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14 Top-Rated Hotels Just Minutes From Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port And Airport

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsDestinationsMoney saving tipsUSA

Planning a cruise from Fort Lauderdale? Whether you’re flying in early or need a relaxing stop before heading home, these hotels are perfectly located near the airport and cruise terminal – so you can skip the stress and start your holiday in style.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA skyline

I’ve handpicked the best options within 2 miles of Port Everglades, so you won’t waste time (or money) on long transfers or expensive taxis.

Map Of Hotels Near Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Terminal

First, let’s take a look at the map to see where Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is compared with Port Everglades Cruise Terminal.

As you can see, the distance is just three miles and so the journey from Fort Lauderdale airport to the cruise port will take just 5 to 10 minutes in a taxi or shuttle bus.

So, if you’re staying overnight between your flight and cruise, it makes sense to choose a hotel that’s in the immediate vicinity. Many of the local hotels have pools, restaurants and free WiFi so that you can relax on the evening before and the morning of your cruise. Plus, it gives you a handy place to store your luggage while you go sightseeing.

The Best Hotels Near Fort Lauderdale Airport For Cruise Passengers

Now, let’s take a look at which is the best option for a hotel near Fort Lauderdale cruise port. I obviously haven’t stayed in all of these hotels myself, so instead, I’ve studied the online reviews, prices and what’s included in your stay.

Price: $$$

Perks:

  • Free WiFi
  • Multiple restaurants
  • Luggage storage

The Lago Mar Beach Resort is an impressive beach-front hotel situated just on the other side of the Stranahan River, which leads into Port Everglades, so you’re only a very short distance from the port – around a 9-minute drive in a taxi.

The major downside to the hotel is the lack of a shuttle service to the airport or cruise terminal, but it’s easy enough to make your own way.

It’s a stunning 4* resort that has some fantastic family facilities, so whether you’re staying for just one night or you’re looking to extend your holiday, you’ll love your time here. There are multiple restaurants to choose from, and some excellent sports facilities. You can even book a pre-cruise massage if you’re feeling fancy.

And you’ll get a great view of the cruise ships coming into port, which is a fantastic way to get excited about your voyage. 

Price: $$$

Perks:

  • Free WiFi
  • Airport shuttle service
  • Within walking distance of some terminals

The Hyatt Place hotel is one of the best-situated hotels for the cruise port – you’re less than a mile from the Royal Caribbean and Princess terminals, so you can walk straight there from the hotel on the morning of your cruise.

It’s only two miles from the airport as well, with a free shuttle service running in both directions.

The hotel itself is pleasant and modern, with free WiFi access in guest rooms along with a large flat-screen TV. There’s a cafe on site serving snacks and Starbucks coffee, as well as 24-hour meals, while there’s an outdoor pool if you’ve got some time to kill with the kids.

Price: $$$

Perks:

  • Free WiFi
  • Airport shuttle service
  • Within walking distance of some terminals
  • Luggage storage

The Crowne Plaza is a chain hotel brand that you can trust for quality, and this particular hotel also benefits from a fantastic location, right in the middle of the airport and cruise terminal. There’s a free airport shuttle service, and you could either walk the mile to the cruise terminal or just hop in a cab since the cost will be low.

Rooms are clean and modern, with free WiFi. The hotel has a restaurant serving TexMex and international dishes, and there’s a cocktail bar, too if you want to get into the cruise mood a little early.

Price: $$$

Perks:

  • Luggage storage
  • Within walking distance of some terminals

The Renaissance is a really attractive and stylish hotel that’s very close to the cruise terminals, offering a relaxing place to unwind the day before or after your sailing.

It does have some downsides – there are no shuttle services to or from the airport, and WiFi isn’t available at the hotel either. Wired internet is available in the reception area, but it costs $10 per day to use it.

But if that’s not important, then you’ll enjoy a beautiful and quiet hotel with a swimming pool, and there’s luggage storage, too, if you have a bit of time after you check out to explore the area.

Price: $$

This boutique hotel is a smaller, family-run location with a beautiful sun terrace where you can unwind. It’s a little further out from the cruise terminal – you’re going to need a taxi to get there and back – but the journey is still fast; you can have a lazier morning while you get ready to board.

Being smaller, there aren’t a lot of facilities at the hotel, but you can at least enjoy free WiFi throughout, and there are family rooms available. There’s also an ATM, which could be useful for stocking up on some currency that you can dish out as tips on your cruise.

Price: $$$

Perks: 

  • Free WiFi
  • Airport shuttle service
  • Luggage storage

The Four Points is a mid- to premium-range hotel with good facilities, including a large fitness centre and the 1800 Bistro & Bar, which offers American dishes for breakfast and dinner. There’s free WiFi and a heated swimming pool and sun terrace if you have time to relax a little.

In terms of location, it’s really close to the airport – just 8 minutes away – with a free shuttle running back and forth. It’s just outside a comfortable walking distance to the cruise terminal if you have a lot of luggage – about 1.5 miles – but you won’t need an expensive cab to get you there either.

Price: $$$

Perks:

  • Within walking distance of some terminals
  • Luggage storage

The Embassy Suites by Hilton is a luxurious hotel situated in an incredible location, with some cruise terminals just a 10-minute walk away. It’s the ideal place if you want the quickest journey to the port in the morning, without sacrificing hotel quality.

However, while the rooms are spacious and immaculate, and the swimming pool is idyllic, there are some downsides. WiFi access is charged at this hotel, as is the service for the airport shuttle. For a pricey hotel, it’s a shame you also have to pay for these extras, while other cheaper hotels include them free.

Price: $$$

Perks: 

  • Free WiFi
  • Airport shuttle service
  • Within walking distance of some terminals
  • Luggage storage

Holiday Inn Express is traditionally a budget hotel chain – a step up from motels, but offering simple, clean accommodation with few frills or extra benefits. This one breaks the mould a little, because it has some nice perks, including free airport shuttles and free WiFi, and it has a great location within a few minutes walk of the cruise terminal.

But it’s also not cheap – in fact, it’s more expensive than some of the traditionally premium chain hotels situated close by. But if you’re travelling from the UK or Ireland, you’ll really appreciate the traditional breakfasts served – a great way to start embarkation day.

Price: $$$$

Perks:

  • Free WiFi
  • Concierge service
  • Multiple restaurants

If you want a magnificent hotel as a way of starting your cruise in style, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better choice than the Marriott. Expect excellent service and quality from the moment you step into reception until the second you check out. And also expect to pay for that service – prices at the Marriott are significantly higher than other hotels in the area.

You’re also a little further away from the cruise port, without any shuttle services running to the terminal or to the airport, which at this price level is a little disappointing. But if you’re determined to splash out on the best vacation possible, then the Marriott is the ideal luxury choice for your pre-cruise stay.

Price: $$$$

Perks:

  • Within walking distance of some terminals
  • Luggage storage

The Hilton at the Fort Lauderdale Marina has everything you would expect from a classic Hilton hotel – premium guest rooms furnished with high-quality linens, a modern and upmarket restaurant serving continental breakfasts and a varied dinner menu, and excellent service from every member of staff.

Unfortunately, it shares the same problems as it does with its Embassy Suites – WiFi is not free (and costs quite a bit, at $10 per day), and there are no complimentary shuttles. You are only a short walk from the cruise terminals, at least.

