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I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. But the busy season is also the hottest, and you’ll encounter scorching temperatures and blazing sunshine when you cruise the Med in July or August. To avoid the worst of the hot weather and save some money, consider cruising in the off-peak months. A May cruise in Alaska won’t be nearly as warm as a summer sailing, but it’s the driest month of the year for the state. Cruising this early in the season before school lets out can score you a cheap fare to enjoy Alaska’s stunning natural beauty.
February
January and February also see low rates too as many people wrap up the winter break and return to school and work. Although hurricane season doesn’t affect Bermuda to the extent that it does the Caribbean, the chance of stormy weather can still drive cruise fares down. With schools back in session and cooler weather, booking for September through November can save you lots of money on your Bermuda vacation. But that doesn’t mean all the cheap fares are only in October—after all, some cruise itineraries don’t even sail during that time of year! Depending on where you want to cruise and what week you’re willing to sail, you can find rock-bottom prices on cruises at many other times of the year.
The cheapest times of year to cruise
Yes, this period hosts a treasure trove of affordable cruise dates that many aren’t aware of. However, if you’re flexible with your travel dates and destinations, there may still be affordable options available. Consider booking a cruise early in the month or choosing a less popular itinerary to potentially save some money. January is a great month to consider booking a Carnival Cruise if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option. This is typically the time when cruise lines offer discounts and promotions to attract travelers after the busy holiday season.
Monitor Prices and Deals
However, there’s no guaranteed timeframe for when deals appear, so flexibility is a boon if you’re employing this tactic to get the best deal on a cruise. While there are no guarantees with fare tracking — with some risks, like limited cabin availability — it is often worth the effort for those with adaptable travel plans. May is another month where you can find some great deals on Carnival Cruises. As the spring season progresses, demand for cruises tends to decrease, leading to lower prices.
However, if you’re able to sail before or after the peak summer vacation period, you may be able to find some discounted rates. Additionally, consider booking a cruise with less popular itineraries or departure dates to potentially save some money. April is considered part of the peak season for cruising, as many travelers are looking to escape the winter months and enjoy some warm weather. As a result, prices for Carnival Cruises during this month may be higher compared to the previous months.
The worst months to cruise the Caribbean - Cruise Blog
The worst months to cruise the Caribbean.
Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
How important is using a travel agent when booking a cruise?
It follows the busy summer and fall travel seasons, and many people are waiting for December to kick off the holiday festivities. This lack of demand means lower prices and excellent deals are often available. While some tropical destinations may experience the tail end of hurricane season, there are many other regions that offer perfect weather for a cruise vacation in November. This is because it falls right after the holiday season, and many people are back to work and school, resulting in lower demand for cruises. Additionally, January is typically not the most ideal time for tropical destinations, as some may experience cooler weather.
Similarly, if you're hoping to sail over New Years, you are likely to get the cheapest rate by booking as far as in advance as possible. If you, or your travel agent, notices that the price of the cruise has dropped after placing your deposit and before final payment, you may be entitled to the lower rate. If you want to book and notice that the fare increased, there's no way to lock in the cheaper rate that you missed. "Once you book, there's just generally more availability a little bit longer because the holidays book up so quickly," she said.
School breaks and holidays play a significant role in determining the price of a Carnival Cruise. During popular vacation periods like spring break, summer vacation, and winter holidays, demand surges, leading to higher fares. You can save money in many ways, including tracking prices, booking early or last minute, or even opting for the ports less traveled. One of the easiest and most approachable ways to save money, though, is to book cruises during the cheapest months of the year. This article will help you find out which months are considered the cheapest while booking cruises and exactly why that is, providing you with better clarification. Wave season may be a popular time to find cruise deals, but not every company releases its best deals and promotions during that period.
You can cruise along Baja California and visit Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, as well as Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta on longer cruises, year-round. For a cheap Caribbean cruise, try a January sailing after New Year’s Day, or an early February itinerary before Valentine’s Day. Hurricane season will be over, but temps usually stay high enough to swim and enjoy the pool. Popular cruise destinations include the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Northern Europe, offering unique experiences and attractions. Watching for last-minute offers can lead to significant savings for those with flexible schedules.
And it’s the same with late September and October, which are fun-packed Halloween cruises. Sometimes, if you are flexible with your choice of accommodation (grade and location of cabin), you can pick up good last minute deals. However, as demand is currently so high, cruise lines aren’t discounting these sailings as much as before. If, for whatever reason, there is a cruise with a few spare staterooms close to the departure date, it is very possible that the cruise line will decrease the price to try and sell the cabin. A last minute cruise deal could mean that you'll end up paying double (or triple) in airfare, sail on a smaller ship with less frills, or visit ports of call you aren't overly enthused about.
What Is the Cheapest Month to Book a Cruise, According to Experts? - AOL
What Is the Cheapest Month to Book a Cruise, According to Experts?.
Posted: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Unlike many other cruise destinations on this list, there’s really no super-cheap way to do it. A cruise to Hawaii can be a more inexpensive way to island-hop and get a taste of several ports in this tropical paradise. The cruise season runs year-round, with sailings from the US west coast (only one ship, NCL’s Pride of America, runs seven-day cruises in Hawaii round-trip from Honolulu). Picking a spring Bermuda cruise can be significantly cheaper than sailing during the peak travel season of late June through August.
The bottom line is that if you want to sail to the Caribbean for less, look in the fall and winter months, outside of Christmas and New Years. There may be other times that you can find a deal, but this is generally when you see the lowest fares. When kids head back to class, that demand from family cruisers is lessened, meaning lines often lower prices.
With lower demand, cruise lines offer more attractive pricing and discounts, making it easier to stick to your budget and potentially extend your vacation. Similar to January, February is another month known for its affordable cruise prices. Many people have already taken their vacation during the Christmas and New Year holidays, resulting in less demand for cruises.
One of the most significant factors impacting the price of a cruise is whether it is during the peak season or the off-peak season. Peak season refers to the time of year when demand for cruises is at its highest, such as during school holidays or specific events. On the other hand, off-peak season refers to times when there is less demand for cruises, such as during the shoulder seasons or when school is in session. The most economical sail times pleasantly coincide with when children are tucked away in classrooms and the chaos of holiday travel has subsided. At this time, the cruise low season welcomes fewer tourists, translates to lower prices, and opens up a greater variety of available cabins.
An interior cabin for this year's New Year's cruise begins at $989 per person based on double occupancy, while the cruise that rings in 2025 starts at $929 per person. At almost $1,000 per person, the most notable difference in pricing is the suites. As these are popular cruises, the rates will only continue to increase as more staterooms begin to sell and the holiday season draws nearer.
In this case the ‘shoulder’ months of May and September offer the lowest prices. The only way to really know the best time to book a cruise is to track fares, which is not an easy task. Luckily, rate tracking on the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic make it a bit more realistic. They'll let you know if there's a price drop, taking some of the extra work off your plate.
