{"id":611,"date":"2024-01-01T16:55:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-01T16:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/?p=611"},"modified":"2024-03-10T17:19:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-10T17:19:03","slug":"sail-into-serenity-with-great-deals-on-cruises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/sail-into-serenity-with-great-deals-on-cruises\/","title":{"rendered":"Sail into Serenity with Great Deals on Cruises"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ready for some R&R on the high seas? You\u2019re in luck! January through March, known in travel circles as the \u201cwave season,\u201d is the best time for booking a cruise from Florida. It\u2019s not just about bagging great deals \u2013 it\u2019s a sweet spot where cost savings, perfect weather and bonus perks come together to create the ultimate cruise experience.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wave season coincides with the latter part of winter and early spring, making a cruise a great option for people looking for a break from the chilly temperatures in favor of the sunny, balmy weather promised with a few days spent in top cruise destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the budget-friendly aspect. Cruise lines go all out during the wave season, throwing in discounts, special offers and extra goodies that start with Black Friday and run into the new year. Discounted or added-value perks may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Free airfare from select U.S. gateways<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Pre-cruise overnight hotel stay<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Onboard credit you can use to pay for specialty dining, shore excursions and more<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Beverage packages<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Prepaid specialty dining fees<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Prepaid gratuities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Free internet access<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Complimentary shore excursions or tour credit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the end of the year approaches and colder weather sets in, people are ready to spend some time in a place with warmer temperatures,\u201dsays Julie Pierce, Northeast Florida-based Travel Advisor and Cruise Planners franchise owner. \u201cThat makes this time of year a highly popular time to book a cruise, particularly to more tropical destinations. But as we get closer to year\u2019s end, if too many cabins aren\u2019t booked, cruise lines will drop prices to assure that the ship sets sail full.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the wave season is outside of the peak conventional vacation seasons, cruise ships typically are less crowded, allowing for lower costs, shorter waits for access to amenities and more intimate experiences for passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Bascom and Kaylyn Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Kaylyn and Bascom Smith take a cruise every January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe rates are better, it\u2019s less crowded and generally, the weather is still warm in the Caribbean. And Bascom\u2019s birthday is in January, so it\u2019s his gift,\u201d says Kaylyn. Husband, Bascom, is a former Jacksonville pastor and the couple recently moved to Macclenny. The couple loves the Dominican Republic\u2019s Amber Cove Cruise Center, plus cave tubing in Belize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Mudd, founder of Jacksonville\u2019s Axia Public Relations, has taken a January cruise the past three years and plans others in January and March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe go to escape the North Florida winter windchill that brings the cold, drizzly weather,\u201d he says. He\u2019ll visit Nassau, Bahamas in January, then board the new, massive Celebrity Apex in March for stops in San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the favorite cruise spots where mild temperatures and calm seas ensure smooth sailing are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean: <\/strong>A classic choice for those seeking sun-soaked adventures. With a variety of itineraries that include stops in places like the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Virgin Islands, you can enjoy pristine beaches, vibrant cultures and a wealth of water activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawaii: <\/strong>A paradise of lush landscapes, volcanic wonders and inviting beaches. Cruises typically explore multiple islands, providing a diverse range of experiences from active excursions to relaxing beach days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexican Riviera:<\/strong> Enjoy the warmth of destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Mazatl\u00e1n and Puerto Vallarta. These ports of call boast beautiful beaches, rich history and vibrant local cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Pacific Islands: <\/strong>Destinations like Fiji, Tahiti and Bora Bora, offer a dreamy escape to tropical paradises. Crystal-clear waters, overwater bungalows and unique cultures characterize this region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia\/New Zealand: <\/strong>During the Northern Hemisphere\u2019s winter, it\u2019s summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Cruises to Australia and New Zealand provide a mix of cosmopolitan cities, stunning coastlines and diverse landscapes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Tip<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Always call on a travel agent rather than booking directly through a cruise line. Conventional wisdom says you\u2019ll save money by cutting out the middleman, but when it comes to cruises, that notion couldn\u2019t be more wrong. Travel agents and advisors have the inside scoop on options and deals that the public never hears about and are afforded access to deeply discounted pricing that they can pass along to you. They also handle all the nuanced arrangements that can prove time consuming, especially when coordinating travel for a larger group, so you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credit: Port Nagasaki, Carnival Cruise Lines<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ready for some R&R on the high seas? You\u2019re in luck! January through March, known in travel circles as the \u201cwave season,\u201d is the best time for booking a cruise from Florida. It\u2019s not just about bagging great deals \u2013 it\u2019s a sweet spot where cost savings, perfect weather and bonus perks come together to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1123,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-611","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=611"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1124,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611\/revisions\/1124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlexon-dev.com\/senior\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}