Price: $

While this list is looking at the best hotels, it’s important to remember that you may not want the very best hotel if you’re just looking for a place to rest your head the night before you cruise, instead of flying in on embarkation day in a rush. The Budget Inn, as the name suggests, is a no-frills choice that’s a short taxi ride from the airport and cruise terminal.

Rooms are clean and perfectly comfortable, with a modern style. And there’s free WiFi, which not even some of the most luxury hotel chains nearby can offer to guests. For a cheap stay, this is a great choice.

Price: $

Perks:

  • Free WiFi
  • Within walking distance of some terminals

Don’t let the name fool you – this hotel doesn’t just offer extended stays, and you can book it for a single night before your cruise sails, or once you’ve disembarked from the ship.

It’s another budget option that is very similar in style to the Budget Inn, but in a much better location – you’re just a few minutes’ walk from some of the cruise terminals, including Princess and Royal Caribbean. It’s slightly more expensive per night, but still cheap enough to be considered a budget option.

Price: $$

The Haven Hotel is another budget-friendly hotel option that’s closer to the airport than the cruise terminal, but still just within a short distance of the port if you’re getting a cab ride. The rooms are light and modern, if a little basic, but you do get free WiFi access.

While the hotel facilities are basic, there are plenty of restaurants in close walking distance, so it’s a good base for a pre-cruise stay if you can’t get booked into the cheaper Extended Stay America Suites hotel.

Price: $

The Vacation Inn Motel is very close to the Haven Hotel, meaning it’s another good choice if you want to be close to the airport and only a short Uber or cab ride from the port terminal.

This is cheaper than the Haven Hotel, but that’s reflected in the quality. Rooms are definitely comfortable, but the decor is a little retro – it’s very much the motel vibe.

Still, free WiFi access is convenient, especially at these prices, and you’re close to restaurants. If you’re just looking for a basic room to take away the rush of embarkation day, then there’s nothing wrong with a cheap night in this friendly motel.

Recommendation

While there are some excellent hotels on this list to suit a range of budgets, my recommendation would be the Lago Mar Beach Resort, especially if you’re cruising with the family. It’s not the most expensive, but as a resort, it’s packed with things to see and do, which is great if you have a few hours to kill and don’t want to wander too far.

The service is great, the food gets really good reviews too, and you have a view of the ships coming into port, which is fun for the whole family – nothing’s more exciting than seeing your ship arrive, if you’re awake early enough anyway!

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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How You Can Unlock The Benefits

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsHolland America LineMoney saving tips

Thinking about buying shares in Holland America Line to get shareholder benefits? There’s just one catch – you can’t. But that’s actually great news.

Holland America is part of the Carnival Corporation, the world’s biggest cruise company. So when you invest, you’re not just backing one cruise line – you’re opening the door to perks across multiple brands, including Carnival, P&O, Cunard and, yes, Holland America too.

Holland America Line ship

Here’s how it works and exactly what you’ll get.

Shares and Benefits

As long as you have bought 100 shares of the Carnival Corporation or more, you’re entitled to claim the shareholder benefits on your next Holland America cruise. Those benefits are:

  • $250 or £150 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 14 days or longer
  • $100 or £60 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 7 to 13 days
  • $50 or £30 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 6 days or fewer

It is only a benefit that applies per stateroom, so if both you and your partner decided to invest in the Carnival Corporation and you both had 100 shares separately, you couldn’t claim the benefit twice.

Holland America Line Stateroom

There are some other conditions that you need to be aware of as well. You can’t claim this benefit if you’re employed by the company, and it can’t be used in conjunction with any other shipboard offer for onboard credit.

Plus, there are a couple of things you can’t spend it on – namely, gratuities that have been added to your account or at the casino.

But the good news is that you can claim an onboard spend benefit on every single cruise you take – it’s not just the first cruise after you become a shareholder.

Also, the benefit applies to all cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation, although the value is different based on the currency on board.

The onboard credit you get is given to you in US dollars on sailings from the US with the following cruise lines:

  • Carnival
  • Cunard Line
  • Costa
  • Princess Cruises
  • Seabourn

You get the same sort of benefit on UK cruises with Cunard, P&O Cruises and any British cruises with Princess Cruises, but the values are in GBP and are £150, £60 and £30, respectively.

Cruises booked in Australia on P&O Cruises Australia, Carnival or Princess Cruises entitle you to the same number of Australian dollars as US dollars on American sailings. If you’re on a Costa or AIDA cruise in Europe that uses Euros as the onboard currency, the values are €200, €75 or €40.

Cruise Line 14+ Days 7-13 Days Up to 6 Days
US Cruise Lines $250 $100 $50
UK Cruise Line £150 £60 £30
Australian Cruise Lines $250 $100 $50
European Cruise Lines €200 €75 €40
Since I mentioned the benefits of buying Carnival shares in my weekly email, I’ve had lots of people email me to say that they’ve also bought shares and are happy to receive the free onboard credit. Like this one…

“We took your advice and bought 100 Carnival shares which cost £550. Two Cunard trips gave us £250 each extra onboard spend and another gave us $200 (£175) total £675, also the shares have gone up £175. Best investment I’ve ever made, thankyou, keep up the good work.”

Robert and Veronica Dennehy

Of course, the Holland America share price (well, the Carnival share price) can go down as well as up, so remember it’s always a risk you’re taking.

How To Buy Carnival Shares

To buy shares in any company, you’ll typically need to use a stockbroker. This can be either a human being or an online platform. There are various fees involved with this, but an online platform is usually the cheapest and easiest way.

I can’t advise you which is the best, but I personally chose to buy my Carnival shares through an investing platform called eToro. I chose this one because it is one of the most popular platforms with 20 million registered users and has great reviews and low fees.

I’ve been very happy with my share-buying experience and found it really easy to do.

(eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.)

Read more: Should You Invest In Carnival Corp?

Cruise mummy with Holland America Ship

How to Claim Carnival Shareholder Benefits On Holland America Cruises

To claim your shareholder benefits on a Holland America cruise that you’ve booked, you need to ask for them. They aren’t automatic! But the Holland America shares benefits are worth claiming each time – it’s free money on your cruise.

You need to make your claim at least four weeks before you are due to sail, but the sooner the better. And you’ll need to provide:

  • Your legal name
  • Your booking number
  • Your ship and sailing date
  • Proof of your stock ownership

You won’t be able to claim if you miss your deadline, so try to be organised to provide this information as early as possible. And you have to go through this process every time you book a cruise with Holland America or any other cruise line in the group, so don’t forget on each new sailing.

Important – Whereas Holland America used to let you claim the credit via fax and then later email, now it’s all handled via an app called Stockperks.

You’ll need to download the app to your smartphone, then verify the stock you own by taking a photo of the key details.

Here’s a video showing you how the Stockperks app works:

You can get all the details you need from the shareholder platform you use – so eToro for me.

To Conclude

It’s really important to be clear that, any time you buy stocks or shares in a company, you’re taking a risk. The cruise industry is the same – just look at the global shutdown in 2020, and the effect that had on cruise line share prices, and you’ll see what I mean. There’s no guarantee that your money will be safe.

However, with that warning given, you might still want to invest in something, and a cruise company could be a great idea if you love cruising. Choosing Carnival Corporation shares also gets you the benefits with Holland America cruises and all other cruise lines in that company.

A person is seated at a desk, working on financial planning. They are writing in a notebook with a pen while using a calculator. The desk is scattered with coins, a pink piggy bank, dollar bills, and financial documents, all suggesting a focus on saving money and budgeting. The scene reflects a careful and organized approach to managing personal finances.

