When to Plan 2024?

[DAF7065]

Next here we have a cruise set up for the Med.   I know many folks do more than 1 a year but I am still working and do not have the time for that right now.    BUT....I retire the first of 2024!!!   So I am sure we will be off to many lands after that.  

 

My question is when can you start to look at cruising for 2024?   When can you book?  Should we ask for brochures from the various cruise lines for this?   We really want a Pacific cruise with a goal of visiting  French Polynesia and other islands in the South Pacific.  

 

Thanks

Dave

[CruiserBruce]

You can start planning now....in fact it seems that is actually what you are doing.

 

When you can book depends on the cruise line. Most of the South Pacific cruises tend to be in the North American winter, so your first decision would be are you desiring to go in early 2024, which should be available to book pretty soon, or the 24-25 winter season.

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, DAF7065 said:

Next here we have a cruise set up for the Med.   I know many folks do more than 1 a year but I am still working and do not have the time for that right now.    BUT....I retire the first of 2024!!!   So I am sure we will be off to many lands after that.  

 

My question is when can you start to look at cruising for 2024?   When can you book?  Should we ask for brochures from the various cruise lines for this?   We really want a Pacific cruise with a goal of visiting  French Polynesia and other islands in the South Pacific.  

 

Thanks

Dave

It really depends on the cruise line and the itinerary. We already have a multisegment Asia/Pacific Rim cruise booked on our preferred line in early 2024 and it’s almost sold out.

Note that Polynesia (on the right line) goes fast (including transpacific itineraries (e.g., SYD - SFO or LAX) - either direction. Pick a line with great food and service.

[iancal]

Six months out is long term for us.  Most cruses are 45 days or less.  International land trips often 3 months, sometimes much less.   

 

Just returned from five weeks in Portugal.  Made the decision on March 21 (day we were ticketed) and went on May 24. 

 

Our first winter snowbird trip to Thailand was booked eight days before we flew.  Just enough time to drive to the consulate in another city and get the required visa for a 60 day stay.

 

But...we are retired and can simply lock and leave whenever we wish.

Edited July 3, 2022 by iancal

[cruizergal70]

Cruises for 2024 are already posted on that well known cruise vacation site.

[DAF7065]

Thanks for this but with all the responses it brings many more questions.  

 

What would first ask what are the "well know cruises"?

What are the best lines?  

 

Also timing is a bit confusing with Winter / Summer crossed.   For example if I leave the west coast USA in the Fall I arrive So. Pacific in the Spring.   So I want to be at the cruise destination the best time.  

 

I would think our Winter  in South Pacific (their Summer) is hurricane season.   Is better times our Spring (their Fall), our Fall (their Spring) or our our Summer their winter?   

 

I see some saying cruises booked already for 2024.   That just seams a bit away from now.   I guess I am used to airlines and booking less then a month in advance for work.   Please advise on my concerns / issues?   

 

I think for starters what I will do is ask cruise lines for brochures and tell them my interest.   Does that seam reasonable?   

 

Thanks for the advice.   There is a lot to think about and plan.  

 

Dave

[cruizergal70]

Just know there are no "best lines." Go with the lines that go to the places you want to go to. As far as weather, you'll have to google search each country/region to find the best weather windows. There usually isn't an issue with booking in advance. We always book at 12 to 18 months in advance. 

 

If you really need help, don't contact the cruise lines. Find a good travel agent who can help you.

[lissie]

It sounds like you can use a decent agent. What do you mean by South Pacific - NZ is in the South Pacific - but  I wouldn't recommend coming now - its freezing and due to start raining again! On the other hand we were in Fiji last week it was dry and 30C every day - lovely. 

 

The season in Australia/NZ is  October-April -so the ships relocated in those 2 months if that helps. 

[Ashland]

I book my cruises as soon as RCI opens their schedules to get what I have often found the best pricing and certainly the cabin category and location we want.

[SPacificbound]

In 2022

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, DAF7065 said:

Thanks for this but with all the responses it brings many more questions.  

 

What would first ask what are the "well know cruises"?

What are the best lines?  

 

Also timing is a bit confusing with Winter / Summer crossed.   For example if I leave the west coast USA in the Fall I arrive So. Pacific in the Spring.   So I want to be at the cruise destination the best time.  

 

I would think our Winter  in South Pacific (their Summer) is hurricane season.   Is better times our Spring (their Fall), our Fall (their Spring) or our our Summer their winter?   

