Looking for Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

What about those “last-minute” cruise deals?

For many years now, “conventional wisdom” has suggested that travelers wait until the last minute to book a cruise, because that’s when the best deals are to be had. The thinking goes that they lower the prices to fill the ship if it hasn’t been selling well. This hasn’t been true for quite some time. In fact, depending on what you value, this type of thinking can actually wind up costing you more.

1.     The best deals are usually found the further out you book – in fact, the closer to the opening of the schedule, the better the cruise fare will be. You will also have a wider selection of stateroom class and location. (We’ll talk more about that later.)

2.     If you require a flight to your embarkation port, last-minute airfare will be at some of the highest price-points, with limited choices on flight times and carriers.

3.     Plus, since it’s recommended to arrive at least a day prior to your cruise departure, hotel space may not only be limited, but you will have also lost the ability to take advantage of special discounted rates or special deals such as free breakfast or cruise-length parking included at no extra charge.

4.     Even if you’re traveling from a port closer to home, a last-minute cruise will require immediate payment in full, robbing you of the ability to make smaller, incremental payments.

5.     Most cruise lines offer specialty dining and drink-packages available for purchase at a slightly discounted rate prior to sailing. Furthermore, these packages are often subject to special sales, which further reduce the financial impact of purchase, and also allow cruisers to spread out the expenses of the vacation prior to the sail date.

6.     And speaking of sales… From time to time cruise lines will offer some fantastic fare specials that they use to fill the ships - reducing the need to offer fire-sales closer to departure. When these price-drops occur, your travel advisor can usually apply these special rates, such as Reduced Airfare, or Kid-Sail-Free to your reservation. As the embarkation date approaches, these offers disappear.

7.     When vacationing with kids, it’s also important to consider their school, sports, and social schedules. Ships tend to sail a little lighter when school is in session, so “last-minute” rates are generally offered on these trips. The short notice will likely make it difficult to coordinate time off from work, as well as interfere with academic or athletic obligations.

8.     Since cruising is such a great time to connect with family, many multi-generational and extended family groups enjoy cruising together. Those wishing to be together will often want to have rooms nearby each other – especially when the children outnumber the adults. Larger families who require larger accommodations either book the more spacious quads and mini-suites, or opt for connecting cabins. Reserving two of these staterooms, which feature a door to the adjacent cabin, can be a great bargain for bigger broods, so they tend to fill up fast. However, there are rarely any of these available the closer to sailing you get - rendering them unlikely to appear in last-minute inventory. Choosing from the more costly suite options will negate any savings you might have anticipated by waiting to book.

9.     Today’s cruise ships have become destinations in and of themselves. They offer a multitude of activities, rotational and specialty dining venues, as well as various entertainment options. A late booking impedes your ability to book the best specialty restaurants and dining times, private-island cabanas, entertainment showtimes and activity options. Although your cruise fare includes most of these offerings, last-minute reservations will be limited, if available at all.

10. Do you prefer a rear-facing balcony?  Would you like a forward-facing oceanview room? Will a stateroom above or below the nightclub interfere with your rest? Do you or someone in your family suffer from motion sickness? Would you like a balcony stateroom so you can enjoy the view while your toddler naps? Choosing the just-right cabin for any special requirements or concerns is an important part of the planning process. A major drawback of waiting for a last-minute deal is often losing the ability to choose your cabin or book the stateroom category of your choice.

As my mother always said, “the cheap turns out expensive.” There is value in the ability to make choices, plan, budget, and take advantage of special offers along the way. Clearly, it is to the traveler’s advantage to book as early as possible.