I’m no stockbroker or financial advisor, so I can’t tell you that it IS a good idea, but it might be. You have to use your own judgement or seek professional advice. And if you do buy 100 shares or more, your next Holland America cruise will have some free spends to enjoy – if you claim them.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Holland America Line offers…

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me


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The Perks You Get As A Cunard Shareholder Every Time You Cruise!

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsCunardMoney saving tips

It is impossible to become a ‘Cunard shareholder’ – let’s get that out of the way immediately.

That’s because the cruise line is owned outright by the Carnival Corporation, the biggest cruise company in the world in terms of the size of the fleet and the passengers that sail with them every year. So you can own shares in Cunard but only as a shareholder of Carnival. You won’t find “Cunard” on the stock markets.

Cunard Fleet sailing on the ocean

But that means there’s good news – if you do decide to invest, then you can enjoy Carnival shareholder benefits on every cruise line within the group, which includes Cunard!

And those benefits might be enough to tempt you into buying shares…

Carnival Corporation Shareholder Benefits

As long as you have bought 100 shares of the Carnival Corporation or more, you’re entitled to claim the shareholder benefits on your next Cunard Line cruise. Those benefits are:

  • $250 or £150 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 14 days or longer
  • $100 or £60 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 7 to 13 days
  • $50 or £30 of onboard credit per stateroom on cruises of 6 days or fewer

It is only a benefit that applies per stateroom, so if both you and your partner decided to invest in the Carnival Corporation and you both had 100 shares separately, you couldn’t claim the benefit twice.

There are some other conditions that you need to be aware of as well. You can’t claim this benefit if you’re employed by the company, and it can’t be used in conjunction with any other shipboard offer for onboard credit.

Plus, there are a couple of things you can’t spend it on – namely, gratuities that have been added to your account or at the casino.

But the good news is that you can claim an onboard spend benefit on every single cruise you take – it’s not just the first cruise after you become a shareholder.

Also, the benefit applies to all cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation, although the value is different based on the currency on board.

Despite Cunard Line being a traditionally British cruise line, the onboard credit you get is given to you in US dollars on sailings from the US, as it also is with the following cruise lines:

  • Carnival
  • Holland America
  • Costa
  • Princess Cruises
  • Seabourn

You get the same sort of benefit on UK cruises with Cunard, and also with P&O Cruises and any British cruises with Princess Cruises, but the values are in GBP and are £150, £60 and £30, respectively.

Cruises booked in Australia on Carnival or Princess Cruises entitle you to the same number of Australian dollars as US dollars on American sailings. If you’re on a Costa or AIDA cruise in Europe that is using Euros as the onboard currency, the values are €200, €75 or €40.

Cruise Line 14+ Days 7-13 Days Up to 6 Days
US Cruise Lines $250 $100 $50
UK Cruise Line £150 £60 £30
Australian Cruise Lines $250 $100 $50
European Cruise Lines €200 €75 €40

Since I mentioned the benefits of buying Carnival shares in my weekly email, I’ve had lots of people email me to say that they’ve also bought shares and are happy to receive the free onboard credit. Like this one…

“We took your advice and bought 100 Carnival shares which cost £550. Two Cunard trips gave us £250 each extra onboard spend and another gave us $200 (£175) total £675, also the shares have gone up £175. Best investment I’ve ever made, thankyou, keep up the good work.”

Robert and Veronica Dennehy

Of course, the Cunard share price (well, the Carnival share price) can go down as well as up, so remember it’s always a risk you’re taking.

How To Buy Carnival Shares

To buy shares in any company, you’ll typically need to use a stockbroker. This can be either a human being or an online platform. There are various fees involved with this, but an online platform is usually the cheapest and easiest way.

I can’t advise you which is the best, but I personally chose to buy my Carnival shares through an investing platform called etoro. I chose this one because it is one of the most popular platforms with 20 million registered users and has great reviews and low fees.

I’ve been very happy with my share-buying experience and found it really easy to do.

(eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.)

Read more: Should You Invest In Carnival Corp?

Me on a cruise ship

How to Claim Carnival Shareholder Benefits on Cunard Cruises

To claim your shareholder benefits on a Cunard cruise that you’ve booked onto, you need to ask for them. They aren’t automatic! But the Cunard shares benefits are worth claiming each time – it’s free money on your cruise.

You need to make your claim at least four weeks before you are due to sail, but the sooner the better. And you’ll need to provide:

  • Your legal name
  • Your booking number
  • Your ship and sailing date
  • Proof of your stock ownership

You won’t be able to claim if you miss your deadline, so try to be organised to provide this information as early as possible. And you have to go through this process every time you book a cruise with Cunard or any other cruise line in the group – so don’t forget on each new sailing.

Important – Whereas Cunard used to let you claim the credit via fax and then later email, now it’s all handled via an app called Stockperks.

You’ll need to download the app to your smartphone, then verify the stock you own by taking a photo of the key details.

Here’s a video showing you how the Stockperks app works:

You can get all the details you need from the shareholder platform you use – so etoro for me.

To Conclude

Anytime you invest in stocks or shares, you’re risking your money. The global shutdown in 2020, and subsequent drop in the value of cruise line stocks across the board, was the perfect example. Your money is not guaranteed to be safe.

But if you’re looking for an investment opportunity and you love cruising, especially with Cunard Line, then maybe Carnival Corporation shares are right for you, especially with the benefits you get. It’s the best option if you are looking for Cunard stock.

I’m not a stockbroker, so I can’t tell you it is a good idea; you need to use your own judgement or hire a professional. But if you do buy 100 shares or more, your next Cunard Line cruise will come with some extra spends for you to enjoy on your sailing.

Related Posts:

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me


Source link

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5 Reasons Families Really Need To Book Cruises In Advance

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsKidsMoney saving tips

I used to always book my holidays at the last minute. Maybe a few months before, maximum. But not anymore.

Child and parent booking a cruise

Now, I’m much more likely to have any cruises booked as far in advance as possible – sometimes two years or more. And it’s all because I’m booking for my family.

And trust me – once you understand the secrets of booking family cruises, you’ll be doing the same thing.

What I’ve Learned From Working in the Cruise Industry

I’ve worked in travel for 15 years and spent 5 years working in marketing at a well-known cruise travel agency. In that time, I spent more time staring at cruise websites than most die-hard cruise addicts will do in a lifetime.

Just as someone who works in a shoe shop probably buys a lot of shoes, I ended up booking a lot of cruises for myself.

me and my family on a cruise

And so because of that, I know my way around the different types of cruise offers.

I used to think that early booking offers were a con. And you know what, they sometimes kind of are – particularly for land-based holidays.

In my pre-family and pre-cruise days, I worked for various travel companies, updating travel websites with offers such as “Book early and save up to £50 per person”. Yet, I also saw that those who booked at the last minute would get their holidays for less.

A few weeks before departure, the flights would still have seats, the hotels would still have rooms and package holiday companies would be forced to slash prices to avoid making losses.

However… all holidays are not equal. When it comes to cruises, and in particular family cruises, the best time to book a cruise is, in most cases, as soon as the itineraries are released for sale.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

Read on to learn why you should book a family cruise as early as possible, particularly if, like me, you don’t have a huge budget.

Why Families Should Book Cruises In Advance

1. Cabins That Sleep Three or Four (or More) Are in Short Supply

Once the domain of newlyweds and retirees, cruise holidays are now a very popular choice for families.

