How To Book A Last
Mega-ships such as those in the Royal Caribbean fleet are the most likely to have last-minute inventory available.
Whether youre looking for a good deal or hoping for a quick getaway, here are the best ways to secure a cruise at the 11th hour.
Booking a cruise at the last minute isnt as easy as it used to be. Would-be cruisers have been locking in their trips earlier than ever, thanks to early-booking promotions, leaving fewer cabins available on short notice.
At the same time, many cruise lines have moved away from the practice of offering deep discounts to fill empty cabins in the final weeks before sailing. Instead, they often try to maintain their prices at a base level even if it means some cabins go unsold.
The result is that last-minute bookers are having a harder time finding the type of cabins they want on ships and the itineraries they want at a good price.
Still, all is not lost for those hoping to hit the high seas on short notice. Whether youve procrastinated in making your cruise plans or just love to travel on a whim, there are several ways to find and book a last-minute voyage.
Where Can I Find Last Minute Royal Caribbean Deals
To find last minute Royal Caribbean cruise deals, there are a few places to look.
- Contact a travel agent
- Royal Caribbean sends travel agents deals and offers each week, so they may have knowledge of a deal out there.
Know The Best Time To Book Cheap Repositioning Cruises
Trying to book the cheapest price on any cruise can be tricky and is always a bit of a gamble. It can be difficult to predict price fluctuations. Yet over the past decade, weve carefully tracked repositioning cruise price trends to discover common patterns on when to book.
So heres what weve noticed over the years to now help you score the lowest price on repositioning cruises.
Recommended Reading: How Much Are 7 Day Cruises
Is Cruising Good Value
Cruises offer the best value for money of all holidays. Why? Because so much is included! When booking any kind of holiday, its important not to think about the ticket price, but to think about the total price, after youve paid for absolutely everything.
All cruises include:
- Casino
- Tips/gratuities
Of course, any extras are optional. I usually dont bother dining in speciality restaurants and I like to take my own drinks on board when I can.
How To Book A Last Minute Cruise In 2020
20th May 2019
If youre looking to get a real bargain on your next cruise, you should consider looking at last minute cruises.; As long as youre willing to be flexible and do some research on whats available, this could be the perfect cruise option for you.
A last minute cruise is a cruise that is usually booked between ninety days and just a few days before the cruise departs. This is because there is usually a clause that allows guests to cancel their cruise up to 90 days before it departs, which leaves more cabins free that the cruise ship then want to fill. They will often discount these tickets and/ add value in terms of an upgrade or an all-inclusive drinks package.
One tip to keep in mind is to not leave it too late. Cruise ships need more notice than other forms of travel, like taking a plane. Ideally, look at ninety to thirty days before the cruise to book. And if you really want to leave it until the last minute, be aware that the ship sometimes needs a list of all passengers around two days before departure and once that list has been submitted, no one else can sign up for the cruise.
Speaking of leaving it until the very last minute, i.e. thirty days or fewer before the cruise, one of the best ways to then get a great deal is to call the cruise company and haggle.; The agents can sometimes organise deals for you that arent listed on the website.
In this blog, we will look at the top ten tips you should consider when booking a last minute cruise.
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Defining Value Is Key
How much of a bargain is a cheap cruise that requires you to spend twice as much on airfare? For instance, you’ll typically see more Anchorage-to-Vancouver voyages on last minute lists than the more affordable round trip Seattle itineraries. Why? Air is typically cheaper on the latter, which sails into and out of the same city. The former has you flying in and out of different airports, including one in Alaska where fares are often high. Account for that cost before committing.
An Affordable Way To Cruise
Cruise lines would prefer that every cabin be filled when a ship sails, even if it means deeply discounting cabin prices in order to secure occupants. Cruises make ideal last-minute trips because no matter when you book your vacation, the same superb service, range of activities, dining options, entertainment venues, and unique destinations are offered to every passenger. Of course the major drawback is that not everyone has a flexible enough schedule to take a cruise at the drop of a hat. In addition, if you need to fly to the port, last-minute airfare can quickly negate any discounts of the cruise package, unless you book a cruise package that includes airfare.
