How to Get Last Minute Cruise Deals?

Answer 1

If you have always wanted to take a cruise but cannot afford the steep prices, you may want to consider holding out for last minute cruise deals. While there is a definite risk factor involved with booking less than two weeks in advance of your trip, there are also terrific potential rewards. If your travel dates are somewhat flexible, you may be able to scoop up a cancellation or purchase a last minute package deal that includes everything you will need to enjoy the cruise of your dreams a low price.

Flexible Dates

When you are entertaining the idea of searching out last minute cruise deals, you would be wise to only do so if you have some flexibility in your dates of travel. This is due to the fact that last minute deals rely heavily on chance and unforeseen circumstances, which do not always mesh well with rigid scheduling needs. If you can travel anytime within a one or two week timespan, you will be more likely to find a variety of cruise deals from which to choose.

Cancellations

While many people book their cruises up to a year in advance, unforeseeable crises or a change in priorities may force some individuals to cancel their cruise reservations at the very last moment. One person’s loss is another’s gain in this instant, as you can find last minute cruise deals by picking up someone’s cancellation via an online travel website or by contacting cruise lines directly on a regular basis to see if any bargain tickets have come available.

Packages

Often, when cruise lines have undersold any given trip or have sustained a large number of cancellations, they will offer reservations to travel websites and agencies at a discounted rate. These travel hubs then offer these last minute cruise deals as package deals: airfare, reservations and excursion tickets all rolled into one bundle. This way, the cruise line fills its quota and the travel sites are able to make a profit as well. Check out last minute package deals on various travel websites or contact an agency directly to see if you can get a last minute package cruise deal.