When is it too late to book a cruise?

[hugger]

Last November 8, 2014 we sailed with another couple from MI who were driving down to FL. They called HAL directly from Georgia - around 9 in the morning - they booked a VB cat on Deck 4 for just about 500.00 for 2 on a 7 day sailing. They had to give full payment immediately of course.

They were told that if they weren't on board by 3 p.m. to sail that they wouldn't be allowed on the ship.

They literally were running onto the ship at 2:55 p.m.

 

Had a great cruise the following week.

 

That was the first time in year's I had heard that someone was allowed on the day of sailing like that. I was under the impression since 9/11 that you HAD to be on the manifest 72 hrs prior to sailing.

I was proved WRONG happily as they were so MUCH FUN to cruise with

Edited July 10, 2015 by hugger

[YubaSutter]

Wondering...did these late bookers get a better deal on the Fare?

 

When does a late booking deal disappear?

 

The fares for my 3 and 4 day were between $89 and $109/ pp. If they weren't, I would skip the cruise and head to Vegas.

[bernie5]

Thanks all of you for the last minute stories! I will need to live near a cruise port when I retire so I can jump on a ship in a "New York minute" as they say.

[trophy_23]

I'm not sure how they can do that when we need to give 48hours notice with passport info to just have lunch onboard with our friend who is an officer when he is in town.