Has anyone ever waited until you got to port to buy a cruise?

[TNIris]

Good Monday Morning everyone! :D

 

My brother and his wife want to take a cruise out of Miami in a couple of weeks (leaving Saturday the 18th or Sunday the 19th).

 

They are waiting to book it to see if the prices will drop more (they want to do Royal Caribbean or Norwegian).

 

Has anyone ever taken a chance and just driven down to the port to buy a cruise on the spot?

 

Is there a deep discount if you do this?

 

They want a balcony room, do they have a shot at it?

 

Or is it the same price if they just wait until about a week before and just book it?

 

Thanks!

[rummenroman]

Department of Homeland security needs the passenger manifest 72 hours prior to departure. They will have wasted their time if they just drive there.

[UCF_Knight]

I didn't think you were allowed to do that any longer due to Homeland Security needing the passenger manifest earlier than that.

[EVALUATOR]

Department of Homeland security needs the passenger manifest 72 hours prior to departure. They will have wasted their time if they just drive there.

 

The manifest is due 60 minutes prior to departure. RCI cuts it off 90 minutes prior.

 

If there is space RCI will let you book up to around noon (+/- a little) the day before the cruise.

[TNIris]

Thank you!! :)

 

 

So glad I got on here and asked first!!

[yogimax]

Sounds extremely risky to me. In addition, there is no guarantee that a last minute price will be any cheaper than one that could have been booked a week before.

[EVALUATOR]

Thank you!! :)

 

 

So glad I got on here and asked first!!

 

FYI, Miami has the Majesty for RCI. It departs on Mondays and Fridays.

[Kamloops50]

Good Monday Morning everyone! :D

 

My brother and his wife want to take a cruise out of Miami in a couple of weeks (leaving Saturday the 18th or Sunday the 19th).

 

They are waiting to book it to see if the prices will drop more (they want to do Royal Caribbean or Norwegian).

 

Has anyone ever taken a chance and just driven down to the port to buy a cruise on the spot?

 

Is there a deep discount if you do this?

 

They want a balcony room, do they have a shot at it?

 

Or is it the same price if they just wait until about a week before and just book it?

 

Thanks!

Also they will have to book directly with the cruise line thru their toll-free number . The pier doesn't have time or facilities for making bookings.

[poncho1973]

Department of Homeland security needs the passenger manifest 72 hours prior to departure. They will have wasted their time if they just drive there.

 

This is incorrect information.

 

As stated above, you just have to use the toll-free number. There is no ticket counter at the port, but you can buy it on the phone and drive to the port immediately.

 

You will need your passports (or just your birth certificate/identification if that's your method) and a printed cruise document, so you probably need to at least visit the business center of a hotel or the like.

[Rick-n-Lisa]

You have to be booked no later than 3PM the day BEFORE the ship departs. So they could wait until 26 hours before the last minute to book:p

[Jimnbigd]

Some ships (Oasis, Allure, Freedom for example) allow you go book shows in advance. They might find the shows are all full. Some, like the large theater shows, will probably have some stand-by seating available 10m minutes or so before show time. Others, like comedy and jazz clubs, might not have any space even for stand-by. Also they won't have much choice for dining times -- They will probably have late dining since early and MTD seem to fill up first.

[Langley Cruisers]

These kind of threads confuse me - everyone saying something different so who is correct?

[ARCruisinNana]

Why don't you call RCI and see what they have to say?

[EVALUATOR]

These kind of threads confuse me - everyone saying something different so who is correct?

 

Me.

[poncho1973]

These kind of threads confuse me - everyone saying something different so who is correct?

 

Me :)

[Kamloops50]

Cruise line always has the final say.

[DonnaK]

You cannot walk up and buy a cruise at the port. However, you can call their 1-800 number and book a cruise as late as the morning of the sailing, as long as there is space available.

 

Most ships sail full these days. Empty cabins are filled by discounting in the days or weeks prior to sailing.

[EVALUATOR]

Me :)

 

If you drive to the port immediately you still aren't getting on until the morning after booking.

 

Cutoff is noon(ish) the day before.

[EVALUATOR]

You cannot walk up and buy a cruise at the port. However, you can call their 1-800 number and book a cruise as late as the morning of the sailing, as long as there is space available.

 

Most ships sail full these days. Empty cabins are filled by discounting in the days or weeks prior to sailing.

 

Did they (RCI) change from the afternoon before to the morning of recently?

[bouhunter]

Some ships (Oasis, Allure, Freedom for example) allow you go book shows in advance. They might find the shows are all full. Some, like the large theater shows, will probably have some stand-by seating available 10m minutes or so before show time. Others, like comedy and jazz clubs, might not have any space even for stand-by. Also they won't have much choice for dining times -- They will probably have late dining since early and MTD seem to fill up first.

 

I'm betting that someone who would consider just driving up to the ship and buying a cruise at the last minute isn't someone who's worried about pre-booking shows or meals........:D

[cruisnseas]

This is incorrect information.

 

As stated above, you just have to use the toll-free number. There is no ticket counter at the port, but you can buy it on the phone and drive to the port immediately.

 

You will need your passports (or just your birth certificate/identification if that's your method) and a printed cruise document, so you probably need to at least visit the business center of a hotel or the like.

 

Unless it has changed in the last nine months, cut-off is NOON the DAY BEFORE the cruise for any East Coast sailing (Noon, 72 hours before for an international cruise).

 

This is when the manifest goes to the ship. No updates are sent after this so if you book after this (and there have been unfortunate cases), the ship will not know you are coming and will not permit you access - regardless of what documents you have.

[DonnaK]

Did they (RCI) change from the afternoon before to the morning of recently?

 

I read here on CC that someone was able to do this. They said that they called RCI the morning of the cruise, and was able to book passage. But, I don't have first hand knowledge of this. I'll see if I can find that post.

 

Maybe the advice that the OP calls RCI and asks for their exact policy is best (although we all know that you can call three times and get three different answers! lol)

[EVALUATOR]

Unless it has changed in the last nine months, cut-off is NOON the DAY BEFORE the cruise for any East Coast sailing (Noon, 72 hours before for an international cruise).

 

This is when the manifest goes to the ship. No updates are sent after this so if you book after this (and there have been unfortunate cases), the ship will not know you are coming and will not permit you access - regardless of what documents you have.

 

Noon is what they tell you, but sometimes that can stretch to around 3ish. But that late is asking for things to go wrong. As you said, it's when the manifest goes to the ship.

 

The 72 hours most dwell on is the deadline for online checkin.

 

I have booked and checked in online between 12-2 the day before many times.

 

Mrs E. needed weekly blood tests and we would get the results Thursday morning. Then we would cruise whenever the HGB was in an ok range.

[poncho1973]

I know someone that booked at 11pm the night before (recently) and got on just fine. I've read here where people have booked the morning of. I don't know them, but they claim to.

[KMagz]

To the OP, the previous 23 posts should make it clear your best bet is to contact Royal Caribbean directly! Not for lack of trying by these helpful CC Members! Usually you get better/definitive info here than from RCCL reps -- your question may be a rare exception.