How To Find Those Unsold Rooms On A Cruise Ship
There are a couple of ways you can go about this. If you are on a cruise lines email list you may get a message about last minute deals for particular ships. You can also visit their websites every day and multiple times a day, because yes, the prices can change that fast. Quite a few travel agencies also offer email newsletters with some of the best deals on these unsold cabins for last minute cruisers.
Book At The Last Minute
For those who can be spontaneous, flexibility can pay off. Check out our last minute cruise deals section, which features bargains on a variety of sailings leaving within 90 days 90 days out being the typical point at which final cruise payments are due. In general, there are always plenty of Caribbean and Mediterranean cruise deals.
Other hard-to-fill cruises such as shoulder season cruises and one-way repositioning sailings, where open-jaw airfare is required can be deeply discounted at the last minute. Of course, booking last-minute airfare might wipe out any savings. Plus, youll have a limited selection of cabin locations and dinner seatings. But, if youre flexible and can drive to a cruise port or have plenty of frequent flier airline points to burn its a great way to take a cruise without breaking the bank.
Related:Last Minute Cruising: Tips for Getting a Deal
Contact Cruise Guru Today For Last Minute Cruise Deals & Offers Australia Wide
At Cruise Guru, we like to make the process of finding and booking your cruise a simple one, but if you have any questions about any of our cruise offers, we are here to help. The best place to start is our FAQ section which has many of the most commonly asked questions and their answers. Alternatively, you can also use our convenient online contact form to send us your enquiry and we will get back to you as quickly as we can. If you would like to speak to one of our travel experts and have them assist you with your booking, and fill out the details to request a call back. You can also follow us on and to keep up to date with all the latest special offers, promotions, and last minute cruises. No matter where in Australia you are looking to embark, Cruise Guru has some of the best last-minute cruise deals you will find anywhere, with options to suit all tastes and budgets.
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Last Minute Cruise Deals
If youre still looking for a break this year, we have a selection of great value last minute cruises. Whether youre in need of some sunshine and scenic views, want to experience the history and culture of fascinating cities, or dream of going in search of the Northern Lights, we have a cruise for you. On each sailing, you’ve the chance to relax on board one of our smaller-sized ships and enjoy the warm, civilised atmosphere while our friendly crew take care of your every need.
Our itinerary planning team have hand-crafted a series of cruises to show you the very best of destinations such as the Canaries, Southern Spain and Norway’s Arctic north, from famous sights and cultural delights of coastal cities to areas of outstanding natural beauty. Whats more, our itineraries are planned to show you the very best scenic cruising points of interest en route, so the journey is just as rewarding as the ports themselves.
Save Through Loyalty Programs
Just like airlines, cruise operators want to give benefits to loyal customers. They may also prefer to offer them the best deals, particularly at the last minute. Theres nothing to be lost in joining loyalty programs.
Even if you dont bag a huge discount at the last minute, you may still benefit from onboard perks. These could include cocktails, complimentary dinners or free access to the ships spa facilities.
All these can greatly offset the initial outlay youre paying for the cruise. Stay in touch with the operator through their loyalty program. That way youll be amongst the first to find out about any last minute cruise deals on offer.
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Why These Deals Arent For Everyone
Weve all heard the saying you get what you pay for, and thats true in the case of last-minute cruise deals, too. There are a few things you need to know including a couple which might make you say, Yeah, thats not for me.
Right off the bat, its important to know that the staterooms available at these low prices are often what are called guarantee cabins.
What that means is that if, for example, you book a guarantee ocean view you definitely will receive an ocean view stateroom, but youll have no say over which one or where it is located. That means you could wind up with an obstructed view or beneath a bowling alley.
The same goes for guarantee balcony staterooms. You will 100 percent receive a balcony cabin, but it might be one with a smaller balcony or an obstructed view.
It could also be located in a relatively undesirable location. So you have to balance the possibility of a less-desirable stateroom against the low price.
These last-minute deals usually dont include perks that you might otherwise receive.
For example, Norwegian Cruise Line is very well known for its popular Free At Sea program which offers a variety of perks based on what level of stateroom you book.
