Has anyone in the past 6 months waited until the last minute to purchase carnival cruise tickets?

Question

My friends and i are wanting to take a cruise to the western caribbean in june 2008 and we are hoping that we wont have to pay full price for the tickets as they are $919 right now. we are hoping that if we wait until the last minute they will be deep discounts. we will want 2 rooms or if worse comes to worse we will all 4 share.

can you please tell me if you have any info regarding waiting til the last minute for deep discounts and if you had any issues on rooms being available? any information will help!

my grandma is a travel agent and she is telling me that this will never work and that i need to book ASAP!!!

thank you

Answer 1

Tradintionally, the fares only get higher as you get closer to booking.  Last year, I booked a seven day on the Carnival Glory in January for September.  I paid $399.  By the week before sailing, it was over $800 for the same inside room. andI got a higher deck than the last minute people.  Carnival never has empty staterooms when they sail.  The only last minute bargains that I have seen are on the three and four day Bahamas cruises.

Answer 2

NO, its not true. Since the 9/11 attack the cruise lines have been requiring passenger to register for the cruise far in advance either on their web sites or by mail. They no longer let people just show up and get a cruise. This is from the Royal Caribbean web site:

" Due to new government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure manifests at least 60 minutes prior to sailing, guests are requested to complete Online Check-in no later than 3 days prior to their cruise. If you do not complete Online Check-in 3 days prior, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time."

This is from the Celebrity Cruise line site:

"In most instances there is no space available on our sailings within a week of the departure date and it is a misconception that rates are reduced drastically at that time. While it is possible that staterooms may become available for sale, the rate for these staterooms would have been increasing as the sail date approaches and the demand for space becomes higher. Thus, at the last minute the rates will likely be the same as during the entire last quarter or previous three months."

This is from the Carnival Cruise line web site:

"Following the events of September 11, 2001, all cruise ship lines, cruise vessels and cruise terminals are in a heightened state of alert. The primary responsibility for the safety and security of cruise vessels in the United States territorial waters lies with the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has initiated a directive for all cruise vessel operations to be at the highest security level. At this level, additional measures are taken to ensure the safety of crew and guests. These measures include:

Enforcing a 300' separation zone from all cruise vessels while in port and en route into and out of port.

Escorting all cruise vessels into and out of port.

All terminal and vessel restricted areas must have increased guards and/or intrusion alarm devices.

All baggage and cargo are screened to include x-ray screening prior to going on board.

All guests and carry-on items are screened prior to boarding.

All guests are confirmed against the official guest list before being allowed on board.

All baggage is confirmed against the official guest list before being allowed on board.

Other measures include a definitive security review of the terminal prior to allowing a vessel to come into port.

Additionally, Carnival has instituted additional measures:

Background checks for all crew members.

The guest manifest is checked against INS and FBI computers and matched for suspects.

Pre and post cruise bomb searches are conducted.

All provisions are inspected for explosives.

All crew are patted down.

All guests go through metal detection at every port-of-call.

All port-of-call items brought on the vessel are x-rayed.

All ships have a guest Visual-ID System (A-pass Security System). Divers are sent to check the hull of the ship at every port, twice. Enhanced security at every out port.

There are a number of other initiatives underway which are inappropriate to be disclosed."

NOTE THAT THEY CHECK THE GUEST MANIFEST AGAINST IMMIGRATION AND FBI COMPUTERS. This would pretty much preclude you getting on the ship at the last minute.

Answer 3

try ticketsavvy.com because theyalways have deals on cruises that are awesome...

Answer 4

Last March we booked a Mexican Rivera last minute (about 1-2 weeks before).  There were 4 of us and it was a total of about $2400-2500.  So yes, sometimes it works, but you have to be FLEXIBLE.  You never know, maybe there won't be one at all or maybe you just might not be able to find a cruise to that exact place in that exact month.  Since you are trying to save money, just get one room.  You're hardly in there anyways.

:)Ayelle

Answer 5

we bought them yesterday for a march 8 cruise. if you book a state room with 4 ppl as opposed to two, they are usually a lot cheaper. ours was $577 each, after the taxes and everythiing! its 8 nights too! try travelocity or priceline!

Answer 6

Listen to Granny---

June is one of the busiest time to cruise--kiddos are out of school. Royal Carribean is VERy popular, and I would NOT wait until the last minute because what if you wait and then there is NOTHING!?? Just watch the prices, they may run a special--Royal Carribean has this promotion called the Happy Hour special (I have no idea why they call it that) but they run it on Tuesdays... Anyway, watch the wesbites and if the rates go down jump on it.... Good Luck!!

Answer 7

It all depends on the cruise. Since your cruise is in June, schools are letting out, so prices will go up. It is possible to sometimes catch a last minute deal on a cruise. Just keep in mind that it's not guaranteed there will be rooms available. Since you're leaving right at the beginning of summer break, it's very possible your cruise will sell out and there won't be any last minute deals, at least no cheap ones. Also remember that airfare will typically go UP as the vacation gets closer. You must keep that in mind as well if you're flying.

Answer 8

don't do that waiting actually till the last minute will make the tickets cost more because many people will want them believe me i have tried but i use this site to save money

www.ytbtravel.com/fkarengi