Cheapest Time To Book A Cruise

When figuring out the perfect time to book your cruise, it can get overwhelming. You have to take into account many variables. We all want to snag the cheapest cruise possible but how do you know when to start searching? In this post I will tell you what things to consider so you can book the best cruise possible.

Best Month To Book A Cruise

When trying to book a cruise it depends on a lot of factors. Where do you want to go? Do you want to go during spring break or during the holidays?

The prices varies based on whether the ship you’re looking to go is old or new.

The same ship with an identical itinerary might cost more during different times of the year. When the cabin availability decreases, the cruise line will increase the price because they know it will be a sold out ship.

With that said, the best month to book a cruise is usually in the first few months of the year because its the “wave season”.

New itineraries are release early in the year so prices should be typically low. Cruise lines will also try to sweeten the deal with a bunch of extras like a drink package, onboard credit, etc.

Should You Book A Holiday Cruise?

It’s no secret that booking any vacation during the holiday you can expect it to be crowed and expensive.

My family and I have cruised during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break and let me tell you- it’s going to be crowded.

While we didn’t let that bother us, you might not do well on a crowded ship. We Still had a great time but if that doesn’t bother you at all then by all means book a holiday cruise. The cruise line will go all out to make sure your vacations is festive.

How Far In Advance Should You Book?

You should book as early as you can. As cabins availability starts to decrease the price will go up base on demand.

When you book your cruise early you have the flexibility to select a cabin and the deck that you choose. When you wait until last minute, not only is it more expensive but the limited availability of cabins are slim.

Best Day To Book A Cruise

Back in the old days, you can book flights for cheap midweek and you were confident that you would be getting a great deal.

Booking a cruise is different!

There really isn’t any specific day to snag a good deal for a cruise. It all depends of the itinerary and if its a new ship or not. With cruising, you just have to keep watching the price daily.

So when is the best day to book a cruise? I would say book early in the year if you want to go during winter. Book in the winter if you want to go during the spring or summer.

Best Time Of The Year To Book A Cruise

I would say that the best time of the year to book a cruise is definitely early in the year. By booking early, you can have peace of mind knowing that you can pick your favorite cabin type and the preferred deck of your choice.

When you book last minute you are limited to what is left over because other people didn’t want it. You will pay more, you will have to settle for a cabin in a not desirable location and you will miss out on all of the extra’s from the cruise line.

What Happens If The Price Drop After Booking?

You finally get to relax after booking your cruise and start the planning stage. You check back another time to see if it’s sold out and you notice that the price for your same cruise has dropped.

Don’t worry, most cruise line will price match and refund the difference in price if you just give them a call. But if the price increased, just do your happy dance because you got a great price for your cruise.

Mistakes To Avoid

When deciding on when to book or what itinerary to choose, don’t make theses mistakes when choosing your cruise.

Try to avoid booking during hurricane season if you get seasick easily. Do not book during spring break or holiday cruises if you are worried about it being too crowded.

Know when high wave season is. There’s nothing worse than going on your first cruise and not realizing how high the waves are. You will feel it on the ship.

Final Though

There really isn’t a best time to book a cruise, you’ll just have to decide what ship you want to go on and which itinerary is best for you. Book early and you could get so sweet extras and reasonable price. Book Last minute and expect it to be expensive and unable to pick the perfect cabin.