The debate over whether it’s better to book your cruise early or late is an on-going one and it’s unlikely to end soon. When it comes to the argument for booking late, there’s on giant plus to consider; saving money. But why do cruises become available at such reduced prices? Here’s a look at the whys and wherefores of late-booking cruises.
Why book late?
If your circumstances mean that you’re able to travel at short notice and you’re the type of person who really doesn’t mind where you go, then a last minute cruise would be ideal. Perhaps the nature of your work dictates that you simply can’t plan your holidays months in advance, or maybe you are retired and therefore able to travel whenever you want. Booking late also means there’s no need to plan and budget your finances until the day arrives, as with last-minute deals is you have to pay the full amount right away. Whatever the reason, a last-minute deal gives you the satisfaction of securing a great deal and of course, the spontaneous excitement of a late getaway.
Why so cheap?
Cruise lines always prefer their ships to be as full as possible on the day they set sail, so with that in mind, around six weeks before the ship is due to sail, competitive deals become available to encourage last-minute cruisers and to fill up the last few places on their ship.
You’ll still have a choice of rooms
In some cases, available rooms can be ones previously booked early by other customers who’ve since had to cancel their cruise and these could be anywhere on the ship and any class of room. Sometimes, it may be that not all the most expensive suites sell out, which means there’s a good chance of getting a room you may not have previously been able to afford for the same price as one within your intended budget.
No flying hassle
The nature of last-minute deals means that there’s no time to arrange flights to overseas departure ports, so if you’re the type of cruiser who prefers a no-flight package, a last-minute deals could be just the thing.
By Simon Brotherton
Google