This is a guest post by Danielle Smith, an agricultural communications student at the University of Arkansas.
Knowing when to book your cruise vacation and flight can help you to save money and ensure that you get exactly what you want out of your vacation. Here are some helpful tips on when to book a cruise and flight.
The Best Time to Book a Cruise
The best rule to follow when booking a cruise is to book early in order to ensure price and availability of the best staterooms. If you see the cruise you want at a fair price, book it. You will most likely not find that price again in the future. If you do find a cheaper price many cruise lines will reimburse you for the difference or give you upgrades, as long as you haven’t made the final payment.
The best prices are found early, with fares going up, as sail dates get closer. Try to book your cruise 6-12 months in advance. 60-90 days before departure is considered last minute when booking a cruise so be sure to plan early.
The “WAVE” season — generally the first three months in the year — is the most popular time for consumers to book cruises, so the cruise lines often offer enticing discounts and/or extra bonuses during this period.
Booking a Flight with Your Cruise
There are many benefits to booking your flight through the cruise line including peace of mind and convenience. But, many passengers prefer to book their own flights when cruising in order to save money and ensure flexibility. If you do choose to book your own flight here are some tips:
Shop for flights in the mornings and on Tuesdays. Sales are almost always posted at night and the deals will be gone by the afternoon. Many airlines post their sales on Monday nights so other airlines will have matched the sales by Tuesday morning.
Book Early. Flight prices will always fluctuate, but fares usually go up by more than they go down. Airlines Reporting Corporation stated that passengers paid the lowest price when buying six weeks in advance during regular travel time (not during holidays or high season).
Know how full your flight is by “choosing a seat.” If you are booking your flight on an airline with reserved seats, the seat map can be an indicator of how full the flight is at the time you are trying to book. If the flight has many available seats and the price seems high, then you may want to keep shopping.
If you are traveling during the high season or holidays you should try to book your airfare about 3 months in advance.
Arrive the day before your cruise. Airfare is often cheaper a day or two before the cruise than the day of departure, although you have to consider the added hotel cost. However, flights can always be canceled or delayed and the ship is not likely to wait. If you are buying your airfare on your own, be sure to protect yourself and your cruise vacation with insurance that protects you against travel delays.
What travel tips have you discovered when booking your cruise or flight? Be sure to share your thoughts below in comments.
A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Danielle plans to return to the Kansas City area upon graduation.
Danielle is currently working as a social media intern with VentureTime Travel. When she isn’t working or in classes, Danielle enjoys traveling the world with her fiancée Will.
Learn more about Danielle here.
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