Last minute discounts

[Eric2005]

Are there last minute discounts? I am expecially interested in Cunard. How can I find the best deals?

[paul929207]

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

Cruise lines will discount fares as they approach sailing IF the sales are slow. They raise fares if the cruise is selling well.

[CruiserBruce]

However, last minute airfares can eat up savings on last minute cruise fares. Do you have requirements as to your cabin- it's level, location or type? Last minute cruise fares may leave you little choice.

[navybankerteacher]

Last minute fare hikes are just as likely as last minute discounts - and there is always the posdibility of the ship being sold out before the last minute.

 

If you have to fly to the port, you have to consider the virtual certainty that air fares will only go up as sailing date nears.

 

If you want to sail and see a fare you can live with for accomodations you want, bite the bullet and buy. Trying to "time the market" makes no more sense in cruising than in investing.

[dorisis]

Sign up with Cunard and they will keep you informed.

[BlueRiband]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There is a dedicated Cunard board at this link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54

 

Some Cunard promotions come just after final payment would be due and some about a month prior to sailing. The fares use a dynamic, demand driven booking engine and if a sailing is popular the fares can actually go up. None of us can know what economic or political development in the world will affect voyage fares.

 

The heavily discounted fares come with restrictions such as a 100% non- refundable down payment, category guarantee only, and no choice of dining time. If you are somebody who needs a specific cabin location or must dine at the first sitting this may not work for you. (On the Cunard board we've had some who bought these last minute fares then post complaints that they were not granted "a simple request to change one's dining time". Priority for dining choice goes to full fare and early bookings.)

 

Another member outlined five criteria for waiting out a discount:

1) lowest fare is your priority over any other consideration

2) you are not tied to one sailing date

3) you can accept a category guarantee with no choice of early or late dining

4) you can accept that the fare might go up or the ship sells out and you don't sail. (Or, you can miss a deal while wating for a better one that never happens.)

5) airfare is not an issue.

Edited July 31, 2015 by BlueRiband

[iancal]

We usually book inside the final payment window. Prices are often reduced-sometimes substantially. Cannot comment on insides but we have seen some incredibly good deals over the years. We have had a fabulous deal on an Alaska outside booked on the Wednesday prior to a Saturday sailing. But we were living in Vancouver at the time so air was not an issue.

 

Our experience is that the price is often lower at days 45-60 than it is at say 7 days prior to departure. But it is a crap shoot.

 

We do several things. First we understand the pricing. Then we select two or three ships, itineraries, whatever to watch. We set a price. When our price hits, we book.

 

Flexibility is key in terms of cruise line, ship, cabin type etc. Even more so if your vacation time is flexible.

 

We often do land trips and then alter our plans if we see a great last minute cruise. We did exactly this last fall and this winter.

 

You need to be flexible. We have been fairly fortunate in getting good last minute airfare to Europe. We recently booked an open jaw 45 days out and got the lowest price that we have seen in quite some time. All based on supply and demand. Our last minute Med cruise last fall also had a great cruise air one way air fare home. It became a hugely attractive package so we changed our plans and booked.

Edited July 31, 2015 by iancal

[marco]

We just got a brochure form Cunard and the offers seemed quite attractive. Attractive enough so that if we were seriously considering one of their up coming cruises, we would book it now. And as an above posted stated, if you are in the US and it's a European cruise, the airfare you might end up paying might negate any substantial cruise fare deal.

[MCC retired]

Yes, visit the Cunard Board where the most Cunard discussions will be found.

There are sometimes FLASH rates . Category Guarantee's , non refundable , 60 to 30 days out on soft sailing dates. That is Last Minute for Cunard discounts.

FLASH rates will not show up at Cunard online.

TA's will have them and you can call Cunard if you have a sailing in mind.

As stated , air fare may be out of site and dining request may be limited.

Edited July 31, 2015 by MCC retired

[Scarlet debonaire]

Hi Eric,

 

A few details might help, which country are you based in, are you travelling solo or couple or family? I ask because these points will have an enormous effect on any advice you receive. Fares work very differently in different markets!!!

 

Regards scarlet

[bob brown]

I have seen the QM2 TA fare as low as $699. (plus tax) per passenger, fairly often close to the sailing date....

Edited August 2, 2015 by bob brown