When Should I Book My Cruise

When is it a good time to book a cruise?

The answer to that question can be complex. You have to take into account things like time of year, which itinerary and what ship you plan on taking. Ideally you would book your cruise when it is announced, unfortunately that isn’t always possible. However, the best answer is generally to book “as early as possible”.

Although you can find great combinations of pricing and cruise options available 6 months before you cruise when we are talking early we mean over a year in advance. Cruises are announced about 12 to 18 months before they set sail, so if you plan on booking early you may want to start planning at least a year in advance.

Booking a Cruise During the Busy Season:

Popular cruises will obviously sell out before other sailings so if you are planning on holiday or spring break cruising you should aim to book as soon as your cruise is made available. Typically cruise season is divided into either two or three parts; high season, low season and shoulder season. The high season is the most popular time to cruise, the low season is when demand is lowest and the shoulder season lies somewhere in between. These seasons will vary depending on region but here is a short overview of some of the more popular cruise regions:

• Alaska: The Alaskan cruise season is a short one, running only from May through September. If you have a specific reason for going on an Alaskan cruise, you can narrow your time frame. If you are trying to make your cruise as affordable as possible, then you should choose the shoulder months of May and September. If you have children that you are traveling with, the school year may limit you to mid-June through mid-August. The longest and warmest days are in June and July. As you can see, each month has its own unique benefits.
• Bermuda: Bermuda cruise season runs from April to November. Just be forewarned this is also Atlantic Ocean hurricane season. Most cruises to Bermuda only stop in a couple of ports so (although rare) any hurricanes in your area could severely affect your cruise. Bermuda high season is considered the summer months of June through August. The shoulder seasons are the month of April, May, September and October.
• The Caribbean and Mexican Riviera: Typically, the high season in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera is late-December through mid-April. Typically, the winter is the driest weather in the Caribbean and the coldest weather in the United States. The holiday season as well as spring break is especially popular times of the year. The off-season starts in late-April and runs through mid-December. In addition to cheaper rates, you will also enjoy a less crowded atmosphere.
• Hawaii: Hawaii only has two seasons summer and winter. Summer lasts from May through October and winter is from October through April. The peak season intersects them both. Typically, the high season is from mid-December through mid-April. Shoulder season in Hawaii lasts from mid-April to mid-June and again from September through mid December. The irony is the shoulder season is the best time to cruise to Hawaii in almost every aspect.
• The Mediterranean: Cruise season in the Mediterranean lasts from late March to November, although a few ships do cruise the region year-round. The high season is May through August with the shoulder season being March and April as well as September though November.

These are meant more as guidelines for the cruise season. The actual peaks and valleys of each region are a lot more complex than what is shown. As a rule if you are planning a cruise during the high season always book early. If you are cruising the shoulder or low season, you can afford to procrastinate a little more.

Related posts:

1. Why Should You Book Your Cruise Early
2. Three Questions That Help You Choose a Cruise
3. Should I Book a Pre-Cruise Stay?

If you found this post useful, feel free to leave a comment or sign up to get free updates and get future blog posts delivered to your feed reader.