Who books last minute?

And are the deals good?

Thinking of booking a cruise early to mid December(back before Xmas) and will do so when availability appears for my virgin or ba air miles. Isn't any at the moment and generally I never have a problem using them if I wait nearer the time.

How close to a sail have you booked? Are there ever any good deals then? Would be looking for a suite if possible, or balcony.

Need a little more info. Which ship? A newer ship might have a little more difficulty as opposed to the older ones.

I'm sure it can really vary. We booked in Aug 2013 for Alaska on the Sun, Sept 2014. $419 for inside cabin. I watched the price very closely, all the way until 3 days before sailing. It went up, back down to about what we paid, and only for a few days in early Aug 2014 did it go lower, $279. I jumped on an upgrade at that time. But a few days prior to sailing, it was still quite higher than we paid, like $549 if I recall correctly. So you never know what you will get, (like a box of chocolates).

I'm happy to go on any ship really. Criteria would be more based on being at least 6 or 7 days, up to 10 I guess.

Need a little more info. Which ship? A newer ship might have a little more difficulty as opposed to the older ones.

Actually newer, bigger ships have more cabins to fill and the price reductions can be even bigger than on smaller ships.

However, you mentioned you would like a suite and the Haven cabins on the Getaway and Breakaway tend to sell out faster.

this sort of follows with ops question (not to highjack it but)...if you book the lowest cost room after final payment - can you then upgrade to a higher room?

for instance, if you get a inside room and a balcony price goes down in price (of course not lower than the inside but lower than the balcony price that is present) can you upgrade? and pay the difference

I booked a cruise on the NCL Jade at the end of March last year a few months out and got a marvellous deal on a mini suite for 10 nights from/to Rome for £459 each - it was an unmissable deal and the weather was pretty warm! Added on flights to Rome there and back from our local airport and 2 nights in Rome either side of the cruise which cost more than the cruise itself!

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I'm a planner so I have never booked at the last minute. But I'm booked on the Epic next year with family and there will be 4 of us in a balcony.

Since we booked during the kids sail free promotion, I've been told that we can't upgrade without losing the benefit of the original promotion. So, what I'm planning to do is wait until about two to three weeks before sailing and see if there are any solo cabins left and book one if it's a really good rate without cancelling my other room.

This post really applies to me! Dh and I have a land vacation planned starting next Saturday. Just found a nice price going out of NY on breakaway next Sunday. Stressing about this....should we book. Have not sailed Norweigen before so trying to do a little research quick like.....so stressed over this. Thoughts?

I've cruised on ncl to Alaska 4 times. Two of the times I have booked last minute. This last August, it was REALLY last minute. We booked just 6 days before sail date. We live near Seattle so don't have to worry about air fare.

We paid $549 per person for a 7 night cruise on ncl Jewel. It had gone down to $529 per person a few days earlier, but I wasn't quite ready to book yet. We have custody of our granddaughter, and I was trying to figure out if we would be bringing her with us or not.

We booked a last minute inside GTY. Right after booking, I got online and we had been assigned our cabin immediately.

Summer 2013, we booked an inside GTY about a month prior to sail date. Prices we down, so TA called and ncl upgraded us to a port hole cabin for no extra charge. Prices went down again by some. TA called and ncl wouldn't upgrade us again free of charge, but we were able to pay an extra $150 per person to upgrade to a balcony. We did that and loved it.

So, we were able to get a balcony for a 7 night Alaska cruise aboard ncl Jewel for, I think it was, $670.00

This post really applies to me! Dh and I have a land vacation planned starting next Saturday. Just found a nice price going out of NY on breakaway next Sunday. Stressing about this....should we book. Have not sailed Norweigen before so trying to do a little research quick like.....so stressed over this. Thoughts?

Book it. Go and have fun! If it's a guarantee cabin and you are ok with not being able to choose your cabin I say go for it.

We booked our July 2014 Breakaway cruise 9 months before. It was a looooooong wait. I don't want to do that for next summer. Gonna try and wait and see a bit before booking for next summer.

Have fun!

~Robin

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

Here is my biggest hesitation. We are not smokers and we always book a balcony. I understand there is still smoking allowed on balconies (until nov I believe) any input on this

We usually book months in advance. However, just booked a 13 day Panama, MIA to LAX at just over $50 a day each. Can't afford to stay home;). This time it will be our first INSIDE:eek:, but for that rate, could not pass it up. Hope the up-grade fairy calls, if not it will be a new adventure. We'er out of here in 49 days.:)

clr315 the smoking issue for balconies does take effect nov. 1st.

