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

[neverbeenhere]

From a Cruise Critic Article:

 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Requirements and Customs Clearance:

 

The DHS requires cruise lines to provide a final passenger manifest at least an hour before departure. The deadline is one reason why cruise lines have encouraged passengers to provide their personal information well in advance of sailing via online check-in.

DHS also manages the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, in charge of processing passengers as they disembark the ship back in the U.S. For clearance, you'll be required to fill out a customs form and present your passport to immigration officials either on the ship or in the cruise terminal. Be sure that you hold on to receipts in order to declare goods purchased aboard, and to adhere to allowances for purchases of popular items like alcohol, cigarettes and cigars. U.S. citizens and permanent residents looking for a shortcut on the customs line can apply for the Global Entry cardahead of their sailing, which allows for expedited customs clearance via an automated kiosk; at press time, however, note that Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is the only cruise port equipped to accept Global Entry passengers. Also at Port Everglades, cruisers can opt to speed up their entry through customs by downloading the free official Mobile Passport app, which allows them access to a specially designated (and often short) passport control line.

Note that local custom and immigration officials in other countries have their own clearance procedures in place for debarkation, which can vary based on the port of call and the nationality of disembarking passengers; your cruise line will provide related instructions for local protocol and practices aboard the ship, ahead of arrival.

[goblue]

I'm thinking about doing one but where do I find the last minute sale ?

I check Princess site daily and they raised price a couple weeks ago and had not come down yet :-(

(I'm eyeing Thanksgiving week and I live in Florida so travel is not a problem).

[iancal]

Booked on a Wednesday, sailed on the following Saturday from Miami.

[cruisequeen4ever]

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..

 

 

 

Umm, that's awesome!!

 

 

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[cruisequeen4ever]

Our shortest was the week before the cruise. I was visiting my parents and found an unbelievable deal but thought there was no way we could take advantage of it. I called my hubby nonetheless, and he confirmed that he couldn't get the time off that close to departure. I was so disappointed to miss out on this deal. We went out to run errands, and as I was checking out, my hubby called and said we are going!! His boss was very sweet about it because it was going to be over our anniversary! I couldn't believe it!! I just kept telling my parents; I'm going on a cruise NEXT WEEK!! I think the long planned cruises and last minute surprises are both fun.

 

 

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[BillB48]

This past August, made reservations on Friday for a 7 day cruise that left on Sunday. Thought about waiting to until Saturday to make reservations, but I like to plan ahead;)!

[Sacto Rick]

That had been my plan to book last minute cruises when there was a huge discount. So far we haven't taken advantage of those. There are still itineraries we want to have and feel if we wait, they may not be available.

 

Our shortest time was last summer when we saw a flash sale for an Alaska/Yukon land sea journey. We booked it and flew to Anchorage within 30 days. We had no plans to do this trip, it was spur of the moment and great!

 

Happy cruising!

[bluegiraffe]

3 days ahead. It was a last minute decision - a 3 night Bahamas cruise at $69 pp for an oceanview room on RCL with $100 OBC. Couldn't pass that up.

[baz48]

A few years ago we dined with a couple from Ft. Lauderdale who cruised quite a bit. She told us of the time they arrived at the dock for their Carnival cruise on Sunday morning only to learn it had sailed the day before! Since they were all packed and ready to go she called Carnival who said if they could get to Miami within 2 hours they could sail on a cruise leaving that afternoon. Of course, they had to pay for that one, but Carnival did give them a voucher for a future cruise (with restrictions) for their missed cruise, which was very generous I think.

[SadieN]

On Princess you can book up to two days prior. Carnival allows you to book morning of sailing but you have to go call. Cannot book at the pier.

 

Earliest we’ve done has been booking Tuesday for a Friday embarkation.

[pmd98052]

We once booked 10 days prior to a 41 night Seattle to New Zealand Cruise. That was a little nuts and we had to pull our 5 and 8 year old out of school and arrange to hone school during the duration too!

[xlxo]

3 days.... I was on the Eurodam leaving Seattle a week ago.

[getting older slowly]

We once booked 10 days prior to a 41 night Seattle to New Zealand Cruise. That was a little nuts and we had to pull our 5 and 8 year old out of school and arrange to hone school during the duration too!

Wow I am impressed particularly for a 41 night cruise, but what a buzz, that is something I love to do.... Cheers Don:D

[Hlitner]

I am posting this to demonstrate the tremendous deals to be found for last minute bookers. We had been watching the 10/26 sailing of the Regal Princess (their newest ship) which does an annual repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami (this year it stops at St Kitts, Antigua and Bonaire). We have done this cruise the previous two years, and for a few reasons is usually a winner for those looking for last minute deals. So this morning, they opened up some balcony cabins for a total cost of $1198 (total cost for 2 which includes all taxes and fees). We also were able to get our usual $100 Veterans Credit (once you register your vet info with Princess you automatically get it on subsequent cruises), $100 Stockholder Credit, a $100 credit from AMEX (for Platinum Card holders) + and $75 credit from the cruise agency. This makes the net cost of the cruise (not including tips) of $823 or $41.30 per person/day for a balcony cabin! We also get some additional onboard amenities because we are Elite with Princess which makes this a real steal. DW is thinking we might not bother to get off the ship in any of the ports (we know the ports too well),,,,but you cannot even get a lousy hotel room for $82 a day.

