What is the closest to sail date you have booked?

I would like to book a cruise probably 7-nights but may only have 1-2 week before the sail date. Is it possible?

Thanks

Linda

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On Royal Carfibbean you can book up to 24 hours in advance.

Good to know

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I booked a cruise on Carnival between 2 and 3 weeks before sail time. Didn't get a great cabin selection, it was a 6th deck balcony above the piano bar. Most nights the piano bar closed by 11PM, so we weren't even back to the cabin then, but one night they closed near 2AM.

I wouldn't have minded much if he was good, but the sounds that came through the walls and floor were horrid.

I booked a cruise on Carnival between 2 and 3 weeks before sail time. Didn't get a great cabin selection, it was a 6th deck balcony above the piano bar. Most nights the piano bar closed by 11PM, so we weren't even back to the cabin then, but one night they closed near 2AM.

 

I wouldn't have minded much if he was good, but the sounds that came through the walls and floor were horrid.

Yes, often not much choice that close to sailing date - and we are usually careful (fussy[emoji6])

About location. So a cruise may not happen this time.

Thanks

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On most lines you can book the day of departure. You probably won't get a decent price but it can be done. You can't do it online. You have to call and do it by phone.

Booked a 10 day Regal Princess cruise.....8 days prior to the embarkation date. And we got an amazing deal.

Hank

I booked a holiday cruise on HAL Amsterdam on Dec 15th and boarded on Dec. 18th. It was the luck of the drawl. Found it online and called a TA I know. I was on the on my phone with the TA and on line booking the flights. We packed that afternoon and left the next morning Dec. 16th for Ft Lauderdale, 2 hrs.from our home here in Florida (the flights were very cheap) Spent the night in Ft. Lauderdale and flew to San Diego on the 17th to catch the ship on the 18th. Spent 17 days aboard over Christmas and New Years. Yep It can be done!!!

I booked Thursday night for Friday morning's cruise, when I noticed the price of a Bermuda cruise drop in price by almost half on ncl.com .:cool:

We booked one on N.C.L. on a Saturday at 2:00 pm. for the next day it was less than 24 hours. It was out of New York so t was easy to catch the Bolt bus the next day. Great price was why we did it .

Thanks everyone

Interesting stories

I’ll give it a shot if our circumstances work out.

Linda

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Happy to read these first hand experiences. Thought I had read somewhere ships finalized their roster 48 hours out. Thanks for sharing so I know that isn’t true.

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I would like to book a cruise probably 7-nights but may only have 1-2 week before the sail date. Is it possible?

 

Thanks

Linda

 

 

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I have never booked ,for myself, anything close to a sail date ; BUT, two weeks ago I helped my cousins book a cruise , to sail with us and it’s their first cruise, and we sail in just over a week!

When I was sailing on my own, I regularly booked within a week of embarkation - it was a matter of keeping an eye on air fares (if necessary) simultaneously with cruise fares and being ready to go or not go at last minute. A few times sailing from New York (less than an hour train ride) it was easy - two days before was earliest booking.

You just have to be happy/willing to not go if it does not pan out.

I thought sales ended 48 hours out. I thought this was changed years ago because of homelands security and then needing manifests. Now I’m curious.

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Yes -- it can be done. If you aren't fussy about cabin choices, then it could be a good deal.

We have to worry about flights. Very few out of our airport to anywhere and nothing direct. Live too far away to drive anywhere. So can't do last minute cruises.

We've never done this but certainly others have.

We need things like airfare and also like to plan months in advance.

Keith

I have read the about the 48 hour rule many times on this site. The cruise was on there site at a great price we called and went he next day.

I would like to book a cruise probably 7-nights but may only have 1-2 week before the sail date. Is it possible?

 

Thanks

Linda

 

 

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To answer the title question, we booked on a Thursday night for a Sunday departure once.

As noted, you can book up to the day before on most cruiselines. Typically, if within 3 days of a cruise, you must call to make a reservation, you can't book online that late.

I thought sales ended 48 hours out. I thought this was changed years ago because of homelands security and then needing manifests. Now I’m curious.

 

 

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There is No 48 hr rule.

Booked my first cruise on a thursday, took the train to Copenhagen on the friday, spent the night at the airport and flew out on saturday morning and boarded the ship in Barcelona around noon.

2 days

For me it was booking on Friday for a 7 day cruise leaving on Sunday. Would have waited until Saturday to book, but I like to plan ahead!

Three days for a Carnival Caribbean cruise from Miami and, as I recall, three days for an RCI Med cruise from Rome ( we were travelling in Sicily when we booked it).

When we do land travel we often keep an eye open to late booking offers in areas where we happen to be travelling.

We received an offer on Friday, Booked the Ocean view Obstructed that was offered, checked airlines, non available. Hopped into the car and drove to the Port, San Pedro, Ca.

Boarded the Ship Monday morning.

Bob