I understand your concern. Can't predict who will be on balconies next to you.

Sea days I don't think it will be an issue.

Good luck and safe sailing no matter what you choose.

P.S. Breakaway is a great ship that is not to be missed. Loved it so much we have to go back.

~Robin

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

this sort of follows with ops question (not to highjack it but)...if you book the lowest cost room after final payment - can you then upgrade to a higher room?

 

 

 

for instance, if you get a inside room and a balcony price goes down in price (of course not lower than the inside but lower than the balcony price that is present) can you upgrade? and pay the difference

Usually yes, no problem.

Here is my biggest hesitation. We are not smokers and we always book a balcony. I understand there is still smoking allowed on balconies (until nov I believe) any input on this

Cannot guarantee the same for you but smoking wasn't an issue on my two week cruise. Different people each week and never noticed anyone smoking.

I would go for it and book. You'll have a great time I'm sure ;)

We just booked the Getaway for december, and it was a pretty good package deal. My only issue is that there are really no choose-able rooms left. We had to book a guarantee. Which is ok, but in general I like to choose my own room.

So thats the downside of last minute bookings. You lose some control and take whats available.

As you're UK, I guess you're considering Spirit or Jade.

I did Spirit last December, last minute. There wasn't much choice in cabins, with only Inside available. However the deal was excellent. I booked Spirit the day before it sailed, and as a solo cruiser (no supplement).

Fare £37.50

Taxes And Fees £180.50

Total £218.00

Add onto it a Sleazyjet return and it was a bargain 9 day Canaries cruise.

Oh and it was an allocated cabin, not a GTY. Even got to choose a huge family room for the same price!!!

I was going to mention the same thing as Froggitt!

We were watching the Spirit prices last October/November and they kept dropping and we managed to get good selected balcony for £800 total (Inc grats) (for 10 nights) about 3 weeks before sailing. I made the mistake of looking the week later and it had gone down to £300 for a balcony. Although we spoke to people who booked during the week before sailing (from Malaga as opposed to Barcelona) and they got an inside for £199 each (plus grats)

However, like Froggitt said, I think they start upgrading ocean view to balconies about two weeks out leaving only insides left, but if that doesn't bother you then I would wait as long as you can. Plus, with Barcelona the are so many easy jet flights from Luton (which was the best check in etc we have experienced) plus Luton is cheaper for hotels and parking than Heathrow.

Over all with the cruise, flights, hotel and parking it cost about £1200 total (plus spends - but thanks to the Craps tables we didn't have much going onto the Amex at the end!) which is a total bargain for 10 nights.

We did it this past February. We were in a Condo for 2 weeks in Hollywood that sadly did not live up to expectations so we decided to grab a cruise on the Majesty of the Seas last minute. We booked on Friday, sailed on Monday. Got a good price but one of the last rooms which was the smallest room we ever stayed in but heck, who cares. We had a great cruise with great food and we got it for under $500 total, taxes in for both of us with a $50 onboard credit. You cant live at home for that money.

I keep saying that one of these years we're going to book our week vacation in the fall and book last minute. Of course you have to be willing to take a ship you might not otherwise get and a room that you would not purchase but as long as you know that going in and you're ok with it, then why not?

@CR I flew from Luton as well. Although flew back to Gatwick as I had parents evening and the earlier Luton flight was full.

I also did well in the casino that cruise.....although for me it was on the poker table. All the orange coloured Brits who joined in Malaga thought they could play poker. I paid my bill with their cash, and had cash to take home.

We book last minute from time to time. We always get a good deal . . . if they don't give us a good deal, we don't book. ;)

We live in Florida now so will become last minute bookers... Am tempted by the Getaway in Oct/Nov! Amazing price. You just have to be flexible if you want to take advantage of the last minute fares.

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@CR I flew from Luton as well. Although flew back to Gatwick as I had parents evening and the earlier Luton flight was full.

 

I also did well in the casino that cruise.....although for me it was on the poker table. All the orange coloured Brits who joined in Malaga thought they could play poker. I paid my bill with their cash, and had cash to take home.

Mr C said that about the Poker! I wonder if you we were there at the same time? He played most nights, whereas I stuck to the craps! He plays decent poker (mostly, not so good last week but never mind) and he loves cruise poker with the high level of "pub players" under the influence of sun and drink!