Types of Cruises - Last Minute Cruises
PICKING A CRUISE LAST MINUTE
There are always opportunities to find last-minute cruise deals.
It needs some nerve to wait for the right moment but fortune favors the brave. Cruise lines have no wish to sail with empty cabins and would rather sell them at discounted prices than put to sea (or river) with a ship that isn’t at full capacity.
You might have to be flexible in terms of destinations or even choice of cruise lines, and you might have to pack your bags in a hurry, but the rewards can be huge.
Check the cruise line websites listed on Prow’s Edge right now and you’ll probably find some unbeatable last minute bargains across every price categories of cruising.
Most cruise lines have a last booking deadline two months prior to the actual cruise date. But not many of them fill their ships by that time .... and in addition there are the late cancellations that will be on offer at great discounts to fill empty cabins.
Make a nuisance of yourself at some of your local cruise agents. They’re as eager to sell those empty berths as the cruise line is. Some of them even have newsletters with updates on the best last-minute deals. Ask the travel agents to email you with the latest last-minute deals that have reached their desk. It’s a win-win for everyone – you, the cruise agent and the cruise line.
And remember there is no difference in service and amenities whether you’ve paid the full price or not.
The peak booking period for cruises are the first few months of the year, known as the Wave Season (“here we come, Caribbean!”). Even at this busy cruise period there are bargains like special rates, onboard credits, deposit wavers, cabin upgrades and other perks to pick up.
Some cruise agents now sell cruise vacations on Ebay so you might want to check the ads on Ebay to see if there are any last-minute offers that might suit you.
You have to be quick, of course. These last minute deals are usually snapped up. Once you’ve found a good deal, don’t mess around: Make the reservation quickly.
Photo courtesy Hapag-Lloyd Cruises