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How To Get Last Minute Cheap Cruise Deals
Doug advises that you start with a travel agent, as they have relationships with the cruise companies and can often get better rates and last-minute deals. And my experience has me agreeing. While there are many do it yourself options, travel agents often can find much lower prices and can act as liaison to cruise companies when something goes wrong.
If you want to go with the do it yourself angle, you only need to go to these three best websites for finding a cheap cruise:
These websites do a detailed job of scouring the web for cheap cruise deals. Vacations to Go is more of a travel agent/operator and thus often has better deals since they can negotiate with the cruise lines directly, but keep in mind that they add a lot of fees. Cruise Sheet is simply a website aggregator that crawls the web and then displays cheap last-minute fares. This is my favorite cruise site, as it seems to find all the deals and makes finding a cheap cruise easy.
In terms of timing, dont book early. As Doug states, the only benefit to booking early is to secure the room you want. If you want a specific cabin, book early. Otherwise, wait until the last minute. As I said in the beginning, cruise companies dont want to sail empty ships and so do heavy last-minute discounting ;be sure to sign up for cruise company newsletters to stay informed!
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It is a question every dog owner has asked themselves at some point. The reasons for licking can vary from one action to another and with each species. Many people think that it is a sign of love or affection while others think it is more so a sign of submission. In some cases, licking may indicate a health problem. There are many reasons as to why your dog licks you and below we will explore some of those.
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Are Cruises Cheaper Through A Travel Agent
Cruises should always be cheaper through a travel agent. If theyre not, then you need to find yourself a new travel agent!
Most cruise travel agents make money in two ways:
The bonuses that travel agents receive for hitting their targets can be huge. So when a sales target deadline is coming up, travel agents may be willing to sell cruises at cost price or even at a loss to earn their big bonus payment.
Whats more, some cruise travel agents use a specific business model whereby they buy up thousands of cabins in bulk for a cheap rate. Once the travel agent owns those cabins, they have to sell them. Even if they make a small loss on some of the cabins, its better than the loss that would be made if the cabins remained unsold.
As well as getting the best price on your cruise, there are other advantages to booking your cruise with a travel agent rather than directly with the cruise line. If youre booking flights and hotels too, a travel agent can get you the best package price, sort everything out for you and take charge if anything goes wrong.
To compare cruise prices from lots of different travel agents at once, I like to use Cruise Critic.
The Harder Thing To Find Than Last Minute Cruise Deals Last Minute Airfare
Often you will find great last minute deals on Royal Caribbean cruises only to discover the airlines are not as cheap. ;In fact, last minute airfare can be prohibitively expensive, to the point it negates any savings the cruise fare had.
The easiest way around high airfare prices is to drive. ;There’s no question last minute cruise deals benefit those within driving distance of cruise ports, such as those living in the southeastern United States.
If driving is out of the question, look at other airports to fly out of or into. ;If your cruise is out of Fort Lauderdale, consider flying into West Palm Beach, Miami or Fort Myers. ; Likewise, if you are flying out of New York City, try all the city airports as well as Westchester, Philadelphia or Hartford. ;A little drive can save a lot of money.
Also consider flying to or from your cruise a day or two earlier/later to see if prices change. ;It’s a fun way to extend your vacation while saving money too.
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Strike While The Iron’s Hot
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 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 reduce the fare so that it can sell out the ship.
Why Book A Last
Booking late can be a good way to book a great cruise at a fantastic price. Cruise lines don’t want to have empty cabins, so as the sailing date nears, they’ll often drop the price in order to fill the last remaining staterooms. Sometimes, cruise lines even sell cabins at a loss, on the hope that they’ll make the money back;via the on-board casinos, boutiques, bars and excursions. However, spending your money in these on-board venues is completely optional, you’re welcome to just book the bargain cabin-filler cruise, relax and enjoy your included meals and entertainment.
If youre flexible on the dates that you can travel, as well as your destination, ship and stateroom type, then booking;a late cruise deal can mean that you make big savings. Cruise lines usually offer incentives for booking early, such as free drinks, free gratuities, free port parking or free on-board spending money. However, once these offers have ended, if there are staterooms left on board, that’s when prices may start to drop.
