The luxury brands are offering a lot of perks these days. Generally, they don’t like to discount. They would rather offer on-board spending credits, tours, air or any combo of the above.
Crystal Cruises is now offering what it’s referring to as a “Standby” program for last-minute travellers. It’s not truly last-minute as documents have to be provided to authorities several days in advance of a ship’s departure. So at best, it’s for last-week travellers.
The discount is 75% off the brochure price — which is great, but keep in mind the brochure price could have come down since it was printed.
The standby fare applies to just a few cruises. They are on five May-June sailings in Alaska, the Baltic and North Cape.
Here is the deal…
Standby fares are based on availability, require a $500 per-guest deposit upon reservation, and will be confirmed on a “first-requested, first-confirmed” basis no earlier than 45 days prior to departure.
Eligible cruises include:
• 12-day Alaska cruises — round-trip from San Francisco, departing May 9, 21 and June 2
• 11-day Scandinavia/Russia sailing — Hamburg to Stockholm, departing May 22
(The price for these two cruises is $2,995 for a deluxe stateroom with large picture window, and $3,995 for a deluxe stateroom with a verandah.)
• 14-day North Cape/Arctic Circle voyage — Copenhagen to Stockholm, departing June 13 (This price is $4,995 for a deluxe stateroom with large picture window, and $5,995 for a deluxe stateroom with a verandah.)
Standby fares on Crystal Symphony (above) and Crystal Serenity (below) are cruise-only, for new bookings began April 7, so they do not include air transportation. They also don’t include port, security and handling charges…nor All Inclusive – As You Wish spending credits. Fares quoted are per-person, based on double occupancy, and other restrictions apply. Final payment is due within three days of confirmation.
As you can see, Crystal has stripped all the perks that cruisers who have already paid will receive.
Having said that, the Alaska and Scandinavia/Russia prices look attractive, considering you will be sailing on one of the world’s most luxurious lines.
All for now.
For a different look at cruising, see cruisingdoneright.com, another daily blog by the Ports and Bows team
