Do cruise prices go up the closer you wait until the sail date?

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Pamela G

It is always cheaper to book earlier.

For example: Our family is going on a cruise in December. We booked in April- It was 499 per person. Now the cruise is 700 per person.

However, some cruise lines such as Carnival will offer you discounts if they come up later after you book. So you are safe if the price goes up, but if the price goes down then you can still get the discount. BOOK NOW!

Have fun!

kimmer727

The prices will probably go down, but then you run the risk of not getting the cabin that you want. If you don't care where you are on the ship, I'd wait it out and see. They do fill up fast though - so keep an eye on it!!!

Zef H

Prices change based on how well a ship is selling. If the ship is selling well, prices will rise. If the ship is not selling well, prices will fall.

Up until 75 - 90 days prior to sailing the cruise purchase is fully refundable. This means that if prices go down, you can rebook at the lower price. If prices rise, you can keep the prior lower price.

For example, I have a cruise booked in April 2008 with Royal Caribbean. Recently prices when down. I called my travel agent and received a $260 refund (more than 10% of the total price).

So, my advise is, book as early as possible. If prices rise, you can keep the lower price. If prices fall, you can rebook at the lower price, as long as you are outside the penalty period (which is about 75 to 90 days prior to sailing).

If the ship is not selling well, you might find the lowest prices after final payment is due (that is the 75 to 90 day period I mentioned earlier). However, the sooner you book, the better the chance that your choice of cabin will be available. In some cases the best cabins are sold out one year prior to sailing.

Again, for example, I am booked on a February 2008 cruise. I booked it in July 2007. There were only two cabins in the category that I wanted that were left. I took one, and soon after someone else got the last one. Another example, for the June 2007 cruise I took on the Freedom of the Seas, I booked in May 2006. There are only four cabins in the category I wanted. All four were sold out in the first hour of the first day that they were offered for sale. Fortunately, I got one of them.

billyenair

Not really i always found they went down(royal Caribbean) but if you booked and prices do go down you can call and they can give you a refund for the difference.Ive done this before it works you tell they your friend got a better rate and they refund the difference to you.

HFC

yes to a point, but at the very end they drop, rather than sail with an empty suite. plus the selection drops also.

njdevil

yes 95% of the time they do...the only time they go down is last minute deals but that is very very risky.

the best thing to do is to book early because if the price goes down you can rebook at the lower price and get the difference back.....book sooner rather than later

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