When do most people book their cruise reservations? what is too late?

Question

I am going on a 9 day cruise next spring for our honeymoon, the cruise is not until the end of May. We have been a little tight on money lately, just wondering when do most people book their cruises? and still get a decent room? 9mos before? 6 mos? 3 mos? This is our first cruise so we are not sure. We have no credit cards so our $900 deposit needs to be cash or check/ (so no throwing on the cc like the rest of the world). We definitely want to get a balcony room or even a mini suite, can anyone let me know what is too late too book or how quickly they sell out? After the holidays we will be fine with money, wasn't sure if Jan or Feb was too late for a May Cruise?

The travel agent said final payment is due 75 days before so that would be March 6th or 7th. Paying the total balance then would be fine, wasn't sure if only the lousy-no window rooms would be left.

Answer 1

Well you can really book a cruise one week in advance or up to 2 years...it all depends on the availabilty of it...for instance on vacationstogo.com(where all of my 30 cruises have been booked), you can get a 12 day cruise departing on September 18, 2007 for $1,099 for the cheapest inside, $2,799 the cheapest oceanview, and $3,499 the cheapest balcony...now this is leaving in 2 days...this cruise is leaving on April 17, 2009 and is a 9 day cruise...this is in 1 and 1/2 years and you still get a great discount...so my point is that you can get a great deal years in advance or just days...people book at any time...i am going on my 31st cruise in March 2008 on Explorer of the Seas, it was booked in January of 2007....so basically as long as a cruise is available people will buy it...hope this helps!!

Answer 2

I've done it all; booked a month in advance and booked about a year in advance. As I simply don't care about my cabin, that isn't a concern for me (though I always tell the agent that inside lower deck is fine but I'll take anything they have left over). Once I had a very strange cabin wrapped around an emergency stairwell, but it had two portholes. I loved it.

I assume you know the line and time of your cruise. The question is just how you can get the class of cabin you want at a good price. Your best option is to talk to your travel agent. I usually use Vacationstogo.com for cruise travels. They are very professional and give good rates and excellent service. They obtained the extension cord I needed for my C-Pap machine and arranged for the $100 ship credit I'm entitled to as a Carnival Stockholder of over 100 share (this perk is something not widely advertised and is not known by most travel agents. I only found out because I read the annual report while waiting for an eye exam). You have to send a few forms... but $100 is $100 and it paid my drink bill.

I'd book a quickly as possibly to get the room you want. As you want a balcony or mini-suite, sooner is better (I'm a cheapsake and go for the cheapest cabins). Happy honeymooning!

Answer 3

Some people book early and some book later and closer to the cruise date. BUT, the cruise lines give the best prices when you book early and you have your best choice of cabins when you book early. Most cruise lines have dates when they have special discounted fares and those are also good dates to book.

I have been on more than 15 cruises; usually 2 or 3 a year lately and I always book early and get that discount and also so that I can get a good balcony cabin. A year in advance is not too early; many lines have their cruises posted on their web sites for 2007 and 2008, and some even for 2009. I can tell you that the balconies and suites do sell out first and quickly. I have a cruise booked for next Sept (08) and the suites are already sold out.

I suggest that you search on line for your cruise and pick a date when the price is best rather than having a set date in mind that may be more costly; cruise prices can vary by hundreds of dollars each week. You can book online and once you do that you can make periodic payment in increments of $100 right on line.

Answer 4

Most all cruise lines charge 10% down of the total cost of the cruise. It is not a flat fee like some have said, but always a %. There may be ways around this too. Like if you have a travel agent that books many many cruises, she may be able to do a group booking. Then it may be only $100 per person. Now when you do go on this cruise, you can also put down future cruse credits of $100 per person. So if you do that, then when you book another cruise, your deposit will already be there ready for you to use. I know for a fact that Princess does this and I believe most other cruise lines too.

Answer 5

Book the cruise ASAP!

I went with a group of 8 last year. 6 of them booked one year in advance and paid a decent amount. I along with someone else waited until 4 months before the cruise and paid almost $800 more! Our rooms were near our friends, so I don't think getting a room will be a problem but there is a huge money difference.

Good luck!

Answer 6

My wife and I plan our cruises 12 months earlier. Cruises cost a lot of money and we make payments. Plus you got side trips and airline tickets to get. Recommend you buy the insurance when you book your cruise. My wife and I did a few years ago and my wife got sick near Mexico. She saw the doctors on board ship and that is extra (a little over $900). The insurance costs us around $75. It is good to have just in case. What would happen if you got sick before you left home?

Answer 7

cruiselines usually want final payment for pre bookings at least 3 months before sailing dates. You might get better selection of rooms if you booked earlier. i would also suggest buying the cruise insurance(in case something happens). have a wonderful cruise.

Answer 8

I know when I get my criuses online/phone with RC they let me put down a small deposit and they save my room for me. They give me a 70 day due date before the cruise because its longer then 7 days if shorter then 7 days its 60 days. Whats good about RC is that they let you pay how you like and when you want as long as you pay by that due date.

Answer 9

Usually they want the final payment about 3 months prior to sailing. If you were not choosy about rooms, there are always last minute openings.

Answer 10

we went on our cruise in April and booked in October :]