Interline Cruise Discounts

Interline Cruise Discounts are typically available from most of the major cruise lines. Rates will vary by sailing date and ship.

Some cruise lines will open up airline employee cruise discounts several months in advance (such as Carnival) while other cruise lines may not open their intelrine discounts until just a few weeks in advance.

When to book to get the best rate is a question we all have. The answer is "It depends".

When are you going and when? Who are you traveling with? What kind of cabin do you want? How flexible are you?

The answers to those questions will determine when is the best time to book and to get the best deal.

For instance, if you have a family of 4 and you want a balcony cabin for the week of spring break, then you better book it as far in advance as possible, regardless of whether an interline discount is offered or not. It is possible by the time interline discounts are released they cruise line won't have any cabins left that will sleep 4 people, so you will have to get 2 cabins, thus wiping out any savings you get from an interline rate.

Do you want a balcony cabin to Alaska? Then you want to book about 6 months in advance, when interline discounts are still available on balcony cabins. Yes, there might be last minute deals on your sailing, but they will typically be for inside or oceanview cabins, not the balconies.

Do you want to cruise on a particular week on a particular ship because you have a bunch of old college friends on that sailing? Then you want to book in advance when interline rates are available and even book if they are not as interline rates might not open up on that ship and sailing.

Do you want a cruise to the Caribbean the 3rd or 4th week of a given month? Do you not care what kind of cabin you have? Are there just 2 of you going on a cruise?

Then wait, there are almost always deals on any given week to the Caribbean. The question is just which ship, which itinerary and what cabins are available.

Being flexible and able to go on a minutes (or a week or two) notice allows you to grab those great last minute deals you dream about.

Getting on the interline cruise email list of one of the major interline travel agencies is a great way to know what is being offered at any given time. InterlineTravel.com offers a free email list (and no booking fees, unlike almost all of the other interline agencies). Sign up in their members section and have your bags packed and ready to go.

Oh.... by the way. You will need a passport that is current and has at least 6 months left on it to go on any cruise other than a river cruise in the USA or most 7 Nt Hawaii Cruises!