How to Get the Best Price on a Cruise

To find the very best cruise price is to stay flexible as to ship and date until 60 to 90 days before departure. Most ships, but not all, will be marked down around this time, and most of these prices will ultimately prove to be the lowest ever offered for that departure--lower than early-bird discounts, and lower than prices available within the last couple of weeks prior to departure.

Cruise lines offer these additional discounts if it appears that they will not fill the ship otherwise. Usually, these (90-day) markdowns are effective, and as the lowest categories sell out, the starting price for the cruise actually rises as departure date approaches. Much less frequently, cruise lines must drop the price again for a few cabins.

There are times when it is best to book more than 90 days in advance. For example, if you are committed to a specific ship and travel date, it is recommended that you book early. Some sailings fill early without ever really going "on sale". The only way to guarantee availability on a particular ship and date is to book early, in which case you might as well book 6 months or more in advance to take advantage of the early-bird discounts.

It is also recommendded that you book early for long, one-of-a-kind itineraries, such as world cruises or Holland America's 46-day cruise in October 2006 with stops in Africa and South America . I can't recall ever seeing a last-minute discount on a cruise of this length. I'd recommend putting down a deposit at least 6 months in advance on cruises longer than 2 weeks (9 months in advance for World Cruises), so you're guaranteed to sail. If the price drops between the time you book and the time cancellation penalties kick in, we can re-ticket you at the lower rate.

If you are traveling with a group, and will need more than 3 or 4 cabins, try to book at least 6 months in advance. If your group will consist of 50 or more passengers, book at least 9 months in advance.

Book early if you prefer or require cabins of a specialized nature, such as wheelchair-accessible cabins, cabins that can accommodate 5 or more passengers, adjoining cabins with a private connecting door, or Owner's Suites. These cabins are very limited in number and sell out early, especially for peak-season summer sailings.

Book early if you're taking an Alaska cruise tour or a Europe cruise tour, which combine a cruise with an escorted land tour or 3 or more days. These vacations are rarely discounted as departure dates approach and most sell out more than 90 days prior to departure. In fact, many cruise tours that depart early in the Alaska cruise season this year, which runs from May through September, have already sold out.

Finally, Disney Cruise Line's summer sailings are always a hot commodity and sell out earlier than other summer cruises. If you're thinking about a Disney cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean or one of Disney's Bahamas-cruise-plus-Disney-World combos for your family this summer, it is recommended that you book within the next month.

For those who don't fall into one of these "exceptions" categories, check prices daily on our site starting about 100 days in advance of departure and moving quickly to book when a great markdown occurs.