You may have heard that you can get the best deal on a cruise by waiting until the last minute. In most cases, this isn’t true. Travel agents will tell you from experience that the prices usually skyrocket the closer to the sailing date – just like airline prices.
The earlier you book your trip, the more likely you are to score a great deal. The best cabins in the best locations on the ship tend to sell out quickly, for instance, cabins that are mid-ship on the higher decks are usually the first to sell out due to their high demand.
If you are a family hoping to book 3 or 4 people in the same stateroom, you should book as early as you can. There are only a select number of cabins that can accommodate triples and quads, and they do sell out quickly. Another reason to book early is if you want staterooms that are close to each other, or with adjoining doors. There are only a handful of staterooms that connect, and they are also in high demand.
Another thing to consider is if you choose to wait until the last minute, you may not even have a choice of staterooms. The closer you get to the sail date, most of the choices have been picked through, and so you may just have to take what’s left, which could be anywhere on the ship.
You may be saying to yourself, “But what if the price goes down after I book?” Fear not! Some cruise lines offer price protection. Which means if the price goes down before the final payment is due, the cruise company will honor the lower price!
Although it is possible to get lucky and find a low rate by waiting until the last minute, it is highly unlikely that you will get the stateroom that you really want. For the greatest choices, it is always best to book in advance.
To learn more about how booking early can save you money, contact one of our experienced and Cruise Line International Association accredited travel agents at CruiseExperts.com. Give us a call at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or log onto our user-friendly website, www.CruiseExperts.com. We can’t wait to help you plan your next vacation!