Best Time to Book a Cruise for the Lowest Price

Short answer

There is no single best moment that works for every cruise. The right time depends on how popular the sailing is, how flexible you are and how much the cabin choice matters to you. A common rule of thumb is that booking roughly six to twelve months ahead gives a good balance of cabin choice and price, while early-in-the-year sales and last-minute deals can be strong for people who are flexible. Prices and promotions change, so compare current offers before you commit.

Booking early (12 to 18 months ahead)

Many cruise lines open itineraries well over a year ahead. Booking at this stage gives you the widest selection of cabins and sailing dates. This is often the better approach when:

• You want a specific cabin or location, such as a certain deck or a suite
• You are traveling at a peak time, such as school holidays or summer
• The sailing is in high demand, such as a new ship, Alaska, Europe or a Disney sailing
• You have a large group or need rooms next to each other

Some cruise lines have offered reduced deposits or price protection for early bookers, though terms vary. The downside is that your money is tied up for longer, and your plans could change. Check the cancellation schedule and whether you can buy insurance. See whether cruise travel insurance is worth it.

The six to twelve month sweet spot

For many sailings, booking six to twelve months ahead is often recommended. You still have a decent selection of cabins, you can plan flights and shore excursions, and you may catch seasonal sales. It is not a guarantee of the lowest price, but it is a reasonable default if you do not have a strong reason to book earlier.

Wave season

Wave season is the period early in the year, usually starting in January and running into the first few months, when cruise lines and travel agents run a lot of promotions. Common offers include reduced deposits, onboard credit, free or discounted upgrades, and bundled extras such as drinks or Wi-Fi. It is often described as the cruise industry’s big sale period.

Some of these deals are limited to certain cabin categories or sailing dates, so compare the total value. A deal with extras is not always better than a lower base price with none. Sometimes the extras are worth more to you than the cash discount, and sometimes they are not.

Holiday sales

Cruise lines sometimes run promotions around late November and other holiday periods. These can include discounted fares, extras or reduced deposits. Whether the price is better than at other times varies, so compare with the price before the sale.

Last-minute booking

If you can travel at short notice, waiting until after the final payment date can sometimes lead to lower prices, because cruise lines want to fill ships. A window of about one to three months before sailing is often mentioned, but there is no guarantee that a given sailing will be discounted. The trade-offs include fewer cabin choices, higher flights and a lower chance of getting a popular sailing. Read our full guide to finding unsold cruise cabins at big discounts before betting on this approach.

Shoulder and off-peak travel

The time of year you travel often matters more than the day you book. Shoulder seasons, between peak and off-peak, tend to have lower fares and smaller crowds. In many regions that means spring or fall, and in some regions the cheapest periods fall outside school holidays. Check the weather and itinerary: some off-peak periods in the Caribbean overlap with hurricane season, and some ports may be quieter or have limited services. Pick a time of year that suits your goals. For Europe, see the best months for a Mediterranean cruise.

Does the day of the week matter?

Some sites claim that booking on a particular day, such as a Tuesday or Wednesday, helps. The evidence is weak, and fares can move at any time. It may be more useful to watch a specific sailing over a few weeks and set a price alert than to plan around a weekday.

Price drops after booking

Prices on a sailing can go down after you book. Ask the cruise line or your travel agent what its policy is:

• Some lines or agents will reprice your booking if the fare for the same cabin drops, subject to rules and deadlines.
• Others may offer onboard credit instead.
• Some fares are not eligible, particularly restricted promotional fares.

A refundable deposit and a flexible fare make it easier to take advantage of price drops. If you need to rebook, see changing your cruise after booking with Carnival for how changes are generally handled.

Quick guide by traveler type

Whenever you book, check what the headline price includes. A low fare can be offset by extra costs, and a guarantee cabin is one way to lower the fare if you don’t mind the cruise line choosing your room.