Booking more than a year in advance

[NDRB]

I didn't think it was possible to book cruises more than about 10 months in advance, but apprently there are those on these boards that have booked cruises well over a year in advance.

How is this possible? I've gone to individual cruise lines' web sites as well as the cruise discounter websites and it doesn't seem possible to get most cruise lines' schedules past Spring 2006, and in some cases past the end of 2005?

Nina

[Sage]

I use a Travel Agent now, and she has been able to find out fares for me well over a year away. In fact, my Travel Agent just sent me the Cruise Planner for 2006. You can also call HAL, and they should be able to tell you the fares for the sailing that you would like and send you a Cruise Planner.

[Roz]

I've had the same experience as Sage. My TA has always been able to book me a year or more in advance.

Roz

[BigDogMom]

I depends on the cruise line as to how far in advance their books are open. It can be anywhere from 18 months to 1 year. The actual printed brochure may not be available but the books could be open for sale. I'm currently looking at a Crystal cruise to compare to HAL. My DH wants to sail Crystal. HAL's books are open but Crystal's are not. Crystal says to try in a month. By my calculations, that will be about 1 year from the sail date we're interested in. HAL is already taking reservations for the date that I want. I know in the end we will be on HAL but DH wants to check Crystal before we deposit....What can you do?!?!?:rolleyes:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I am starting to book my cruises farther and farther in the future. Our October 8,2005 cruise was actually booked the end of July 2004. I was ready to book the new Noordam for March 2006 this past December but the prices are still way more than I think they should be. I do feel many cruisers are starting to book farther in advance to get what they really want.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I booked my next cruise over a year in advance (it's on Celebrity) ... and even then I couldn't get an aft cabin. They were all sold out already. I check weekly and they're simply not there. So I think booking in advance really pays off.

On top of that as of now the category I booked is +$1000 up from when I booked and it's not until October.

[fredandbeth]

We just booked an April 2006 cruise. Again it depends on the cruiseline.

[Pumbaamd]

We were on the Brilliance of the Seas this past January and booked another Brilliance trip for January 2006. If you book on board, you are right there with the cruise line's staff. They have ALL the info, plus you get an onboard booking discount.

[NDRB]

I called HAL, Princess, Celebrity, and RC directly this morning and no one had dates yet for May and July 2006 Mediterranean saliings...

Nina

[ejbmorr]

I know that Holland America books more than a year in advance because we are booked on the inaugural cruise of the Noordam in February, 2006. The hard part of booking too far in advance is the waiting......and waiting.....and waiting! The good part is that you are sure you will have the accomodations you would like. And anyway, half of the fun of cruising is the planning and anticipation, right?

[Aussie Gal]

We booked our South American cruise for January 2006 on the Regal Princess in July, 2004. I was hoping that HAL would have their 2006 itineraries out but they didn't so we went for Princess instead. We needed to organize all our other trips around South America so we could be ready to get our F.F. seats booked in January this year which we did.

In the meantime the Regal is completely booked for this cruise so it pays to book early.

Jennie

[ryansmemom]

We always book at least a year in advance. We use a regular brick and morter Travel Agent. We prefer to book this way because we like to choose a specific cabin. We also feel we get the best price.

We are currently looking into cruises for 2006 and 2007.

Linda

[travellady]

I booked Royal's Freedom of the Seas April 8, 2007 Easter Sailing last Monday - more than 2 years away. And, the ship isn't even completed yet, that's at least a year away. Found out about booking here from an email Royal Carribean sent me. It's not listed on the site yet.

But, only past RCCL cruisers are allowed to book her at this stage of the game. Current plan is to open bookings for everyone in about a week or so.

[stanford's girl]

My motto is "Book early and book often"!!:D