When can I get the best price?

[cruise101?]

I've heard that being flexible and waiting until the last minute can save me a bunch of money when booking a cruise. Also was told booking as far in advance as possible would also save money. I've been watching the prices for the past couple weeks and they have fluctuated up and down like a boat in a storm. I've also checked into cruises one year from now and they appear to be even more expensive than cruises this year. So which of these two "rumors" hold any truth and if they do how so?

[Lakers Fan]

I waited for the last minute once and got a great deal .I booked a year before and also got a great deal.Its just luck,in my opinion .

[Trackypup]

I honestly don't think there's a straight answer to this. If you aren't that fussy about what ship and what date then you can pick up some great deals after final payment. But if you're set on a particular cruise, it's not always the way to go. Our Panama Canal cruise in May is currently showing $500 more per person for a balcony than what we paid and location would be slim pickins.

[AF1]

You may get a reduced rate if you wait until the last minute. Cruselines don't want to leave port without filling everyroom. If they have two weeks to go and are only 70% filled; they will start dropping prices to get people on the ship. Booking a year or more in advance will normally get u a reduced rate; however, this depends on what time of year you sail. If u sail over any holiday; Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, the price will go up; regardless if u book a year in advance. Why the price hike? Cruiselines know a lot of families will cruise over the holidays; so it is the supply and demand mentality. I am going on Freedom of the Seas on Dec 4th. I booked this cruise over a year in advance; I did get a discount. I wanted to take my kids and grandkids over the Christmas holiday. The difference in price between the Dec 4th and Dec 11,18,25 cruise was around $500 more per stateroom. Since I am paying for four staterooms, I coudln't see paying $2,000 more just to cruise closer to the holiday.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by cruise101?

I've heard that being flexible and waiting until the last minute can save me a bunch of money when booking a cruise. Also was told booking as far in advance as possible would also save money. I've been watching the prices for the past couple weeks and they have fluctuated up and down like a boat in a storm. I've also checked into cruises one year from now and they appear to be even more expensive than cruises this year. So which of these two "rumors" hold any truth and if they do how so?

Welcome to Cruisemates! As you've seen, the price can jump all over the place! If this is your first cruise, I'd suggest you find a Travel Agent who is a Cruise Specialist. A good TA can tell you the "slow" times (like the December 4, cruise AF1 booked, and the most expensive times (any holiday, spring break, and summer, usually).

As Trackypup said, if you don't mind which ship, which date and (important to me, but not to everyone) which cabin you're in, wait at least until after final payment time.

You can always check the number of cabins left by doing a "pretend" booking on the cruise lines' website.

Good luck!