Best time to book Med Cruise

[Ngamtns706]

I booked a Mediterranean cruise during the promo for $1 for two people. It’s for the July 13 Med and Adriatic. It seems high at 1464 (inside guaranteed, don’t care about balcony on this cruise). I looked at Royal and NCL and NCL had a similar one on the epic for 699 pp. I almost booked it, but I want to stay far away from the mega ships especially the epic. Bad layout all around. I’m flexible with dates and itenerary for the most part. Want to to be June or after of 2019 and a week long. Wife wants to see Sorrento so I guess I need Naples or another port. Airfare looks expensive out there too. I wasn’t impressed with my last royal cruise, and I am going on my first Princess Aug 25 on the Ruby. Any tips? Will price go lower? What sales are coming up. Thanks a lot. Learned a lot here and check it out multiple times a day.

EDIT: July 2019, thank you for the tips

Edited May 14, 2018 by Ngamtns706

[moki'smommy]

July 13 2019? Or 2018?

 

If 2019, no worries...keep checking fares and if it goes down, you can have Princess re-fare your cruise. As to air, check EZ Air thru Princess as well as other alternatives. If you see a drop in air prices, you can change them up to 45 days before your flight. You won't be able to book air until 330 days before your return flight. We've typically found EZ Air to be the best price for international, but feel free to check on your own.

[-Lew-]

The best time for us has been September and October. The crowds are bearable and the weather is quite comfortable. In July you're going during the height of the tourist season when temperatures can be uncomfortable.

 

You mention June... I would certainly pick June over July. We did seven days Rome to Barcelona on the Royal in June 2016 and found the crowds and weather bearable.

 

We always maximize our time in Europe by flying in a few days to a couple of weeks early and staying over in the debarkation city before flying home.

 

As mentioned, book eZAir as soon as possible. There will be sales for both cruise fare and airfare on the Princess website so keep an eye on pricing. You'll receive the airline's confirmation code when you book through eZAir...search for your itinerary on the airline's website to confirm everything, including seat selection, transferred properly. Itinerary changes made by the airline don't always make it over to eZAir in a timely manner, if at all, so monitor the airline's website for flight changes.

 

Enjoy your Med Cruise...

[Micahs Grandad]

We are about to go there tonight and noticed weather cooler now than the summer. That is why we booked for May

 

Who knows whats will happen with pricing depends upon supply and demand

[geoherb]

When you're on the Ruby Princess in August, buy the future cruise deposits. You can rebook your cruise afterward using them to get on-board credit. Princess always has some sort of sale going on. We booked our upcoming one on the Royal when they were doing $300 off EZair airfare and free gratuities. It's anyone's guess as to whether they'll repeat that offer anytime between now and the final payment date of your cruise. But there's bound to be some offer that will be better than the $1 deposit, especially with the future cruise deposits in your pocket ready to be used.

[Ngamtns706]

When you're on the Ruby Princess in August, buy the future cruise deposits. You can rebook your cruise afterward using them to get on-board credit. Princess always has some sort of sale going on. We booked our upcoming one on the Royal when they were doing $300 off EZair airfare and free gratuities. It's anyone's guess as to whether they'll repeat that offer anytime between now and the final payment date of your cruise. But there's bound to be some offer that will be better than the $1 deposit, especially with the future cruise deposits in your pocket ready to be used.

 

Ok thank you everyone for your answers!

[Wishing on a star]

We have a deposit for a nice 10-DAY itinerary on the HAL new-build, Nieuw Statendam, for next year.

The new ship, and the itinerary, are getting us to try HAL.

I would probably never do NCL.

 

You only have the small deposit down, so nothing is at stake here.

 

If you do look at HAL, know that you need to be very very careful about the fare that you book... Refundable, NON-refundable, etc... We had our TA make our booking, and hopefully ours is correct, as we did tell her that we wanted 'fully refundable'. The fare is a bit higher when you book it that way. So far, I don't have a lot of confidence in the quotes that we got on the phone directly from HAL.

[Wishing on a star]

Also, if you do sail Princess... And, you would enjoy all of the perks and free gratuities, etc... you might want to look into the upcoming (June 21) 72 hour Princess Sale Event at a major well-known travel and cruise online agency. There is a recent post about it.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Get Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) on your Ruby cruise and book the cruise then. That way, you'll get more OBC.

 

 

For the 7 night Princess European cruises, most are selling really well. I wouldn't wait to book. Book once you get the FCCs then watch prices and if you see a lower price, ask your TA if you qualify for it.

 

 

 

Airfare prices depend on a lot of factors. It really depends on what's important to you - class of service, travel dates, how many connections, etc. From our home airport on average, we pay $4000 per person to fly into FCO in Business with one connection. Economy runs around $1100. IMO, it's best to compare EZ Air to your favorite airline's website prices. EZ Air offers you the flexibility to get a lower price IF the price goes down and you have bought Flexible Air which isn't due until final payment time.

[Ngamtns706]

Thank you for all the tips. Looking at the current prices for 18 it looks like they sell out and may not get much lower for 19 than they are currently. The starting at 699 inside ncl on epic is a tempting price. I just don’t know if I would regret that ship. The ports are good.

[neverbeenhere]

It’s hard to regret it until you have done it. Save the cash to use to make the Epic experience more to your liking.

[tanyaewa]

That NCL Epic pricing would sway me for sure....

NCL has some very amazing good points.

[AF-1]

Here are a few tips. The first week of May prices are still low. Starting the second week of May thru Aug prices are high for summer season. Late Oct/Nov the prices get low again. I have sailed the Med four times in past seven years. We have always gone early May. Weather is about perfect; mid 70's low 80's; no rain; and the seas have always been calm. Have sailed out of Southampton, Venice, Rome, and Barcelona. Am currently looking for another med cruise in 2020

[ollienbertsmum]

Thank you for all the tips. Looking at the current prices for 18 it looks like they sell out and may not get much lower for 19 than they are currently. The starting at 699 inside ncl on epic is a tempting price. I just don’t know if I would regret that ship. The ports are good.

 

If the 699 price includes drinks then it is a great deal. I have been on the EPIC on the Western Med cruise and love it. I am only not going this year because family wanted to go to Alaska and it is digging into my purse somewhat.

 

I am not sure what it is about the ship you might regret?? OK so the casino is right beside the dining room and not everyone loves the bathroom set up (I am a fan of it). But to be honest there is only one day at sea and you hardly get time to explore the ship with the port-intensive itinerary. I have always had a balcony and I don't think in 3 cruises I have been in one of their pools - I have had a swim when on the beach ashore.