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All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book. The key to the answer is recognizing that cruise lines adjust pricing as cabins sell out (or fail to do so) on any given ship and itinerary. If there's no best day to book a cruise for the best deal, you might think there's a best month. While you can find cheap cruises any month you look, I can give you some pointers about which months are most likely to feature cruise sales with value-added promotions.
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Cafes are packed, streets bustle with life and days are long and warm. May and September can also be great times to cruise Alaska if you'd like to save a little money. Whale watching is good in both months, as gray and humpback whales migrate to and from the state. Other wildlife will also start to emerge from their winter slumbers in May or be in the middle of mating season in September. If you're after that sweet spot of cheaper fares and perfect weather, the best time to cruise to Mexico is from November through January.
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The only way to really know the best time to book a cruise is to track fares, which is not an easy task. Luckily, rate tracking on the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic make it a bit more realistic. They'll let you know if there's a price drop, taking some of the extra work off your plate. If you're not interested in high-season travel or experiencing the latest cruise ship, you can play the waiting game and pounce as soon as fares drop. As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship.
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Unfortunately, fares don't rise and fall on a set schedule, and it's impossible to predict when they'll change. One 2016 study by CruiseWatch.com found that, on average, cruise fares dropped the most on Thursdays. These data points are constantly fluctuating so your best bet is to track fares throughout the week. Read on to find out what wave season is, when it takes place, the cruise deals to look for and how to get the best possible value during this extra cheap time to book a cruise. Frankly, cruise lines are similar to clothing stores in that they are always running sales.
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Amenity add-ons, like beverage packages, onboard credit, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and included gratuities, only have a value if you are going to use them. A person who drinks only one glass of wine each day or someone who likes to disconnect from tech on vacation may find little worth in an unlimited drinks package or premium Wi-Fi, respectively. It’s important to know the value of these items for you and purchase accordingly. If pricing is more important than preferred accommodations, travelers can opt to wait until closer to the departure date to see if they can take advantage of any last-minute offers.
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We’ve charted the per-person cabin prices for both a balcony and interior room. Specifically, these prices were for a 3-day cruise aboard Carnival from Miami that sailed regularly throughout the year. Meanwhile, you’ll see the highest fares during summer, Spring Break, and the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays.
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To find deals, travelers can sign up for email newsletters from various cruise lines, as the companies often send out updates on flash sales. You can also search the cruise line websites—some, like Holland America, have pages on their website dedicated to last-minute deals. Most Caribbean cruises in March and April run close to $100 per person, per night. Spring break is a popular time to cruise and fares can fluctuate during that time.
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Here, you can see that the fall and winter months see the best rates. January and February also see low rates too as many people wrap up the winter break and return to school and work. The issue with determining the least expensive time to sail is that many ships sail different routes through the year. A ship might sail from one port for a few months with several different itineraries and cruise lengths, before moving on.
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For the best weather, book your cruise during the dry season, between November and May. The Mexican Riviera (i.e., the Pacific coast of Mexico) is a year-round cruise destination. Most ships sail the itinerary in the fall, winter and spring because those same ships head to Alaska for the summer. Transiting the Panama Canal from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean is a bucket-list trip for many travelers.
You need to go where the inventory is; if your dream cruise is filling up, the last minute rates will be higher not lower. While you might not use a travel agent for other sorts of trips, you should consider one whenever you cruise. Agents that specialize in cruise travel often get advance notice of sales. They also typically have access to special rates or perks you won't be able to find on your own, and they tend to offer their own suite of bonuses as an incentive to book through them. If you don't know which cruise line would suit you best, don't just choose whichever line has the best wave season deals because the onboard vibe might not fit your personality.
Christmas and New Year's cruises, top suites and limited specialty cabins (such as solo and family cabins) also tend to sell out early. I’ve discovered that the best month to cruise this breathtaking region aligns with the fringes of the tourist season called the ‘shoulder season’ in May and September. These months mark the most economical sail times to Alaska, with the onset and conclusion of the cruise calendar offering the cheapest time to take a cruise to the Last Frontier.
Cruise lines sometimes inflate prices before a sale, so deals for 30% or 50% off may not be as good as you think. Or, the cruise line may offer its best fares in a one-off sale at another time of year. The best time to book a cruise is when you've done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. Travelers can often find deals by sailing when kids are in school and steering clear of major holidays, Goldberg-Glazer said. For instance, cruises for the week after New Year's can be half the price of those during the holiday with a wider selection of cabins.
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