Pros and Cons of Booking a Cruise Early Vs. Last Minute - Trip Advisor & Booking
Pros and Cons of Booking a Cruise Early Vs. Last Minute - Trip Advisor & Booking
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00:00Pros and Cons of Booking a Cruise Early vs. Last Minute
00:06When is the best time to book a cruise?
00:08That is a question that is hotly debated, as some cruise passengers like to book their
00:12trips many years in advance, while others like to wait until the very last minute.
00:17Finding a last-minute cruise discount or planning a trip for months can save you money, but
00:21each choice has its advantages and disadvantages.
00:25The best time to book a cruise ultimately depends on your preferences, budget, and travel
00:30plans.
00:31It's important to weigh all the factors and consider the pros and cons of each approach
00:36before deciding when to book your next cruise.
00:38Hey there, if you're new here, welcome to our channel.
00:42We provide vacation travel guides for the most adventurous regions around the world.
00:46In this video, we'll be reviewing the pros and cons of booking a cruise early vs. booking
00:51it at the last minute.
00:53Before we begin, please hit those like and subscribe buttons below to help our channel
00:57grow.
00:58When is the best time to book a cruise?
01:01This is a burning question on the minds of all potential passengers.
01:05Itineraries are often announced by cruise lines 18 months or more ahead of the departure
01:09date, at which point they begin promoting early booking discounts.
01:13However, we're also drawn to those last-minute deals, even if they are a gamble.
01:20If only there were a simple formula for pinpointing the optimal time to book a cruise and save
01:25the most money.
01:26Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a universal method that can be applied to
01:30all cruises to pinpoint the exact day you'll get the best cruise fare.
01:35Don't worry though, today we can help you discover the best deal possible by examining
01:39the benefits and drawbacks of making your cruise reservation late vs. early so you can
01:45determine the strategy that will work best for your specific trip.
01:51Pros of Booking Your Cruise Early
01:53Best Prices
01:55The introduction of new itineraries by Royal Caribbean is an exciting time for both the
02:00company and potential passengers, as it means new and unique destinations to explore.
02:06The time immediately following the new introduction of new itineraries by Royal Caribbean for
02:11cruises leaving two years after the date of release is typically when the lowest prices
02:15for a Royal Caribbean cruise may be found.
02:18The reason for this is that when a new itinerary is announced, the cruise line may offer special
02:23promotions or discounts to encourage bookings for the upcoming voyage.
02:28Those interested in booking a cruise at a more affordable rate would be wise to keep
02:32an eye out for the times when Royal Caribbean will offer new cruise itineraries.
02:38Reduce the Price Until the Final Payment
02:42One of the best advantages of making an early reservation for a cruise on Royal Caribbean
02:47is the ability to recalculate the cost of your trip an unlimited number of times before
02:52the due date for the final payment.
02:55Repricing is not done automatically, so you will need to check Royal Caribbean's website
02:59regularly to determine whether or not the price of your cruise has decreased.
03:04You can also get in touch with a travel agency to find out if the cost of your cruise has
03:09gone down.
03:10Repricing a cruise is a great idea because the money saved on cruise costs can be placed
03:15towards incredible shore excursions, dining and drink packages, and on-board activities,
03:20making the experience more worthwhile.
03:23When you book a trip well in advance, you have more time to shop for the best cruise
03:28add-ons before your ship departs.
03:30You can change the price of any excursions or add-ons such as meal, beverage, and internet
03:35packages in the same way that you can change the price of a cruise.
03:39If you have recently made a purchase and later discover that the price of that item has decreased,
03:44you may easily cancel the add-on through the cruise planner website and re-book the item
03:49at the new, lower price.
03:51Canceling and re-booking your reservation is free of charge, and there is no limit to
03:55the number of times you may do either of those things.
03:58As a result, it is a simple way to save money if you find a better deal elsewhere.
04:04More Stateroom Options
04:07Compared to buying a trip closer to the departure date, booking a cruise early offers a significantly
04:12larger selection of available staterooms.
04:15You can choose the stateroom that best suits your needs and preferences when you book in
04:19advance.
04:20It's important to note that availability and prices for cabins can change over time.
