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If you have to travel on short notice and your destination is fixed, here are some strategies to try. Note that these are generally some of the same strategies as looking for cheap fares. Fire up Google Flights as usual and search for your desired itinerary.
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When to Book Caribbean Cruises
However, if you have specific travel dates, desired cabin choices, or preferences for particular destinations, early booking is highly recommended to ensure availability and secure the best possible deals. When it comes to buying cruise tickets, there are several factors to consider. From early booking advantages to last-minute deals and off-peak periods, understanding the intricacies of cruise ticket pricing can help you make an informed decision and potentially save money. Additionally, the destination, special occasions, and strategies to secure the best deals are all essential aspects that contribute to a memorable cruising experience. You can usually find the best prices for an Alaska cruise during the shoulder season months of April, May, September and October. For example, starting rates are as low as $603 per person for a seven-night Inside Passage cruise sailing round-trip from Seattle with Royal Caribbean in May 2024.
What types of cruises are available?
These data points are constantly fluctuating so your best bet is to track fares throughout the week. In actuality, most cruise lines will sell available cabins through the day before sailing, but limit or deny same-day bookings. Depending on the line, you may only be able to book cruises within a day or two of departure directly with the cruise line's reservations department. Are you guaranteed to find the cheapest, most freebie-laden pricing during these months? Cruise lines sometimes inflate prices before a sale, so deals for 30% or 50% off may not be as good as you think.
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Some cruises are more scarce than others, such as one-off sailings that only operate during a particular month, or seasonal voyages like Alaska cruises or Christmas Market river cruises in Europe. Some cruises are more plentiful and are offered year-round, like Caribbean cruises -- and that means competition to sail isn't as cutthroat. Frankly, cruise lines are similar to clothing stores in that they are always running sales. Sometimes it might be an incentive to book and receive onboard credit, or a sale where additional passengers sail for a discount, or a percentage off the total cruise. If you book well in advance (usually 90+ days), you can usually get some sort of price guarantee included with your fare. Book a fare, and if you see it drop later, you can call the cruise line and get the price difference either refunded or get the difference back as onboard credit.
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Prices Behind Buying a Cruise Earlier Instead of Later
Take note of any cancellation policies or refund terms provided by the cruise line. First, contact the cruise line directly or visit their official website to make your booking. Many cruise lines provide a user-friendly online booking system that allows you to select your preferred cabin type, input passenger information, and choose any additional add-ons or upgrades. Determine how many days you are willing to spend at sea and how many destination stops you’d like to have.
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Once you have booked your cruise tickets, it’s crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions provided by the cruise line. These terms outline important details, rules, and policies that govern your cruise experience. By familiarizing yourself with the terms and conditions, you can avoid misunderstandings and ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. From interior cabins to ocean-view cabins and luxurious suites, choose the accommodation type that best suits your preferences and budget. Take note of the specific deck location and any additional amenities offered with each cabin category.
Check Cruise Deals to see what we're offering when you want to book. If price is a major factor in choosing the perfect cruise travel date, you'll also want to look at cruises in the shoulder season, when fewer people are traveling and fares are typically lower. You might be able to find cheaper cruises on older ships or in less desirable cabin categories, especially if an abundance of ships sails to your preferred destination.
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The site’s vibe is beach-oriented and a bit cheeky, with a front page that can overwhelm—but click on the “Cruises” tab, and a cleaner interface appears. There you can search by cruise line, ship, destination, departure date, and departure port. Expedia’s cruise deals tend to come paired with other enticing offers, including steep discounts on pre-departure hotels when you book both your cruise and hotel through Expedia.
Google’s flight price study analyzed two types of international flights. For flights to Europe, Google found that the best deals were found 129 days out—but could be anywhere between 50 and 179 days before departure. Flights to Mexico and the Caribbean didn’t require as much advance booking. Statistically, the best day to book flights was 59 days out, but the lowest fares were found anywhere between 37 and 87 days before departure. Its front page is clunky and sort of in your face, but CruiseDirect is still one of the best cruise sites for a variety of reasons.
If the price drops after you book, then it can be more difficult to get the difference in cruise fare refunded. The best time to cruise to Europe is between spring break and summer vacation (April/May) and in early fall (September/October). Prices are lower and crowds are smaller compared to peak summer months, and temperatures are cool without being simmering or frigid.
A 2016 study by CruiseWatch found that prices tended to rise on Wednesdays, drop on Thursdays and remain relatively consistent the rest of the week, but trends in the travel industry can change on a dime. Considering it’s been eight years and one industry-shattering pandemic since that data was collected, it may no longer be relevant. The exception is world cruises (and other highly anticipated and publicized short-season sailings, like Great Lakes cruises). World cruises have sold out within hours, even with price tags of $150,000 per couple.
It’s also thanks to their uniqueness among cruise experiences worldwide. Summer months tend to book up the earliest due to school holidays, but those may not always be the best time to visit the Mediterranean due to crowds and, frequently, excessive temperatures. If you sail during a less desirable time, like January after kids return to school following Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you’ll have more options closer to the sail date. For these cruises, we recommend booking two to six months in advance -- or even waiting for a good WAVE season deal to roll around. As a rule, Alaska cruises should be booked no less than six months out, if not more. For summer cruises to Alaska, which is peak season, reserve one to two years in advance, depending on when your preferred cruise line’s future dates become available.
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