Today’s modern cruise ships are bigger, brighter and packed with more family facilities than ever before. Going beyond water slides and rock climbing walls, you’ll now find ships with rollercoasters, go-karting tracks and even virtual reality trampolines onboard.

However, many cruise ships on the ocean today were actually built a number of years ago, when the ratio of families to couples wasn’t quite as high as it is today. And on those ships, the majority of cabins only accommodate two people.

A proportion of cruise ship cabins have extra beds in the form of sofa beds or bunk beds which come down from the ceiling.

As a cruise ship gets booked up, you’ll often find that all the cabins that sleep four sell out first, leaving just the two-berth cabins left. So, whilst couples may be able to get a good last-minute deal on the last remaining cabins, this is, unfortunately, much less likely for families.

Cabin with pullman beds

2. The Cheapest Cabins Sell Out First

If, like me, you’re on a tight budget, you might want to book an inside cabin to save a few hundred pounds. Look at the deck plans of any cruise ship and you’ll see that there are fewer inside cabins than outside cabins.

What’s more, within the category of ‘inside cabins’, there are several grades, which are usually annotated with letters or numbers, such as “PF”. There may be 5-10 grades of inside cabin, which each have different prices.

The more expensive grades of cabin tend to be in a slightly more convenient position on the ship, such as in the middle, rather than at the front or back, which can save you a little bit of walking. Or, they might be ever-so-slightly larger.

The price that you see advertised will be for the cheapest cabin. Then, when you book, you’ll have the option to choose a higher grade for a supplement.

For example:

  • Cheapest cabin – right at the front of the ship
  • £50 more – in the middle of the ship
  • £100 more – in the middle of the ship and slightly larger

I understand that everyone has their own priorities. But, for me, I’d happily spend a couple of minutes walking and have a slightly smaller room to be able to stick £100 in my back pocket. I always want to book the cheapest cabin grade. Even if I’m going to book a balcony cabin, I want the cheapest grade of balcony cabin.

As many other people are of this view, and want to avoid paying more than the price that they see advertised, the cheapest grades of cruise cabins tend to sell out first, then the next one up, and so on.

Book your cruise after the cheapest grade of cabin has sold out and you will pay more. Yes, your room will be a bit bigger or a bit nearer the middle of the ship, but it will cost you more.

cheap inside cabin
The cheapest inside cabin for four on Britannia

3. Ships Sometimes Only Accept So Many Children in Each Age Group

It’s not just the cabins that can fill up on a cruise ship. Even if there are family cabins available, if you try to book your cruise too late, you may find that the onboard kids’ club is full.

To avoid turning children away from the kids’ clubs at the door, some cruise lines don’t allow any more children to book on to the cruise once the kids’ club is full.

For example, if the 3-5 age group is at capacity for the kids’ club, you won’t be able to book the cruise with a four-year-old. However, if you tried to book with a six-year-old you would be fine.

Suggested read: Cruise Kids Club Age Groupings Guide

If you have children of different ages, you’re more likely to be affected by this.

MSC kids club
At the kids’ club on an MSC cruise

4. School Holiday Cruises Fill Up More Quickly

It’s a sad fact that cruises (and most other types of holidays) cost lots more in the school holiday periods. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.

Due to the increased demand, school holiday cruises also book up much faster than those sailing outside of term time. This makes it pretty much impossible to get a cheap last-minute deal on a family cruise cabin in the school holidays.

However, annoyingly, last-minute school holiday bargains are more often available for couples – great news if you’re a teacher with no kids! Here’s why…

I saw a last-minute cruise in October half term. £699 per person. Great value, I thought! I enquired about a cabin for two adults and two children and was quoted over £5000. Why? Why does a cruise for four people cost seven times the ‘per person’ price???

The answer is that the cheap cabin only sleeps two, and it was reduced because couples aren’t exactly queueing up to book a cruise on a family ship in half term! The four-person cabin which was left would have been of a higher grade.

Occasionally, a solution to this problem can be to book two cabins. After all, children are sometimes charged the full adult fare anyway, so two cheap cabins can be cheaper than one luxury one in this situation.

However, as you’d need to have one adult and one child in each cabin for safety reasons, you’d want cabins next door, or at least nearby. And by the time cruise prices drop you’ll be unlikely to find this.

Children dining on a cruise

5. Booking Early Gives You Time To Save

The further in advance you book your cruise, the longer you have to save for it. I could never afford a cruise that sails next month. But can I afford one that sails in two years’ time? Absolutely!

The balance of a cruise isn’t usually due until 12 weeks before departure. To make things even easier, some travel agents don’t require any deposit payment at all to book, and will allow you to set up a monthly direct debit with no interest.

A smiling family of four stands in front of a docked P&O cruise ship. The mother, wearing a yellow cardigan, holds the camera, while the father, in a red hoodie, stands beside their son in a green hoodie and daughter in a pink jacket, who holds postcards. The cruise ship features the Union Jack on its bow.

You Can Book Really Early…

As soon as cruises are released is often the best time to book. This can be 18 months to two years before the cruise sets sail.

Cruise itineraries are released in a few batches throughout the year, and the dates vary for each cruise line. If you’re booking a cruise for the summer, watch out for sailings being released around October or November, not the year before, but the year before that.

If you sign up to my email, I will send you a weekly roundup of the best cruise deals that I’ve found that week for you. It’s completely free, and if you don’t like it, you can easily unsubscribe, no questions asked.

I hope this article has given you some insight into why the best time to book a cruise is early if you’re travelling with children. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a marketing tactic. I used to think that too!

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If you have any questions about booking your cruise, please ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer for you.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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How To Get The Best Cruise Deals

by Choosing a cruiseCruise NewsMoney saving tips

Who doesn’t love getting an amazing deal on a cruise? The more you save, the more you can splash out on cocktails, excursions, or even book your next trip sooner!

In this guide, I’ll show you how to score the best prices on cruises without settling for boring routes or bad weather. It’s all about getting your dream cruise — and paying less for it.

Cruise Mummy with the Disney Wish cruise ship at Castaway Cay

I’ve another guide if you just want the cheapest cruises possible so check that out instead.

How To Find Good Deals On Cruises

There are two parts to getting the best deal on your cruise holiday. Part of that is getting the most value, and the second part is getting the lowest price on the cruise you actually want. Let’s start with the value side and look at how you find the best deals on cruises.

Comparison Is Key

There is no single travel agent that always has the best cruise deals. Instead, you need to check with a variety of travel agents, as each one will have different deals available. The only way to get the best deals is to compare them against each other.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well, it can be, but not always. Some travel agents don’t have the best websites, so phoning them all can take a bit of time, but there are ways around the work, and that’s to look at a deals comparison website.

These let you compare all the deals in one place, rather than bouncing back and forth between a hundred different browser tabs or phoning agents back and forth. Cruise Critic’s Deals Comparison tool does a great job of bringing all the best deals together and explaining what makes them good value. It’s sort of like a cruise comparison site, letting you compare cruise deals easily.

It works in most countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

woman using a laptop to look for cruise deals

The Best Website For Cruise Deals

There are a number of websites that claim to be the best for cruise deals, but most of those will be travel agents, and their claims will just be marketing techniques. They’ll use clever language to explain why their service is ‘the best’, but they might not actually have the best deals.

Then there will be some that are not travel-agent based, but they have an affiliation with a cruise line, or maybe a cruise group that owns multiple cruise lines, and so again you’re presented with a biased list of deals that may actually exclude the perfect deal for you, just because it’s from a non-supported cruise line.

So the best website for cruise deals is one which doesn’t have any biases or affiliations and can offer a neutral perspective, which again comes back to the Cruise Critic Deals Comparison site. 

Cruise Critic deals website

Cruise Critic is an independent website which lets customers compare and discuss all cruise lines, and their deals page is simply a collection of the best deals, ranked by its algorithm, which looks at the fare, the inclusions, the ship and more.

Last-Minute Cruise Deals

Last-minute cruise deals do exist and you can get a good price if you are willing to travel at short notice, but you have to be very flexible – you may only get a few days to arrange your transport to port, and your choices of stateroom will be limited.

It’s not advisable to hold off and hope you get a last-minute cruise deal because you might end up disappointed, either with the ship and itinerary that are available on the dates you’re free, or there may be nothing available at all.

However, if you find yourself with some free time at short notice – maybe another holiday was cancelled – then it’s worth checking out the last-minute deals available. You can sometimes book right up to the day of departure, depending on the cruise line.

As a guide, last-minute deals for families aren’t really a thing. The cabins that can sleep 3 or 4 people (or sometimes more) tend to sell out quickly, while the cheapest cabins for those groups will definitely go first. If you’re travelling with your kids, book earlier to get better deals.

Read more: 5 Reasons Families Should Book Cruises in Advance

TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!

Don’t miss these offers…

How To Get The Best Price For Your Cruise

Now, let’s take a look at how to get the best price for your ideal cruise.

woman happy to go on a cruise

The Cheapest Way To Book A Cruise

The cheapest way to book your cruise is normally with a travel agent and usually over the phone if you have time. This gets you access to some of the best deals but lets your agent fully understand what you’re looking for, to help you get the best price too.

A lot of people prefer to book cruises online, and that’s understandable. It’s a lot more convenient since you can do it while you’re on a lunch break at work (or even when you’re supposed to be working), and usually, it’s a fairly pain-free process.

But it relies on you being pretty clued up on cruises and knowing exactly what you want. Remember that a travel agent’s entire job is to be an expert in cruise holidays, so unless you think you know as much as they do, you might be better off giving them a call.

Yes, it can be more time-consuming, but it’s the easiest way to get the best price. Your travel agent will be able to listen to your requests, look at everything you want from your cruise, and then work out how to get you the best price.

They might be able to offer alternative dates that suit you or cruise lines with a better price if your only must-haves are the dates and itineraries. They won’t try to talk you into the wrong cruise (as long as they’re not a bad travel agent) but will only help you to get the best price possible for the things you want from your cruise holiday.

Travel agent wearing headset

And then there’s the option of a Best Price Guarantee, which a lot of cruise lines will offer but many travel agents will honour too. If you book with a Best Price Guarantee, that means you’ll only pay the best price that is advertised for your cruise.

So if you book, and then three months later, the same offer is available for less, then you’ll pay the lower price.

It has to be an exact match, though. If you book a fare that includes your drinks and WiFi, and then a special offer is released three months later that’s a super-cheap price but doesn’t have those inclusions, you can’t get the same rate and keep your extras.

If you’re looking for a cruise and think you’ve found your deal, consider booking with an agent that offers a Best Price Guarantee.

Read More: Best Price Guarantee – My Recommended Travel Agents

Booking Directly With The Cruise Line

In most cases, it’s cheaper to book through a travel agent rather than booking directly with a cruise line. You aren’t cutting out the middleman by going directly to the cruise line, but you’re creating more work for them, so their rates are usually a little higher.

This often surprises people, because you assume that a travel agent’s rate is going to be higher – after all, they have to get their own cut too, which you would think is added onto the standard fare.

That’s not normally how it works, though. Normally, travel agents have agreements in place with cruise lines to access a lower rate, so that when their commission is added on top, the price is similar anyway.

Smiling couple booking a cruise with a travel agent

Do travel agents get better deals on cruises? Sometimes, if they negotiate with cruise lines for bulk bookings, this will get them a discount. This discount can be passed on to the customer, lowering their cruise fare.

Plus, travel agents will often have quite complex agreements with cruise lines for certain targets, which may unlock extra bonuses. 

These bonuses are often more valuable than the commission on a single booking, and so a travel agent might offer a discounted rate to customers in order to make sure they reach their bonus threshold, sometimes even giving you the cruise at cost price with zero commission for them.

Cruise Mummy Cruise Ship

The Bottom Line

Unless you’re working with a really tight budget, it’s important not to compromise on your cruise holiday. You don’t want to go for the cheapest option available only to feel like it’s a bit of a letdown.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t try to get the best deals on the cruises you do actually want – you should absolutely do that.

I would recommend checking out the Cruise Critic Cruise Deals to get a look at the best deals from a wide range of cruise lines, and then speak to a travel agent in order to get the best price possible – ideally over the phone if you have time.

TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!

Don’t miss these offers…

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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Top Tips for Booking The Perfect Family Cruise For 4

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsCruise TipsFirst time cruisersKidsMoney saving tips

Finding a cruise for a family of four can be tricky because when you see cruise offers advertised online, they’re almost always based on two people sharing. This means that it can be very tricky to compare cruise prices for families.

cruise for family of four

A Lot Of Cruises Are Priced For Couples

Before I became a cruise blogger, I spent five years working in marketing for a specialist cruise travel agent. Whilst we did sometimes show family prices for families of four, most often, the price displayed was based on two people sharing a cabin.

The reason for this is that travel agents’ websites pull their prices from a feed and then apply their own programmatic price adjustments. The feed comes from the cruise line’s database, via third-party software.

This software only has the capacity to show prices based on two people for the four main cabin types – inside, outside, balcony and suite.

Not All Travel Agents Show Family Prices

For a travel agent to display a family price for a cruise, they have to price this manually, rather than using the live price feed. This task involves a member of staff going on to the cruise line’s website, finding the price, and then updating the travel agent’s website.

As cruise prices change most days, this is quite a labour-intensive task, so it’s not done for most sailings.

A smiling travel agent wearing a headset sits at her desk with a large colorful globe beside her, signaling readiness to assist with travel plans, depicted in a bright, modern office setting.

How to Find Family Cruise Prices

The way to see accurate prices for a cruise for a family of four is to search for the cruise on the cruise line’s own website, rather than a travel agent’s website.

However, booking directly with the cruise line usually costs you more and I wouldn’t recommend it in most cases. This is because travel agents are able to secure discounted rates.

Therefore, you should look for the price on the cruise line website and then call your travel agent and ask them to beat it. Any good travel agent will be able to get you a better deal than if you book directly with the cruise line.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

Suggested read: How to book a cruise online (and is it a good idea?)

cruise for family of four
Our family of four on P&O Britannia

Things To Consider When Booking A Cruise For A Family Of 4

1. Child Prices Depend On The Age Of The Child

For most cruises, the child price depends on the age of the child. When you see family prices advertised by travel agents, this is usually based on the price for eight-year-old children. If your kids are older or younger than this, the price may be lower or higher

2. Two Cabins May Be Cheaper Than One

Whilst you might think that having four people in one cabin is the cheapest way to cruise, this isn’t always the case. If there’s a special offer such as Buy One Get One Free, then it might work out cheaper to have two inter-connecting cabins.

