Best Time to Book For Best Price

[JetSet2B]

I want to sail Cunard in 2013 and I am prepared to book but the cruises a year out are mpre expensive than they are now. I will be sailing solo so I'll be paying double. Right now, I see prices on transat Cunard crossings for Oct 12-Jan 13 for $650-750 inside. If I could get that price for fall 2013, I'd book today. When should I start looking for the best rates?

[MCC retired]

If you can be flexible about sailing date,
cabin type/location, then you will find
better rates closer to sailing and some real
bargain Flash rates after final.
I find Cunard Early Booking discounts sad.

[Classiccruiser777]

Early spring or late fall tend to be the cheapest. If you have flexibility the last minute deals seem to be the best as MCC stated, but you may have to pay higher airfares (assuming you need to fly to/from ports).

Also, which side of the pond you are on seems to make a difference.

[JetSet2B]

The problem is I'm not totally flexible so I hoped to book a year or so out, get a decent rate, and pay it off slowly. I feel like this kind of cruise as a solo needs more planning (ie getting the one way airfare, wardrobe , etc). I'll just keep checking and sign up for the Cunard emails.

[JetSet2B]

Are there other cruise lines that have better rates for solos that will give me that nostalgic glory-says-of-travel oceanliner experience that I am seeking? That is my main reason for wanting to sail on Cunard--I want the full experience.

[Scrapnana]

Originally Posted by JetSet2B

I want to sail Cunard in 2013 and I am prepared to book but the cruises a year out are mpre expensive than they are now. I will be sailing solo so I'll be paying double. Right now, I see prices on transat Cunard crossings for Oct 12-Jan 13 for $650-750 inside. If I could get that price for fall 2013, I'd book today. When should I start looking for the best rates?

You should not have to pay double sailing solo unless you are booking the Grills. For Brittania solo prices usually range between 150%-175%.

[Aussieflyer]

Cunard is the only one IMO to give you the ocean liner experience. There other lines that cross the Atlantic but mostly as repositioning cruises at the end/start of each season. There are also legs available on world cruises that some other lines offer. QM2 is the Queen though in more ways than just name. Haven't done a TA yet but this will be the ship when we do.

[JetSet2B]

Originally Posted by Aussieflyer

Cunard is the only one IMO to give you the ocean liner experience. There other lines that cross the Atlantic but mostly as repositioning cruises at the end/start of each season. There are also legs available on world cruises that some other lines offer. QM2 is the Queen though in more ways than just name. Haven't done a TA yet but this will be the ship when we do.

That's what I thought. Then Cunard it shall be. I'm not spending 7 days on the Atlantic without getting the full experience.

[JetSet2B]

Originally Posted by Scrapnana

You should not have to pay double sailing solo unless you are booking the Grills. For Brittania solo prices usually range between 150%-175%.

I'm not sure what Grills or Brittania mean. . .still new to this. When I'm pricing a cruise, I just usually assume the worst solo supplement (200%) when I'm looking at Cunard. I'll have to look for those 150-175%.

[violetta58]

We always book early ,up to a year as we like to choose our cabin.Now with the Vantage fares if the price later goes down you get either more on board credit or reduction in price or an upgrade.For our April cruise which we booked last May we got £700 reduction and double obc!

[Aussieflyer]

Originally Posted by JetSet2B

I'm not sure what Grills or Brittania mean. . .still new to this. When I'm pricing a cruise, I just usually assume the worst solo supplement (200%) when I'm looking at Cunard. I'll have to look for those 150-175%.

Grills is the suite experience on Cunard - Princess and Queen's Grills each have their own dining rooms and other perks like butler. Queens Grill is the premium (most expensive), Princess Grills staterooms are the next category down. Britannia is the general name used for passengers who dine in the Britannia dining room (i.e. the main dining room). This includes those who sail in inside, ocean view and balcony cabins. There is also Britannia Club which is a balcony cabin but has the extra of its own dining room. Most people travel in Britannia (as by definition there are less cabins available in Grills).
Happy researching

[JetSet2B]

Originally Posted by Aussieflyer

Grills is the suite experience on Cunard - Princess and Queen's Grills each have their own dining rooms and other perks like butler. Queens Grill is the premium (most expensive), Princess Grills staterooms are the next category down. Britannia is the general name used for passengers who dine in the Britannia dining room (i.e. the main dining room). This includes those who sail in inside, ocean view and balcony cabins. There is also Britannia Club which is a balcony cabin but has the extra of its own dining room. Most people travel in Britannia (as by definition there are less cabins available in Grills).
Happy researching

Thanks for explaining. I would be Brittania all the way.

