The secret to booking a bargain cruise
Timing is everything. If you know when to book your trip on the high seas, you can slash hundreds, or even thousands, from the cost by following these one simple rule of thumb.
Leaving it to the last minute.
“The early bird gets the worm” does not apply to cruise ship savings. In contrast to airlines, cruise companies cannot count on selling tickets to last-minute business travellers at more than the going rate. If any cabin remains empty, that means big losses, not only on the accommodation but on those few less passengers to spend money on the ship.
So the nearer the departure fate, the cheaper the prices. The very best are on offer just a few days before the ship leaves harbour, but remember, you probably won’t be getting the prize pick of cabins.
Most cruise companies offer good deals in January, when passengers traditionally plan their holidays.
Another trick is to look out for “repositioning cruises”. This is when a liner needs to relocate from one region to another, say from a winter season in the Caribbean back to the Mediterranean for summer.
These cruises tend to offer fewer stops and a more offbeat itinerary, but the cruise company will often throw in a flight home as a perk.
Early September and late April are peak times for pound-stretching trips. Ask when the cruise ship is repositioning or visit cruisecritic.co.uk for more details.
Have you used this trick to book yourself a cheap cruise? Let us know in the comments below.
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