Value and Availability

This is an important topic for cruisers and we all want the answer. When do I book to get the best value for my money? I’d love to say, book during January for the best deal but unfortunately, the answer isn’t that simple. In this post, we’re going to cover some of the variables that we have to consider to really get the best bang for your buck.

Timing

Getting the best value on your cruise vacation does have a lot to do with timing but isn’t set in stone.Cruisers can potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars if they know what to look for. If you were to sit for a few weeks and watch the price of one particular cruises itinerary you’d likely notice the price fluctuating,likely due to adjustments based on availability. Major cruise lines are continually pushing to fill their large ships and sometimes this can mean huge savings for cruisers. There are seasons where you’ll typically find industry-wide sales like wave season which falls between January and March or“plan a cruise month” which is October.

One of the best tips we can suggest is to book your cruise well in advance. When the ship is empty the price is at its lowest. This will also provide you with the best selection of staterooms.Cruise lines typically open up booking 1.5 to 2 years in advance. Prices will rise as the departure date gets closer so it is especially important to book early if you’re looking at a popular cruise with limited sailings. On the other side of the coin, you can always book late. If you’re not particular about destination or dates and have the ability to pick up and travel on a whim you can find rock bottom prices on rooms that didn’t fill or have been canceled.Regardless of the season, most ships will sail full.

Availability

Looking at our cruise calendar in 2021, 2022 and 2023 we expect to see fewer ships at sea and fewer deviations in itineraries. What does this mean? If you are looking for specific, non-routine ports of call, availability will be considerably lower and the price point will be higher.

We strongly suggest you take advantage of cruise line sales & deals that offer reduced deposits in order to secure your stateroom and itinerary.

World and Grand voyages stretching into 2023 on a variety of cruise lines including Holland America, Princess,Oceania, Regent have current availability when I wrote this post but in the last week we’ve noticed availability is becoming limited in the most sought after staterooms.

Onboard Booking

Another great tip if you commonly cruise is to book your next cruise while on board. A quick visit to the cruise deck and you’ll often see lower fares, deposits and higher onboard credits on upcoming cruise adventures. If you’re loyal to your travel agent, (We hope youare.) mention them when booking on board and they will be notified and have a record of the booking and future cruise credits.

Bonus Tips

While supply and demand dictate a lot of the cost involved, there are a few surefire ways to be confident you’re getting the best value with your cruise. The first is to sign up for our emails delivering weekly specials, last minute deals and even land and tour specials.The second is to speak to one of our expert non-commissioned travel agents.It’s not a perfect science, but a good (human) travel consultant will be able to advise you.   A non-commissioned agent is likely going to give you a more honest answer, as your harder sell commissioned agent wants your money now and maybe likely more interested in selling you a cruise they make the most money on!

Book you're next cruise with one of our well versed and knowledgeable travel agents today. 1-800-854-9664

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