Should I Plan Ahead Or Should I Wait Until The Last Minute
Its an age-old question does the early bird really get the worm, or are there perks to taking a wait-and-see approach? If youre booking a cruise vacation, youll find there are benefits to both strategies. Planning ahead is a great way to score big savings, as Royal Caribbean often runs early saver deals to guests booking well in advance. Its also pretty safe to assume prices usually go up as availability goes down the closer you get to your sail date, so booking ahead is a surefire way to lock in a great rate. That said, booking a cruise at the last minute can also yield some unexpected savings but only if the itinerary youre interested in hasnt sold out yet.
If you can be flexible when it comes to your travel dates, youll have your pick of unbeatable savings. Popular getaway dates like the holidays, spring break, and summer holidays sometimes see the highest prices .
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Enjoy This Enchanting Offer On An Enchanting Cruise
Save up to 35% on prevailing rates for select Disney cruises from Miami and Port Canaveral, FL.
To take advantage of Florida residency cruise rates, at lease one adult in each stateroom must provide proof of qualifying residency within 48 hours of booking. Failure to submit a qualifying identification will result in a cancellation, with applicable cancellation fees. Proof of Florida residency must be valid at the time of sailing.
Important Details
Rate does not include gratuities, Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses orPort Adventures. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Not combinable with Disney Vacation Club® points. Valid on new and existing reservations. Rates in U.S. dollars. Offer subject to Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions.
To learn more Call 609-978-0740or contact your Academy Travel Agent. Dont have an Academy Travel Agent find one here!
Top Destinations For Last
Southern Carribbean
If you have more than a week, book a last-minute cruise from Florida to the spectacular islands of the Southern Caribbean. Board a catamaran and swim with sea turtles in Barbados, enjoy an unforgettable horseback ride on a beach in St. Lucia, and dance to an authentic steel pan band in St. Kitts. On a luxury cruise to the ABC Islands, snorkel off the coast of a private island in Aruba, visit flamingos and spot marine life on a glass-bottom kayak in Bonaire, and play with dolphins and sea lions in Curaçao.
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Florida Resident Cruise Hacks
- Categories:Cruise Hotels
Each year millions of cruisers set sail from Florida to locations around the world. If youre lucky enough to live in the sunshine state, a port is never too far away for you to embark on your dream cruise vacation. Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to help you make the most out of being a cruise-lovin Floridian.
Here Were The Black Friday Cruise Deals We Saw In 202:
- Royal Caribbean: 30% off every guest and up to $600 in savings per stateroom
- Celebrity: 75% off the second guest in a stateroom and $50 $200 in onboard spending credit
- Princess: select sailings under $60 per day or under $100 per day, plus deposits from $1
- Norwegian: second guest sails free
- MSC Cruises: up to 40% off cruises, free drinks, free Wi-Fi, and up to $200 in onboard spending credit
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Wait For Kids Sail Free Promotions From Princess Royal Caribbean And More
If youre traveling with children or young teens, the Kids Sail Free cruise offers are like gold. Most promotions require that your children are booked as your third and fourth guests and stay in the same cabin as you.
The great part? You can combine Kids Sail Free offers with other discounts and savings.
Here are the cruise lines that offer Kids Sail Free promotions at various times during the year:
- MSC Cruises: ages two and under ALWAYS sail free ages 17 and under sail free during special promotions
- Princess: ages 17 and under sail free during special promotions
- Royal Caribbean: ages 12 and under sail free during special promotions
- Norwegian: third and fourth guests sail free during special promotions
- Disney: third and fourth guests sail free during special promotions
TIP: If youre a Disney Plus subscriber, cash in on this Disney cruise deal through April 2023.
Places To Book Cheap Cruise Deals That Are #vacationgoals
14 Places to Book Cheap Cruise Deals …
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If youre able to book a cruise on short notice, pay attention to last-minute cruise deals from all the major cruise lines. Weve seen incredible savings from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Margaritaville, and even Disney. Just a fair warning, cruise prices arent set in stone and can fluctuate throughout the day, so if you see your perfect bargain getaway, its best to book ASAP.
