Ever booked a cruise with less than 3 weeks to Embarkation?

[nealstuber]

....With a 12hr drive in between!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=25158

 

On Friday morning we had no idea we'd be cruising.

 

By Friday night we were trying to book and were dissapointed that we could not find anything within a 6hr drive.

 

On Saturday morning we were looking at options 12 hrs away.

 

We booked at 11:30am and were packed and ready and on the road at 1:30!

[obx_fintoo]

We've done several last minutes. Being flexible about when you can vacation is the key. We've done 1 week out, 2 weeks out, and this next one was 26 days out. No stress as some others have pointed out, just throw some essentials in a bag with your passport, fill out your fun pass and hit the road!:cool:

 

first time in the Cave. Should be great and going as cheaply as possible opens up more casino money. :)

 

IMO, there is not a thing wrong with an inside (aka Cave). It will be darker and if you are used to staying on one side of the ship, you may find yourself walking the wrong way for a day or two (ie: If you always stay on Port side and turn left to go forward when you leave your room, then if your cave is on the port side as well, you may end up walking left out of the room!) Not that I have done this or anything!:p

 

But....can you get a HUGE DISCOUNT by commiting so very late ?

 

You know, like really cheap ? If so, I might start thinking about doing this also !!

 

Yes, you can often get a very good discount, if can be truly spontaneous. Do you have a PVP at Carnival or a trusted TA? Our PVP has called us several times with a special fare on our favorite itinery and sometimes it works for us and sometimes it doesn't. If you want to go at a certain time on a certain ship, then I would not recommend this. Waiting til the last minute can also get you a higher price or a sold out ship!:eek: Good luck!

[jdvmd]

Have done a couple now that two weeks or less. The last one (July 4 sailing) was six days after I booked and THEN I had to have emergency surgery three days before I left. I don't know how I got it done or even got us on the ship, but it all worked out in the end. It is a lot of stress trying to prepare for a cruise, and not just from packing. You have to make sure the house is in order, make arrangements for pets, mail, newspaper etc. Have a great trip.

[Scott_F]

I just checked and Conquest 8/23 rates just went up 50 bucks from what I paid a few days ago.

[bobbyfk]

booked my last cruise on the Triumph with 1 week till embarkation

[caljus]

I will be booking on the 10/16 for 11/01...solo...anyway of getting around double occupancy rate...will PVP help?

[candigirl41]

Sometimes you can get a cabin at 150% instead of 200%. Just depends on demand for that particular ship.

 

Candi

[birdie16]

We just returned from our Glory cruise, booked Monday, flew to Orlando from Phoenix on Friday for our Saturday departure. The only problem was, without the anticipation the whole thing flew by so fast it was almost like it didn't happen!

[doddsm]

My folks have called the day before, jump in there car to get on a ship, it was cheap and some other relatives were on the same ship. I even called to have stuff delivered to there cabin, which was not assigned yet, only had the ship name, port and there name and they got all the gifts for there 50th anniversary.

[doddsm]

I will be booking on the 10/16 for 11/01...solo...anyway of getting around double occupancy rate...will PVP help?

Get on the boards and ask for someone to come with you.

[shawnie]

We've done it 3 days out from sailing...Kinda hectic but at least theres no countdown to drag out the wait!!

[MuffyKismet]

we have booked last minute cruises many times, living in Florida so close to so many ports it is very easy and tempting to book a cruise and GO!! Especially if we have a holiday from work around a weekend time then we just take 1 or 2 days max off and walla a vacation!!! so grateful we live in SW Florida and can take advantage of last minute opportunities. :D

[ROBKAR77]

Most ships sail full so last minute discounting is usually not necessary. Occasionally they will do what they have to for filling a cabin hoping that they make it up with onboard spending.

 

I have booked within a week of sailing. Right now my fun is that we get off the Holiday on a Saturday and then on Tuesday get onboard the Fantasy. Get off the Fantasy and six days later get on the NCL Spirit.

 

This is much better than Jan 07 where we had 1 1/2 days between each sailing and did three ships in three weeks.

 

Dave

 

You will love the Spirit. Thanks for your service. Sail On!

[jetskier]

You will love the Spirit. Thanks for your service. Sail On!

 

Thank you. Actually I spent 15-nights on her Nov 2007 on a Repo from New York to New Orleans. I had made up some t-shirts that read on the front in Chinese style font

 

Norwegian Spirit

Big Apple to the Big Easy

Nov 3-18, 2007

 

I used this type font because of the Asian theme on the ship.

 

On the back I had a photo of the ship and the names of the 8 ports of call that we were going to. The funny part is that they had passengers going to the Gift Shop asking where they could buy the shirt. One passenger even got irate with the shop keeper saying "I know you are selling them because I am seeing them all over the ship".

 

We had about 103 folks on the Cruise Critic roll call and most bought shirts. Because the group was out and about a good bit, folks kept seeing the shirts.

 

Dave