Getting good deals on cruise ships is becoming increasingly difficult. Strong demand for cruises over the past few years has led cruise lines to significantly raise fares and cut last-minute discounts to fill unsold cabins.
As a result, cruise fares this year are 20% or more higher than they were a few years ago.
So, if you’re looking to book a cruise this year and beyond, how do you get the best cruise deals? First of all: don’t panic. Even if ticket prices aren’t going to drop anytime soon, you can still find ways to save money when booking your sea vacation.
Below, we’ve rounded up six top tips for finding bargains on a cruise ship. These travel tips come in handy at any time, not just when fares go up. Combined with some of these strategies, you’re sure to find the best cruise deals on your next cruise.
Offseason cruise
As is the case with land-based resorts, floating resorts (i.e. cruise ships) can be much cheaper during the “off-season” travel months of September, October and November.
These months are typically a time when kids go back to school and families travel less, leading to less demand for many types of travel, including cruises.
These months also coincide with hurricane season in the Caribbean, which keeps some people away from land-based resorts and cruise ships in the region.
RELATED: Hurricane Season Cruising: What to Know—Should You Go?
With the exception of the fall months, cruise off-season generally includes parts of January and February, but varies by region.
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The summer months of June, July and August are traditionally peak season for many cruise destinations such as the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska. The period around major holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day is also considered a busy season for cruise ships, and prices can increase.
Book early
It’s a truism in the cruise world: the earlier you book, the better the price you get.
Cruise lines often open departure bookings at the lowest price they want to sell. Then, as departing flights start to fill up, they slowly increase prices on remaining inventory.
In many cases, your best option to get the best price on any particular sailing is to book as soon as the sailing goes on sale. this means planning Way in advance. Many cruise lines open sailing bookings two or even three years before departure.
Booking far in advance can pay off in a number of ways. One advantage of booking in advance is that you’re more likely to get the exact cabin you want. On many ships, the cheapest cabins and most expensive suites tend to sell out quickly first.
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Cruise Line
Worried about missing out on deals by booking your cruise too far in advance? The good news: If for some reason the cost of your cruise drops in the future, you can usually lower your fare to match the lower price. This usually lasts until the last few months before sailing, when the cruise enters what’s known as its final payment window. At that time, the fare you paid will be locked in.
Please note that not all fare types allow changes to the fare you have paid after booking. Be sure to read the fine print for the fare category you’re booking.
Late booking
As mentioned above, cruise lines often offer their lowest fares on any given sailing as soon as bookings open – often two or even three years before it’s scheduled to begin.
Generally speaking, fares only increase as the sailing date approaches, but in some cases, cruise lines will Significant last minute cruise price reductions. This happens when an airline finds itself with a large number of unsold cabins on a flight.
If you’re flexible and can travel on short notice, you can sometimes find last-minute deals on cruises as lines scramble to fill berths before departure.
The key thing to know here is that last-minute discounts aren’t as common as they used to be. Like airlines, cruise lines have become savvier at revenue management over the years and rarely find themselves with a large amount of unsold inventory on a cruise before departure.
You also have to be flexible to take advantage of these offers. If you have a specific type of cabin on a specific sailing on a specific ship and you’re going on vacation, you can’t expect it to be available – especially not at the lowest price.
Also, don’t forget that you may pay more if you wait until the last minute to book your flights to your cruise ship and pre-cruise hotel. Last-minute cruise deals are often best for travelers who live close to the departure port and can easily drive there, thus avoiding last-minute flight and hotel costs.
Sail on an old boat
At many of the major cruise lines, you’ll find the newest, most well-appointed cruise ships priced at a premium. There are discounts on older boats.
Of course, older ships are older and sometimes there aren’t as many services on board as there are on newer ships. But if you’re looking for a deal, they can provide great value.
Use a travel agency
Are you a self-planned traveler? We get it. The same goes for many TPG employees.
But even if you book all your land travel yourself, you may want to hire a travel agent who is a cruise specialist to book your next cruise.
One big reason is that cruise selling tour operators often have access to lower bulk fares that are not available to the general public. Large tour operators will block most cabins on ships soon after bookings open to lock in such group fares and then sell them off in the coming months.
When you book with a cruise travel agent, you can sometimes get lower fares and additional benefits, such as onboard credits or amenities.
A travel agent that specializes in cruises can also guide you through the many types of cabin categories available on some cruise ships and steer you away from cabins to avoid. Plus, they’re here to help you if something goes wrong on the cruise.
Consider repositioning your cruise
Some of the best deals in the cruise world are those that cruises take when they are relocating from one part of the world to another.
That’s because cruise lines often have trouble selling these itineraries. These trips often have odd itineraries with few port calls but many days at sea, which is not attractive to many cruisers. They tend to be much longer than a standard weekend getaway or week-long trip – which puts it off for many travelers with limited time off.
To sell them, cruise lines often have to slash daily prices to make them cheap.
RELATED: Reimagining Cruises: Save Money with These Unusual Itineraries
The most common repositioning cruises are spring sailings between the Caribbean and Europe, while summer itineraries move ships to Europe. Likewise, there is always a wave of repositioning cruises between Europe and the Caribbean in the fall.
You’ll also find a few repositioning cruises each year between the Caribbean and Alaska, and between the West Coast and Asia or Australia.
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