Everyone who has cruised has heard it at least one time. Whether you are on board chatting with other guests at your table or speaking with friends who also cruise, sooner or later somebody will say they booked last minute and got a low rate. Inevitably the next question you will ask yourself is “Should I wait until the last minute to book my cruise?” There are some questions you should ask yourself before you commit to such a strategy.
What are you giving up?
It is important to understand that just because someone got a better price than you, it does not mean they received more value. By betting that a better deal will be available later, guests either lose or risk all of the benefits of booking in advance.
By booking ahead, guests have a greater selection of staterooms and suites available to choose from. There is no guarantee that the room with the location or view you want would be available if and when they book last minute. Top category suites book long before the ship sales because those accommodations are the most scarcely available. Waiting until the last moment almost guarantees you will have to take what you can get.
What are you committing to?
Another very important consideration is that if a last-minute sale comes around, you are committing to that sailing. When cruise lines drop pricing on undersold itineraries it happens during the cancellation penalty period. All sales are final at this point and even with travel insurance, you cannot protect 100% of your investment.
The only way to get every penny you paid back is if your plans change outside of the cruise lines penalty schedule. Once you buy travel insurance the savings you received likely won’t be as attractive, you are on the hook for your premium even if you cancel for a covered reason, and you likely missed out on the accommodation you preferred when you originally decided to wait.
How do you know the price will drop?
There is no guarantee that the cruise line will drop the rates. In fact, it is anyone’s guess if the cruise you like will be undersold enough to merit a last-minute deal. It is equally likely that the cruise will be heavily booked and pricing will have risen due to limited availability.
All pricing in the cruise industry is based on demand. Once you reach the more premium tier of cruise lines, you have access to fewer itineraries. Most of the high-end cruise lines have fewer ships than the broad-market brands. Therefore they do not repeat itineraries as often and they almost always sail at full capacity.
If you have made it this far and are still considering waiting, you have to ask yourself is “How important is this cruise to me?” If you are looking at an itinerary that you have wanted to visit more than anything, do you really want to gamble that it won’t sell out early? Will you risk a potentially life-changing experience for the promise of a lower rate that might never arrive? To most, the answer would be no.
Does this mean you can never enjoy a last-minute deal? Absolutely not. It just means that you should book the cruises you know you want to go on in advance. You can still keep an eye out for last-minute deals but save those for when you suddenly have some free time and you want to see what’s out there. If you have the flexibility when one comes around, go. But- never let yourself miss out on something as important as a bucket-list destination hoping for a miracle.
