how far in advance?

elva · December 4, 2006

how far in advance do you book your cruises?

1 yr, 18 months, 2 yrs or longer?

when you book over a year away what happpens if you find the cruise cheaper?

also do you pay it in one payment or allowed to pay over time ?

JoeyandDavid · December 4, 2006

Hi elva,

we normally start about a year and a half out.. we have been known to book as late as 60 days out...

As far as making payments you may indeed make payment as long as the entire cruise is paid for in full by 45 days out

Gregswife · December 4, 2006

Elva, we have a cruise coming up in 11 months. We always book at least a year out - get really good rates that way. As far as what happens if you find a cheaper rate - we normally book thru Cruises Only and if we had found a cheaper rate, that would have just been too bad for us. However, this cruise, for the first time, we booked directly thru Carnival. As a rule, we would have paid it off already but Carnival said if we found any promotions or cheaper prices, they would honor that, so we are waiting till the last minute to pay it off. I am afraid that if I pay it off and then find a better deal, we won't be able to get a refund. We have already gotten one price reduction because I found a "better deal" out there. Our friends that are sailing with us said they are hoping we get to the point where Carnival pays us to go...don't think that will happen!!!

mercedes · December 4, 2006

Always a year or more in advance.

bigred · December 5, 2006

We usually book up to a year in advance. We took the grown kids on a Christmas cruise on the Carnival Victory in 2002. We had booked it a year ahead cause we gave it to the kids for their Christmas present 2001. Son PJ got engaged on Thanksgiving so it turned out to be a really big celebration. Anyway, the fares on all of our cabins went down not once but 4 times before final payment and I had to call the TA each time to get it but it turned out to be a real deal. (We had inside cabins for the kids and balcony for us.) Just do alot of research or you'll miss something and the TAs seem to be too busy to catch it all. Now, having said all that, we are sailing on The Star Princess on Jan. 20th. We have traveled with friends Marla and Al & Harvey and Nancy, each couple at different times but never all together. Marla called me and said I saw this great price on a balcony. I said let me know what you are going to do. Next thing I know , Nancy calls and says we just booked the cruise and so did Marla. You better decide now. So we did and booked in late October 06. NEVER did a cruise on such short notice but it is very exciting to have it coming so fast. We are all excited for the six of us to be together. You can imagine how much phone calling is going on. I guess it was just meant to be. We are hosting a Sail Away party in our cabin E206 if anyone is interested (right after muster). And I have made travel journals as Christmas gifts for the girls. Also think I am ordering Star Princess scrapbooks to be in their cabins (or at least the voucher will be). It is my custom to take tons of pictures and make a scrapbook for our friends no matter the trip. This time I will be making TWO. Oh, well, I love it! Can't you just smell that tropical breeze right now? It's our 10th cruise and it is still just as special as the first one. You won't ever hear any whining out of this one. I appreciate every minute. How do we make those days last longer? We have to make a point to savor every moment. Scrapbooking helps me do that as I plan every picture for a particular layout. It's great. OK, too long winded. Have a good night everyone.

sailingrose · December 6, 2006

We book both short term 75 days or less and as much as a year out. On RCI if the price drops we've always gotten the difference back. I put down a deposit and then pay the final balance about 75 days out. Each cruise line has a different final payment date so I'd check with the line your thinking of booking.

DaCruzNut · December 6, 2006

I always book somewhere under six weeks.... I've booked cruises as late as two days before sailing!

Living 20 minutes from Port Everglades, and under an hour to the Port of Miami, makes it easy.

Of my 60+ cruises, the longest I ever had to wait was two months.

Mebert · December 7, 2006

The most I've done was about 11 months.

As the time approaches for my cruise, I usually get a little depressed if I don't have something booked immediately after, so I always try to layer the bookings.