Best months for Caribbean cruise discounts?

[AnnieCt7]

When looking for a very good rate, when is the best month to sail and book?

[capriccio]

Maybe summer with fewer passengers escaping northern winters and more likelihood of bad weather (hurricanes).  But of course the cruise lines know that so they move most of their ships in the summer to Europe or Alaska in order to mitigate the need for big fare reductions.

 

If you don't want to cruise in the summer, we've found good fares the first week or two in December (after the Thanksgiving holiday week and before Christmas).

[George C]

Cheapest is most likely during hurricane season September to November. We do Caribbean cruise the week after thanksgiving and rates are good. 

[Lois R]

Hurricane season starts on June 1st and is supposed to end on Dec 1st........(you never know anymore with all our climate/weather issues in the world). But I agree lower prices would be during hurricane season.

[AnnieCt7]

My only concern with regard to hurricane season is leaving our house unattended. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

37 minutes ago, AnnieCt7 said:

My only concern with regard to hurricane season is leaving our house unattended. 

Then pick cruises in the Southern Hemisphere.

[Essiesmom]

The highest prices are when kids are out of school, particularly around holidays.  They are lowest between thanksgiving and mid December, after New Years, after Easter holidays. Prices are not lower in summer because of hurricane season.  On the contrary, they are higher because kids are out of school and families can cruise.  Do your own research:  go to the websites of the cruise lines that interest you, and just look at the prices.  Watch them go up and down, and try to figure out why.  That way you can figure out when is most economical to sail.  EM

[MCC retired]

Early December , most of May are always priced lower early on .

Best time to book ? Is when you see a promo that you like then monitor your 

sailing up until Final Payment.

[Lois R]

1 hour ago, AnnieCt7 said:

My only concern with regard to hurricane season is leaving our house unattended. 

Then I guess you have to weigh how important the savings are as opposed to paying more for a different time of year. But to be honest, The Caribbean has so many choices and cruise lines that sail to those islands.......just start researching and see what you can find.

[George C]

8 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

The highest prices are when kids are out of school, particularly around holidays.  They are lowest between thanksgiving and mid December, after New Years, after Easter holidays. Prices are not lower in summer because of hurricane season.  On the contrary, they are higher because kids are out of school and families can cruise.  Do your own research:  go to the websites of the cruise lines that interest you, and just look at the prices.  Watch them go up and down, and try to figure out why.  That way you can figure out when is most economical to sail.  EM

For about a decade we cruised on thanksgiving week , but for last decade we did the week after , in some cases we could book a suite for the cost of a balcony the week before.

[Honolulu Blue]

18 hours ago, AnnieCt7 said:

When looking for a very good rate, when is the best month to sail and book?

The lowest pried Caribbean cruises are generally, like others have said, during hurricane season and late in the year - roughly September through mid-December (not including the holidays).

 

The cheapest time to book... truly, you can get a good deal any time.  But during wave season (January-March), the cruise lines try a little harder with their deals.  And Black Friday sometimes has some surprisingly good deals.

 

16 hours ago, AnnieCt7 said:

My only concern with regard to hurricane season is leaving our house unattended. 

Picking a shorter cruise will help with this.  Forecasting has gotten better through the years.  If your house is in the cone of uncertainty, then it's probably time to prepare to board up and lobby the cruise line for a refund or OBC.  I don't know how successful you'll be, but you have to try.

[capriccio]

14 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Picking a shorter cruise will help with this.  Forecasting has gotten better through the years.  If your house is in the cone of uncertainty, then it's probably time to prepare to board up and lobby the cruise line for a refund or OBC.  I don't know how successful you'll be, but you have to try.

Buy trip insurance including cancel for any reason to cover an imminent hurricane.