How to get the best deal on a cruise for the Caribbean? What months are the best?

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Chienfou

A lot depends on what type of cruise you want, and where you want to leave from. Many of the cruise consolidators such as vacationstogo.com, icruise.com etc have excellent prices and various itineraries (use a search engine for 'discount cruises'). In general, your best deal will be from the Miami area and run 4-7 days to multiple islands. If you like a smaller, party friendly adventure, consider using Windjammer -- old sailing vessels that can go to smaller ports and have a very laid back, relaxed style (www.windjammer.com) Check out Cruisecritic.com for great information from people that love to cruise.
There are great prices in the fall... due to the hurricane season! The good thing is that the ships can usually divert and change ports of call and you don't even realize there is a storm in the Carib.

SunLover

try cheapcaribbean.com, or moments-notice.com
Keep in mind March is spring break time

Doethineb

However well you feel you have done, there will always be someone on board who got a better deal, so the rule is to do the best you can, be satisfied and never ask what anyone else paid (or what you paid!) You could get on some mailing lists such as vtgmail@list.vacationstogo.com and onlinevacationcenter@mx1.ovc.cc and browse through the messages. Some cruises are very heavily discounted just before sailing, but others are fully booked if you wait too long. Each company will have a limited number of bookings at the special price offered, so you have to grab a good offer when you see it. Here's one we went on earlier this year. In fact, we were so impressed by this ship that we have done both itineraries. http://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=13853&id=npfy
Beware late March this year -- because Easter falls then, you won't be getting any discounts!

MomSezNo

"Best" months to go depends on what you're looking for [or looking to avoid].

March is not a good time in terms of pricing or crowds. That's Spring Break/Easter vacation; mid-February [Presidents Week] through April, too. Summer means lots of families on vacation, and prices will be higher from June through August; ditto, Thanksgiving week and Christmas/New Years weeks.

September through week before Thanksgiving is good price-wise, but that's hurricane season and some people would never cruise then [I've done it several times with no problems, but you never know]. Post-Thanksgiving through the week before Christmas usually has good prices and fewer families. Early January [after NYr] through mid-February has some good prices and not usually many families.

If this is your first cruise, I would suggest you do some research. There are books at your library about cruising. CruiseCritic.com [click on "Boards" at the top of the page] has all the info you could ever want. Also check out their "Reviews" board, which has reviews from both pros and past guests.

Number of days will also affect your choice. Longer cruises are more relaxing, will tend to have fewer families and generally older cruisers. Three-day cruises are often "party" cruises, or an excuse to party 24/7, which is great if that's what you want.

Regarding getting a "bargain", prices are generally not going to vary all that much, as the cruiselines pretty much control that, although as someone else said, there will always be someone who paid less than you [and who paid more, also]. There are several legit sources linked to CruiseCritic. VacationsToGo.com will give you a very good overview of what's available for what price [you enter the month and area you want and it brings up a list of what's sailing]. Travelocity and Expedia often have specials, as does Orbitz.

Good luck - I hope you find just the right cruise!

DCDARLING

if you are looking at March stay away from Spring Break week-and Easter- the rate will double.

In my opinion the western Carribean is the better trip especially if you are active-the Cayman islands are GORGEOUS if you havent been before (no pan handling) along with Cozumel and belize. The Eastern Carribean is nice, but honestly its just a bunch of really pretty beaches. It just depends on what you are looking to do:

August/Sept/October are probably the best rate along with any time that kids are IN SCHOOL!

Well, my husband and I wanted to cruise for our anniversary in August, but when I looked at the cruise prices for September, they were $1500 to $2000 cheaper.

Therefore, we will be going in September instead of August!!

The more that I think about it, I think September is a good time to get nice deals because alot of people aren't cruising at that time. That's the beginning of the school-year right after summer break.

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