Hello Peter,
I cruised fairly often in my 40s and 50s. I am now
63 and have been on Social Security Disability since
1999 and am considered indigent (below the national
poverty level). Are there any cruise lines that have
senior-citizen prices and/or disability rates
specifically for those below the poverty level? I
have surely missed cruising and would love to be
able to go again.
–Christine, Richmond, Va.
A: A few cruise lines (such as Royal Caribbean and
Carnival) offer senior discounts on select cruises
to passengers 55 years of age or older. You’d have
to call customer service to find out which sailings
offer the discounts and what the price is. Bear in
mind that the discount is not simply a fixed
percentage—say, 15 percent off—but rather, it’s a
promotional rate intended to fill a ship that’s not
selling well.
I was not able to find any discount programs offered
by cruise lines that might apply to those considered
disabled or indigent. However, with the economy the
way it is now, many cruise lines are offering huge
discounts, particularly on sailings to the Caribbean
and Mexico. Cruise lines depend on passengers’
onboard spending to earn revenue, and that can’t
happen if the cabins aren’t full—which is when they
start discounting like crazy, as in under $50 a day.
Cruise consolidators often receive limited amounts
of deeply discounted cabins when the cruise lines
want to unload them—GalaxSea Cruise and Tours (
www.cruisestar.com).
So keep your eyes open and you may eventually find
something within your budget, especially if the
recession continues.