You’ll need to book one adult and one child in each cabin, but if you have a door between them you don’t actually need to sleep in this configuration.

Cruise ship cabin key showing inter-connecting cabins

3. Free Child Places Don’t Apply To Flights

When you see an offer for free or reduced child places on your cruise, it can seem like a great deal. But don’t forget that kids aged two and over will pay the full fare for any flights that you need.

Unfortunately, the flights can sometimes cost more than the cruise, so be sure to factor this in when you book.

4. Family Cabins Sell Out Quickly

Not every cruise cabin has the extra beds to accommodate families. Since family cruising is becoming more popular, you’ll find that some of the older cruise ships have a distinct lack of cabins that sleep four.

I once tried to book a cruise the day after it went on sale, almost two years in advance, only to find that all the family cabins had already sold out!

For families of five, you’ll find that family cabins are even more rare.

Suggested read: The best cruises for a family of 5

Marella Cruises Family Cabin

How To Choose a Family Cruise

If you’re planning a family cruise, take a look at my guide on how to choose a cruise in 7 easy steps. It guides you through the process of finding the best cruise for your family, including any pitfalls to watch out for.

If you have any questions or would like any help, please follow me on Instagram where I’ll be happy to chat over direct messages.

Get Help Booking Your Family Cruise

Cruise Family are the only UK specialists in cruises for families of 5+ (and smaller ones too!)

Let them find your perfect trip…

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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How It Costs To Cruise Full-Time

by Cruise NewsCruise TipsMoney saving tips

Two cruise influencers have revealed how much they spend on average while living on a residential cruise ship.

Angela and Steve on Villa Vie Odtssey

Angela and Steve are living onboard Villa Vie Odyssey and are documenting their cruise experiences on their YouTube channel, MidLife Cruising.

They’ve been discussing the costs of their unique lifestyle, from daily expenses in port to larger excursions, and breaking it all down for their followers.

Their January budget sheds light on the real costs of this lifestyle, offering valuable insight for anyone dreaming of sailing the world full-time.

Breaking down the costs

Angela and Steve meticulously tracked their spending throughout January while cruising through South America, visiting ports in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Their total expenditure for the month, including excursions, meals, and daily essentials, came to $1,940.97.

However, once they excluded the cost of a major trip to Machu Picchu, their monthly spend on day-to-day living was $1,388.71.

MidLife Cruising Machu Picchu Trip

This amount covered everything from food and shopping to excursions and souvenirs. Notably, they spent some days at sea without spending a penny, which helped keep costs down.

Excursions and activities

One of the biggest expenses for the couple was excursions. For instance, they took a boat tour in Peru for just $40, an incredibly budget-friendly way to see wildlife, including penguins and sea lions.

However, their largest excursion, a 20-hour tour of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, set them back $360 for the two of them. While expensive, they deemed it well worth the money for the breathtaking scenery and unique experiences.

Food and shopping

One of the fun aspects of cruising full-time is dining out in different countries. They often grabbed local pastries, coffee, and small meals while in port. In Ushuaia, Argentina, they visited a popular local bakery for $22.76, which included churros and alfajores.

MidLife Cruising spending breakdown

Their grocery shopping expenses were minimal since meals on the ship are included in their maintenance fees.

However, they did pick up snacks, toiletries, and other essentials, such as toothpaste (which they noted was surprisingly expensive in Argentina).

Unexpected costs

One category of expenses that some may not consider is cash withdrawals and transaction fees.

Fortunately, Angela and Steve use a Charles Schwab account, which refunds ATM fees at the end of each month. In January, they received $22.53 in refunded fees, helping to offset some of their costs.

Tipping is another consideration.

While gratuities are included in their monthly maintenance fee, the couple still provides additional tips to their favourite crew members, estimating that they spend $100 per month in discretionary gratuities.

Overall monthly cost

In total, excluding all of the costs of their major trip to Machu Picchu, their cost of living on the ship for January was $1,388.71.

If they factor in their mobile phone plan, which costs $46.24 per month, their grand total rises to $1,462.40.

This means they spent roughly $47.60 per day living on a cruise ship, which, when compared to land-based living expenses, is quite reasonable.

Of course, this amount does not include their monthly maintenance fee, which varies depending on the type of cabin.

Prices on the Villa Vie Odyssey range from $2,500 per month for a single person in an inside cabin to $11,000 for a suite. And that’s after they have paid for the room itself.

As early investors, Angela and Steve secured a lower rate, though their exact figures remain undisclosed due to an NDA they signed.

Future plans and more adventures

Their journey is far from over! In the coming months, they have big trips planned, including a visit to the famous Iguazu Falls, spanning both Argentina and Brazil.

Additionally, they will be venturing into the Amazon before making a short trip back to Nicaragua to check on their home.

For those curious about what it’s like to live full-time on a cruise ship, Angela and Steve continue to document their experiences on their YouTube channel, MidLife Cruising.

They plan to track their expenses again in the coming months to give their viewers even more insight into the costs of this unique lifestyle.

Want to follow along on their adventure? Be sure to check out their channel for regular updates on life at sea, budgeting tips, and travel inspiration!

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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How To Pay For A Cruise In Instalments (pay monthly cruises)

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsFirst time cruisersMoney saving tips

The traditional way to book and pay for a cruise involves paying a small deposit at the time of booking and then paying off the balance around 12 weeks before you sail.

However, many people struggle to budget for the final balance payment, which can lead to them having to cancel and lose their deposit if they’re unable to meet the payment deadline.

Thankfully, there are ways to pay off your cruise with manageable monthly payments. Read on to find out how to do it.

Aerial view of a large cruise ship sailing on vibrant green ocean waters. The top deck is bustling with amenities including two large swimming pools, rows of lounge chairs, and a variety of colorful recreational areas, showcasing the ship’s leisure and entertainment facilities.

How To Pay For A Cruise Monthly

There are several ways to pay for a cruise in monthly instalments.

Some cruise lines offer monthly payments as an option when you book. Alternatively, you could book your cruise with a travel agent with no deposit and interest-free monthly payments. Another option would be to put the cruise balance on a credit card and pay it off monthly.

Option One: Use A Travel Agent

The best way to book a cruise and pay monthly is to use a travel agent. Many specialist cruise travel agents will allow you to pay for a cruise monthly instead of all in one go.

When you take the monthly payment option, you’ll often have no deposit to pay, and there should also be no interest charged on your balance.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Book your cruise (with or without a deposit, depending on the offer)
  2. Set up a direct debit to the travel agent for regular monthly instalments
  3. Your cruise is all paid off before you set sail

As an added bonus, you may also have nothing to pay for a set period of time. For example, if you book your cruise in December, your first monthly payment may not be due until February, which will help with budgeting over Christmas.

Travel agents can also help you get special deals if you want a cheap cruise.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

I’m ALWAYS looking for cruise bargains! These are the best deals I found this week…

Option Two: Book With The Cruise Line

Pay monthly cruises are sometimes available when you book directly with your cruise line. Note that not every cruise line offers monthly payments as an option. If yours doesn’t, you could still pay monthly if you use a travel agent.

When booking a pay monthly cruise directly with a cruise line, you’ll still need to pay your deposit as normal, and then spread the remaining balance over regular monthly payments.

If you book extras such as flights, transfers and optional extras, these may not be included in the instalment scheme.

Here’s where you’ll find more information on the pay monthly options from each of the cruise lines that offer this service:

Most of the time, the instalments are interest-free. However, if you choose to pay via Uplift, you will be charged interest on your payments. Cruise payment plans vary so check with your cruise line.

