When Is the Best Time to Book a Cruise?

Celebrity Apex

Popular cruise itineraries and sailings during peak vacation times can sell out quickly,  so you may want to book as soon as the cruise date is announced. Also, when promotional pricing and specials pop up, they tend to sell out quickly, so you’ll want to book as soon as you see these appear.

Book your cruise itinerary as early as possible if you want to spend the holidays on a cruise, desire specific stateroom accommodations, especially suites, have a special occasion to celebrate and want specialty dining reservations, or prefer prime spa services such as couples massages.

It’s also worth noting that the top accommodations and the most affordable staterooms are usually snapped up first, so plan accordingly.

Many cruises are open for booking starting two years or more before the sailing date.

Read: Answers to All of Your First-Time Cruise Questions

Resort Deck

You often hear that the best time to book a cruise is either really early or really late in the booking window – that is, from the time a cruise itinerary is released to about six weeks before the cruise departs. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so you’ll need to assess which is the right choice for you.

Booking your cruise early has two main benefits: price and first pick of accommodations, shore excursions, and dining times.

Generally, you’ll find that the opening advertised price will be the best price for that cruise. As the ship’s staterooms start to fill, the cruise price tends to go up, and it may not go down if that sailing stays in high demand.

With Celebrity’s Best Price Guarantee, you can be assured that if a lower cruise fare is found, or if a promotional cruise fare is advertised after you book, and your booking falls within certain parameters, the lower fare will be applied to your booking.

Booking early also means you have more first-pick selections of some important onboard features, including:

Best Accommodation Choices

Infinite Veranda

Booking early allows for the widest choice of staterooms. Unlike a hotel reservation, when you book a cruise, you don’t just book a stateroom category. You can (and should) choose your exact stateroom at the time of booking. First, choose the best stateroom, then look at the deck plans for your ship to pick out the perfect location.

Suites on every cruise can sell out quickly, as do the most desired locations, such as mid-ship staterooms, which are closer to the main dining rooms, many of the lounges, and have less noticeable movement.

Top deck staterooms, where you’ll get a bird’s-eye view from your veranda and closer proximity to the pool and sundeck, are also popular.

Villa

On some sailings, one side of the ship versus the other can be important for the view. For example, if your itinerary is traveling south and you like to watch the sunset from your veranda, you’ll want a stateroom on the starboard side, facing west.

All cruise ships have a range of wheelchair-accessible staterooms in every category. If you need one of these, you should book your cruise in advance. These staterooms have features like wider doors, a spacious bathroom that can accommodate a wheelchair, and adapted access to the veranda.

Suite

Booking early is a good idea if you’re traveling as a family, too. You may prefer a suite, and these tend to go quickly. Or perhaps you prefer two staterooms, one with a veranda for parents and an interior for kids or teens across the corridor. This formula doesn’t work so well if, for example, you can only get two staterooms on separate decks, so book early when there is still plenty of choice.

Read: I’ve Been on 24 Cruises With Kids: Here’s Everything You Need to Know 

Preferred Times for Main Dining Room

Main Restaurant

Booking early also affords you the opportunity to reserve your preferred dining time in the ship’s Main Dining Room by choosing the Celebrity Select Dining option. This gives you the flexibility of dining early or later each day, rather than at a set time.

Early seatings are often booked first, so if you prefer dining at a set time each evening, booking early gives you the best chance of reserving your preferred time with the added benefit of a more personalized dining experience by having the same table and wait staff each evening.

Reserve Popular Shore Excursions & Onboard Activities

Alaska

When you book your cruise early, you’ll have immediate access to the extensive array of shore excursions offered on Celebrity Cruises, many of which sell out quickly.

For example, when sailing on one of our Hubbard Glacier cruises, there are a very limited number of spots for a spectacular small-vessel excursion that takes you close to Alaska’s amazing native wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, and the magnificent glacier located along the ship’s fjord route.

Luminae

Early booking also lets you reserve specialty restaurant dates and times, and you can set up spa and fitness center appointments before the most desired times and locations are snapped up.

Secure the Best Flights

Los Angeles, California

Early booking is the best way to secure the flights you want, assuming you’re not driving to your departure port. If you’re booking flights yourself rather than opting for a flight-inclusive package, you’ll be able to shop around and pick the best times and prices.

The best and safest way to secure flights is to opt for Flights by Celebrity. You’ll benefit from the lowest available fare. You’re guaranteed to get to the ship—and to get home again.

What’s more, you don’t pay for your flights upfront as you would when booking independently; you only pay once you settle the balance for your cruise. And one final point: You’ll earn airline miles, should you collect them.

On the other hand, if you book at the last minute and go it alone, you may lose all the savings you made on the cruise to expensive airline seats.

Take Advantage of the Early Booking Cancellation Policy

If it feels a bit daunting to book a cruise that’s still a year or more in the future, rest assured that Celebrity Cruises’ itineraries have cancellation policies that allow U.S. residents to cancel their booking up to 75 days before sailing for short cruises, 90 days for cruises up to 14 nights, and 120 days for cruises of more than 15 nights.

