Getting the delicate balance right onbooking a cruisecan be tricky. Book too early and you risk paying through the nose. But book too late and you're limited in your cabin selection or may miss the lower-priced cabins altogether! This week we investigate whether there's a tipping point for when booking a cruise.
How Far in Advance Can You Book?
Cruise lines typically open bookings to cruisesas early as two years in advance, and there are significant perks to booking early. Firstly, cruises usually offer bonus extras like onboard credit or dining and beverage packages to entice bookers to book early. Secondly, the earlier you book, the more choice you'll have when it comes to choosing your cabin. This is no small advantage, especially on cruises of a week or more.
Waiting Until the Last Minute is a Double-Edged Sword
Theredefinitelyare reductions in cost on last-minute cruise fares. We reviewed the number ofEditors' Choicedealswe listed for cruises in the last year and the results revealed a whopping 62% were within a month of the sail date.
But leaving your booking until the last minute poses many risks. Lower-price cabins, such as inside cabins, are the first to sell out, meaning that if you wait too long you may end up having to book a more expensive cabin grade. The other major disadvantage is that last-minute discount fares are often tied to so-called "guaranteed" cabins, meaning you don't get to choose your room. A final warning about booking a last minute cruise comes from Brian Clement, general manager ofTravelocityCruise: "Many guests who wait until the last minute to book discounted cruiseswill lose all those savings in increased airfare."
Price Protection Policies FTW!
Get ready to love the cruise lineprice protection policy system. Most major cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC, Carnival Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean, operate a system which allows the customer totake advantage of a lower rate if it comes up after they've booked. This means that you can book your cruise well in advance, and then if you notice that the price has decreased, you can request to have your rate lowered.
With this tool in your belt, we recommend taking the advice of Carnival Cruise Lines' vice president, Jennifer DeLaCruz: "It's best tobook a cruise six to 12 months outto ensure you get an optimum selection of cabin types, preferred itineraries, and special promotional rates."
What's the Catch?
Of course there are provisos for availing oneself of a cruise's price protection policy: the lower rate must be for the same category of room on the same cruise. This policy can't be used once the final payment has been made on the booking or after the penalty period has come into effect (usually 75 to 90 days before the sail date). Make sure you carefully read the fine print of the cruise before you book to check that your cruise does not exclude changes. And don't expect your cruise line to contactyouto say the price of your cruise has dropped!
Flexibility is Your Friend
As with all things travel, the more flexible you can be, the better the bargain you can bag. If you happen to be one of those lucky unattached, unencumbered (unemployed?) people who can just drop everything and set sail, your best bet is to wait to book until a month before the date you intend to travel. The rest of us mere mortals who have to deal with leave requests, baby-sitters, scheduling conflicts, and just life in general, should book our cruises about six months in advance and then keep a savvy eye on the price to see if it drops.
Armed with this information, you should be able to saybon voyageto over-paying for your cruise.
Paula Kerrigan is the travel editor for DealNews, where this article first appeared.
FAQs
Experts say it's best to book a cruise six to 12 months ahead for the best price, but you might be able to snag a better deal if you have the flexibility to wait a bit longer. Getting the delicate balance right on booking a cruise can be tricky. Book too early and you risk paying through the nose.
Do cruise prices get lower closer to the date? ›
Cruise prices do not get cheaper closer to the sailing date in all cases. Cruise prices are usually the cheapest furthest from the sailing date when first launched or 60-90 days before the cruise sets sail. The prices of some cruises will decrease last minute – but this doesn't always happen.
What day of the week do cruise prices drop? ›
On average, prices for cruises drop the most on Thursdays, according to CruiseWatch.com. The data also revealed Wednesdays to have the greatest price hikes during the week. The worst day to book if you're hoping for a price drop, according to the data, is on Sundays.
Is it cheaper to book cruises last-minute? ›
You should know that scoring a deal on a popular itinerary during peak travel periods will be more challenging. But if you're flexible and open to letting a great deal determine where and when you travel, you may save a significant amount of money by booking a last-minute cruise.
Do cruise prices increase as time goes on? ›
Like airfare, cruise fares can move up and down over time (though not near as drastically). If you book a cruise and see the price drop later, you should call the cruise line and request a refund of the difference. Many last-minute cruise fares (those sold within 30-45 days from the sail date) have their prices locked.
How to get lower price on cruise? ›
Combine a few of these strategies, and you are sure to find the best cruise deals available on your next sailing.
- Cruise during the off-season. ...
- Book early. ...
- Book late. ...
- Sail on an older ship. ...
- Use a travel agent. ...
- Consider a repositioning cruise.
What are last-minute deals and why are they offered? Last-minute deals become available when a cruise line has not sold the number of cabins that officials hoped to sell on a particular sailing.
What month is the cheapest to take a cruise? ›
What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find "a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year" during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.
Do cruise prices fluctuate daily? ›
Cruise prices change every day.
What is a good price per day for a cruise? ›
Prices will vary widely based on length of cruise, cruise line, and when you sail. In general, however, a good value is any trip running below $75 per night, per person — or about $525 for a week-long cruise.
Travel agents can get better deals on cruises
Their service to you is usually free, though some may charge first-time clients a minimal fee. It's worth it. In addition to sharing their expertise, the agent may have negotiated group space at lower rates with the cruise line, which may save you money on the cruise fare.
Does Royal Caribbean get cheaper closer to date? ›
The best cruise deals can often be found as soon as Royal Caribbean releases new itineraries, but it's not unheard of to find fantastic last-minute cruise deals. Royal Caribbean will sometimes lower a cruise fare closer to the sail date if demand is low, leading to low prices for those who can sail at the last minute.
Is it cheaper to book a cruise while on a ship? ›
Passengers can save up to $1,500 per booking when they book on the ship, and they'll also get $100 in shipboard credit for each booking they make, to use on their current or future voyage.
What month are cruises the most expensive? ›
The summer months, especially June, July, and August, are the peak travel season for cruises. This is primarily due to families taking advantage of school holidays and vacation time. With increased demand, cruise prices tend to be higher during these months.
Why are 2023 cruises so expensive? ›
But, it may also have to do with the increased demand for cruising. While the cruise lines have been sailing around 60-80% capacity in 2022, some are predicting they will reach 100%+ occupancy by the middle of this year. So, with more individuals wanting to cruise, this means higher cruise fares.
Why do you have to book cruises so far in advance? ›
Cruise lines want you to book as early as possible. Not only do they get cash in hand sooner, in the form of your deposit, but they can rest easy when a ship sells out early, knowing they don't have to work to get people to come on board and spend more money.
What day is best to buy a cruise? ›
There's No Best Day to Book
Cruise lines generally release their lowest fares when itinerary schedules are first published, and then run sales every so often to encourage bookings. As cabins fill up, the prices go up.
Do cruise prices get cheaper? ›
Fall or spring. You may find cheaper cruise fares if you're able to book a last-minute cruise departing in the spring or fall when most families with children in school can't travel. As such, cruise lines typically have more availability and lower pricing during these times.
Why do cruise prices change daily? ›
Within a given cruise sale's promotional period, I've seen cabin prices fluctuate daily and I've seen them stay the same for a week. It all depends on how many cabins a cruise line has allocated for a specific fare class and whether those rooms happen to sell out or not.