Some cruise lines will also let you set your own payment schedule. You pay the initial deposit, and then you have a deadline where you pay off the rest of your balance.

This leaves it up to you as the best way to pay for a cruise – you can pay it all off in one go, pay regular monthly instalments, or pay just when you can – varying the payments.

Option Three: Use A Credit Card

Whether you book with a travel agent or directly with the cruise line, you have the option to pay with a credit card. If you put the balance of your cruise on an interest-free credit card, you can pay it off monthly at no extra cost.

With a credit card, you could even continue to pay for your cruise after the departure date. Of course, it’s generally a good idea to pay for your cruise before you sail, but if you’re not able to, then a credit card would be the way to spread your payments over a longer period of time.

Credit cards with 0% interest on purchases each have their own terms, and there will be different lengths to the interest-free period. If you want to avoid paying any extra, it’s vital that you set up your payments to end before your interest-free period ends.

If you use a specialist credit card such as the Carnival Mastercard to pay for your cruise, you could accumulate points that you can exchange for all kinds of freebies on board, or even a free cruise!

Carnival points

Conclusion

I would always recommend using a good travel agent to book your cruise. As well as securing you the best price and taking care of everything for you, a travel agent can also offer you the option to pay for your cruise in interest-free monthly instalments, making it much easier to budget for and pay for your cruise.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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The Best Hotels Near Newcastle Cruise Terminal With Parking

by Cruise NewsMoney saving tips

Newcastle’s cruise terminal is a good few miles from the city centre – you’re going to need somewhere to leave the car.

Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal

There is parking at the Port of Tyne, but you might get better prices if you choose a hotel with cruise parking – plus you might prefer to drive to the city the day before, so you aren’t rushing on departure day.

And if you don’t need parking then you might still want a hotel for the night before – I’ve found some good options for those too, including one right across the road!

A lot of Newcastle hotels don’t offer cruise parking

The Port of Tyne is still a relatively small port for cruise departures, and so cruise parking at hotels isn’t widely available or advertised by most hotels.

You can often negotiate directly with a hotel, or look for hotels that have airport parking – it’s the same thing. Even then, most of those are closer to the airport, on the other side of Newcastle.

In this guide, I’ll cover some of the best Newcastle hotels with cruise parking deals.

And then to give you more options, I’ll tell you about a couple of hotels that are a good choice for a stay the night before a cruise, although you may still need to park at the terminal for your cruise, or another car park nearby.

Newcastle hotels with cruise parking

The following hotels offer either cruise parking or airport parking deals where you can leave your car for the duration of your cruise holiday.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 4
  • Breakfast included: Extra cost
  • Distance from port: 9.4 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 18 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi 

The Grand Hotel in Gosforth Park is a large hotel just off the A1. The decor of the hotel is a little more retro in style, but if you like the idea of a large hotel outside the city centre with cruise parking available, it’s a good choice at a reasonable price.

It has its own swimming pool and restaurant onsite too so you can relax the night before your cruise. In terms of getting to the port, if you’re leaving the car at the hotel you’ll need to book a taxi as transfers aren’t included in the parking price. Nor is breakfast, just so you know.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 2
  • Breakfast included: Extra cost
  • Distance from port: 11 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 18 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi 

The Travelodge at Newcastle Airport is a pleasant enough hotel on the outskirts of Newcastle. It’s pretty small and rooms – especially family rooms – are limited in availability so make sure you book in advance if you’re interested.

It’s attached to a carvery pub where you can enjoy breakfast at an additional cost. There’s a Metro station nearby but it’s a 10-minute walk, and then you’ve got a 15-20 minute walk from Percy Main to the port on the other side. A taxi would be much easier from here.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 4
  • Breakfast included: Yes
  • Distance from port: 14.5 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 22 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi 

The DoubleTree by Hilton is situated right at the airport, but you can use it for port parking too. It’s a slightly longer drive to the cruise port, but the main roads mean it doesn’t take you too long to get to the cruise terminal, even on a busy morning. There’s also the Newcastle Airport Metro station, but again the walk from Percy Main in North Shields may put you off.

The hotel is beautifully appointed and it has its own restaurant, bar and fitness centre. Breakfast here is the best of the hotels with cruise parking near the port, so if you want a good spread to set you up for embarkation day, this premium hotel is a good choice.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 4
  • Breakfast included: Extra cost
  • Distance from port: 10.2 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 16 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi 

The Holiday Inn at Gosforth Park is a light, modern hotel that is typically targeted at businesses, but many people choose to stay here for airport parking and so it’s a good choice for port parking as well.

The hotel has its own lounge and restaurant for relaxing the night before you sail, plus a large gym if you fancy getting a quick workout in before you start revelling in all that cruise food. A taxi to the port is your best bet if you’ve booked a parking package.

More Newcastle hotels near the Port of Tyne

These hotels don’t offer cruise parking as standard, but you might be able to negotiate with them.

Even if you can’t agree a cruise parking deal, they’re great options for an overnight stay before you sail – and then you can park at the terminal or find a nearby car park using Just Park or Your Parking Space.

Premier Inn North Shields
  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 3
  • Breakfast included: Extra cost
  • Distance from port: 0.6 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 2 minutes by car, 10 minutes on foot
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Walking distance

The Premier Inn at North Shields is adjacent to the Port of Tyne – that half-a-mile walk is just to get to the terminal once you pass through the gate to the port.

It’s a great location and it has its own very large car park, though you’d need to speak to the hotel to check about leaving your car there since it’s only free for guests.

I’ve stayed here and it’s a nice location, very quiet, with an outdoor shopping mall across the road that has some unique stores which are fun to explore before you set sail. There’s a pub next door for breakfast, and a bowling alley across the road if you want to keep busy the night before you sail.

  • Type: B&B
  • Star rating: TBC – new hotel
  • Breakfast included: Yes
  • Distance from port: 4.7 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 12 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi or drive yourself

The Dorset Arms Hotel is a smaller B&B-style hotel in Wallsend, just a short drive from North Shields and the Port of Tyne. It only opened in 2023, so the rooms are very modern and stylish, and the restaurant serves a good range of options for all diets.

There’s free parking for guests staying at the hotel, and they may be able to arrange cruise parking for you, otherwise, you’ll need to park at the port or a nearby car park instead.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 3
  • Breakfast included: Extra cost
  • Distance from port: 5.1 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 14 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Taxi or drive yourself

Many of the hotels near the Port of Tyne are Premier Inns – there are more I could’ve added, but I didn’t want to flood the list with the same chain. I’ve included this one though because it’s an easy drive from the port, and it’s a good choice for families thanks to the location.

Whitley Bay is a pleasant seaside resort with a nice promenade and traditional amusements. While family cruises from Newcastle are limited, if you are travelling with kids, this can be a fun place to stay before you sail. Parking is free while you stay and you may be able to negotiate cruise parking.

  • Type: Chain hotel
  • Star rating: 4
  • Breakfast included: Yes
  • Distance from port: 7.2 miles
  • Average travel time to port: 16 minutes by car
  • Family rooms available: Yes
  • Transfer options: Drive yourself

The Malmaison in Newcastle is one of the biggest hotels with access to parking in the city centre. It’s very modern, has amazing views and features a spa and its own restaurant and bar.

