"season" for best deals

[mbabaian]

i'm new to cruising, so i need some advice from the experts. i'd like to know whether there's a time of year when cruiselines give the biggest discounts, and if there is, what time of the year is that?

thanks!

[Florida Beach]

I am not an expert, but as a result of recent search for my last cruise, I found that the price for the Caribbean cruises tend to be lower in the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas and the two weeks after New Year. For Alaska, go in May when it is still cold. For Panama Canal, I think the price is lowest in July when it is really hot and humid.

Good luck with your search. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

March 28, 2004 - Mariner of the Seas

[trish1c]

For the Caribbean & the Bahamas the best discounts are available during prime hurricane season -- Sept.

Trish

[serene56]

WHen researching my cruise I also found that Sept is about the cheapest with each week showing a lower price. I think that as September heads to October the chance of a hurricane is greater thats why the price is lower. I have taken all my cruises so far in September. Last cruise we were between Kyle and Lily and had a great time.

The worse time is Christmas and New Years - then summer followed closely by February, March and April (spring break)

Going NOWHERE
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;10;22;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]


Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[giggles1972]

we booked our up and coming cruise for sept for 2 reason:

1. hurrican season- the prices drop by "half"(I have been on cruises before during hurrican seaon, and had no worries at all).

2. kids are back in school.

Stacey

1985 M/V Atlantic
1992 R.C. Nordic Empress
1996 Carnival Fantasy
Days remaining till Enchantment of the Sea!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;9;13;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[madelinerose]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] Ditto Giggles1972. We booked at the end of October because the prices are great and schools are in session.

We take all vacations out-of-season to avoid the crowds. This year, we'll be spending a week in our oceanfront rental in The Outer Banks, NC during the first week in October and then the cruise. It'll be a busy, but really great month!

Have a fabulous cruise!

Karen [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Carnival Miracle 10/24/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;10;24;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[pejay]

Are you saying that the prices are cheapest to cruise then or that is the best time to purchase tickets? Looking at those months now..they don't seem too cheap:-(

[serene56]

We are talking that is the best month to cruise in. Anytime is good to book

I book my cruises up to a year out. I have booked my February cruise last christmas- today that cruise is almost 300 pp more then what I paid.

I have looked and September is cheaper then some months. Where are you looking at prices? I hope not the brochure price.

Going NOWHERE
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;10;22;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]


Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[Sophie]

We cruise around the first week of December. Great prices (enables us to afford a balcony cabin). And a lot less kids. The weather is great in the Caribbean, too. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Sophie
Counting down the days till we sail the Rhapsody! 12-5-04

[98Charlie]

Random observations from a non-expert cruiser but long time frugalist (cheapskate):

Inexpensive times
<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>After NewYears - Before Spring break starts.<LI>Mother's Day Weekend<LI>Labor Day Weekend<LI>Hurricane Season<LI>The Week After Thanksgiving.[/list]

I have also noticed that there are times/ships/itineraries where Insides are very inexpensive but Oceanviews and/or Balconies/Suites are sold out. At other times there are only a limited number of insides and the higher classes of cabins are relativly inexpensive.

To search for pricing, I like to use Travelocity. I like being able to search large chunks of time with specific itineraries and cruise lines. You can use the information to guide you to the cruise you would like to take and book with whoever you want to.

[mikeyd]

I also noticed that any cruises during the Sept. 11 date are really, really cheap. There are still a lot of people who do not like to fly/vacation during this day.

Sailing on Paradise in..... [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ffd700&cdt=2004;5;16;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]