 

Hank

P.S. By the time I booked this deal online (which took me about 10 min) it had already disappeared for other bookers who had not jumped on this deal.. It seems to be a pattern where they open up a few low price bookings...and then quickly close the deal once they get a few takers. What I found surprising is that this pricing deal popped up on a Sunday morning (it was not there last night) and was gone within an hour.

[weedpindle]

I was on the Regal waiting in the lounge to disembark and they made an announcement for anyone wanting to remain on board for the next cruise(7 days) @199 any cabin to go to passenger services to sign up.

[geoherb]

Decades ago, my in-laws showed up at the port and bought their tickets to a cruise that day. The closest I've come was three and a half weeks before a holiday cruise on HAL. Our British isles cruise this past summer was 56 days before the cruise. I booked our December cruise on the Regal this week--58 days before the cruise.

[Steelers36]

I am posting this to demonstrate the tremendous deals to be found for last minute bookers. We had been watching the 10/26 sailing of the Regal Princess (their newest ship) which does an annual repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami (this year it stops at St Kitts, Antigua and Bonaire). We have done this cruise the previous two years, and for a few reasons is usually a winner for those looking for last minute deals. So this morning, they opened up some balcony cabins for a total cost of $1198 (total cost for 2 which includes all taxes and fees). We also were able to get our usual $100 Veterans Credit (once you register your vet info with Princess you automatically get it on subsequent cruises), $100 Stockholder Credit, a $100 credit from AMEX (for Platinum Card holders) + and $75 credit from the cruise agency. This makes the net cost of the cruise (not including tips) of $823 or $41.30 per person/day for a balcony cabin! We also get some additional onboard amenities because we are Elite with Princess which makes this a real steal. DW is thinking we might not bother to get off the ship in any of the ports (we know the ports too well),,,,but you cannot even get a lousy hotel room for $82 a day.

 

Hank

P.S. By the time I booked this deal online (which took me about 10 min) it had already disappeared for other bookers who had not jumped on this deal.. It seems to be a pattern where they open up a few low price bookings...and then quickly close the deal once they get a few takers. What I found surprising is that this pricing deal popped up on a Sunday morning (it was not there last night) and was gone within an hour.

 

I hope you don't mind - since you are saving so much - if Princess deposits you in Fort Lauderdale at Port Everglades. Princess does not use Port of Miami for embark/disembark. :cool:

Edited October 16, 2017 by steelers36

[Essiesmom]

A couple of weeks ago, due to the hurricanes, Carnival had to substitute a ship out of Jacksonville for a ship out of San Juan. You see, Carnival Elation had her drydock interrupted by Irma, and would not be done on time. Fascination could not sail out of San Juan. So they substituted Fascination for Elation. Many people cancelled for various reasons, and they had cabins to let. They emailed people on Sept. 27 with an offer for a free cruise in an OV cabin - for the next day. The offers were really casino offers, and they were snapped up like candy. Unfortunately, I don't visit the casino so didn't get the email...EM

[BRENT AND DIANNA]

I booked on a Wednesday and left on a Saturday.... Three years ago

 

 

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[dancelover53]

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 booked a cruise and flights on Thursday, flew the next day, Friday. Boarded the ship the following day, Saturday.

 

 

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[Hlitner]

I hope you don't mind - since you are saving so much - if Princess deposits you in Fort Lauderdale at Port Everglades. Princess does not use Port of Miami for embark/disembark. :cool:

 

Yeah, we made a mistake when posting. Well aware of Port Everglades and booked with SWA out of FLL to get back home. But when I saw your post I took a deep breath and went back through all the arrangements we made (within 60 minutes yesterday) for the cruise, 2 rental cars (to NYC and from the airport home), arrangements with DD for a pre-cruise sleep over, etc. Fortunately, everything in perfect order ::).

 

Hank

[Pierlesscruisers]

The shortest time I've ever heard of was 1 day. In fact, it happened to a good friend of mine just today. My wife and I are on a cruise from Vancouver, BC to Los Angeles tomorrow and our friend got a call from Princess this morning offering him a stateroom for tomorrow's cruise. Due to a recent surgery, he had to turn it down, but I'd think that might still qualify him for one of the shortest, if not the shortest, period of time between offer and cruise! :o

 

Tom

[cougaraz]

Thursday for a Saturday departure. To be fair, we were on the waiting list starting Monday though. We finished a 7 night out of Alaska and had so much fun we joined family departing one week later.

 

'When was your last cruise?'

 

'A week ago!'

 

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