the best prices if you are likely to want room service or to eat at other than set meal times They have an excellent 24hr buffet changing menu at regular intervals and tea/coffee always available not so on many ships now!

[auntiebertie]

July and August = school holidays = expensive. Can't you go in Sept when the cherubs are back in school? eBookers has a good discount cruise offer at the moment. Read the reviews carefully on www.cruisecritic.com website. Avoid MSC or Costa as they are full of smokers, announcements in 5 languages and they charge you for everything, so what may appear cheap to begin may actually end up costing you more.