In the wake of a months-long cruise industry hiatus and thousands of canceled voyages, you might be hesitant to book your next sailing. However, we think there's no better time. Here are 10 reasons why.
1. You'll find some great deals.
Cruise lines are attempting to woo prospective passengers with lower fares, percentage discounts and added perks, such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary dining or drinks packages, included gratuities and even onboard credit to spend on things like shore excursions or spa treatments.
If you book now, at a time when ships haven't yet resumed sailing, you're likely to pay less than you would to make a reservation after voyages have returned.
2. It gives you something to look forward to.
With movement between countries restricted in many parts of the world, people everywhere are desperate to scratch the travel itch. Booking a cruise now means you'll be ready when the restrictions are lifted, and you won't miss out when demand spikes.
Plus, you'll also have something to mark on your calendar, and planning will help to keep you busy.
3. Cruise lines are taking safety seriously.
There's a lot riding on cruise lines' ability to demonstrate that they can safely bring crew and passengers back onboard their ships. One minor misstep could lead to a whole host of problems and set the industry's progress back months.
With that in mind, lines are closely following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's conditional sail order, which outlines health, safety and sanitation protocols that must be implemented on each vessel in order for it to be cleared to resume sailing. Rest assured that, if you book, you will be well taken care of when it comes time for your cruise.
4. You'll help your cruise line.
In addition to the sheer number of cancellations cruise lines had to process in recent months, one of the reasons why it initially took so long for booked passengers to get their money back was because the lines were in dire financial straits. The longer the held onto the cash, the more promising the financial outlook.
If you own cruise line stocks or simply want to support your favorite cruise brand, the best way to lend a hand is to book a voyage. With new bookings coming in, it increases cruise lines' cash flow and helps them to continue operations while their ships aren't actively sailing -- without having to secure additional financing.
5. It's economical.
Even outside of the pandemic, cruising is one of the most economical vacations you can take. You pay one price for your accommodations, most meals and entertainment, and you visit multiple places in one trip.
If you were to pay for each of those items separately or visit each place on your itinerary individually, you would spend a lot more money and be forced to handle many of the logistics yourself. Nobody needs that kind of headache right now.
6. You only have to unpack once.
Sure, road trips and treks around Europe are great, but constant relocation comes with its own set of annoyances. For us, that largely includes packing and unpacking. Then packing again. Then unpacking.
With a cruise, you unpack once, and everything stays exactly where you've put it for the duration of your voyage. Then you pack it up, and head home. The less time you spend wrangling your belongings, the more time you have to enjoy your vacation.
7. Crowds will be smaller.
For the foreseeable future, cruise lines will be required to adhere to social distancing measures. That means ships will sail at reduced capacity, and only a certain number of vessels will be able to dock in any port on a given day.
For passengers, that means everything from onboard dining and activities to time in port will be less crowded. That translates to shorter wait times and less congestion, which is welcome on any trip.
8. You can book far in advance.
If you're hesitant to make a decision until cruising restarts and you can see what the "new normal" will be like onboard, remember that most lines release itineraries as far as two years into the future.
That means you can book a sailing now for 2022 and cancel if you don't like what you see when voyages begin again. That also gives you time to budget and plan.
9. You have nothing to lose.
Right now, many cruise lines have implemented booking guarantees that instill confidence, allowing cruisers to cancel if their plans change or if they find themselves with cold feet shortly before embarkation day.
Additionally, if a cruise line is forced to cancel your sailing due to inability to sail, you can opt for a full refund or onboard credit. If you choose the latter, it's usually offered in an amount equal to more than 100 percent of what you paid, meaning you'll come out ahead on the deal (assuming prices aren't more expensive when it comes time for you to rebook).
10. You really need a vacation.
Let's face it: 2020 was a weird year. Whether you were ill, lost a job or are struggling to adjust to working -- or schooling -- from home, you deserve a getaway when the world reopens.
One of the best ways to relieve stress is to travel, and there's no better, more economic, less hassle-free way to travel than on a cruise.
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than a decade ago and never looked back. Since then, she has written thousands of expert cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles. Her work has appeared on Cruise Critic, USA Today, the Associated Press, NBC News, the Miami Herald and Huffington Post.
