The Best Time to Book a Cruise Save Money, Better Cabins

Table Of Content

• Best Time to Cruise Alaska: June - August
• These Are the Best Times to Book a Cruise for Deals, Optimal Rooms, and More
• When is the best time to book a cruise?
• How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?
• When to cruise to Canada and New England for the best weather
• Best time to cruise Australia and New Zealand to avoid crowds

For example, starting rates are as low as $603 per person for a seven-night Inside Passage cruise sailing round-trip from Seattle with Royal Caribbean in May 2024. However, by the peak summer season in late June and July, the starting price is $921 per person. You will, however, want to avoid booking a cruise around the holidays at the end of the year and during spring break (March and early April). Summer is peak season with family vacations and honeymooners, so prices will be higher then. Even though January, February and March bring more rain, the winter months are also peak season for tourists … and whales.

Best Time to Cruise Alaska: June - August

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Why you need to cruise the Mediterranean in winter with Royal Caribbean.

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You’ll want to make sure you read all the fine print of your fare before you buy. For instance, you can learn more about Carnival’s different fares here. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

These Are the Best Times to Book a Cruise for Deals, Optimal Rooms, and More

December, March and April also offer nice weather, although the rainy season sometimes starts as early as mid-March before continuing through the fall. The shoulder seasons will also have fewer passengers and tourists — and you may even have some attractions to yourself in the cities and towns. January is the beginning of the dry season, so the humidity is lower, and the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. If that weren’t enough to convince you to buy as early as possible, you should also consider how waiting until closer to the cruise sail date doesn’t always save money. And even if you book farther out and the price drops, you can often be compensated for the lower price. For the real procrastinators out there, the absolute last day you can book a cruise before its departure has changed over the years.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

The key to the answer is recognizing that cruise lines adjust pricing as cabins sell out (or fail to do so) on any given ship and itinerary. May and September can also be great times to cruise Alaska if you'd like to save a little money. Whale watching is good in both months, as gray and humpback whales migrate to and from the state.

How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?

July and August are the hottest months with high humidity, but it's a great time to hit the beach with water temperatures around 81 degrees. For example, a seven-night round-trip voyage from Long Beach, California, along Mexico's Pacific coast with Carnival Cruise Line starts at $629 in June. The same cruise is even less expensive in October at $464 per person. To avoid crowds in port, try not to cruise during the Panamanian festivals that take place in early spring and from November into the winter.

The data also found that Wednesdays were the worst for price hikes. These data points are constantly fluctuating so your best bet is to track fares throughout the week. If you have your sights set on a high-demand sailing — on a new ship or during school holiday dates — the best time to book a cruise will be as soon as fares are released. This is the only way to guarantee a spot (and secure a particular cabin location).

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Why now is the best time to book your 2024 cruise vacation.

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While it might be cold in North America, the weather stays fairly consistent in the Caribbean. For instance, the average high temperature for Cozumel is about 84 degrees in January and 91 degrees during the peak of August. In other words, if you can sail at the least expensive time, your cruise can be a sharp discount off the peak price. Yes, prices for trips can vary but are usually similar whether you book early or not. When you book early, you can often get price protection included in your fare.

These lines still offer the occasional flash sale, but they don't always fall on the same day of the week. 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.

Best time to cruise Australia and New Zealand to avoid crowds

This strategy is best if you plan to book early and aren't as concerned about the ship selling out immediately. The best time to book a cruise is when you've done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. People often wonder if there is a specific day of the week when cruise prices consistently drop. Unfortunately, fares don't rise and fall on a set schedule, and it's impossible to predict when they'll change. One 2016 study by CruiseWatch.com found that, on average, cruise fares dropped the most on Thursdays.

If that sounds like too much math homework, I recommend that you call a travel agent. A cruise-knowledgeable travel adviser can help you plan your trip and determine if the current pricing is good or if you should hold out for a deal. From February onward, the number of visitors swells, as U.S., European and Canadian residents flee the cold. In March and April, spring break revelers descend on destinations like the Riviera Maya, Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. But if your version of fun is a little more mature, opt for the November through January time frame. The simple rule of thumb is that prices are lowest when school is session.

That means you have to pay the entire cruise fare at the time of booking rather than paying a deposit and the rest at a later date. Therefore, cruise lines often offer their best fares when bookings open to incentivize travelers to book early. For example, as of March 2023, I can book a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line through spring or fall of 2025, depending on the ship. All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book.

Other wildlife will also start to emerge from their winter slumbers in May or be in the middle of mating season in September. May in Bermuda is your best bet for shoulder season travel if you're after discounts and the highest likelihood for sunny skies and warm temperatures. Even so, you can expect temperate weather year-round, and far less humidity than islands farther south. If it's too chilly for the beach in the shoulder season, you can always try out the island's many golf courses and spas. The best time to cruise Australia is from late November to March, when late spring crests into Australia's summer months.

I can guarantee that your cruise line will offer some promotions during the winter, but that doesn't mean it's the best time to book. Are you guaranteed to find the cheapest, most freebie-laden pricing during these months? Cruise lines sometimes inflate prices before a sale, so deals for 30% or 50% off may not be as good as you think. Or, the cruise line may offer its best fares in a one-off sale at another time of year. You might find a cheap cruise deal or a fare packed with extras (like complimentary beverage packages, free kids fares or reduced deposits).

Since the temperatures are similar during both seasons, the best time to cruise the islands is when there's less chance of precipitation, which is during the summer months of June, July and August. The spring and fall are the optimal times to visit, with fewer tourists, cooler temperatures and lower prices. You'll also find that most everything is open during that time and easier to see without battling the crowds. In other words, if you’re looking for the best time to book, then focus on buying earlier and sailing when school is in session. Those factors play a much bigger role than constant sales offered up by cruise lines.

Sometimes you may be forced to choose between the cheapest possible fare and one that offers a greater total value, given the included perks. Knowing when cruise lines will likely run promotions will help you strategize, but sales can pop up anytime — and not every promotion offers the cheapest fares. If you want to book a solo or family cabin on a Mediterranean cruise in July, you likely want to book much earlier than January for the most availability and the best prices.