Monday, April 22, 2024

Late vs Early Booking: When to Book a Cruise for the Best Price

when is the best time to book a cruise

April is one of the best months to sail to Bermuda as the temperatures are pleasant and in the 70s, and it's one of the driest months of the year, along with May. May and early June are great options for cruises to the archipelago, and you can expect highs in the low 80s by June. The summer offers some of the nicest weather, with daytime highs in Boston and New York between 80 and 90 degrees. Along the coastal areas in Maine and Canada, you'll find highs in the 70s in July. To avoid crowds in port, try not to cruise during the Panamanian festivals that take place in early spring and from November into the winter. These festivals can also affect the opening of attractions, restaurants, banks and other venues you might want to visit ashore.

When to Book a Cruise for the Best Price

13 expert-approved tips for saving money when booking a cruise - CNN Underscored

13 expert-approved tips for saving money when booking a cruise.

Posted: Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Then you can buy your juices, specialty coffees, and sodas on board as and when you want to. Tea, coffee, juice, and water are always available in the buffet restaurants on board. Drop us an anchor below to share what time of year you like to vacation. Like many other regions, there isn’t really a “bad” time to visit Hawaii. Certain times of year are preferable than others based on one factor, but another time of year will be more desirable based on another factor.

Best time to cruise the Caribbean and Bahamas to avoid crowds

January is the beginning of the dry season, so the humidity is lower, and the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. If you're not a fan of crowds, you'll want to pass on traveling when everyone else is going during popular vacation weeks. However, the cruise line's plans can also change between when you book and when you cruise. Be flexible when booking early because circumstances change and the cruise line reserves the right to alter the itinerary or bump you off the ship for a charter.

Prices Behind Buying a Cruise Earlier Instead of Later

Why now is the best time to book your 2024 cruise vacation - Cruise Blog

Why now is the best time to book your 2024 cruise vacation.

Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

For example, a 14-night sailing to the Baltic with Holland America is $949 in early May 2023 but $1,329 in mid-June. The cruise season is short if you want to sail to Northern Europe, the Baltic or the Scandinavian fjords; itineraries run from April through October. However, if you love the cold and want to chase the aurora borealis in Norway, several lines offer northern lights itineraries in the winter months. Unless you're incredibly flexible or live near a major cruise port, reduced cabin availability and sky-high airfares limit the appeal of the old-school 'last-minute-deal' of days gone by.

All aboard! What you need to know about cruise boarding times and how early to arrive for a cruise

With a lineup of more than 260 destinations, newly modernized ships and a new, $250 million private island destination, Royal Caribbean is dialing up the adventure like never before. Whether you’ve cruised before or are considering it for the first time, you’ll want to start off your planning with a few basics on timing. If you're after that sweet spot of cheaper fares and perfect weather, the best time to cruise to Mexico is from November through January. Skies during this period are mostly clear, temperatures are warm and crowds are smaller (with the exception of Christmas and New Years). That's true if you're after bright and warm Riviera Maya weather or optimal conditions in the Mexican Riviera on the Pacific Coast as well. If you're considering a summer or early fall Hawaii cruise, note that seas can be rough in August.Wondering if September is a good time to go to Hawaii?

when is the best time to book a cruise

Typically, there is a very fair penalty period and a tiered system of deposits allowing would-be cruisers to pay an amount proportionate to the duration or category of their sailing. For example, a 3-night Bahamas vs the 7-night Mediterranean; or an interior cabin vs a suite. Either way, I recommend purchasing travel insurance (through a third party, not through your cruise line) that will protect your investment if something happens and you miss your ship. However, adding the cost of a pre-cruise hotel stay onto the overall bill isn't always doable for every traveler, especially those on tight budgets. If that's the case and you can find a super-early flight that gets you to your port city with some wiggle room, flying in the same day you sail is possible.

Most days are sunny, but you'll likely encounter an afternoon or evening storm. The summer months of December through February offer some of the best weather for cruising in Australia and New Zealand. Major cities will have high temperatures in the 70s and 80s during that time. April through early June and September to November are typically when you'll find the cheapest prices. Norwegian Cruise Line has a seven-night itinerary sailing round-trip from Boston in April that starts at $779 per person.

What is the best time of year to travel to Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean?

when is the best time to book a cruise

However, don’t be surprised if cruises are sold out by then or have limited availability. For the best options, book as far out as one year to 18 months in advance. If you are trying to book a small cruise ship but limited availability isn’t yielding as many options as you want, search availability on bigger cruise lines, which have thousands of staterooms. The experience will be very different, but it will get you to the Mediterranean in the time period you want. Now that you know the best time to book a cruise, there is one final thing to mention — cruise line sales. You might wondering if they have an impact on the best time to take a trip.

May and September can also be great times to cruise Alaska if you'd like to save a little money. Whale watching is good in both months, as gray and humpback whales migrate to and from the state. Other wildlife will also start to emerge from their winter slumbers in May or be in the middle of mating season in September. Summer is the season to sail Northern Europe on one of these popular cruises. Book 18 months to two years in advance if you want to sail during the peak months of July and August.

Additionally, depending on where you're sailing, July and August may mean some local cafes and restaurants are closed for summer holidays. Peak season for European river cruises lasts from May through September. And if you're after the best of those European summer vibe, it's a hard time of year to top. Cafes are packed, streets bustle with life and days are long and warm.

Springtime will be the quietest time to visit the Aloha State, although you might find an uptick of families traveling for spring break during March and April. The summer is the busiest time for vacationers, and the winter months bring whale-watching enthusiasts and surfers. There are also two major sporting events in January, so you'll want to avoid the crowds on Oahu and Maui during that month. The spring and fall are the optimal times to visit, with fewer tourists, cooler temperatures and lower prices. You'll also find that most everything is open during that time and easier to see without battling the crowds. In the end, the best time to cruise may come down to where you can go for the right price when your schedule allows a vacation.

Prices for similar cruises with MSC between June and August range from $649 to $799. You can usually find the best prices for an Alaska cruise during the shoulder season months of April, May, September and October. For example, starting rates are as low as $603 per person for a seven-night Inside Passage cruise sailing round-trip from Seattle with Royal Caribbean in May 2024.

Again, the best time to take a cruise if you want the cheapest price is when school is in session. If you have to sail during the summer or holidays, expect to pay a premium. 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.

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