Military, veterans can cruise for less

May 16, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Dallas Morning News

In honor of Memorial Day, active military and veterans can save up to 25 percent off Carnival cruises when they book during May.

Service members or veterans can book up to three cabins at the discounted rate on the same cruise, so if you qualify and have friends and family, you can make it a reunion.

Avoid travel in July, when discounts are minimal due to high demand, but May, June, August and September offer good discounts.

Sailings must be booked by May 31 for travel on two- to seven-night cruises through April 30, 2012. Though the offer extends for travel beyond September, you probably will save more by using the advance-booking discount for travel in October and beyond since you can find discounts of up to 35 percent when you have a five-month advance purchase.

To receive the military discount, you need to buy the cruises directly through Carnival or through a travel agency that offers the military discount (not all do). These military rates can be difficult to find online, so if you want to check rates for your travel period, visit www.bestfares.com/cruiseMilitaryRates.php. Carnival updates the rates every Tuesday and Wednesday, so those are good days to check.

You do have to have proof of service (a DD-214) in order to get the discounts. Even if you aren’t going to take advantage of the offer this time, the DD-214 is free for most veterans, so you should have it on hand for future deals. Visit www.vetrecs.archives.gov to get your military records.

If you’re a veteran, you must have been honorably discharged for this discount. Between now and September, there are pretty good deals on selected cruises, and August and September offer the best values.

Sample per-person rates for a seven-night cruise departing Aug. 7 from Miami on the Carnival Liberty include $639 for an inside cabin, $739 for an ocean view, $919 for a balcony cabin and $1,419 for a suite cabin. These rates offered a savings of $150 to $200 per person over regular rates.

Contact Carnival at (888) 227-6482 or www.carnival.com.