Wealth Finance

If you’re gearing up to book a cruise vacation in the near future, you may want to wait until Wednesday, October 13th. That’s when you could find new deals and incentives as Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s non-profit trade organization, hosts World’s Largest Cruise Night.

The one-day event, which caps National Cruise Vacation Month, is dubbed the “largest promotion of the year” for cruise lines and the travel agencies that sell them. While travel agencies are primed to earn commissions (last year’s WLCN generated $45 million in sales), consumers can gain in the form of shipboard credits and as much as $2,000 in savings on selected cruises.
In addition, agencies throughout the country are preparing events with promotions and giveaways. For details on finding a WLCN participating travel agency near you, visit cruising.org/vacation/welcome. Many of the cruise industry’s biggest brands are participating in WLCN. Here’s the complete list:• AmaWaterways
• American Cruise Lines
• Avalon Waterways
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Holland America Line
• Hurtigruten
• MSC Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Silversea Cruises
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Windstar Cruises

Whether you’re a novice sailor or an old salt, remember the following when purchasing a cruise:
• Cruises are among the most complex vacations to book, because they consist of so many components—accommodations, activities, entertainment, meals. Pricing also has become more challenging in recent years, as some cruise lines have “unbundled” certain services; the old “all-inclusive” mantra doesn’t always hold now. What’s more, many lines and even some individual ships are tailored toward specific audiences, including families with kids, singles, honeymooners, seniors, gays and lesbians, etc. So unless you’re truly an expert, you should use a reliable travel agent.• That said, always use a reputable agency that is accredited by organizations such as CLIA, the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies, the American Society of Travel Agents, and the Association of Retail Travel Agents.
• Many travel agencies are incentivized by cruise lines to sell their products, so ask about such agreements up front. They can work in your favor if the agency is able to offer discounts or extras, but the key is transparency.• You may want to consider travel insurance to protect your cruise investment, particularly because such a big-ticket item can be spoiled by forces beyond your control—as we’ve seen this past hurricane season. But if you are considering such coverage, purchase it independently. Visit the US Travel Insurance Association for suggestions.
• Always use a credit card for travel purchases, for protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act.—William J. McGee

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