Also Check: How To Find Great Cruise Deals
Should You Hold Out For A Last
If you want a cabin for two people and arent fussy about where you go, when you go or on which ship, then you can definitely save money by booking your cruise 6 to 12 weeks before departure. Prices are likely to drop at this time because balance payments are due and some passengers drop out.
However, if you want a family cabin for three or four passengers, then the sad truth is that you are very unlikely to find a cheap last-minute deal.
Cabins with extra beds are always in short supply. I once went to book a cruise the day after it went on sale and all the inside four-berth cabins were already gone!
Read more:5 reasons families on a budget should book their cruise ASAP
How To Find The Best Last
Are you on the lookout for a great cruise deal? Do you like a bargain when cruising? Then this article is for you as I explore how to find the best last-minute cruise deals.
One of the best ways to get a great price for your cruise is to go for deals for last minute cruises. This is ideal if you are flexible about the destination and line you are prepared to cruise with.
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All Inclusive Cruises Vs Traditional All Inclusive Vacations
Sail to the destination of your dreams from the departure port that works best for you. Enjoy cruise perks all for one affordable price. Similar to a traditional all inclusive vacation, food and entertainment on board is included in your cruise fare. Most cruise lines also offer a special and affordable drink package for your trip. Different from an all inclusive resort, you wake up at a new port throughout your vacation rather than the same scenery.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only, per person, double occupancy, and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings. Taxes, fees and port expenses not included. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. Fuel supplement may apply. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly.
Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions.
Cruise Critic is not responsible for content on external web sites.
Keep Your Passport Up To Date
Check your passport to see if you have enough time left on it to be flexible in terms of when you book your cruise for. We advise making sure you have at least six months left on your passport and renewing it early if necessary.
We also have to take the effect of Brexit into account.; The gov.uk website states: If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 January 2020, new rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe . Youll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
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How Much Can You Save On Last Minute Cruises
Saving money on a last-minute cruise is like finding cash in a treasure chest on the beach.
Its not uncommon to see deals priced as low as $25 or $30 per night per person for a last-minute three-day cruise.
Last year, we even saw a 4-night cruise on Norwegian Sky go for $89 per person thats $22.25 per night. Youd pay more than that for a single meal in a nice restaurant, but your cruise fare includes 3+ meals a day, accommodations, entertainment and transportation. Thats an amazing value that only a cruise can provide.
How To Get A Cheap Cruise For As Little As $30 Per Day
12/8/2018 | December 8th, 2018
Cruises can be expensive affairs.
First, ships reel you in with a cheap room and an onboard credit but then smack you around with high-priced drinks, non-included restaurants, and dollar-a-minute Internet.;
A couple of years ago, I went on the Oasis of the Seas on a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean. The listed price of this cruise?
$800 USD.
Thats expensive for a week of cruising. You could go to Southeast Asia for a month on that kind of money.
Luckily, there are, in fact, ways to take a cheap cruise for as little as $30 per day. It just takes a bit of skill, a lot of discipline, and a bit of sneakiness.
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Look For Off Season Cruise Deals
Consider taking a cruise to a destination currently in its off-season. Or, even in the early or late shoulder seasons. Taking a cruise to areas during their tourist off-season is going to be so much cheaper than during the peak seasons.
The other advantage of off-season cruising; the cruise may also be less crowded as will the main attractions at the destination. Win Win.
Related: The Best Winter Cruises and Cold Weather Cruise Destinations
Risky Bets For Last Minute Cruises
As booking a last minute cruise is a bit of a gamble anyway, never rule anything out. Sometimes fortune simply favours the bold but be aware that hanging around waiting for a last minute deal in Summer, Easter, Christmas or New Year should only be considered if youre willing to take the risk of not getting on the cruise at all.
The demand of guests on cruise ships vary from year to year, for example, it is currently affected by issues such as Brexit.; So, if youre feeling very lucky, simply go for it. Maybe youre lucky enough to find a bargain on normally popular.
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