Here are the top places to find cheap cruise deals no matter when youre setting sail.
to get the latest coupons and money-saving hacks thatll help fund your next vacay.
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Top Shore Excursions On Last
Culinary Cravings
From conch fritters in the Bahamas to mouthwatering tacos in Mexico and fresh seafood throughout the islands, the Caribbean is filled with tasty treats and adventurous flavors. With Chef’s Market Discoveries, accompany our chef and watch how he sources ingredients at a local fish market in Barbados, learn how to make authentic Mexican salsa and guacamole in Costa Maya, and taste Key Wests famous key lime pie.
Sea & Sun
In the Caribbean, theres no shortage of ways to experience its turquoise seas, tropical sunsets, and pristine beaches. Go underwater and dive famous shipwrecks in Tortola and St. Croix. Explore the St. Vincent coast from a traditional schooner or kayak through mangroves in Fort de France. Spend an afternoon snorkeling and bathing in the Virgin Gorda Baths of Tortola or explore the deep waters of Barbados from a submarine. When youre not exploring, unwind in paradise on the silky sands that make the Caribbean the worlds hottest destination.
Caribbean Culture
Discover the secrets of the Caribbean culture and history on shore excursions to the islands most important landmarks. In each port, youll be able to explore the monuments, museums, and sites that make each island unique. Wander through the forts of Old San Juan, stop in the Caribbeans oldest church in St. Lucia, and visit a former British Garrison in St. Vincent.
Hunt For Disney Cruise Deals On Their Special Offers Page To Save Up To 35%
Lets be honest its almost impossible to find deals on Disney cruises, especially if youre booking at the last minute. But if youre determined to find a deal, youre going to need to start checking their Special Offers page religiously.
Here are some Disney special offers you might see throughout the year:
- 50% off deposits on select cruises happening now through Feb. 17, 2023!
- $300 statement credit for new Disney Premier Visa card members
- Free dining offers
- Play, Stay, Dine & Save discounts
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Book Cruises Through Costco Travel To Earn 2% Cash Back And Free Costco Shop Cards
As if we all needed another reason to love Costco, they have nice perks for cruisers, too. You can find deals on their website from all the major cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, Disney Cruise Line, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and more.
While anyone can browse Costcos cruise deals, you have to be a member to actually book one. If you reserve through Costco Travel or transfer an existing cruise reservation over to Costco, youll get a free Costco Shop Card that youll get within four to six weeks after you return. The amount of the gift card depends on the amount you spend.
If youre a Costco Executive member, youll also earn 2% cash back on all your travel purchases, including cruise bookings.
Heres an example of the benefits of booking this 3-night Disney Wish cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida, with Costco Travel:
- $3,413.68 total, including taxes and fees, for two adults & two children in an Interior room
- Free Costco Shop Card: $260
- 2% Cash Back for Executive Members: $68.27
That comes out to $328.27 back in your pocket just by booking through Costco.
Related: Did you know you dont have to be a Costco member to go on a vacation booked through Costco Travel? Learn how it works.
Book At The Right Time
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 travelers 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.
Related:
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What You Need To Know When Cruising Out Of South Florida
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If you live in Florida, thats amazing! The fact is, youre within driving distance of two of the best cruise ports in the world! In this post, youll find all you need to know about cruising out of South Florida, whether your ship departs from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, or the Port of Miami.
Im delighted to have an expert cruiser and travel blogger, Ilana from Life Well Cruised, share with us her top tips from 10 plus years of experience sailing in and out of the South Florida ports. Dont be surprised if you find yourself looking for cruise options by the end of the post. I know, I did! Ill let Ilana take it from here
Black Friday Cruise Deals And Cyber Monday Sales Will Save You 30% Or More
Hunting down the best Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday deals is kinda our jam, and we tend to see some big savings on cruises in the days after Thanksgiving.
Youll want to look closely at the fine print of any deals you see and also weigh their overall value. Getting free onboard Wi-Fi may sound like a good perk, but in most cases, its only going to save you about $15 $30 a day.
