When is the Best Time of Year to Book a Cruise?
When you decide to book your cruise there’s a few things that you need to be aware of during your planning.
It seems that everyone that goes on an Alaskan cruise wants balcony cabins which means they sell out very quickly. Even although they are more expensive, people are more than happy to pay the extra. So if this is you, you’d better act quickly.
The route that the ship takes is also very important. For Alaskan cruises, the Gulf Route between Vancouver and Anchorage is the most sought after. Also, several cruise lines offer on-shore excursions as a package deal.
Round Trip cruises beginning at Vancouver often have more spaces closer to the departure date. Booking for May or September will give you more choices, too. Unless you’re very luck, expect to pay in excess of $100 extra for an ocean view cabin compared to an interior one.
You probably didn’t think there were so many factors to booking a cruise so it’s probably a good idea to have a wish list and an idea of budget laid out on a spreadsheet.
With a Bahamas/Caribbean cruise weather is less of a consideration, however you’ll still want to have a good idea of routes, budget and facilities.
Not surprisingly, holiday seasons sell out the quickest. This includes Spring Break, Christmas-New Year, July and August. It’s still a popular destination so booking in advance is advisable, especially if you want a good cabin.
The late winter/early spring months (in the Northern Hemisphere) of Feb-April will start to book up next. People living in colder climes will be eager for a little sunshine will book up around this time of year to cheer themselves up and give them something to look forward to.
If you’re looking for a bargain then you’ll find cabins available for September-early December as little as 2 months in advance. The weather can still be very pleasant that time of year although be aware of hurricane seasons.