 

I see some saying cruises booked already for 2024.   That just seams a bit away from now.   I guess I am used to airlines and booking less then a month in advance for work.   Please advise on my concerns / issues?   

 

I think for starters what I will do is ask cruise lines for brochures and tell them my interest.   Does that seam reasonable?   

 

Thanks for the advice.   There is a lot to think about and plan.  

 

Dave

Find a good cruise specialist TA to assist you. Search here on CC for some of the many posts thst explain how to find a good one.

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, DAF7065 said:

 

I think for starters what I will do is ask cruise lines for brochures and tell them my interest.   Does that seam reasonable?   

 

Thanks for the advice.   There is a lot to think about and plan.  

 

Dave

 

Very reasonable to review brochures.  I think all major cruise line brochures can be viewed via their websites.  

[Ashland]

3 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Very reasonable to review brochures.  I think all major cruise line brochures can be viewed via their websites.  

I miss those hard copy brochures RCI used to mail me. I still have a few and refer to them often for basic info.

[ldubs]

1 minute ago, Ashland said:

I miss those hard copy brochures RCI used to mail me. I still have a few and refer to them often for basic info.

 

Hi Ashland.   At this point, I don't prefer or need to have a printed piece of paper over a computer screen.  Though I do read that many still prefer the glossy brochures.  I still get them routinely from Oceania and Princess.  I wonder if I could opt to go paperless.   As far as the OP's question, my point is why order a bunch of brochures and wait for them in the mail, when they can view them in full living color online right now.  As far as being most up-to-date, we know which one that will be.  😀

[sanger727]

I would start by doing some research on your destination. For example, something like this will give you an idea of when to go. 

Best Time to Cruise the South Pacific Islands - Weather & Climate (adventure-life.com)

 

I can't share the cruise search website I use but Carnival, Royal caribbean, princess, and HAL all offer cruises to this area. Along with the luxury lines like Oceania, Regent, etc.

 

What we do when we know a ways out that we want to do the trip is look at the cruises being offered this year (so look at 2023). That will give you a good idea of what itineraries may be offered and give you time to pick the cruise line you want and do research on your destination.

 

Once you choose when you want to go and who you want to go with, you can check every couple weeks to see if 2024 is being offered yet. For a big trip like this, I don't see any downside to booking once it's available. You'll still be able to get price drops. If you feel uncomfortable committing to a trip this far out then book with a refundable deposit. That way you can hold the spot and cancel if something else comes up.

[DAF7065]

Sanger

Thanks for the web site has a lot of good info.

 

 

[Ashland]

On 7/4/2022 at 12:13 AM, ldubs said:

 

Hi Ashland.   At this point, I don't prefer or need to have a printed piece of paper over a computer screen.  Though I do read that many still prefer the glossy brochures.  I still get them routinely from Oceania and Princess.  I wonder if I could opt to go paperless.   As far as the OP's question, my point is why order a bunch of brochures and wait for them in the mail, when they can view them in full living color online right now.  As far as being most up-to-date, we know which one that will be.  😀

Of course more up to date info is online. But mine are all full of specific notes I've made over the years that I've gotten from personal experience or from many poster's here on CC...so their kinda special or at least to me and have helped to answer many questions that crop up occasionally.

 

 I get several high end cruise brochures but have no use for them...I've tried to "unsubscribe" not that I ever did , with no results.

 

Thanks Idubs for responding...always like hearing from you.

[ldubs]

25 minutes ago, Ashland said:

Of course more up to date info is online. But mine are all full of specific notes I've made over the years that I've gotten from personal experience or from many poster's here on CC...so their kinda special or at least to me and have helped to answer many questions that crop up occasionally.

 

 I get several high end cruise brochures but have no use for them...I've tried to "unsubscribe" not that I ever did , with no results.

 

Thanks Idubs for responding...always like hearing from you.

 

Kind of like a personal log book.  I like that and wish I had started something similar way back when. 

 

I tried to unsubscribe from the Neptune Society mailers.  Even told them their stuff was causing me emotional distress.  But they still come.  Fact is about 99% of what they put in the mailbox goes right to recycle.  About the only thing I really need mailed to me is the annual vehicle DMV tags.  Everything else is  landfill.  

[broadwaybaby123]

I'd start now, even if its just booking itineraries.