Looking for R Family Vacations cruise deals is a hot commodity. On July 11, 2004 R Family vacations launched its first cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn and became the first cruise line dedicated specifically to LGBT people and their families. As such a unique venture that provided an exciting prospect for LGBT travelers where none previously existed, R Family cruises have grown exponentially in popularity.
With few competitors and such high demand for this product, R Family cruises do not heavily discount, and available discounts are not easily accessible. Initially a yearly venture, R Family Vacations now tends to have three or more excursions per year to a variety of locations.
As the vacations vary by season, there is no set time when discounts are more readily available, but it is recommended that potential travelers book early to reserve space. R Family Vacations tends to reward families who book earlier. An early bird savings special saves families hundreds of dollars on select rooms and occasionally adds perks such as free classes, or free time in the spa. R Family Vacations rarely discount last-minute rooms as they sell out rather quickly.
Visiting the R Family Vacations website will allow a traveler to sign up for the mailing list so they can be the first to receive news on any updates and when rooms become available to purchase. The official website will be a traveler's best resource as R Family Vacations rarely uses third party agents for selling tickets. As R Family Vacations partners exclusively with Norwegian Cruise Lines, it is worth signing up for Norwegian’s e-mail list as well.
When picking staterooms, there is an option for travelers to save money by booking a room at a certain price point, but the room will not be assigned until a few months before the embarkation date. If you are not selective about your room, this program is recommended.
Past travelers are also provided with discounts on future vacations. Typically, the cruise will have a brief seminar on saving money when booking future cruise ships.
R Family Vacations advertises in major GLBT publications and will occasionally announce special deals in these publications. For seasonal cruises, begin perusing these publications 6 months in advance. In general, summer cruises are more expensive than cruises departing in the fall or winter. Tropical locals also tend towards being more expensive.
R Family Vacations partners with American Airlines. Purchasing one's flight to the embarkation port may help travelers save money on the cruise. The alternate is also true as families can save on airfare using American Airline's Rainbow partnership.
Many of R Family Vacation's non-profit partners will also provide members and donors with special codes to help save money. Visit the cruise's official website for the most up-to-date list of partners.