Should i book a carnival cruise

If you're not interested in high-season travel or experiencing the latest cruise ship, you can play the waiting game and pounce as soon as fares drop. As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship. While holding off may result in a once-in-a-lifetime deal, keep in mind that your cabin and category choices may be minimal and there's no guarantee you'll be able to book at all. This approach works best for people with flexible work schedules or retirees who can adjust their dates to snag these less expensive fares.

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has also caused some travelers to put off their cruise plans or opt for sailings further in advance.

There's a lot to consider before booking a cruise during the pandemic, including your personal comfort level and the health and safety measures in place on the ship and at ports of call.

We'll go deeper into pandemic-era considerations to keep in mind when booking a cruise below. The only way to really know the best time to book a cruise is to track fares, which is not an easy task. Luckily, rate tracking on the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic make it a bit more realistic.

They'll let you know if there's a price drop, taking some of the extra work off your plate. The best time of year to book a cruise is often January through March. During this period — also known as wave season — industry-wide sales occur and the price of that cruise you've been dreaming of may drop significantly. It's also a good time to find booking promotions, like free upgrades, prepaid gratuities, or onboard spending money.

Book a cruise late if This strategy is best for cruisers who live close to a homeport and don't have to rely on last-minute airfare. And if you miss out on booking early but a last minute cruise is too dicey, you can find a low price in between.

Just look for cruise line promotions -- fare sales and extra-perk offers -- and book when you see a good offer. It might not be the absolute best price, but you will get a deal. Cruise Travel Agent vs. Online Booking. Tips for Finding Cheap Cruise Deals. How to Book a Luxury Cruise for Less.

Find a Cruise. Cruise Tips. You may also like Dismiss. How to Retire or Snowbird on a Cruise. How to Save Money on a Carnival Cruise. How to Book a Suite for Less. Are Cruise Deposits Refundable? Home First Time Cruiser Late vs. April 22, Getting the delicate balance right on booking a cruise can be tricky. Book too early and you risk paying through the nose. But book too late and you're limited in your cabin selection or may miss the lower-priced cabins altogether!

This week we investigate whether there's a tipping point for when booking a cruise. Cruise lines typically open bookings to cruises as early as two years in advance, and there are significant perks to booking early.

Firstly, cruises usually offer bonus extras like onboard credit or dining and beverage packages to entice bookers to book early. Secondly, the earlier you book, the more choice you'll have when it comes to choosing your cabin. This is no small advantage, especially on cruises of a week or more. There definitely are reductions in cost on last-minute cruise fares.

But leaving your booking until the last minute poses many risks. Lower-price cabins, such as inside cabins, are the first to sell out, meaning that if you wait too long you may end up having to book a more expensive cabin grade.

The other major disadvantage is that last-minute discount fares are often tied to so-called "guaranteed" cabins, meaning you don't get to choose your room.

A final warning about booking a last minute cruise comes from Brian Clement, general manager of Travelocity Cruise: "Many guests who wait until the last minute to book discounted cruises will lose all those savings in increased airfare. Get ready to love the cruise line price protection policy system. This means that you can book your cruise well in advance, and then if you notice that the price has decreased, you can request to have your rate lowered.

With this tool in your belt, we recommend taking the advice of Carnival Cruise Lines' vice president, Jennifer DeLaCruz: "It's best to book a cruise six to 12 months out to ensure you get an optimum selection of cabin types, preferred itineraries, and special promotional rates. Of course there are provisos for availing oneself of a cruise's price protection policy: the lower rate must be for the same category of room on the same cruise. This policy can't be used once the final payment has been made on the booking or after the penalty period has come into effect usually 75 to 90 days before the sail date.

Make sure you carefully read the fine print of the cruise before you book to check that your cruise does not exclude changes. And don't expect your cruise line to contact you to say the price of your cruise has dropped! As with all things travel, the more flexible you can be, the better the bargain you can bag.

If you happen to be one of those lucky unattached, unencumbered unemployed? The rest of us mere mortals who have to deal with leave requests, baby-sitters, scheduling conflicts, and just life in general, should book our cruises about six months in advance and then keep a savvy eye on the price to see if it drops.

Armed with this information, you should be able to say bon voyage to over-paying for your cruise. Paula Kerrigan is the travel editor for DealNews, where this article first appeared. Already a subscriber? Monitor journalism changes lives because we open that too-small box that most people think they live in.