04:26While most cabin types may not sell out too far in advance, there are some that are known
04:30to be in high demand, such as suites and solo cabins.
04:35Suite categories, like balcony or spa suite, are known to sell out fast, and if you're
04:40interested in booking one, it would be wise to do so as early as possible to secure your
04:44booking.
04:45Similarly, solo cabins are also limited and book quickly, so if you're traveling alone
04:50and want to ensure you have a cabin to yourself, you should book early.
04:54Booking early gives you the advantage of having more time to research and compare options,
04:59and also the ability to secure a cabin that fits your preferences and budget before they
05:04become scarce.
05:07Excursion Options and Cruise Add-ons
05:10When you purchase your cruise well in advance, Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website
05:14will provide you with the widest selection of alternatives for shore excursions and other
05:19cruise add-ons from which to choose.
05:21There is a possibility that all of the shore excursions could sell out, but it is more
05:26likely that the popular activities will do so.
05:29This is especially true for ports typically located further away from the primary attractions,
05:34such as those in Rome or Paris, and it applies to shore excursions to those cities.
05:40To avoid spending too many hours to the city from the port without the additional safety
05:45of a Royal Caribbean excursion, many passengers book an excursion directly via Royal Caribbean
05:51when they visit these ports.
05:54Other add-ons, including dinner packages and restaurant reservations, are examples of the
05:58kind of things that are better reserved in advance.
06:02There is a cap on the number of dining packages that can be purchased for each trip, and as
06:06the departure date draws nearer, certain dining packages may be removed from the Cruise Planner
06:11altogether.
06:12Suppose you already want to eat at a particularly specialty restaurant on a particular day or
06:17book a meal package.
06:19Booking a cruise early will ensure you can purchase these add-ons when you go on your
06:23cruise.
06:25Cons of Booking Your Cruise Early
06:28Planning for Years
06:30Booking a cruise well in advance can certainly offer the best bargains, but it's not always
06:35possible or practical for some customers to plan vacations so far in advance.
06:40Many people have unpredictable schedules because of children's schools and extracurricular
06:45activities, time off from work, and other family commitments.
06:49These factors can make it difficult to plan and commit to a vacation months or even a
06:53year ahead of time.
06:55Furthermore, even though Royal Caribbean does offer flexible cancellation policies, such
06:59as those for refundable cruise costs, it's not always worth the hassle to book a cruise
07:04so far in advance if there is a chance that you may not be able to set sail.
07:09Itinerary and Ship Changes
07:12You should be prepared for changes to your cruise vacation due to weather, port calls,
07:16ship charters, and other happenings beyond your control.
07:20Even though it's quite unlikely, Royal Caribbean's plans for a particular ship or itinerary may
07:25change during a trip, leading to a different city or different ship.
07:29This does not occur frequently, but it is possible.
07:32For example, political events can impact planned itineraries and port calls.
07:38Passengers who had planned and booked cruises to Northern Europe hoping to visit cities
07:41like St. Petersburg may have had to adjust their itineraries due to recent political
07:45tensions in the region.
07:47Furthermore, cruise departure times and itineraries can also be subject to change by Royal Caribbean.
07:53This means that even though customers may be offered refunds or alternative sailings,
07:58the chance of an unexpected change occurring at an advanced stage in the planning process
08:02is always present.
08:04For example, at the beginning of this year, the cruise line had to move or cancel several
08:09Mariner of the Seas cruises due to itinerary planning.
08:13However, it's worth noting that not all changes are negative.
08:17In some cases, passengers may be upgraded to a new ship or a different itinerary at
08:22no extra cost.
08:23For example, when it was announced that Wonder of the Seas would replace Allure of the Seas
08:28on a European itinerary, passengers who had previously booked cruises on Allure of the
08:33Seas were automatically moved to Wonder of the Seas and were upgraded to a newer ship
08:38without incurring any additional costs.
08:41Overall, while unexpected changes can be frustrating, it's important to keep in mind that Royal
08:47Caribbean takes many steps to minimize disruption and inconvenience for passengers, and in some
08:52cases, changes may even result in an upgrade or a new experience.
08:58Pros of Booking Your Cruise Last-Minute
09:02Spontaneity
09:04Booking a cruise at the last minute, or just a few months in advance, can add a sense of
09:08excitement and unpredictability to your vacation.
