Last Minute Booking

[hopefulcruiser11]

We live close to a port and were hoping to book a cruise next week that leaves on Sept. 13th. I have been watching the fares, and they all of a sudden increased .... am I screwed? Is there any hope of calling early next week and being able to get a lower fare?

[CruiserBruce]

All you can do is ask. The price is what it is. Sounds like it is close to selling out. There are always serious risks in waiting to the last minute.

[dorisis]

You are probably too late, but you can always try.~Doris~

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

All you can do is call -- it never hurts to try.

[Bonnie J.]

Don't call, check on line. And remember Carnival & RCCL do not allow TAs to offer a fare less than the ships. We often book with them on line or call them directly.

My husband checks on line every morning just after 5am. Prices can go down usually the Tuesday or Wednesday before sailing. They want to fill the ship. And they can start out low then go up as the day progresses! So, look 1st thing in the morning- before 8.

Also check on line to see how many vacant cabins they have- that can tell you something if they have a lot.

[Keith1010]

That is the danger of waiting.

 

Prices can go up and also the lowest categories sell out first.

 

I never think it is wise to wait to book unless you don't care whether or not you go.

 

Keith

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

That is the danger of waiting.

 

Prices can go up and also the lowest categories sell out first.

 

I never think it is wise to wait to book unless you don't care whether or not you go.

 

Keith

I agree . Life is short ...

[navybankerteacher]

You're not really screwed - you're getting what you wanted -- either :

A) a cheap cruise booked at the last minute,

B) no cruise because fares went up at the last minute, or

C) an expensive cruise because you really did plan to go, and just hoped by waiting you'd get a deal.

[fleckle]

When there are lots of unsold cabins, they typically drop the prices after the final payment date and you can pick up some great deals.

 

The remaining cabins may or may not sell out at the sale prices.

If they don't and there are still many empty cabins left, then they may lower the price even more.

 

But once most of the cabins sell out and there are only a few left, that is when the prices are likely to go back up again.

[DonnaK]

I think that sometimes people have the perception that a cruise is not selling well because the website shows a lot of cabins still available close to the sailing date, so they are waiting for the prices to drop at the last minute to sell them out.

 

However, many (or most) of those cabins might actually be going to passengers who are holding guaranteed reservations. So, once those reservations are assigned actual cabins, the number of available ones will decrease sharply and no extreme price drop is necessary to fill them.

 

Does that make sense?

[dorisis]

I think that sometimes people have the perception that a cruise is not selling well because the website shows a lot of cabins still available close to the sailing date, so they are waiting for the prices to drop at the last minute to sell them out.

 

However, many (or most) of those cabins might actually be going to passengers who are holding guaranteed reservations. So, once those reservations are assigned actual cabins, the number of available ones will decrease sharply and no extreme price drop is necessary to fill them.

 

Does that make sense?

 

That is the way it works. If there is a cabin left at the last minute it will NOT be in a good location or will be something no one else wants.

 

~Doris~