Discount Cruises - An Underserved Bad Reputation

Hear the words "discount cruises" and all sorts of bad images can come to mind. It's enough to scare you away from what could be a wonderful vacation.

Forget the images of rat infested ships just waiting for a disaster. These are not the ships where all passengers come down with some strange virus and have to be quarantined. And these are not the ships that somehow disappear without a trace. I admit that was my initial impression too.

So you can imagine my first thoughts when I was asked to join someone on a discount cruise to the Caribbean. But it had always been my dream to go there, perhaps as a result of watching too may pirate shows as a child. But of course that didn't mean I wanted to experience the pirates first hand. Images of a rusty old ship raced through my mind. As did several other even less desirable images. While everything inside of me was saying no, somehow I was able to choke out an agreement to go. It was a great decision.

I learned that discount cruises are not as I had envisioned. See the cruise industry is a bit unusual. A cruise ship typically leaves port monthly, and to be profitable it needs to be about 75% full. This is rarely a problem with the large cruise lines, but with discount cruises it's a very different story. Many times discount cruises have to offer even further discounts at the last minute just to get enough people on board. Last minute cancellations can leave them scrambling to find replacements. So if you don't mind waiting until the last minute to sign up for a discounted cruise, you can get some absolutely incredible prices. Sometimes less than half the price of a normal cruise line.

Now to be honest, while not rusted and rat infested, not everything about discount cruises is as good as the high end liners. Meals may not be great and the same goes for the entertainment. Rooms are not exactly luxurious. But if your purpose for going on a cruise is to get away and see places you would not normally get to see, you'll get all that and more. You can see some of the world's most beautiful islands at a fraction of the cost of a high end liner. If your budget does not allow for a normal cruise line, this is definitely the way to go. The sights are amazing, and the cost will be equally amazing.