09:12When you plan your trip with little notice, you'll be able to escape and relax quickly
09:16without having to wait for a long period of time.
09:19Although it is often suggested to book a cruise well in advance, doing so can lead to long
09:23wait times before you actually embark on your journey.
09:27This can be especially frustrating for those who are looking forward to a much-needed vacation.
09:32By booking a cruise closer to your departure date, you can still have something to anticipate
09:36without having to wait for an extended period of time.
09:40Last-Minute Cruise Deals
09:43There is a good chance that you will find the finest cruise deals as soon as Royal Caribbean
09:47announces new itineraries for their cruises.
09:50Yet, it is not unheard of to find fantastic last-minute cruise offers.
09:55Royal Caribbean will occasionally reduce the price of a cruise fare closer to the date
09:59of departure if demands are low.
10:02This reduces costs for customers who can sail at the very last minute.
10:06These last-minute deals are most commonly available during the shoulder season and on
10:11older, smaller cruise ships.
10:13However, they can provide significant cost savings for vacationers who are more flexible
10:18with their plans.
10:20Cons of Booking Your Cruise Last Minute
10:22Fewer Options
10:25When you book a cruise closer to the departure date, you have fewer options overall.
10:30From the staterooms and excursions you may choose to the ships, itineraries, and cruise
10:34add-ons you can select.
10:36You may be dissatisfied if the ship's interior staterooms are all booked up by the time you
10:41get near the departure date if you are on a cruise on a budget and need an inside stateroom.
10:47Similarly, if you are planning to splurge on a star-class suite, you should know that
10:51these rooms are not always accessible at the last minute.
10:54As the departure date of a cruise grows nearer, the number of available add-ons may decrease
11:00and become scarcer, while some add-ons, such as intranet and beverage packages, will always
11:05be available.
11:06Others, such as shore excursions and dining packages, may become unavailable later.
11:13Flight Prices Are Higher
11:16When you book a flight at the last minute, prices tend to be higher due to several reasons.
11:21One of the main reasons is that the airlines use a dynamic pricing system, which means
11:25the price of a flight can change depending on demand, availability, and other factors.
11:31When there are a limited number of seats available and the departure date is approaching, the
11:35demand for those seats increases.
11:38With the increase of demand, airlines raise the price to optimize their revenue.
11:42Also, last-minute bookings may incur additional fees, such as expedited booking and processing
11:48fees, which can add to the overall cost.
11:51Another reason is the competition in the market.
11:53As the flight is departing soon, travelers are more willing to pay higher prices for
11:58the convenience of leaving soon.
12:00Furthermore, airlines know that people who look at the last minute may be more flexible
12:05with their travel plans and willing to pay a premium for that flexibility.
12:09Be careful to check the prices of airlines first before booking a cruise if you're going
12:14to be traveling on a budget.
12:15This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises along the way.
12:21Less Time to Figure Out Logistics
12:23When you book a cruise at the last minute, there is often very little time to plan and
12:28prepare for the logistics of your trip.
12:30This can be stressful and cause you issues if you haven't taken care of everything that
12:34needs to be done before you leave.
12:36This includes things like finding someone to take care of your pets, children, or wrapping
12:40up any pending work projects.
12:42One of the main issues with last-minute bookings is that it can be harder to find someone to
12:46take care of your responsibilities while you're away.
12:49For example, if you have pets, it can be difficult to find a pet sitter at short notice.
12:54The same goes for finding child care, or someone to take care of your home or business while
12:59you're away.
13:00Additionally, booking a cruise at the last minute may also lead to logistical issues
13:04with your work.
13:06You might have pending deadlines and unfinished projects that you need to finish before leaving.
13:10With little time left, it can be hard to complete all of these tasks and leave your work in
13:15a good state.
13:16Furthermore, you may have less time to plan for your trip, including researching about
13:20the itinerary and shore excursions, which may lead to disappointment.
13:24How long in advance do you like to make your cruise reservations?
13:28Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
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13:39Also, feel free to leave a comment if you have any recommendations for future videos.
13:45Thanks for watching, have a great day, and stay tuned for more soon!