Did you know that most cruises open up their bookings up to 2 years in advance? You might not know what you’re doing even next week, but we highly recommend that if you’re wanting to take a cruise holiday in the near future, you start planning now. While there are often last minute deals on cruise holidays as they sell the last few remaining cabins, there are a number of things that you might miss out on by not booking up early.
Here are a few reasons why you should definitely start thinking about booking a cruise for 2019 now:
Early booking discounts
The biggest advantage of booking your 2019 cruise now is that you’ll get the best deals by doing so. People often think that leaving the booking until last minute will yield greater benefits in terms of saving money, but this may be at the detriment of the other factors mentioned below: you might not be able to travel on a certain ship or take the route you had in mind; the best cabins will be all sold out; and even those last minute deals may not be as good as the early bird ones available now.
Secure the best accommodation
Seasoned cruise-goers will know that there are cabins on board that are preferred over others. For example, the location may determine the size of the room, some people may prefer to have the option of being closer to certain amenities (or away from them, like the noisy pool or bar!), or you may even want to secure a centrally located cabin which has more stability if you tend to feel seasick. If you leave it too late, you may not have the option of an outside cabin with a window or balcony allowing a view to the outside world, meaning that you might be stuck with an inside room at the same price you might have paid for a better one if you’d booked earlier.
Holiday cruises & busy times
If you plan to travel during a particularly busy season, such as summer holidays, the times that schools are on break, and especially if you want to take a special festive Christmas, these will book up very fast. These times may be unavoidable if you’re travelling with your family, so to make sure that you get the best out of your trip, we suggest booking at least a year in advance.
Special events
There are cruises that combine their usual travel routes with special events around the world, for example, carnivals, Mardi Gras or the Grand Prix in Monaco. As you might expect, these book up very quickly due to the limited time and availability, as well as the fact that there are people for whom these types of trip have become a tradition. If you want to visit one of these events in 2019, booking now is your best option.
Popular cruise ships
Similar to popular times of year, there are also specific ships and routes that are more well regarded – those that are luxurious, more recently renovated or have better amenities. These will book up far more quickly, so if you want to ensure you’ll get a place on the ship you want with the destinations you know you’ll love, book early.