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Booking a cruise is an intimidating process. You have to figure out when you want to go, where you prefer to travel, and how you’re actually going to get to the launch location, all while trying to get the best price possible. If you know when you want to travel, it’s fair to wonder when is the best time to book a cruise to get the most bang for your buck.
While you can just book your ticket and hope for the best, travel agents say there are certain insider tips that can help you save hundreds — and secure that cabin you really want in the process.
With that in mind, we pumped two top travel agents for information on the best time of year to book a cruise, plus why it matters. Here’s what they shared.
The slightly frustrating answer is, it depends.
“Cruise lines release their itineraries for various seasons throughout the year,” says Lauren Valencia, travel agent with Wondermakers Travel. “The best time to book is actually as soon as a cruise line opens bookings, which can vary based on the cruise line.”
Booking windows usually start opening more than a year in advance, according to Valencia, and you may be able to get in even earlier if you have an existing relationship with the cruise line.
“If you have status with certain cruise lines — Disney Cruise Line, for example — you’ll have an even earlier window depending on how many times you’ve sailed with them,” she said.
Scott Faust, travel agency owner and founder of Roaming with Scott, recommends checking out cruise lines a year to a year and a half before you plan to set sail.
“You can get a better selection of cabins, and sometimes better prices and or perks,” he says.
You don’t necessarily have to book that far out, though.
“After the first of the year is a time till about March called ‘Wave Season,'” Faust says. During that time, the cruise industry tends to offer more aggressive discounts to sell as many cabins as possible, he explains.
So, if you’re planning to travel in the near-future, consider booking your cruise between January and March to secure impressive deals.
If you can, Valencia recommends booking your ticket as soon as a cruise becomes available.
“Cruise line stateroom pricing does not vary like flights do,” she says. “Often the prices only go up, unless a deal or promotion is released for your particular cruise.”
Travel agents recommend keeping this advice in mind when planning your upcoming cruise:
Book as soon as possible. This is both to get a good price and to secure a premium room. “Not all staterooms are created equally,” Valencia says. “While staterooms may be the same size for certain types of rooms, location can matter. For guests concerned with motion sickness, a lower location toward the middle of the ship is often preferable.” Cost can also vary by location, depending on the deck, she says. “Two identical staterooms on different decks can vary by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars,” Valencia adds.
Consider using a travel agent. Travel agents are paid commission from the cruise line, so it doesn’t cost you anything extra to go this route, Valencia says. “Many travel agents are able to offer on-board credit, may have access to other promos and upgrades that aren’t available to the general public and can provide personalized recommendations,” she says. Agents can also apply deals to existing bookings.
Buy into a group space. “Some travel agents will take out group space to get better-than-advertised prices and perks to offer their clients,” Faust says. This doesn’t mean you have to be with a group of people, he points out. “Go your separate ways and enjoy your trip,” Faust says.
Consider using gift cards. “If you’re booking a Disney Cruise, you can use Disney gift cards to pay for the cruise,” Valencia says. “Some retailers sell [these] at a discount.”
Look for deals: If you’ve got a flexible timeframe, look into sales before you start booking. Celebrity Cruises runs frequent deals on its cruises, including discounts on additional passengers and savings on specific rooms. MSC Cruises runs regular flash sales on last-minute cruises. Cruise Direct offers onboard credits, shore excursion savings, and discounts on additional passengers.
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