When do you think I start booking?

Question

Okay, my family is planning to go on a cruise next July. When do you think is a great time to book?

Answer 1

As soon as possible.

Seriously it helps to book right when you know where you want to go and for how long so you can make that flight and have it all ready.

Answer 2

Right now...The sooner you book it the better the rates.

Answer 3

around Christmas time

Answer 4

Well, there are two ways to go about it. If you book now, you will get a good deal as the prices will begin to rise in the time until about a month before the cruise. And then, about three weeks before the cruise leaves, the prices drop drastically and you can get REALLY good deals. However, you won't get the best of rooms, only an inside room (no balcony or window). SO, I suggest you book now. As time goes on, it will only get more expensive. Besides, booking now gives you a much better chance at getting the type of room you want. You'd be surprised though.. we booked our cruise a year in advance and STILL there weren't even that many rooms left. They fill up very, very fast.

Answer 5

Start getting prices now ...shop around for your best deal.

FYI - Most best deals are not by booking direct.

Answer 6

They usually start taking bookings 12 months in advance or more.

Book NOW.  It may be chaper when you book early.  Ask them.

Enjoy it.  Try Princess Cruises one day.  The biggest ships are cool.

Answer 7

If you mean July 2009, six months out is good enough. if you mean July 2008 you'd better get moving it's almost here and staterooms will be selling out fast.

Answer 8

There are several good reasons for booking your cruise as early as you can.

-  All of the cruise lines give the best price for early bookings that are a year or more in advance.  The price of the cruise will then start to go up as the cruise date approaches.  Cruise lines also list specials on their web sites so do look for those. The specials can many times save you a couple hundred per person over the price for the exact same cruise on a different date.

- The earlier you book the better your choices of cabins will be.  Some cabin categories sell out quickly.  If you want adjoining cabins or cabins on the same floor you options are better if you book early.

-All cruise lines will let you cancel and get a full and complete refund if you cancel at least (and this varies a little by cruise line and length of the cruise) 60 to 75 days before the cruise.  So if you book now and a few months later see a better cruise or deal, you can cancel and get a full refund (as long as you meet the 60 to 75 day requirement.)

- All of the cruise lines have been charging a "fuel supplement" for the past 9 months or  so due to the spike in oil prices.  You will pay the fuel supplement rate in effect at the time of your booking so if the supplement increases your fee does not.

- You need to decide which cruise itinerary you want to do, i.e., Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, or Europe, and then compare prices both by date AND cruise line.  You can save a lot by selecting a cruise itinerary and then looking for the date with the lowest price for it.

The price you pay will depend mostly on the type cabin/accommodations that you choose.  There are 4 basic types of cabins on ships;

- inside (no window),

- outside (a window or porthole),

- balcony/veranda, and

- suites.

Royal Caribbean has some inside cabins on its Freedom and Voyager Class of ships that have a window overlooking an inside promenade mall.

So you need to do some research, comparing the itineraries, cabins, dates, and cruise lines.  That will take some times but then book something so that you know you have a good price.