As long as you cancel within the stated window, you won’t be charged the fare for the cruise, other than any non-refundable deposit amounts. The policy may vary by country of residence, so double-check before booking.

For extra security, consider Celebrity Cruises’ CruiseCare Plan, which protects you against cancellation of your cruise or CruiseTour; it’s specifically designed for U.S. residents, with separate arrangements for New York State residents.

Pool

For those who think that later is better, waiting until the last minute to book your cruise has some advantages, especially if you’re flexible about stateroom location, dining times, and shore excursions. You could even be open to where you go; for example, any Caribbean cruise, or any Alaskan itinerary.

If your main vacation goal is to escape the demands of everyday life for a bit and relish the luxurious amenities offered on board a Celebrity cruise, then last-minute may be the best time for you to book your cruise vacation.

Infinite Veranda

Booking a last-minute cruise refers to the later part of the booking window, about three to eight weeks before the cruise is set to depart.

The best time to get a last-minute cruise deal is usually just after the final payment deadline—often around two to three months before sailing—when staterooms that weren’t paid for are released back into the system and cruise lines may drop prices to fill them.

You may be able to score a mid-ship veranda stateroom or a top-deck stateroom because someone else has just opted out. The cruise fare may drop during this time in order to fill those staterooms before the sail date.

There’s an element of strategy, or informed guessing, when it comes to taking a chance on a last-minute cruise. If you can stay on top of travel trends, you’ll have a better idea of whether a last-minute bargain is likely to materialize.

Alaska

For example, let’s say you want to go to Alaska. Currently, Alaska is a popular destination. It also has a relatively short season, so there might not be an abundance of bargains. The same applies to Japan, which is very much in fashion at the moment.

If your heart is set on either of these, leaving it to the last minute is likely to result in disappointment. The Caribbean, though, could be a different story as there are more options.

Suite

If you’re completely flexible about your last-minute cruise vacation, you might want to consider playing the stateroom lottery as well. You can save money by opting for a “Guarantee” stateroom, which will appear as “GTY” on your reservation.

By doing this, you won’t be able to select a stateroom, but you will be guaranteed accommodation in that category at the very least. You won’t find out the location of your stateroom until the very last minute.

Villa

Why play this game? Because you could find yourself with a free upgrade. If all the staterooms in your chosen category are sold out, you will be bumped up to a higher category. The downside, on the other hand, is that the stateroom you end up with could be in a less favorable location.

If exact location matters, don’t choose GTY. However, if you have a completely open mind and don’t mind where your accommodation is, it can be a good tactic.

Rome, Italy

Yes, there are important considerations when waiting for a last-minute bargain. First, will you need flights, and if so, will these be available? If you’re going to need to fly to Europe in the middle of summer, for example, which is peak season, you may find that only the expensive seats are left.

You could end up having to arrive a day early for your cruise, which is a fun thing to do, but if you’re in this to save money, there will be hotel and dining expenses involved.

Second, will you require any visas? If your cruise includes a port where a visa is necessary, make sure you have adequate time to apply for it. Many visas can be secured quickly online, but others take more time. The best time to book a cruise to more unusual or challenging destinations is certainly early rather than late.

St. Maarten

Bear in mind, too, that not all cruise ships are the same. A Caribbean cruise on one ship may be a completely different experience from a Caribbean cruise on a different ship. One may have different amenities or be bigger. What looks like a last-minute bargain may not work out so well if you haven’t chosen a ship that’s right for your personal tastes.

Villa

Have a few different itinerary options in mind before you check for last-minute price drops. You might find the most exciting cruise opportunity by chance.

Check out the deck plan to be sure you understand the location of your stateroom. Also know that you’re rarely going to see much of a price drop for suites.

If you’re within driving distance of a cruise port, be open to the ships and itineraries that sail from that port.

Magic Carpet

Do you have your eye on a particular cruise but want to play the waiting game? You can use tracking tools to keep tabs on prices.

Select a third-party cruise tracking app or website. Input your preferred date, itinerary, and stateroom category. Then, let the app do the work. Set up a price alert and receive emails when the price changes. You’ll still have to pick the right moment to pounce, of course.

Mykonos, Greece

Though there are peak times to book a cruise, the decision to book at a certain or “best” time comes down to your specific needs, wants, and itinerary.

September and October are the best months to book a cruise for the coming year’s summer itineraries, especially for Mediterranean cruises and some popular holiday cruises.

Different offers are available throughout the year. Even if it falls outside the best time to book, you might see a special offer that you should take advantage of if it will save you money.

Persian Garden

For example, if you know you want to spend time at The Spa during your cruise, a special promotion that lets you save on an upgrade to AquaClass is a great option for you.

If you are a foodie and you want to try all the specialty restaurants on board, and you see a promotion that has a substantial onboard credit offer, take advantage of those savings and book your cruise.

Infinite Veranda

Wave season is a cruise industry term for the period between early January and the end of March, when people are most inclined to book a vacation as they look forward to escaping the cold and gloom of winter. Just as you’ll see tactical promotions on Black Friday or President’s Day, you’ll find bargains on offer throughout wave season.

