Last Minute Cruises: Are They the Best Deal? - My Gateway Vacation

All the great places for vacation

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Last Minute Cruises: Are They the Best Deal?



The rule of thumb is that the earlier you pay for your cruise ship, the bigger the discount you will get. This is because cruise lines like to get money in advance. It lets them know that they have filled a spot on their cruise. So, if you're planning a vacation, and have the budget, it's best to pay for it in advance, ideally 2 months or more.

However, you're going to get the lowest pricing on cruises where a last minute cancellation takes place. What happens here is the cruise ship becomes desperate to fill up the remaining spots, and will do so just above a profit, or even breakeven. This is where you come in.

Last minute cruises offer a great discount for you, if you can seize them. However, it can be a bit risky. First of all, if you're planning on getting a last minute deal, it just might not happen. An opening may not become available.

Also, you may not be able to seize the opportunity when it comes, due to some other commitments. In order to get the best out of last minute cruises, you have to have a flexible schedule in order to seize the opportunity.

This is especially true if you have to fly to the location to take the cruise. Will you be able to get a ticket at the last minute? It can be very costly sometimes.

For this reason, last minute cruises are not always the financially best option available to you. In general, it is good practice to book in advance. You'll still get a heavy discount, you'll make sure that you're not paying extra for traveling fees to get to the cruise line, and you will guarantee a spot on the ship.

There you have it, the truth about last minute cruises.

No comments:

Post a Comment