How late have you booked?

[dna529]

And what kind of room did you get? We are thinking about booking the Conquest for the end of March, but would be fine if we didn't. Checking prices everyday for insides. Not much left, but a few on decks 1 and 2. Has anyone had any luck booking last minute lately? Did the price go down or up?

Edited February 18, 2016 by dna529

[countrygirlcruiser1234]

Not lately, but spring break 2013, we scored a amazing deal on the Legend 7 day. 4 people 7th floor extended balcony, $1230 included port fees taxes and tips. booked 11 days before we sailed. CRAZY CHEAP!!!!! ive never seen or had another deal like that cross my path!

[ABQrobin]

we booked on the Glory last August only a few weeks out... the boat was almost full. We took an inside room, half the price of a balcony. Prices were high due to being close to sellout.

[poz222]

If it's close to sold out might not get a steal (as they will sometimes take those cabins for contractors who need to sail) or for casino freebies if there is a bunch of cabins, then 2 weeks is usually a good time for last last minutes...

[richmke]

We booked 2.5 weeks out. It was a last minute thing. I had a relatively narrow window to sail because of work.

 

7-day Caribbean:

 

Carnival $459/person inside Deck 1 $1,130 for 2 including port & taxes

 

Carnival $649/person OV Deck 1 + $50 OBC, $1,574 for 2 including port & Taxes - This is what we booked

 

NCL $749/person OV, $1,882 for 2 incl port & Tax, but it came with $100 casino credit, and choice of 2: free wifi, 4 restaurant cert, unl beverage (+$86.94 for tips), $150 towards excursions

 

On the NCL, the balcony would be +$200, so would have done that if we picked the NCL cruise.

 

We also looked a 14 day panama canal cruise. $949 inside, $1,149 outside ($2,580/$2,980 for 2).

 

Not great pricing compared to what you can get booking 1 year out. The cruises sold out a day or 2 after I booked.

Edited February 18, 2016 by richmke

[Bases5]

I booked at 11:57pm once. I pretty sure that was the latest for using

[Luluwa]

booked 15 days out for this upcoming cruise

[Saint Greg]

I've booked 2, 4, and 6 weeks out. The best deal I got was booking 2 weeks out. But if I waited that long this time it would've been sold out. I just get an idea of which cruise has the best deal, put in for vacation, and watch the price and number of rooms available everyday until it seems like the right time to book.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Saint Greg

[tonit964]

My DH called me from work around 9:00pm on Wednesday Nov 18 2009 and asked if I could be packed for a Thanksgiving cruise on Royal Caribbean leaving that Saturday the 21st. Of course I could! :D

 

He got the last inside cabin, well thats what the rep told him.

[HaleyQuinn112]

We booked for March 3rd on February 10th. However, 2 of the people in our group booked the 16th and still made it on. They have interior. We have an oceanveiw. They still had a few left when they booked. However the orice is going WAYYY up. It's 400$ for an interior right now (I was always under the impression it would go down?) This is a relatively small ship and not as popular though so that may be why.

 

Carnival Fascination 4 night out of Jacksonville

[Jenhem31]

We booked 30 days out once. Got an amazing deal for an inside room. Airfare worked out as well. We've always had a balcony but we made the sacrifice happily.

[MAGNUM PI]

Unfortunately, with my wife's work schedule, we can't book spontaneous cruises. Once she is retired, I could definitely envision doing this, when the "cruise mood", strikes us. Now, we usually book, a year ahead.

Edited February 20, 2016 by MAGNUM PI

[Bases5]

I remember back in the day driving to Miami and booking unsold cabins day of the cruise,

We did this twice.

Those days are long gone.

[RuthlessBoss]

My DH called me from work around 9:00pm on Wednesday Nov 18 2009 and asked if I could be packed for a Thanksgiving cruise on Royal Caribbean leaving that Saturday the 21st. Of course I could! :D

 

He got the last inside cabin, well thats what the rep told him.

 

I did something similar with NCL in 2014. I travel solo and a deal came up on Getaway, no extra supplement. Got a balcony for $499. This was on a Thursday night and was on the ship that Saturday. A friend coincidentally was going to Miami that exact time, so hooked a ride with her:D

[CARNIVALCRUISE3]

I have booked 2 days before sailing since I live 30 minutes from the Port of Miami. I booked an inside on the Breeze, and price remained the same. In December, I booked the Victory for Dec. 17, a week before sailing, and prices increased. Years ago, the closer you booked to sailing, the less expensive the cruise would be. Now they either remain the same or increase.

Edited February 20, 2016 by CARNIVALCRUISE3

[nydney1]

We have booked 30 days out and 60 before but nothing stands out as fantastic prices.

 

The best deal was last year on the Dream, booked 30 days out and got an Oceanview for $1100 total. Not bad for a 7 day for 4. It sailed out of NOLA so we could drive.

[tonit964]

I did something similar with NCL in 2014. I travel solo and a deal came up on Getaway, no extra supplement. Got a balcony for $499. This was on a Thursday night and was on the ship that Saturday. A friend coincidentally was going to Miami that exact time, so hooked a ride with her:D

 

That was a great deal!

I just loved the spontaneity of that cruise.

[jbuch02]

Interesting thread ....... Most comments stating its gotten harder to find good deals short notice (inside 30d of the sail date) parallel my experience as well.

 

10 years ago, it was more common to be able to do that. There is a good reason for this. Across the travel industry and probably most recently among cruise lines, the front offices are using dynamic pricing software to optimize passenger load.

 

You'll all know how the airlines do this. So, the guy right next to you is not always paying the same price you did for the same seats. Moreover, it's hard to hit the sweet spot. Airlines, cruise lines and hotel chains don't want you to know how to do this! I've been told by designers of this kind of optimizing software that even hits on web site by folks just price checking a fare have a bearing on what a seat, cabin or hotel room will be advertised for on the Internet.

 

Therefor, it's all about demand. If there is a lot of it, obviously, you're going to pay more and it is unlikely you will pick up a last minute deal. But there are still opportunities to do this and when a ship's passenger load isn't where the front office wants it, there will be a price drop or perks offered or whatever to get you to buy.

 

It pays to keep your ear to the ground and if you see a good deal and you can take the trip from a budget and time standpoint, take it. Oddly the great prices can occur way out, in between or close to the cruise. Hard to know. Keep your eyes open.

[Tripper10]

We have booked two days out.

[dna529]

We have booked 30 days out and 60 before but nothing stands out as fantastic prices.

 

The best deal was last year on the Dream, booked 30 days out and got an Oceanview for $1100 total. Not bad for a 7 day for 4. It sailed out of NOLA so we could drive.

 

That is a great deal!