Booking a cruise - how far out?

[tiwi]

Looking at booking a cruise in April, 2023.  There are plenty of cabins I am interested in booking.  Will rates go down over the next couple of months or is the current promo a pretty good one?  

 

Thank you!

[willing292]

I book far out for cruises that sell out fast, like the Arctic Circle one.  Then I monitor the fares to see if they drop.  If i find a lower fare, I’ll try to get it, and i usually am successful.  If the fare doesn't drop, i have the cabin I want, on a cruise I want.

[orville99]

2 minutes ago, tiwi said:

Looking at booking a cruise in April, 2023.  There are plenty of cabins I am interested in booking.  Will rates go down over the next couple of months or is the current promo a pretty good one?  

 

Thank you!

Rates typically go up until after final payment date (90 days out) and then they may start to drop, but the drop (if any) is from an already inflated price. As far as the "current" promo, that has been in existence in one form or another since May, 2014, so there is no reason to expect it to disappear anytime soon. We generally book as early as possible to get the cabin that we want. If rates go down (rarely happens) prior to final payment date, we just call and have the reservation re-priced at the lower rate.

 

[nasa1974]

I've booked a cruise as early as 18 months in advance.

[NightOne]

4 hours ago, tiwi said:

Looking at booking a cruise in April, 2023.  There are plenty of cabins I am interested in booking.  Will rates go down over the next couple of months or is the current promo a pretty good one?  

 

Thank you!

 

ALWAYS early as possible

 

The day the cruise is listed for sale is the best time

[George C]

4 hours ago, willing292 said:

I book far out for cruises that sell out fast, like the Arctic Circle one.  Then I monitor the fares to see if they drop.  If i find a lower fare, I’ll try to get it, and i usually am successful.  If the fare doesn't drop, i have the cabin I want, on a cruise I want.

We do the same .

[moposh]

I've already booked my April 2023 cruise.  

[gmerick]

I book early -- sometimes 2 years out.  I've been fortunate each time in that price drops from initial booking have exceeded 30% each time.  I'm looking at Anthem 18 Jan 2024 now, price for 2W cabin is 3.9K.  Booked my current 2W Anthem 24 Jan 2023 at 2.4K, and price drop left me at 1.5K.  Book early, and check prices occasionally.

[Starry Eyes]

Are you booking from the US/Canada?  UK?  Somewhere else?  
 

Many of us book under North American booking rules; if prices drop between booking and final payment, we can re-price.  So, if the price is acceptable on that cruise today today, I’d book then watch for price drops until final payment.  After final payment, watch prices if higher categories (not your own!); if price drops on a better cabin you might want to pay to upgrade your cabin.

 

People booking in other locations have different rules (and may also have different travel protections/laws).  If that applies to you, post your location.  You might get different advice for an April ‘23 booking.

[603NHCruiser]

On 9/22/2022 at 2:59 PM, Starry Eyes said:

Are you booking from the US/Canada?  UK?  Somewhere else?  
 

Many of us book under North American booking rules; if prices drop between booking and final payment, we can re-price.  So, if the price is acceptable on that cruise today today, I’d book then watch for price drops until final payment.  After final payment, watch prices if higher categories (not your own!); if price drops on a better cabin you might want to pay to upgrade your cabin.

Hi @Starry Eyes, This is the info I came here looking for and after searching the RCL forum about re-pricing after final, your post is the first one that I could find that mentioned it.

 

I am a lot more familiar with NCl's policies, where they "might" honor a price drop after final payment in the form of FCC for a future sailing, but there is no guarantee, this is to encourage another booking, and more money out of pocket. It was interesting to learn that RCL was offering OBC on the current sailing, but it sounds like that is over.

 

From what you said, am I safe to assume that if I call to upgrade to a higher category after final payment I will still be allowed to, as long as it results in a net increase in fare paid? Essentially the better room dropped in price so I am paying RCL more $$ but likely a lot less than that same room was at the time I booked. NCL does the same thing so just looking for confirmation.

 

Do you know if this is also true when the cruise was booked through the Casino Dept? 

 

Thanks

 

[jcc1025]

We book out far, ususlly the best price. We usually book our next cruise while we are on our current cusise as their are some exxtral credits for doing that. If the cruise price dropes prior to your cruise you can call the reservation number and they will make an adjustment. Royal updates their marketing program each Tue-Wed. and depending on the cruise and how full the ship is the prices will change some but usually early is always better. 

[Starry Eyes]

5 hours ago, 603NHCruiser said:

Hi @Starry Eyes, This is the info I came here looking for and after searching the RCL forum about re-pricing after final, your post is the first one that I could find that mentioned it.

 

I am a lot more familiar with NCl's policies, where they "might" honor a price drop after final payment in the form of FCC for a future sailing, but there is no guarantee, this is to encourage another booking, and more money out of pocket. It was interesting to learn that RCL was offering OBC on the current sailing, but it sounds like that is over.

 

From what you said, am I safe to assume that if I call to upgrade to a higher category after final payment I will still be allowed to, as long as it results in a net increase in fare paid? Essentially the better room dropped in price so I am paying RCL more $$ but likely a lot less than that same room was at the time I booked. NCL does the same thing so just looking for confirmation.

 

Do you know if this is also true when the cruise was booked through the Casino Dept? 

 

Thanks

 

During the restart, Royal did have some offer special considerations, including OBC, to lure cruisers back; you are coming back too late for that program.

 

I’ve never booked through the casino department, so I cannot help you on that point.  
 

I think Royal does have some sales that are for “new bookings only.” So, it is possible that you will see a upgrade price after final payment, call in and hear you do not qualify.  Consider yourself forewarned, so you will not be shocked or angry if it happens.   If it does happen and that same price continues to show day after day, perhaps call back and see if you get the same answer; sales terms might change.  

 

Edit: Also notice that (unlike NCL) many of Royal’s best fares have “nonrefundable deposits.”  Before you book nonrefundable, be sure you have the right ship/sail date.  If you are forced to change your plans before final payment, try to pick a new ship/sail date so you can transfer your deposit ($100 pp fee) rather than lose the whole deposit.  

Edited October 4, 2022 by Starry Eyes

[clskinsfan]

We always cruise book a year out. Once I get off of my Allure Halloween cruise we will book another for next Sept/Oct. We are not loyal to any single line though. And will make a decision when we get home. Have really been enjoying Celebrity recently. Hope Allure can match them. 

[Tin can]

We have a booking on Explorer for August 2023 made 10 months ago and one on Harmony for March 2024, just my opinion but fares are only going to go one way.

 

You folks in the US are lucky as you get price match so my tactic of early is a bit of a gamble but I haven't seen anything drop until after final payment date for a long time.

[CruiseBride926]

We already have March 2024 booked 😅. If it goes down we’ll price adjust but so far it’s only gone up.