I don't remember when or where I first heard the term "fare churning" to describe the elaborate booking games some passengers play.  However, it is the reason that over the years that deposits have became high, final payments have been pushed out more than fourteen days before the cruise (standard when I started cruising in 1976), and cancellations fees are common.   The first practice was to book a cabin on different cruise lines when the cruise itineraries were released. The cruises