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Make every dollar go further by taking advantage of these strategies for finding the cheapest months to go on a cruise. One of the biggest draws in cruising is that it can be an affordable vacation. Sail the right time of year and some itineraries can be had for as little as a couple of hundred dollars. MSC Cruises often offers mind-boggling deals as they are still trying to break into the U.S. market.
What is the best time of year to book a cruise?
Tracking prices allows you to watch the rise and fall of cruise fares over time, so when the fare drops, you'll recognize the price as a deal and be able to pounce on it. This strategy is best if you plan to book early and aren't as concerned about the ship selling out immediately. If it's the latter, that's when you get last-minute deals on cruise ships with unsold cabins. However, even if that last-minute cruise is cheap, the 11th-hour airfare or pre-cruise hotel booking could eat into your savings. If you want to book a solo or family cabin on a Mediterranean cruise in July, you likely want to book much earlier than January for the most availability and the best prices.
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The other key factor to getting a deal is going on a cruise in what is known as the "shoulder season". These are the weeks or months at the very beginning or very end of a ship's time in a particular region when factors such as weather, fauna or flora are not at their optimal levels. That is not to say cruising in the shoulder season would be a disappointment, but rather, not when conditions will be absolutely perfect.
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When you book early, you can often get price protection included in your fare. The table below shows the headline fare for one cruise as an example. This cruise is aboard Harmony of the Seas on a 7-day cruise departing Galveston. Since the cruise is scheduled regularly for more than a year into the future, we can compare the price of the cruise now with the price of the same cruise at the same time next year.
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To avoid the worst of the hot weather and save some money, consider cruising in the off-peak months. Bargain Mexican Riviera cruises can be up for grabs during the slower season from the end of July through November. But the weather can be hot—an August sailing will save you money, but be prepared for 90° (32°C) temps during your days in port. November through February (with the exception of holiday weeks) is the slow season for Hawaii cruises, so you’ll be able to book a more budget-friendly sailing during these months. A May cruise in Alaska won’t be nearly as warm as a summer sailing, but it’s the driest month of the year for the state. Cruising this early in the season before school lets out can score you a cheap fare to enjoy Alaska’s stunning natural beauty.
While it might be cold in North America, the weather stays fairly consistent in the Caribbean. For instance, the average high temperature for Cozumel is about 84 degrees in January and 91 degrees during the peak of August. The good news is that there is no wrong time of year to sail for most cruises, such as those heading to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Knowing the best time to purchase your cruise is just one part of the puzzle. When you sail has a much bigger impact on what you pay than when you buy.
Shoulder Season Cruise Deals: 5 Tips to Save - Cruise Critic
Shoulder Season Cruise Deals: 5 Tips to Save.
Posted: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If that weren’t enough to convince you to buy as early as possible, you should also consider how waiting until closer to the cruise sail date doesn’t always save money. And even if you book farther out and the price drops, you can often be compensated for the lower price. Where you can get burned waiting until last-minute is with cabin selection. If you wait until a couple of weeks before the cruise sails, then you’re going to be left with cabins that other passengers didn’t want. This usually means there are no or limited balcony rooms, and the locations of available rooms are often less desirable.
You could monitor cruise line websites and social media feeds over the next few months so you don't miss any sales, but an even better idea is to join the email lists for the cruise lines you like. Armed with this knowledge, you can then keep an eye out for wave season deals for the trip parameters you've determined. Nearly every cruise seller wants a piece of the wave season spending spree, so you can expect to find wave season deals in many places. Hurricanes are always of interest to the Caribbean, and hurricane season runs from June through November. For cruise passengers, the risk of being caught in a hurricane on a ship is low.
This strategy is best for cruisers who live close to a homeport and don't have to rely on last-minute airfare. What you won't find are low rates on fancy suites or prime cabin locations. You'll also need to be flexible on specific ships, itineraries and sail dates to make the most of booking a cruise late.
Nearly every month has something to recommend it, depending on what you're looking for. Saving money feels good — almost as good as sitting on the top deck of a Caribbean-bound cruise with a cocktail in hand. For example, the right travel agent could get you several hundred dollars in onboard credit, even with Disney Cruise Line, which is notoriously light on sales and discounts.
So it really depends on whether you prioritize a certain room or a certain price. First, they’re looking to capitalize during cold winter months when more consumers are fantasizing about a tropical, toes-in-the-sand vacation. Second, they know that extended families are far more likely to discuss big trips—like international cruises—over the holiday dinner table versus some random weekend in July. The best time to book a cruise is typically during Wave Season, which runs from January to March and offers great deals and promotions. But the busy season is also the hottest, and you’ll encounter scorching temperatures and blazing sunshine when you cruise the Med in July or August.
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