RELATED: The Pros and Cons of Booking a Guarantee Stateroom
However, if the last-minute cruise you book is in a guarantee stateroom whether its an inside, oceanview, balcony or even suite youre unlikely to get any of the associated perks.
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Special Note: Cruise Deals After The Health Crisis
To say that COVID turned the cruise industry on its head would be an understatement. The industry has never seen anything like it before and hopefully nothing like it ever again.
So how does that impact getting a deal on a cruise? The advice above is still the best. For instance, the time of year you sail and the ship you sail will still have the biggest impact on the price you pay for your cruise.
That said, expect there to be fewer deals in the years ahead. With the pandemic, cruise lines sold off older ships while also putting a hold on ordering new ships. The result is less growth in capacity for years to come.
Assuming that cruising does get back to normal, thats likely to mean strong demand for a lower number of cabins. In other words, high demand with lower supply should lead to higher prices.
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Be Flexible With Stateroom Options
Inside Stateroom
In addition to being flexible about sail dates, keep an open mind regarding the kind of staterooms and destinations youll find when booking a cruise at the last minute.
Certain itineraries have coveted staterooms that sell out months in advance. For example, veranda staterooms on Alaska cruises sell out quickly since everyone wants to see wildlife and glaciers from the comfort of their room during their trip.
If youre more concerned about how to find last-minute cruise deals than having a particular stateroom, then a discounted cruise deal is a good fit for you.
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How To Book And Prepare For Last Minute Cruises
Since these deals tend to be for shorter sailings, like last-minute weekend cruises, you might feel comfortable booking online via the cruise line or travel agency website. While youre there, you can immediately process online check-in for your cruise, saving you time later.
But if youre new to cruising or not comfortable booking online, you can almost always call the cruise line or travel agency to book over the phone. Youll want to act quickly, though the best deals dont last long.
Once your cruise is booked, youll want to start preparing for your vacation since you dont have much time to get ready. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Buy Travel Insurance
Even though you booked last minute, its still a good idea to consider purchasing travel insurance.
A good travel insurance policy can cover you. And illness, injury, or lost luggage can strike on any cruise, so protect yourself against these types of unexpected expenses.
Check Your Proof of Citizenship
Even before trying to book a last-minute cruise, its important to make sure your proof of citizenship is ready. While its always best to cruise with a passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate and a valid government-issued ID are acceptable for most cruises from the US for US citizens.
READ MORE: Do I Need A Passport To Cruise?
If you need to apply for a passport, or your existing passport expires in less than 6 months, youll need to expedite your application or renewal.
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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When Are The Best Cruise Deals Available
Are there certain cruises that always have bigger discounts for military and veterans? YES!
The best months to find last-minute cruise deals would be the shoulder-season months of April, May, September, October and November excluding any holiday weeks or weekends during those months.
There are almost never any last-minute deals available on summer-time or holiday cruises. The best last-minute cruise deals for military and veterans will always be in the off-season times, of course.
If you can cruise during those off-season times, you will really get the best possible last-minute deal.
Do Cruises Get Cheaper Closer To Departure
In practical terms, last minute cruises are few and far between.
Royal Caribbean cruises are as popular as ever, so last minute deals are not nearly as prevalent as they once were. More often than not, sailings sell out in the weeks and months before a cruise is set to begin, leaving little to no opportunity to book a cruise closer into the sail date.
Of course, there are still occasionally last minute cruise deals to be had, but you have to dig for them.
Since last minute cruise pricing is so rare, I do not recommend it as a means of planning your family vacation. There are too many risks involved with not getting a cruise at all, or perhaps at a bad price, to put everything in one basket like that.
Instead, last minute cruises are a good way to supplement your vacation plans, rather than a primary strategy.
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Tips To Helps Enjoy A Cheap Cruise
Tip 1: Cruises are not often all-inclusive and become increasingly less so each year. Chris states, the gravy is what people spend on board. Cruise ships want you spending, since thats where they have the best margins. However, if you are smart and disciplined, cruises dont have to cost much more than the price of the cabin itself. Heres how to save money while on board:
Tip 2: Skip the soda A long time ago, soda was free. Now, you have to pay around $3 USD for a tiny glass, or you can pay $45-60 USD for a soda card that gives you unlimited soda for the duration of the cruise. Youd have to drink a lot of soda to make that worth it. Instead, stick to the free water, iced teas, and juices on the ship. Your wallet and insulin levels will thank you.
