Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Welcome to CruiseLodging.com (“we,” “our,” or “us”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website cruiselodging.com and use our services.

By accessing or using our website, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Contact Us: Name, email address, phone number (optional), and message content
• Subscribe to Our Newsletter: Email address and subscription preferences
• Submit Comments or Feedback: Name, email, and comment content
• Participate in Surveys: Any information you choose to provide

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior:

2.3 Information from Affiliate Partners

When you click on our affiliate links and make a booking, our partners may share limited information with us for commission tracking purposes, such as:

• Booking confirmation (anonymous)
• Commission amount earned
• General booking category (cruise, hotel, parking)

Note: We do not receive your full name, payment information, or specific booking details from our affiliate partners.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 To Provide and Improve Our Services

• Respond to your inquiries and customer service requests
• Send you requested information about cruises, destinations, and travel services
• Personalize your website experience with relevant content
• Improve our website functionality, content, and user interface
• Analyze usage patterns to optimize performance

3.2 For Marketing and Communication

• Send newsletters with cruise deals and travel tips (with your consent)
• Share exclusive offers from our trusted partners
• Notify you about website updates or new features
• Conduct surveys and gather feedback

3.3 For Legal and Security Purposes

• Comply with legal obligations and regulations
• Protect against fraud, spam, and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Maintain website security and prevent unauthorized access

3.4 For Analytics and Business Operations

• Measure website traffic and user engagement
• Track affiliate link performance and conversions
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis
• Generate aggregated, anonymous statistics

4. Affiliate Disclosure & Commission Transparency

4.1 How Affiliate Marketing Works

When you click on certain links on our website and make a booking, we may earn a commission from our partners. Here’s how it works:

1. You Click Our Link: When you click a cruise booking link, hotel recommendation, or parking service link
2. Cookie Tracking: A tracking cookie is placed in your browser to identify that you came from CruiseLodging
3. You Make a Booking: If you complete a booking within the cookie window (typically 30-45 days)
4. We Earn Commission: Our affiliate partner pays us a percentage of the booking value or a flat fee

4.2 Our Affiliate Partners

We partner with reputable companies in the cruise and travel industry, including:

• CruiseDirect – Cruise booking platform (3% commission)
• Booking.com TAAP – Hotel accommodations (25-40% of base commission)
• Royal Caribbean – Cruise line direct bookings (4% commission)
• MSC Cruises – Cruise line bookings ($100 flat rate per booking)
• Norwegian Cruise Line – Cruise bookings (3-5% commission)
• Carnival Cruise Line – Cruise bookings (3-5% commission)
• Airport Parking Reservations – Parking services (20% commission)

4.3 Our Editorial Independence

While we earn affiliate commissions, our recommendations are based on:

• Personal cruise travel experience and expertise
• Objective analysis of cruise lines, ships, and services
• Reader feedback and industry reputation
• Value proposition for different traveler types

We will always tell you when a cruise line isn’t right for your needs, even if it means lower commissions. Your trust is more valuable to us than any single booking.

4.4 FTC Compliance

In accordance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, we clearly disclose our affiliate relationships. This Privacy Policy, along with on-page disclosures where applicable, serves as our official affiliate disclosure.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

5.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide a better user experience and track affiliate commissions.

5.2 Types of Cookies We Use

5.3 Third-Party Cookies

We use third-party services that may place cookies on your device:

• Google Analytics: Website traffic and user behavior analysis
• Affiliate Partner Cookies: Commission tracking for CruiseDirect, Booking.com, etc.
• Social Media Pixels: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest for advertising and analytics

5.4 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

• Block all cookies
• Accept only first-party cookies
• Delete cookies after each browsing session
• Receive notifications when cookies are set

Note: Blocking cookies may limit website functionality and prevent us from earning affiliate commissions on your bookings.

6. Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

6.1 When We Share Your Information

We may share your information with third parties only in these limited circumstances:

Service Providers

• Email Marketing: Your email address with ConvertKit/Mailchimp (only if you subscribe)
• Web Hosting: Technical data with Hostinger for website operation
• Analytics: Anonymized usage data with Google Analytics
• Form Processing: Contact form data with Fluent Forms

Affiliate Partners

When you click our affiliate links, you’re directed to our partners’ websites. At that point, their privacy policies apply. We recommend reviewing:

• CruiseDirect Privacy Policy
• Booking.com Privacy Policy
• Royal Caribbean Privacy Policy

Legal Compliance

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government request, or to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• Investigate fraud or security issues
• Enforce our Terms of Service

6.2 We Do Not Sell Your Data

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

7.1 Security Measures

• SSL/TLS Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted
• Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure servers with regular security updates
• Limited Access: Only authorized personnel have access to personal information
• Regular Backups: Daily backups to prevent data loss
• Malware Protection: Active monitoring and protection against security threats

7.2 Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

• Contact Form Submissions: 2 years from submission date
• Email Subscribers: Until you unsubscribe
• Analytics Data: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Affiliate Tracking Cookies: 30-45 days

7.3 Security Limitations

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

8. Your Rights and Choices

8.1 Access and Control

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format

8.2 Email Marketing Preferences

If you subscribe to our newsletter, you can:

• Unsubscribe using the link in any email
• Update your preferences through your subscriber profile
• Contact us to remove your email from our list

Note: Unsubscribing from marketing emails does not prevent us from sending service-related communications (e.g., responses to your inquiries).

8.3 Cookie Preferences

You can manage cookies through:

• Browser settings (block, delete, or manage cookies)
• Third-party opt-out tools (Google Analytics opt-out, NAI opt-out)
• Do Not Track browser settings (we honor DNT signals)

8.4 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know if personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to deletion of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

Note: We do not sell personal information, so opt-out is not applicable.

8.5 European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”)
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

8.6 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:

• Email: privacy@cruiselodging.com
• Contact Form: cruiselodging.com/contact

We will respond to your request within 30 days and may require verification of your identity.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you are under 13 years of age, please do not use our website or provide any personal information. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately at privacy@cruiselodging.com so we can delete the information.

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to book cruises through our affiliate partners, though our content may be viewed by all ages with parental supervision.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

10.1 Notification of Changes

When we make changes to this Privacy Policy:

• We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page
• We may notify you via email if you’re a subscriber (for material changes)
• We may post a notice on our homepage

10.2 Your Continued Use

Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

11. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: