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While add-ons like beverage packages and internet will always be available, others, like shore excursions and dining packages, can sell out. Other add-ons, such as dining packages and restaurant reservations, are also better to book further in advance. A limited number of dining packages are sold for each cruise, and sometimes certain packages may disappear from the Cruise Planner closer to the sail date.
Ultimate Guide to last-minute cruise deals
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We recommend checking Royal Caribbean’s detailed list here to check if you qualify for any discounts. Fain also mentioned that Royal Caribbean has expanded the Price Integrity Policy to other the cruise markets of the United Kingdom and Ireland. These policies extend the same policies about no new last minute discounts in Britian and Ireland that we have been applying in the U.S. and Canada.
Fewer ship choices and itinerary options
In addition to the Royal Caribbean website, Vacations To Go, and Cruise Critic, you can find cheap last-minute cruises on a variety of other websites. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If you prefer to book further in advance, or if you have a specific cruise in mind, use Find a Bargain or Custom Search. You'll find a treasure trove of early bird discounts, two-for-ones and other cut-rate promotions on the world's best lines.
Contact a travel agent
Aside from potential savings, though, are other benefits to using a travel agent. Travel agents are available to answer any questions you may have about your Royal Caribbean cruise, and they provide service in the case of any problems you encounter leading up to your sailing. Stateroom choices will be limited in the weeks leading up to a cruise, and you may need to look for sail dates that are during odd times (such as a departure on a Monday). If you’re cruising on a budget and need to book an interior stateroom, you might be disappointed if interior rooms have sold out close to the sail date. Likewise, if you’re hoping to splurge on a Star Class suite, these rooms are not always available at the last minute.
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While it’s unlikely all shore excursions will sell out, popular tours are more likely to fill up quickly. This is especially true for ports that tend to be further away from the main attractions, such as excursions to cities like Rome or Paris. Booking a cruise early brings far more stateroom options than booking a cruise close to the sail date.
By bringing your own soda and a couple bottles of wine, you can really save money without having to skip out on these items. Dining in the Windjammer, main dining room, or one of the grab-and-go locations will not compromise on your experience and keep costs low. Without a doubt, the biggest factor in getting a good price is going on a cruise when others are unable to sail.
ways to get a deal on a cruise
If you only cruise in balcony cabins, you might find that these are sold out, especially if the last-minute cruise is on a ship with fewer balconies, like Vision or Radiance Class ships. Instead, you’ll typically find the best last-minute deals on Royal Caribbean’s older ships (Vision, Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class ships). You could use your credit card points for a free flight or hotel stay prior to your cruise. Instead of booking a cruise line shore excursion, walk around the port on your own and see what's around.
If you’re hoping to sail in a certain type of cabin—whether a suite or solo room—it’s better to book early before these categories sell out. Another way to find cheap last-minute cruises on Royal Caribbean’s website is the Going, Going, Gone flyer. This flyer is published weekly (usually late Monday) by Royal Caribbean and lists cruise deals departing within the next few months.
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The flyer is published once per week (usually late on Monday) but it is not updated throughout the week. Therefore, it’s recommended to check the flyer on late Monday night or early Tuesday morning in order to help ensure all deals listed are still available. As cruises book up during the week, the deals listed on the PDF may no longer be valid.
A plane ticket that would otherwise cost $200 when booked months in advance can increase dramatically when booking at the last minute. Last-minute cruise deals are often unpredictable, with deals appearing one day and disappearing the next! If you’re truly looking for the best last-minute deal you can find, you won’t have much choice over itinerary, ship, cruise length, or stateroom options. Every week, Royal Caribbean publishes a PDF flyer online of their “Going, Going, Gone” rates.
Both sites are good jumping off points to start your search, and then circle back with your own travel agent to figure out the best possible price. If you live in the area, or don't mind flying (more on that later), prices tend to be lower for cruises leaving from here and a last minute deal is more commonly found. Cruise prices will almost always be cheaper on a Vision, Radiance, or Voyager Class ship than an Oasis or Quantum Class ship. If you can cruise during the times of year everyone else isn't going, you can usually find better prices. Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine.
Therefore, when searching for a last-minute cruise deal, you might have better luck searching for short (3-4 night) and long (8+ night) sailings. Sometimes cruise lines offer special discounts to Vacations To Go customers who are 55 or older on the day of departure. Only one passenger per cabin must be at least 55 in order to gain the discount for everyone in the room. Subscribing to email newsletters from your favorite cruise lines and cruise websites helps you stay in the loop. Booking a guarantee cabin on Royal Caribbean means you can save money on cruise fare with the caveat of not being able to choose your exact cabin location. Just as it's important to be flexible on your cruise ship and departure port, you should also be flexible on your cruise itinerary in order to find the best deals.
You’ll also find many smaller websites and travel agencies with pages of cheap cruises you can book at the last minute. Some of the lowest cruise fares can be found on sailings booked at the last minute. Whether a 3-night weekend cruise or 15-night transatlantic, it’s possible to find cheap last-minute cruises at any point during the year. While last-minute cruise fares can lead to some amazing savings, these savings can sometimes be negated by last-minute airfare prices.
As cruise experts, we have the perfect solution for you, your family, friends or partner. Book a last minute cruise trip that you will always remember and from which you can get back into the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day life completely refreshed. With our cruise search we show you the best last minute cruise deals leaving in the next 30 days. From South America, to Australia or the Caribbean, even cruises leaving soon offer you a wide variety of ways to discover the world. Especially on Mediterranean cruises, you can find a real bargain booking a last minute cruise in low season. Our cruise finder makes it easier than ever for you to find the perfect vacation.
Additionally, I almost always receive extra onboard credit through my travel agent. Having onboard credit means I can enjoy my cruise even more, whether I use it to book a specialty restaurant dinner or order an extra cocktail on the pool deck. Alaska cruises have a reputation for being more expensive than other itineraries. After all, it’s not uncommon to spend over $2000 for an interior cabin during the state’s peak summer season.
Vacations To Go has what they call a 90 Day Ticker on their website, and this is one of the easiest places to find all last-minute cruise deals in one place. All cruises on the 90 Day Ticker set sail within the next 90 days, allowing you to make the most of any cheap cruise deals available. Booking a last-minute cruise deal may come with cheap prices, but stateroom categories will often be limited.