Tip 3: Say no to photos Do you really need some cheesy professional photos of your family? I didnt think so. Get them done back home for less or take a digital camera and have someone take them for you on the ship.
Tip 4: Avoid the restaurants On most cruise ships these days, there are specialty restaurants that you can book for an added cost. Some are à la carte, some charge a set fee. Avoid these specialty restaurants. The food in the dining areas, the buffets, and the other shops is just as good and less costly.
Tip 6: Bring your own supplies Cruise companies will let you bring one case of your own water, soda, and beer, as well as a bottle of wine onto the ship.
Tip 8: Avoid the casino This goes without saying.
Rule #: Dont Buy The Wave Season Hype
You might have heard of wave season. This time of year running from January through March is supposed to be when the cruise lines offer the best deals. Thats due to the cold weather in most of the country making people think of warmer places combined with the passing of the Christmas holiday.
Our take? Wave season is hyped up, similar to Black Friday. Sure there may be good offers but not enough to keep us from booking a good deal when we see one a different time of year.
Remember, if everyone waited until the wave season deals, then the cruise lines wouldnt have anyone book the other nine months of the year. Youll find that the deals offered arent that much different than those found the rest of the year.
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Is It Necessary To Book Last
Booking last-minute is not necessary to get the best deal when you book with Military Cruise Deals.
Thats because we monitor the rate of your cruise even after you book. And if the price comes down before the time of your final payment, we will refare you to that new lower rate.
The only caveat to that is that the cruise lines will not allow us to do the refare after the time of your final payment. And that is usually 75-90 days prior to the cruise. So if the price comes down after that time, we cannot get you the new lower rate.
Last-minute deals on cruises are actually unusual, as lately, most cruises are selling out way in advance, so prices on cruises are going up as it gets closer to their departure date.
Dont Leave It Too Late
Be sure not to leave your last minute booking until too late. Unlike aeroplanes, you cant simply book a ticket the day before or of the cruise. 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.
The reason we recommend sixty to ninety days is that this is usually the last call for passengers to cancel their reservations without having to pay a penalty. The cruise line will then calculate how many cabins they have left after the cancellations and do everything they can to sell out the cabins that are still empty. And if they have more space available than they like, you should be able to get the cruise at a reduced fare.
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Search For Cruises Close To Home
You can also skip the hassle of booking a plane ticket entirely by searching for cruises with embarkation ports within driving distance of your home. This way, if you do find a great last-minute deal on a cruise, you can simply pack your bags and jump in your car instead of having to worry about finding a low-priced plane ticket to the departure port.
Seattle, Washington
For U.S. residents in the Pacific Northwest, look for a round-trip Alaska cruise from Seattle, Washington. If you live in L.A. or San Diego, you can book a Pacific Coastal cruise or a Panama Canal cruise without worrying about airfare to the port.
East Coast residents can find Caribbean cruises leaving from Cape Liberty, New Jersey in the north or last-minute cruises from Florida departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa in the south.
Tweet Your Way To Savings
Tech-savvy shoppers can try Twitter for last-minute cruise bargains. Just about every agent and agency including Cruisedeals.com , Cruise.com and Best Travel Deals is tweeting its best cruise deals. Take it a step further by customizing a list of deal tweeters using Twitters list function, in essence creating your own deals aggregator.
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Do Cruises Get Cheaper Closer To Sailing Date
Remember often the best way to secure a great deal is to be flexible. If you can widen the range of dates for your cruise you are more likely to find a bargain. If you can stay clear of the peak seasons, the chances of finding an offer increase. There is also the chance to pick up a deal on a cruise due to depart in the very near future if staterooms become available!
We update our cruise deals page daily with all of the latest offers we can find. The deals shown always represent extremely good value for money. You can guarantee these cruises will be snapped up quickly. Hurry and book the best cruise deal now before someone takes the last stateroom!
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