Morecruisesplz Posted September 20, 2017 #26 Share Posted September 20, 2017 We've gotten some great last minute deals but leaving from places that are almost impossible to get to. Willing to share examples? (I'm a bargain shopper.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iahawkfan21 Posted September 20, 2017 #27 Share Posted September 20, 2017 We live 30 minutes south of Port Canaveral and have cruised out of there on 3 days notice and an 8 night cruise from Port Everglades on about 4-5 days notice. Managed to find prices we were happy with and I was able to get the time off work last minute. Were we located anywhere really outside of Florida it probably wouldn't be nearly as feasible for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandtrap328 Posted September 20, 2017 #28 Share Posted September 20, 2017 What are the chances of snagging a room on a ship the week it is set to sail? Booked a HAL cruise on same day it left. Rooms became available due to massive snow storms causing last minute cancellations. Booked a Celebrity Summit cruise this past January three days prior to sailing. Think this availability was also due to last minute cancellations. Currently sailing on Celebrity Equinox in a suite that was booked about 30 days ago. Know this was available only due to someone cancelling. If you really want a certain cruise date and cabin, book it early. But, if you just want to cruise NOW, watch the cruises that you are interested in on a daily basis and grab that empty cabin when someone cancels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearette Posted September 20, 2017 #29 Share Posted September 20, 2017 In 2016 my family found a great price on an Alaska cruise out of Seattle. Booked Wednesday and sailed Saturday. We live in driving distance of LAX and the airfare was not bad at $200 piece. I have looked at last minute cruises several times and book many inside final payment, even a few Europe 30 days out, but check air before you book as the $299 Stockholm cruise I found did me no good when the air to get there was $2500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ofmyheart Posted September 20, 2017 #30 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Can't say I truly booked it but our daughter had a "no show" in her group on a Carnival cruise. She called for a name change...5 hours before sailing. I was packed and on the ship 2 hours later!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesboat Posted September 20, 2017 #31 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Just an FYI RCCL started a "price integrity" policy a few years ago, not sure about anyone else but they will not deeply discount their rooms prior to sailing. The cheapest price that you will find is the day that it becomes available and it just goes up in price from there. For this reason we typically book as far in advance as we are able. I would say for us the shortest time was about one year. Here is a link to what I am talking about......http://www.travelweekly.com/cruise-travel/royal-hews-to-price-integrity-plan-and-sees-a-rise-in-close-in-pricing As others mentioned, that is clearly not true. Some fantastic deals open up within 90 days of sailing. I think they get around it by selling via TA rather than direct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
put me on a ship Posted September 20, 2017 #32 Share Posted September 20, 2017 What are the chances of snagging a room on a ship the week it is set to sail? I booked the day before sailing. Granted, it was with a different cruise line, but got an incredible price! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreadpirate3 Posted September 20, 2017 #33 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I've heard the first released price is best, but it hasn't been true for me so far. We usually book 3-6 months out, and the closest has been 6 weeks. We live within 4 hours driving distance for 4 ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morecruisesplz Posted September 20, 2017 #34 Share Posted September 20, 2017 As others mentioned, that is clearly not true. Some fantastic deals open up within 90 days of sailing. I think they get around it by selling via TA rather than direct. I agree, especially your thoughts on TAs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugtech Posted September 20, 2017 #35 Share Posted September 20, 2017 About 11:30 pm. Too late for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nivek82 Posted September 20, 2017 #36 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Add another one to the list of people that have booked the day prior. Did this once years ago on Majesty. As others that have we live close enough to drive. I haven't seen this thing recently but I was starting to wonder how cheap the December cruises going to be this year with many eastern routes changed to western. This is also someone that's wondering how cheap will the 12/3 on LB get with it's new 3 nights in Nassau cruise. If you do book late keep in mind you don't do any type of on-line check in. It's not a big deal but does cause an out of the normal occurrence at the port as you don't have a set sail (they will most likely have to look you up), no signed contracts (have to do the old paper ones), probably no assigned dining (can be done on-board.) Again none of that is an issue just causes some of the staff to ask extra questions cause it's not the normal they are used to either. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy03231 Posted September 21, 2017 #37 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Last fall we booked two weeks before the cruise left. Got a great price - $900 for 2 people, including gratuities in an interior cabin with a $75 OBC. Flights were $59/each way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emdia43 Posted September 21, 2017 #38 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Booked on Monday night, 9 nights in the Med for $399 - flew to Barcelona on Thursday night. Got a round trip fare on Air France from PHL via Paris for $360 each. My stars really aligned.... When we got to the pier we had been upgraded to a Promenade room! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahD112 Posted September 21, 2017 #39 Share Posted September 21, 2017 About 11:30 pm. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
as400guy Posted September 21, 2017 #40 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I agree, especially your thoughts on TAs. Since you mentioned TAs.... We have done about 14 cruises with one TA affiliated with a HUGE travel company. She is nice, efficient and has smoothed out a couple of issues for us over the years. BUT, we are dedicated bargain travelers and I just don't feel we're getting maximum benefit from her services. We have and are willing to travel on short notice. We've done so a lot. Tons of airline miles. Retired. Love cruising. Frugal to a fault. Would anyone discuss techniques you have profited from by using TAs... big agency / one-person shop / local group / etc. How did you find them? Feel free to PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 21, 2017 #41 Share Posted September 21, 2017 ... How did you find them? Word of mouth, recommended by fellow cruisers on board. No PM on this website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taram999 Posted September 21, 2017 #42 Share Posted September 21, 2017 From what I understand from carnival, due to new security restraints, the ship has to provide the final manifest 48 hours prior to sailing. There is no more showing up the day of and sailing. However, based on what I've read here, that may not be the case.... Sent from my XT1254 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbluegal Posted September 28, 2017 Author #43 Share Posted September 28, 2017 I jJust booked my latest this week. Had my cruise cancelled on Tuesday and turned around a booked another for Saturday. So 4 days it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkmom514 Posted September 28, 2017 #44 Share Posted September 28, 2017 We booked one yesterday (9/26) that sails Sunday (10/1). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copper6606 Posted September 28, 2017 #45 Share Posted September 28, 2017 TWO DAYS! :) We were visiting the Tampa area and called on a Thurs. to Pammy [TA] and asked her if she could put us on a cancellation list for any of the 3 ships that were leaving in 2 days. They were all booked up but she said it wouldn't hurt to try[ but she wasn't too hopeful]. We were 7th on the cancellation list and due to people cancelling last min- we got on!!! We got on a 5 day cruise on RC for $229.!!! The morning of... we were upgraded to an outside cabin... we were thrilled! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank808 Posted September 28, 2017 #46 Share Posted September 28, 2017 On our first cruise, went down to the next cruise desk 3 days after departure. Family and I fell in love with cruising and wanted another 7 days instead of disneyworld. Next cruise on freedom was sold out but they had a 4 day cruise on enchantment so booked that. I would say 5 days before sail away would have been our latest. Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinfanatic Posted September 28, 2017 #47 Share Posted September 28, 2017 If available, day before bookings happen all the time Sent from my VS501 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted September 28, 2017 #48 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Booked Monday for next Monday Sent from my BG2-W09 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted September 28, 2017 #49 Share Posted September 28, 2017 If available, day before bookings happen all the time Sent from my VS501 using Forums mobile app The ships have to submit their final manifest about 48hrs before sailing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted September 28, 2017 #50 Share Posted September 28, 2017 The ships have to submit their final manifest about 48hrs before sailing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That is not correct. It is 60 minutes before cruise departure.:) Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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