To be clear, this isn’t the best choice for cruise parking – you won’t be able to leave your car here, and your pre-cruise stay parking isn’t free – it costs you £10.

I’ve included it though because if you want to explore Newcastle before you sail, there are few better choices. The Malmaison is right on the Quayside, so you can spend the day before enjoying the bars, restaurants and sights of Newcastle itself.

My recommendations

Cheap – Travelodge Newcastle Airport

The Travelodge rooms are basic but they’re great if you’re on a budget, and with airport and cruise parking packages available, you can just leave your car there and get yourself a taxi or Metro to the port.

Best – Premier Inn North Shields

The Premier Inn couldn’t be in a better location for the port – within 2 minutes you’re on the property of the port and the walk down to the terminal is really easy. Plus there are plenty of good facilities nearby. Just be aware you’ll need to call them to ask about cruise parking since it isn’t offered as standard.

Final word

There are loads of hotels around Newcastle, although the city centre options with parking are a little more limited. So a hotel outside the city centre is a better choice.

I’d recommend the hotels with airport parking, even if they’re a little further away, since they’ll also offer cruise parking.

However the Premier Inn at North Shields couldn’t be better placed, so if you can arrange parking there or you don’t mind paying for the port parking, then you will be right at the port ready to begin your cruise on the morning of embarkation.

So why not check out the best cruises from Newcastle that are available to book?

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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12 Vital Things To Know

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsMoney saving tips

Sometimes – rarely – something can go wrong with a cruise ship, or there might be a wider issue in the world (here’s looking at you, 2020), which means your cruise might have to be cancelled.

When this happens, cruise lines will often offer Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to entice you to rebook your cruise for a future date.

This guide to Future Cruise Credit will tell you everything you need to know about cruise credit so that you can decide whether it’s for you or not, and what to expect when it comes to rebooking your cruise.

cruise ships docked at cruise terminal

Understanding Future Cruise Credit (FCC)

Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is a voucher that can be used to book another cruise with the same cruise line. This means that your money stays with the cruise line, and can be used to book another cruise within a specified time period.

Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is not to be confused with On Board Credit (OBC). On Board Credit is money that can be used to pay for things on-board the ship, such as drinks, spa services and souvenirs. OBC is often given as part of a promotion or booking incentive.

When Future Cruise Credit Is offered

Cruise lines offer Future Cruise Credit when cruises have been cancelled or have had their itinerary significantly changed.

If a cruise has been cancelled, you may get a credit note that is equal to or greater than what you paid originally.

When cruises have been cancelled and the cruise line is partly at fault (such as a mechanical fault with a ship), then you may receive a full refund back to your original payment method and also an additional amount of FCC as a gesture of goodwill.

Road sign against a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds reads 'CRUISE CANCELLED' in bold white letters, conveying a clear message about a change in travel plans.

How Much You Are Likely To Receive

The amount of Future Cruise Credit varies depending on the cruise line and the circumstances. Cruise lines usually give between 100% and 200% of the booking value as credit. (100% would mean that you get the full amount as a voucher, 200% would mean that you get a voucher worth double what you paid).

As a guide, most cruise lines offered 125% FCC for cancelled cruises in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused cruising to essentially shut down.

See all Future Cruise Credit Policies:

How Future Cruise Credit Is Calculated

The calculation method used to work out the Future Cruise Credit varies by cruise line and also depends on the country you live in.

Some cruise lines convert everything you’ve paid into FCC. Others may refund taxes, fees, upgrades and other purchases back into your bank account and only apply the base cruise fare as Future Cruise Credit.

To know exactly how FCC is calculated in your individual case, you should ask your cruise line or travel agent.

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Accepting Future Cruise Credit Is Not Mandatory

You’re under no obligation to accept Future Cruise Credit. When your cruise is cancelled, you have the option to receive a full refund back to your original payment method or to choose to rebook your cruise using FCC.

If you can’t decide, there’s no rush. You can keep the FCC until you decide that you’re ready to rebook or apply for a refund.

Future Cruise Credit vs. Getting A Refund

If your cruise is cancelled, it’s entirely your decision whether to take Future Cruise Credit or to ask for a full refund. There are pros and cons to each option.

Some reasons you might want to take Future Cruise Credit:

  • You can get a great deal with 125% or more FCC
  • Taking FCC helps to support the cruise lines
  • If you booked using a gift card or other credit, you can’t get a refund

Some reasons you might want to take a refund:

  • The terms of the FCC don’t suit your future plans
  • You want or need the cash for other things
  • You’re not sure that you want to cruise again

How To Apply For FCC

You don’t need to do anything to apply for Future Cruise Credit. Your cruise line will have a record of your booking, and if it’s cancelled, they will automatically place the credit on your account. It can take a couple of weeks for this to happen, so look out for emails from your cruise line.

If you wish to have a refund instead of Future Cruise Credit, you will need to apply for this either with the cruise line, if you booked directly with them, or with your travel agent. Refunds can take much longer than FCC to process, and it may be a few weeks until you get your money back in your bank account/on your credit card.

What Can Future Cruise Credit Be Used For?

Future Cruise Credit can always be used to book a new cruise. Policies about what else Future Cruise Credit can be used for vary depending on the cruise line.

Many, but not all, cruise lines are also allowing passengers to apply their FCC to existing bookings where a balance is outstanding. In this case, you may be able to spread your FCC across two or more future bookings if there is a remaining balance after its initial use. Some cruise lines may also allow you to use FCC to upgrade your cabin on an existing cruise, or for extras such as excursions.

Some cruise lines allow you to transfer FCC between passengers or to gift it to other people, whereas other cruise lines fix it to each passenger’s name and do not allow it to be transferred.

You won’t be able to use your FCC on a different brand. For example, Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises are both part of the Carnival Corporation, but you can’t use your FCC interchangeably between Princess and P&O Cruises.

How To Book A Cruise Using Future Cruise Credit

To book your cruise with Future Cruise Credit, just call the cruise line or your preferred travel agent.

FCC is linked to your account with the cruise line, not your travel agent. This means that you could switch your booking to a different travel agent and use your FCC. Some travel agents offer extra discounts for people who are booking with FCC to encourage this.

What To Do If Your New Cruise Is A Different Price

If your new cruise is more expensive, you will have to pay the difference. In this case, if you’d rather not pay any more money, try to look for alternative ships or itineraries with the same cruise line, which may be cheaper.

If your new cruise is cheaper, you can retain the excess credit for another cruise. Alternatively, you could upgrade to a better cabin with the excess credit.

Future Cruise Credit If You Cancel The Cruise

If you have a cruise booked and know that you won’t want to travel, you may be wondering if you should cancel your cruise and receive Future Cruise Credit.

If you cancel the cruise, your options may be a refund (with loss of deposit) or 100% Future Cruise Credit. But you’ll need to check your cruise line’s policy.

If you’re looking to cancel close to your sailing date, you might not get a full refund and the cruise line might not offer FCC either, because they’ll have more difficulty re-selling the room. This is why it’s also good to have travel insurance, in case something outside your control means you can no longer sail.

My Recommendation

My recommendation for cruise insurance depends on where you live.

These are trusted price comparison sites that will quickly get you lots of quotes to match your exact needs.

Future Cruise Credit Validity

The expiry date on cruise credit notes varies. There will often be a date when you have to use it on a booking as well as a date you have to cruise by. Make a note of both of these. Whilst you don’t need to be in a rush to spend your FCC voucher, you definitely won’t want to let it expire.

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me


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