[JetSet2B]

Originally Posted by violetta58

We always book early ,up to a year as we like to choose our cabin.Now with the Vantage fares if the price later goes down you get either more on board credit or reduction in price or an upgrade.For our April cruise which we booked last May we got £700 reduction and double obc!

When I spoke to the agent, she couldn't guarantee that I would either get a refund or OBC is there was a price drop. She said I would have to "qualify" for the price drop. I thought booking early was best but I guess I might have to wait until the spring. We'll see. . .

[imacruizer]

Originally Posted by JetSet2B

When I spoke to the agent, she couldn't guarantee that I would either get a refund or OBC is there was a price drop. She said I would have to "qualify" for the price drop. I thought booking early was best but I guess I might have to wait until the spring. We'll see. . .

Where do you live? Are you in the USA, UK, or other?

[Jimsgirl]

Originally Posted by Scrapnana

You should not have to pay double sailing solo unless you are booking the Grills. For Brittania solo prices usually range between 150%-175%.

Actually the supplements vary.

For a cruise in March 2013, I have had to pay 200% for a D8 (old name ) inside cabin.

I think that looking at prices and mentally calculating two fares one at 175% and one at 200% , deciding if they suit and then calling Cunard (or a really "for you" TA) is the the only answer.

Other advice would be, set a cost in your mind, register and check for Cunard sales. However be advised that even if book a "bargain" you may find that a later 24 hour "flash sale" is cheaper, then you willl have to decide QUICKLY (do NOT dawdle) if you can cancel and rebook - only Cunard ot TA can tell you this.

Agents can vary, some are very good, some are just good, and some regretably leave out additional costs and only quote the cabin cost in order to get you to sign with them.
ASK "what other costs, fees etc" and get any quote IN WRITING (or e mail that you print out).

Good hunting.

[JetSet2B]

Originally Posted by imacruizer

Where do you live? Are you in the USA, UK, or other?

I'm in the US.

[Jimsgirl]

Originally Posted by JetSet2B

I'm in the US.

As Postscript to my previous posting, Vantage fares do not apply in the US.

When reading of "deals" on this forum, you have to realise that the booking rules can be very different depending on where you live/book. On a recent cruise, a CC member told me that he had received $900 obc , whereas I had received only $200, I can only assume it was due to a difference in cabins/credit cards/agent. ( I had cruised with Cunard more often than he had)

You can only do the best you can for yourself, and be prepared to read or meet up with someone who will boast gleefully that they paid less than you and received a great upgrade free as well! Grrr I really hate those types.

[guernseyguy]

Originally Posted by Jimsgirl

I really hate those types.

Play them at their own game.

On a Princess crossing once we met quite a few whose conversation opening was "How much did you pay?" (Trans. "Bet you didn't get as good a deal as I did")

Heroic fibbing put them in their place.

"$99 including suite upgrade, $500 OBC and helicopter transfers"

Some of them believed us! They quickly changed the subject.

[imacruizer]

Originally Posted by JetSet2B

I'm in the US.

In the US, we have more flexibility about canceling before final payment and being able to take advantage of fare reductions. Try to find an agent who books a lot of Cunard voyages and who is willing to give you price decreases as they occur. There are always exceptions to being able to get a lower price but often your fare can be lowered if the lower fare comes before the final payment date. Good luck with getting a great price and have a fantastic voyage!

[Whitemarsh]

Originally Posted by Jimsgirl

You can only do the best you can for yourself, and be prepared to read or meet up with someone who will boast gleefully that they paid less than you and received a great upgrade free as well! Grrr I really hate those types.

It's a dangerous topic of conversation; best not to talk about it. I certainly don't want to know (after final payment) if there is a better deal out there than the one I got. You can't do anything about it, so what's the point of knowing.

Guernseyguy's method of dealing with the situation is probably best, although I probably wouldn't be able to keep a straight face.