Looking to pay the right price.

How does one find out what bargains or discounts a cruise line is giving? You can ask them but you know what the reply will be. There are a lot of posts in a lot of places that tell you about discounts offered in 2014 for cruises in 2015 but how do find them??

By "right price" you probably mean the lowest price. There is no easy way. If you are looking for "lowest cruise deals dot com" it doesn't exist.

In general, discounts are offered about 90 days before sailing when those who had booked earlier would have had to make their full payment. But that happens only if there are a lot of unsold cabins. If a voyage is selling well - as often happens during peak vacation times - it might not be discounted at all. Sometimes there are good deals close to sailing - say less then one month. Your price can also go up. If it is selling well a cruise line, like any other business, will charge that the market will bear. And your voyage can sell out before you make up your mind.

Do you use a TA? (We cannot mention any by name here.) Many let the TA do this work for them. You can also monitor the cruise line web site and look at the big online travel sites.

Booking early means a higher price but specific cabin location, and your price and vacation is locked in. If you are still employed and need to apply for vacation this could be important to you.

Booking late can mean a lower price, only a guarantee cabin, and you must have flexibility of time. If you need 4-6 weeks advance approval for vacation time this won't work.

Start monitoring the fares for the voyage which interests you. Once you see a price that is agreeable book it then never, ever, look at the prices again. You can lose the waiting game by waiting too late.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

Prices change on cruises all the time. Last minute bookings may get you good prices if you are flexible on travel dates.

There are some discount, on-line cruise specialists. We can't mention them on Cruise Critic but you can Google and find some.

The "right price" is what feels ok to you and your pocketbook.

I am sailing the Victory in January. Many price reductions but I paid a lot lower then when the price drops. Still at 50pp less then what the sale is now.

I booked about a year out.

Booking early gives the best price.

Yes, price drops as the sailing gets closer-- but still not as low as I paid a year out

How does one find out what bargains or discounts a cruise line is giving? You can ask them but you know what the reply will be. There are a lot of posts in a lot of places that tell you about discounts offered in 2014 for cruises in 2015 but how do find them??

the only price you need to be concerned with is WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY for the cabin type, amenities and itinerary.

if you do not trust the cruise lines to offer you their best prices, then get a Travel agent.

It is all about research. There is no one "best" time to buy. There is no one "best" place to buy. If there was, everybody would buy there, and all the rest would go out of business.

There are some "off-peak" periods during the year, when prices go down, primarily because demands are lower during those times. One off-peak period is the two or three week period between the end of Spring Break, usually near the end of April, and the beginning of summer vacation bookings, usually near Memorial weekend. Another off-peak period is at the end of summer vacation, usually right after Labor Day weekend. However, the weather in the Caribbean can be a little "iffy". There may or may not be a tropical storm or hurricane brewing. Also, some of a cruise line's older ships that are smaller and have fewer on board amenities are cheaper than the newer mega ships that have all of the bells and whistles. To find the cruise you want at the price you're willing to pay, you'll either have to do the research yourself, or talk to a knowledgeable cruise agent in your area.

One thing you may have to consider is the price of airfare if you have to fly to the departure port. Waiting for a sale or price drop to book may mean paying higher airfare, which might cancel out the cruise savings. EM

There are lots of internet sites out there including CC. Use them. We are not allowed to recommend specific TA's or booking sites on CC but they are there.

DON