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How To Snag A Deal
Since the 2020 pandemic, the cruise industry is in a restructuring phase. Cruise lines are finally dropping covid vaccine requirements and cancellation policies have had to become far more flexible. No one wants to book a trip and then find out last minute they cant get their money back. In order to stay afloat, the cruise industry had to make some major concessions to get their customers back.
Most cruise packages are paid in installments. The final installment is due three months from the departure date, and its also the last chance customers have to back out and receive a full refund.
Therefore, most cancellations happen three months prior to departure. So if your dates are flexible, then consider booking within that three month window to score some pretty major last minute deals.
Exploring Another Perk Of Living In Florida
If you needed another reason to make your move south to the Sunshine State, weve got you covered. Living in Florida means the ability to take advantage of last-minute deals on cruising. Florida has no shortage of cruise ports within driving distance including sailings out of Port Canaveral, Tampa, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale to name a few. Most cruise lines offer last-minute deals, especially on short weekend cruises. Some even offer deals specific to Florida residents. These are ideal offerings for Floridians to take a long weekend off work and head out on the open seas for some fun and relaxation.
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How Much Can You Save On Last Minute Cruises
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.
Shop Aaa Cruise Deals To Lock In Member Savings And Freebies
AAA is more than a roadside assistance service. Yes, you can find some last-minute cruise deals with AAA, but youll need a valid membership to book.
We recently found a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise to Ensenada, Baja California, from Los Angeles for $299 per person in an interior stateroom. After fees and taxes, the total was $994.41, which came out to a savings of 30% off the regular price. The AAA offer also included several amenities:
- Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
- Free welcome fruit basket
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Special Offers Released The Week Of December 4 2022
Disney Cruise Line changes their discounts and special offers weekly, if not more, so be sure to check back each week to see whats new. You never know what discounts will show up!
If last-minute cruises are something youre interested in, be sure to look at the Special Rates list below of last-minute Restricted Guarantee discounts for great IGT/OGT/VGT rates!
For even MORE help finding the cruise thats perfect for your family and your budget, contact our partners at Dreams Unlimited Travel! In addition to discounts offered by Disney Cruise Line, vacations booked through Dreams Unlimited Travel are eligible for up to $1,000 in shipboard credit and the exclusive Dreams Unlimited Travel Gift Basket.
How To Book A Cheap Cruise
Booking a cheap cruise is actually quite easy and requires only one thing: flexibility. See, cruise pricing is similar to tour pricing. The closer you get to the departure date, the cheaper the cruise becomes.
Why?
Because cruise ships dont want to depart with half-empty boats, so they drop prices steadily until that boat is leaving port, since for them empty cabins mean less money.
Cruises make the majority of their money from what people purchase on board, so they want bodies on those ships.
You can also book early, but I find last-minute bookings to be the best. And since you are booking close to departure, you need to be flexible with where you are willing to go or OK with not booking the actual cruise even if you booked your flights.
Another tip comes Doug Parker of Cruise Radio, When the kids are in school, the rates are the best. This holds true in all travel but especially cruising, because it is such a family activity. Dont travel when everyone else is traveling! If you do that or travel during the shoulder season, you can find the best rates. Chris from Chris Cruises also reiterates my recommendation: Book far in advance or last minute for the best fares.
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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!
As Chris from Chris Cruises states, There are so many ships now, prices are at an all-time low. Now is a great time to go on a cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Deals And Off
Look for Norwegian Cruise Lines current deals for cheap last-minute deals thatll save you up to 40% on regular prices.
They have a range of ever-changing promotions, including holiday sales like their Free at Sea promotion during Labor Day. During the Labor Day sale, you could get 40% off all cruises plus your third and fourth guests cruised for free. The other Free at Sea goodies were a free open bar, free specialty dining, free Wi-Fi, and free excursions.
If you can wait to book a cruise until the off-season, you might get an even better deal. In January 2022, Norwegians offers during their New Years Sale included 70% off your second guest plus free add-ons worth up to $4,250:
- Extra third and fourth guests free
- Roundtrip airfare for a second guest
- $250 CruiseFirst certificate for a future booking
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