Some of the best prices in the cruise industry are often found by booking early but other than the financial implications there are many additional reasons why it may be necessary to book your cruise early in order to have the perfect vacation.
Booking to Get The Cabin I Desire:
The first cabins to sell out will be the cabins with the best locations, the least expensive and the most luxurious. If you plan to get connecting staterooms during Easter break or a balcony on an Alaskan Cruise, book early. Due to the limited availability of these and other “special” rooms, the only way to get them is to book very early. If you don’t want a room above the disco, book early. If you are someone that will become violently seasick if you aren’t in the center of the ship, you should be talking to a travel agent right now instead of reading my blog. It comes down to this; if you are particular about your accommodations, you can not afford to wait any longer than necessary. The difference between enjoying a dream vacation or a nightmare at sea can come down to your choice of cabin.
Time Sensitive Cruising:
Every cruise ship that leaves port has passengers on board celebrating a special occasion. Whether the occasion is a wedding, anniversary, graduation or birthday they all have one thing in common, they needed to be planned. If you are taking a cruise to celebrate a special occasion, it is imperative that you book early. There is nothing that will spoil a cruise honeymoon more than compromise. If you have decided you want an aft wrap around balcony and have to settle for an inside cabin above the disco it is probably because you didn’t book early enough.
Special occasions aren’t the only kind of time sensitive cruising. Many of us can only vacation certain times a year. The industry I work in requires that my vacation is “blacked out” three months out of the year. Likewise, parents traveling with children can only travel during certain parts of the year without pulling their children out of school. So, if you are planning a family vacation during the high season it is of the utmost importance to book early because some cruise lines have limits on the total number of children per ship, as well as limited cabins that accommodate three or more people. If you don’t plan accordingly there is a chance that you will not be able to take your first choice of cruise.
With cruising becoming more popular, each year it is not unusual for cruises to sell out months in advance. If you need to take a cruise during a specific window or want to go to a popular destination, book early or run the risk of missing the boat.
Here are some other reasons why it makes sense to book a cruise early. Some of the other reasons have financial benefits, some are more geared towards helping you book the cruise of your dreams. All of them are valid and useful.
- Allows you to get the excursions you want- it is not unusual for some of the most highly desired excursions to sell out before the cruise sets sail. Since you can usually reserve excursions as soon as you book your cruise you will have a leg up on the competition when it comes to booking that must see tour.
- Gives you a chance to save up- if you book your cruise a year in advance, you will have more time to save money to use on the cruise. If you book far enough in advance, it is quite possible you will have the trip and all expenses paid off before you even step onto the ship.
- Your friends can give you gifts- One of the hidden values of booking early is the ability to have friends and family buy you things to make your cruise even more enjoyable. In the past, I have received drink coupons, excursions and massages as Christmas and birthday presents.
- Potential Cabin Upgrades- In order to fill up the entire ship it is often necessary for the cruise lines to give away free upgrades. Although the exact formula for determining who gets a free upgrade is kept secret, it stands to reason that the earlier you book the better your chances are at being upgraded.
- Last minute airfare is expensive- the further out you book your cruise vacation the longer you have to find a good deal. Booking early takes the power away from the airlines and puts it back in your hands.
While everyone knows the financial benefits of saving money on the price of your cruise, there are many other reasons to secure your cruise as soon as you can. As you can see some of the reasons for booking early give you an opportunity to save even more money on your cruise vacation while some give you the ability to plan the cruise you want. No matter what your motivation may be, it is easy to see why it makes sense to book your cruise early.
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