How to get last minute cruise deals?

Last-minute booking can be very hectic and brisk. But, with the right tips and strategy you can avail yourself of some of the best deals even at the end hour. This will help you to find the right deal at an affordable price. So, keep reading to take a sail to your favourite holiday destination at the last minute.

Why Last-Minute Cruise Deals Exist?

Cruise companies would like to have full ships rather than half-filled ones. In case of no occupancy, they will have lost revenue from every source such as drinks, dining, excursions, and shopping. When the departure date comes closer and the unsold cabins are left, the cruise lines mostly give out discounted tickets to accommodate the remaining passengers. Besides, there are seasonal demand, itinerary changes, and cancellations which contribute to the flow of last-minute deals at good prices for travelers.

Where to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

The most recent last-minute cruise offers are available on different cruise line sites and travel sites like CruiseBooking.com. Besides that, many cruise lines operate flash sales through their email newsletters and mobile applications. Social media groups, deal forums, and specialized cruise-booking websites are also able to point out the promotions and price reductions that are available for a limited time.

How to Get Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

Here are the following tricks that can help you get the best last-minute cruise deal:

1. Loyalty Programs on Official Cruise Line Websites

Depending on the loyalty program tier you are in, the cruise line offers selective booking charges. For instance, in a cruise line’s VIP tier, the price they will charge from you will certainly be lower. Further, you will have more complimentary advantages as compared to someone who is not a VIP member.

Also Read: Cruise Line Loyalty Points: Everything You Want to Know

2. Taking Assistance from a Travel Advisor

One good saver in finding the best last-minute cruise deals is to get in touch with a travel agent. It has two benefits; firstly, travel agents are more aware and have in hand knowledge of the best offers going around. Secondly, many travel advisors have partnered ties with cruise ship lines and thus can offer you some of the big saver deals to hop on.

3. Journey Costs

Often we tend to forget to put emphasis on the journey part before boarding the ship. This means that it is crucial to value your airfares, or the means of transport you will be using. Always include that cost in the overall booking process till you board the ship, or you may tend to spend excess than the required amount.

Also Check: Which cruise lines have the best deals?

4. Book During Shoulder Season

The shoulder season is the period before and after the peak holiday seasons. On holidays, the demand stays high and therefore, it is only natural for ship lines to incur more profit. Therefore, we suggest you book prior to get happy hour discounts and cheaper fares.

5. Flexibility in Trip Dates

One tip to always keep in mind when you are booking at the last hour and expect the best deals available is to be flexible with holiday dates. You may expect restricted options to go onboard, but these ship lines may offer more cost-saving fares. Hence, be a little flexible while choosing trip dates. This will only help you save more and have a cost-friendly voyage.

Also Read: How to get the best price for a cruise?

6. Subscription Alerts

Before you decide on taking a trip, we recommend subscribing to your choice of cruise lines. Doing so will help the cruise line notify you about any exciting deals, offers, or discounts they are offering. This is especially helpful at the end hour as any chances of missing out on exciting deals reduce, and you get to catch hold of favorable discounts to book last minute cruise.

Also Read: How to Find the Best Cruise Deals and Discounts?

Other Optional Tips on How to Get Last Minute Cruise Deals

1. All-Inclusive Cost Trips

Try to opt for cruise booking deals that have all-inclusive costs for all the facilities available on the ship. It is helpful to find such deals at the last minute, so as to not end up spending more than your budget while cruising.

2. Special Fares for Kids

Many cruise lines offer special fares on kids, and some do not even charge any cost for couples travelling with children. These are some of the best tricks to look out for. Hence, look for those cruise ship voyages where less or no price is levied for kids.

Also Read: Tips to Get the Best Wave Season Deals

3. Consider a Guarantee Cabin

Guarantee cabins are staterooms/cabins that you might get an upgrade to if the room you have booked does not have any more occupancy capacity. Often you may have the chance to get a complimentary upgrade, but on other occasions, you may get a room in the same category you booked in. Hence, in case of last-minute bookings, you get the room category you have booked in as your final stay throughout the cruise.

Best Strategies to Score a Last-Minute Deal 

The best strategies do include:

• Openness to operating with various sailing dates and routes
• Inclusion of various cruise lines as possibilities rather than just one
• Going for a guaranteed cabin to have less initial cost
• Off-season booking demand is usually lower so the price will be lower too
• Loyalty programs for signing up to get exclusive member deals
• Price alerts usage for getting sudden fare drops
• Consulting a travel advisor to find any hidden or agency-only offers

Also Read: Tips for Finding Cheap Cruise Deals

Smart Ways to Save Even More

Also with the right fare, a few simple choices can still help you a lot in reducing your travel costs. The use of airfare packages, all-inclusive offers, and the selection of ports with cheap flights can make a huge difference. Promotion such as onboard credit bonuses or kids-sail-free offers are also worth looking at before making any reservations.

Simple methods to take advantage of:

• Airfare-and-cruise bundles
• Different departure ports’ prices comparison
• Checking for seasonal promotions and onboard credit offers
• Flash deals through cruise newsletters subscription

Also Read: Which Cruise Lines Have the Best Deals Right Now?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

With last-minute bookings it is often necessary to act fast, but there is a risk of losing money if one is hasty. Travelers may be brought to the point of overlooking the airfares, choosing dubious accommodation, or even not knowing about passport and documentation requirements at all. Here are the common mistakes to avoid

Don't fall into these traps:

• Not considering all the travel costs such as flights and transfers
• Not acting quickly enough and missing out on the best cabin choices
• Picking a cabin category without looking into location details
• Not paying attention to document requirements when making reservations close to the departure date

Also Read: How to get deals on luxury cruises?

Final Word

Before you head out on a voyage, check all the necessary documents that you will carry. Doing so will help you not miss out on any important document, in the rush of booking at the last minute. Furthermore, always look for the best options available and opt for the one that best suits you.