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How short a time can I leave it before departure and still able to book


bunkrest

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Title says it all really....things beyond my control leaves me unable to book my cruise until 10 days before departure would this cause any problems (apart from no cabins left)... I was waiting until the last minute anyway to try and nab myself a bargain but didn't anticipate not able to book until so close to the sailing...:eek:

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In theory, the day of departure if there is unsold space. In the US I've seen booking still open online in the morning for a 5PM sailing. You're in the UK so late booking based in availability should also be possible. You cannot however just show up at the terminal. Check-in agents need to have your information in the system for that voyage.

 

Booking only 10 days out means that almost everybody else already had their staterooms allocated and you will be left with the most undesirable locations. Or, nothing available except insides or ultra high end suites.

 

I recall CaptainPugwash saying that he had once booked very late and was on standby as the ship was sold out. Something opened up three days before sailing. Of course this means you have to be able to make last minute arrangements for travel to Southampton.

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I have booked a short trip one day before departure. Only the transfer fro Heathrow failed as staff there hadn't been notified of the very late booking.

 

Probably only legal reqirements may influence limtations.

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We booked last week, 9 days before sailing. Cruise starts on Wednesday and was still on sale earlier today.

We have a Club Balcony, there was availability in all grades at that time. Obviously every cruise is different, some will sell out sooner than others. When/where are you thinking of going ?

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If not US citizen and visting the US are there ESTA rules about allowing time before travelling? Could these rules stop last minute booking? Not sure.

Cheers.

 

When we did our honeymoon TA from New York 4 years ago I couldn't apply for my ESTA until after the wedding as I needed my new passport details and it wasn't valid until the day of the wedding. We had a few days between the wedding and flying out so it wasn't an issue for us but I contacted the ESTA people who advised that you could actually get someone to apply on line for you as you were travelling to the airport! That would seem to me to be cutting it a tad close but that was what they said.

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  • 2 weeks later...
If not US citizen and visting the US are there ESTA rules about allowing time before travelling? Could these rules stop last minute booking? Not sure.

Cheers.

If i am understanding your question correctly you will already be in the States, ESTA is for arrivals into the country not departures.

They only cost about £8 if you do it via their government site, so it s worth having one just in case. Also you can "practice" doing it if you are unsure, as I did, not knowing how to go about it.u

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