What kind of offers can you expect? Booking a cruise in wave season isn’t just about saving cash. Look out for onboard credit that you can use in the shops and The Spa, or stateroom upgrades.

You might find discounts on drinks packages, a reduced deposit, or a special offer on the third or fourth person on the booking. This is always enticing for families as it can amount to kids traveling for free, or almost free.

Another one of the best times to book a cruise is when you’re actually on a cruise. We have booking specialists on board our ships who are happy to meet with you to help you plan your next cruise.

Our specialists can help you find exactly what you want to make your next sailing even more special, whether it’s an early seating time, a similar stateroom location close to the pool, or a new destination you haven’t been to yet.

Sunset Bar

Another benefit of booking your next cruise while you’re on board is that there are often great incentives offered for booking while cruising. Bonuses differ depending on itinerary and timing of your cruise booking, but you’ll often see special offers that include discounts or onboard credit you can use toward spa treatments, drinks, shore excursions, and other activities. You might even be offered a stateroom upgrade or free drink package.

These special limited-time offers (you have to book before the last day of your cruise) are worth seeking out. You’ll likely see them advertised during your cruise, but if not, make sure you head to the reservations lounge and ask what sort of onboard booking offers are available during your cruise.

If you’re not sure where you want to cruise next, check your daily Celebrity Today schedule of onboard events to see if there are any destination-focused information sessions.

Galapagos

These informative sessions are conducted by a travel expert who can tell you all you need to know about cruising to the featured destination, whether it’s the magnificent beauty and incredible wildlife of the Galapagos, the cobblestone villages and vibrant cities of the Mediterranean, or the exotic and magical cities of Southeast Asia.

If you do decide to book while still on board but have a close relationship with a travel agent, don’t worry; the booking can be associated with your agent so you can work with them to put together all the elements of your dream vacation. They won’t be left out in the cold. The service of a good agent can be invaluable, especially if anything goes wrong on vacation and you need to change flights, for example.

Read: Best Way to Book a Cruise

Hubbard Glacier

If you’re planning an Alaska cruise, whether you want to sail in shoulder season when you’ll find fewer crowds and drier weather, or in peak season, June through August, you’ll want to book as early as possible.

In shoulder season, the initial posted fares may be the best fares offered, and Celebrity’s Best Price Guarantee ensures you’ll benefit from a price change.

If you’re cruising to Alaska during peak season, June through August, you’ll want to book early for suites and your pick of staterooms. Another reason to book early is to reserve shore excursions like glacier helicopter tours that sell out quickly.

St. Lucia

The best time to book a cruise to the Caribbean depends on when you want to sail. Peak season for the Caribbean is December through April, and that takes in the popular winter and spring holidays.

These Caribbean cruises fill up fast, so you’ll want to book early to reserve your choice of stateroom or suite, preferred dining times, spa appointments, and Specialty Dining reservations.

If you are thinking about a Caribbean cruise during late summer or early fall, both of which are shoulder season, booking last minute may help you score a great promotional fare, especially if you have no work or school restrictions, are flexible about stateroom selection, are relaxed about which ship you may end up on, and don’t mind cruising during hurricane season.

Portofino, Italy

There’s a lot of competition for the best cruises to Europe in the peak summer months of July and August. This is when Europeans head on vacation, especially families, as kids are not in school.

So if you want to travel when the whole of Italy, Spain, and France are Mediterranean-bound, book early to secure the stateroom and the itinerary that you want.

Barcelona, Spain

If anything, shoulder season in Europe, which is April, May, early June, September, and October, is just as popular as the summer months now. Savvy travelers who are not bound by school semesters know that shoulder season can actually be a better time to travel, with fewer crowds and less congestion in bucket-list sights like the Colosseum in Rome or the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Again, you’ll need to plan ahead. Wave season also applies in Europe, and a lot of cruise fans book their vacation right after the holiday season.

St. Maarten

This depends entirely on the type of cruise you want. For example, if you want to join the maiden voyage of a new ship, spend Christmas in the Caribbean, or take the whole extended family to Alaska during school summer vacation, you’ll need to plan well in advance. In some cases, this may be as soon as that particular itinerary goes on sale, which could be up to two years ahead.

If you’re less particular and have, say, a week in which you’d like to go to a popular destination like the Bahamas but don’t really mind how you get there, you can play the game and leave it until much later to book.

Resort Deck

In theory, you can book a cruise right up until the day before it departs. Once the ship’s manifest, which is the list of passengers and crew on board, has been submitted to the authorities, bookings will close. But serious bargain hunters can snap up a great deal at the eleventh hour.

Sunset Bar

There are all kinds of perks to look out for. Stateroom upgrades can be great, especially if you’re making the jump from an inside or an ocean-view room to a veranda.

Beverage packages can be worth a lot of money and make sense if you know you’ll want a few cocktails and glasses of wine during your cruise.

Onboard credit is great if you know you’ll have fun spending it on things like The Spa or shore excursions. Included gratuities and Wi-Fi are also good perks to have, as this makes financial planning for your vacation easier.

It’s worth noting that these perks could also be offered as early booking incentives, too.