Cheapest way to book a cruise - how close to departure for best price?

**Disney Posse** · 5 Jun 18, 01:15 PM

Following on from some of my other threads... looking at a last minute holiday in September - got time booked off from work but want to do a last minute holiday and hopefully pick up a good deal - looking at a cruise.
How long would you leave it before booking to get the best price please?

Dinglebert · 5 Jun 18, 01:28 PM

This is a cut and paste job.

One of the best times to find last minute rates on a particular sailing is 60 to 90 days before departure.

The reason? This is the last call (for most cruise lines and itineraries -- for some it's up to 120 days) for travellers to cancel existing reservations without penalty. At that point, the cruise line will know exactly how many cabins are left -- and if there is more space available than the cruise line would like, it will quickly (and often heavily) reduce the fare so that it can sell out the ship.

Now me rather than cut and paste.

The cruise lines have moved to a model of offering the cheapest prices for the early bookers. They try to avoid the last minute deal senario which happens with package holidays as they wanted to avoid large numbers waiting for them to panic to fill the ships. I've seen it suggested that at times they would rather sail with empty cabins than go back to the days of big last minute discounts.

myvot · 5 Jun 18, 06:24 PM

I've booked with carnival before and they have a price promise. If the price of your cruise goes down then you get the difference back. You can keep doing this as many times as you like. You have to notice the price drop tho and contact them. They won't tell you.

Omega1 · 5 Jun 18, 07:01 PM

Cruise pricing is very complex and it depends on individual cruise lines. Some cruise lines allow UK residents to book with US agents, others don�t. Our experience (coming up to 40 cruises) is that the really good deals are offered around 90 days before sailing - this is the final payment date. We know many Americans who hold 4 or 5 reservations for the same dates to the same places (particularly Caribbean). They track prices and benefit from price drops. Just before final payment date they make their choice. They do this because they can - they get their deposit returned if they cancel. Cancelled cruises booked here in the UK usually result in loss of deposit. There are pros and cons to booking in the US, many experienced Dibbers swear by using a US agent.
As an example, a friend booked a Princess cruise to Norway (North Cape 14 days dep 23/6/18) over a year ago for �1700pp. The price dropped to �899pp in April, needless to say, it sold out quickly.
It�s a dynamic pricing model - if cabins are selling well prices go up. A down side of last minute booking is you are restricted to the choice of remaining cabins. Our last deal was a guarantee cabin - the cruise line chooses the cabin. It was fine, decent location and great value at �66pppn. Last minute deals can mean you miss out on cheap flights but we�ve never experienced that.
Our next cruise is 14 days in the Caribbean in Nov at �64pppn. When we booked, the cruise line was doing a deal on flights, Manchester to Fort Lauderdale return for �201pp. It�s a no brainer.
Like I said, it�s complex!

scarecrow · 5 Jun 18, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by myvot

I've booked with carnival before and they have a price promise. If the price of your cruise goes down then you get the difference back. You can keep doing this as many times as you like. You have to notice the price drop tho and contact them. They won't tell you.

This only applies if you book via the US or a US TA not via the UK site or UK TA.

Omega1 · 5 Jun 18, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by scarecrow

This only applies if you book via the US or a US TA not via the UK site or UK TA.

Yes, and some deals are for new bookings only. This would mean cancelling and losing any obc or free grats, etc you already have. You have to calculate whether it is a better deal.
On a couple of occasions we have been given obc when there has been a price drop here in the UK but it doesn�t always happen. It�s really only possible to do this if you book direct with the cruise line as UK agents aren�t interested in haggling on your behalf.

bonnies mum · 5 Jun 18, 07:54 PM

We booked a cruise for September at the end of April. RCI offered what they termed a special deal - available for 3 days only. It was indeed a good deal - they regularly discount the 2nd passengers fare but on top of this they offered a high level of onboard credit.
The price has since gone up considerably, less onboard credit but a drinks package (not worth it for us)I think it�s not when you book but rather the deal which works best for you.

Scotty · 5 Jun 18, 09:10 PM

I booked one 4 days before - I had been watching it for a while though. Another was about 10 days before.
Once final payment has passed they know how many cabins are left. Depending on how quickly they sell they may be reduced further.
It's always a bit of a gamble as you never really know how many cabins are left.

**Disney Posse** · 6 Jun 18, 10:59 AM

Thanks everyone

5 Jun 18, 06:24 PM	#3
	5 Jun 18, 06:24 PM myvot Excited about Disney
myvot Excited about Disney Join Date: Aug 08 Location: Glasgow	I've booked with carnival before and they have a price promise. If the price of your cruise goes down then you get the difference back. You can keep doing this as many times as you like. You have to notice the price drop tho and contact them. They won't tell you.

5 Jun 18, 07:01 PM	#4
	5 Jun 18, 07:01 PM Omega1 Imagineer
Omega1 Imagineer Join Date: Jan 08	Cruise pricing is very complex and it depends on individual cruise lines. Some cruise lines allow UK residents to book with US agents, others don�t. Our experience (coming up to 40 cruises) is that the really good deals are offered around 90 days before sailing - this is the final payment date. We know many Americans who hold 4 or 5 reservations for the same dates to the same places (particularly Caribbean). They track prices and benefit from price drops. Just before final payment date they make their choice. They do this because they can - they get their deposit returned if they cancel. Cancelled cruises booked here in the UK usually result in loss of deposit. There are pros and cons to booking in the US, many experienced Dibbers swear by using a US agent. As an example, a friend booked a Princess cruise to Norway (North Cape 14 days dep 23/6/18) over a year ago for �1700pp. The price dropped to �899pp in April, needless to say, it sold out quickly. It�s a dynamic pricing model - if cabins are selling well prices go up. A down side of last minute booking is you are restricted to the choice of remaining cabins. Our last deal was a guarantee cabin - the cruise line chooses the cabin. It was fine, decent location and great value at �66pppn. Last minute deals can mean you miss out on cheap flights but we�ve never experienced that. Our next cruise is 14 days in the Caribbean in Nov at �64pppn. When we booked, the cruise line was doing a deal on flights, Manchester to Fort Lauderdale return for �201pp. It�s a no brainer. Like I said, it�s complex!

5 Jun 18, 07:54 PM	#7
	5 Jun 18, 07:54 PM bonnies mum Imagineer
bonnies mum Imagineer Join Date: Apr 09	We booked a cruise for September at the end of April. RCI offered what they termed a special deal - available for 3 days only. It was indeed a good deal - they regularly discount the 2nd passengers fare but on top of this they offered a high level of onboard credit. The price has since gone up considerably, less onboard credit but a drinks package (not worth it for us)I think it�s not when you book but rather the deal which works best for you.