If you’re shopping for a cruise, then there’s no doubt that you want to get the best deal.
Unfortunately, that can be a difficult to do. Like airfare, the price of a cruise can vary from month to month and even week to week. So while you might find a good deal, if you don’t book immediately then you could end up paying more later on.
Of course, not everyone has the cash to drop on a cruise the instant they find a good price. That’s why cruise lines offer opportunities to book by putting down a deposit. Instead of paying the entire fare at once, you can book, pay a deposit that’s a fraction of the total cost, and reserve your spot on the ship.
Even these deposits can get pricey. Book a cruise that leaves soon and you have to pay the entire fare when you book. Even if you book a trip far in advance you can still have to pay hundreds of dollars to lock in a deal.
But now there’s a way you can lock in a cruise price without having to book… and without paying a dime.
If you’ve never heard of Seahub.com, then you will. The cruise-buying site was launched earlier this year and is rapidly growing in popularity.
When it comes to buying a cruise online, there are two main way to purchase — directly from the cruise line or a third-party aggregator site that sells cruises from all major cruise lines. Seahub is a third-party aggregator.
Unlike the major travel sites like Orbitz or Expedia, Seahub seems to bring a fresh take on searching for a cruise. The site is fast and intuitive, with tons of options to help you narrow down all available cruises to find your perfect trip.
The site is also rolling out new features for cruise passengers that we haven’t seen anywhere else. One such feature is the site’s new “hold cruise” feature.
Find a cruise that you’re interested in but aren’t ready to book it just yet? Seahub allows you to place a hold on the price for no charge. Once the cruise is put on hold you can come back when you’re ready to book without worrying about the price rising.
Now there are a couple of things you should know. First,the hold has to be approved by the cruise line. Just because you submit a request doesn’t automatically mean it will be filled. If the hold is granted, you’ll receive a confirmation email letting you know the details.
Second, the hold feature lasts only as long as the cruise line allows. Holds can vary from as short as a day to as much as a week. If your hold is approved, then you’ll receive a confirmation email. You’ll also receive a message when your hold is about to expire.
When you’re ready to book, you simply click the link in the email and you’ll be able to book (over the phone) at your hold price.
Seahub sends an email with details of your hold.
To our knowledge, this new feature works will all the cruise lines including major companies like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. This is a big advancement in how people buy cruises. We can only hope other sites follow suit.
Ready to search? You can search for a cruise and place a hold at Seahub.com. For more on how to get the best deal on a cruise, read our tips here.