Great July cruise offers. Waiting till July 31 could be hazardous to your plans ! Will there still be space ? Higher rates ? Insider Tips

As mentioned in my past blog articles, in talking with the cruise lines, last November, at our Cruises Inc conference, the cruise lines are in hopes of selling out sailings, far faster than the last few years.  Meaning, their goal, is in offering “amenities”, to entice folks in booking early.

Many cruisers, especially those who like to plan ahead, are doing as expected, and taking advantage of these offers.  Go here & see many July offers:  http://vwebb.cruisesinc.com/travel/promotion/cruise-event.do

The more bookings on a given sailing, the cruise rates rise.  Like an airline ticket, so many are sold at once price and when those are gone, prices go to the next tier of cost.  And just like airline tickets, you have no heads-up, as to how many cabins are available at the current rate, before it may jump up to that next tier. 

So unless you’ve been watching the price on a given date, you have no idea today, if your fellow cruisers, who bought 4 months ago, received a lower rate than is offered today.  Nor do you know, if you get a quote today, but don’t act on it, that when you call back in a day or two, that your sailing may have already taken a rise.

Some of the more popular sailings have been the Carnival Journeys.  These are the longer cruises that Carnival has offered.  Carnival has a Bermuda sailing October 23, for 7 nights out of Norfolk, that basically sold out of balconies, well over a year ago.  Also, group space, on several of the cruise lines, have already sold out for many sailings in 2016.  Four months ago, I tried to get group space on Carnival’s new Vista for value time during December 2016, and it was already gone !

Folks who can only sail during certain seasons, such as Summer and Holidays, need to book earlier than those who can sail in value season.  Also, folks who only want balconies, suites, or even family suites, must act quicker than others.  And if you need more than 2 in a room, these go faster !  And again, folks who want to sail in a group or form a group of family/friends/co-workers/reunions, need to act quicker than folks sailing alone !

I said above, that those traveling during the lower/value seasons, may not have to jump as quickly in booking, however, that’s not entirely true anymore.  Cruisers are learning value times, and these folks too, are booking early.  Again causing the rates to climb.  A good example is week after Thanksgiving !  As mentioned above, I couldn’t get group space on Carnival’s new Vista in December 2016.

Yet other value dates, have not yet taken a climb, over the last few months.  Example, I have a group sailing April 30 on the Carnival Glory, that is basically the same rate, as when we bought it 4 months ago.  Yet not sure why, when the itinerary is somewhat unique.  It’s going to Puerto Plata. A port I’ve not visited in 25 years !  So I too, am planning to go on this sailing.

I’m not saying “last minute buyers” won’t be able to find a great cruise rate.  But if you didn’t opt in buying early, as many others have, you will have missed out on the amenities …Whether it’s complimentary drinks, onboard credit, pre-paid gratuities and more !

Why not buy early.  Unless you are buying Carnival Early Saver rates, many other offers, you can usually cancel before final payment date, and receive your cruise line deposit back.  And better yet, there’s Trip Cancellation Insurance, especially those packages that “include pre-existing conditions”, in case you must cancel after penalty has set it.

A WIN-WIN to planning early ! ACT NOW … It’s almost the end of July !  Beware ... Folks who will wait till July 31 to act, may discover, no one can get through to the cruise lines that day !