What is the shortest time anybody booked and gone on a cruise

HI Everybody,

I know the worst thing about cruising is the waiting to go on the next one:mad:

So I was wondering do many people waiting until final payment is due then book unsold cabin ???. or some other way...

Particularly as we are flexible and could go on a cruise with a couple weeks notice ( oh would that be great :D)

Cheers Don with a G&T

I once went on a CA coastal, then was on the same ship with the same initiatory 2 1/2 weeks later. The price on the second cruise was so good and I can take off whenever I want (but hubby can't), so I grabbed a friend and we went.

I could care less about the destination or the room type, it's all about being on a ship to me.

We have booked a cruise a number of times while on a cruise. So, I guess 5 or 4 days before the next cruise is the closest we've booked. Works great in Southern Florida, many cruise to choose from within a day of your arrival back to port. Of course, we need keep aware of our flights.

Many years ago, Pre 9/11 - TSA, rules were very lax. Here in LA a local radio station had a "travel" show. Once a month they would have a live show where listeners were invited to show with a packed suitcase. There would be a drawing for a cruise the next morning..

On our most last-minute cruise, we had to fly from the west coast to Puerto Rico in three days to sail in five days. It was pretty fun.

Jim

Booked a Mexican Riviera out of LA/San Pedro maybe a week before it sailed, could have been slightly under 2 weeks.

The dining room assignment was pretty bad. The 2 of us and a couple of other last minute bookers at a table for 8-10 at the back of the dining room, and they moved or never showed up after the first night. So we sat at a giant table set for 2 every night. We eventually got a chuckle out of it, but felt like we were stood up by everyone at a birthday dinner for a few days.

I know you used to be able to show up at the terminal and get on 'standby' or see if they had open cabins for the cruise leaving that day, but those days are over. I think most cruise lines have a 3-5 day cut-off online and a 24 hour cut-off over the phone, 24 hours before is usually the cut-off due to customs and immigration (US only, not sure how it works in other countries.) Also having a passport helps if you really want to get on last minute as it's easier to process you. Some cruises require 48 hours notice for customs, the cruise line will let you know.

Me personally I think the latest I've planned to take a cruise is three before departure. I had a "free" casino offer and I couldn't pass up the chance to try an Oasis class ship for the price.

I could care less about the destination or the room type, it's all about being on a ship to me.

Haha, so true! I feel the same way though I can’t convince DW of that.

We also did a Calif Coastal with less than a month to go from booking. All balconies were sold out so we settled on an interior. Any room, any destination, I’m happy!

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Last I Heard, cruise line HAD to give customs/TSA the COMPLETE manifest 72 hours prior to departure..

When Princess sailed from Houston we booked a cruise less than a week before it sailed. Although I enjoy the time looking forward to a cruise and doing port research, a bargain price to a familiar destination is still a chance to be on a ship! Now we have to fly to the departure port so it cuts down on the spontaneous trips. [emoji853]

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The next day. At the time I lived 30 min from the port.

Last I Heard, cruise line HAD to give customs/TSA the COMPLETE manifest 72 hours prior to departure..

Actually, it is 45 minutes prior to departure. Additionally, TSA has nothing to do with this.

When the Golden made its debut in San Pedro for some short cruises, they couldn't give away the voyages. Hence the promotion: Buy a cruise and 100% of fare would be credited to a 7 day or more cruise.

I was on the Golden headed out to sea (San Pedro channel) when I called my travel agent to ask her to book another cruise upon my return from a three day cruise. I let my TA know that I was soon to lose cell service. Unfortunately, I had to give up the Window Suite for a balcony on such short notice, but we were able to do a b2b. Now that is short notice.

Wow some of those times are shorts.... So there is something said to have your bag pack and passport in hand... after our next to Jan 18.. will be on look out for last minute opening....

Oh yes to be on cruise again.... something to look forward to next year.

Thanks for everybody replies Don

Is it time for a G&T ?

I am of the opinion that the Dept of Homeland Security needs the manifest 72 hours prior to sailing. But, of course, been wrong before (once), might be wrong again. :cool:

I am of the opinion that the Dept of Homeland Security needs the manifest 72 hours prior to sailing. But, of course, been wrong before (once), might be wrong again. :cool:

These days, it is done electronically. Hence the 45 minute time line prior to departure.

In mid-Oct of 2015 we learned of an amazing deal on the 10 day Regal Princess repo cruise from NYC to Ft Lauderdale. We ended up paying about $45 per person/day for the highest category balcony. When one of our cruise agents told us of the offer (it was one of those unadvertised specials) I quickly found a fantastic return air deal from Southwest....and booked the cruise in 5 minutes.....about 9 days before the cruise.

Hank

My shortest was 2 days I think. It was at night, not long before reservations closed @ 9pm ET and we were completely changing a vacation from going to St Thomas for a week. (I had airline status to change a points reward booking at a moment notice).

I don't remember why a Princess cruise at the time, but it was in 2002 and the Golden had "a couple" of cabins left going out of Port Everglades, including a call in STT. As I remember it, there was at least one Inside left, and there was a Balcony the agent mentioned. I started out booking the Inside and then got convinced to do the Caribe balcony. Then, as we were finalizing it, through the stress of re-arranging it all, I came to my senses and said I can't do it (spend another $1000 I think it was). So I said to put me back in the Inside. I had to fax out passports and then a booking would come via fax or email later. By this time it was after closing and I could not phone in again. We were flying the next day I think.

I think we flew down either the next day or day after. This is my first time in Terminal 2. First time on a ship since the 1980's. When we checked in I was handed cruise cards for the Caribe Balcony. Could. Not. Believe. It. That agent was some special person - like he understood I was at end of my rope needing a calm break away. It was amazing and we did AT dining when it was relatively young and not so many doing it and met a nice couple we ate with most evenings. Great experience and eventually led to a desire to cruise again and again.

We lived in Miami in the 60’s and 70’s we went on the Bahama Star for a 3 day 4 night cruise we booked it on a Friday and left on Saturday! This was in 1970. It cost $ 69 person for an inside room.

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Last I Heard, cruise line HAD to give customs/TSA the COMPLETE manifest 72 hours prior to departure..

So how can Carnival still sell cruises the morning of departure?

They can because this is the cruising world's version of an urban legend: repeat it enough and it becomes true. (Or is the new term "alternative facts"?)

But to answer the actual question: shortest interval in the modern era for me was five days; booked Tuesday night, sailed Sunday. This was for a Ft Lauderdale-Los Angeles canal transit so was taking a big chance I could find one-way return air (had been researching but was not at liberty to do so simultaneous with talking to the Princess rep). Fortunately US Air was willing to sell the one flight at the "round-trip/each way" advertised rate--the discount carriers that easily do so today were not as common even as recently as 2009.

Last year it was 2 days and almost one day since I booked it at 11:30 PM. On NCL and I can see the port from my condo so I am nice and close.

This spring was a week.

My friend lives in Florida he booked a cruise on Monday and was on the ship Friday.

Tony

2 weeks---when we got an amazing deal on Carnival Breeze for 8 nights for $189 each. Hubby said, "book it!" And we figured out vacation time after that!

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We live in Ft. Myers, booked a 8 day on Thursday, left Sat.

This was last year.

Since we can go at any time, when the Wife found a last minute sale on Friday for a 10 day out of San Pedro going South to depart Monday we jumped on it. Packed, loaded up the car and drove South on Saturday. Stayed at the Crown Plazza hotel which stored our vehicle and away we went Monday morning.

Bob