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Cruise holidays are extremely popular in the UK but sadly they can be pricey. A guest has shared how they find the “lowest prices” for sailings.
On Reddit, a new guest asked: “What are the tricks and tips of booking cruises? Do you book two years out?
“Do you watch the cruise websites for a big drop in price and then rebook?”
An experienced guest said: “I always book at least a year and a half in advance. It’s so much better to book very, very early to get the best cheapest pricing.
“I have two cruises that I booked a year and a half in advance and the pricing has already increased by 500 dollars (£407) so far.”
Cruise holidays will often go on sale around two years or a year in advance and guests could get the cheapest prices by booking early.
Another guest said they liked to rebook if the price dropped, saying: “All the lines I’ve dealt with permit you to call in if the price drops and request price matching.”
Guests could keep an eye on cruise prices and then contact the cruise line if they see the price has dropped.
Some cruise lines will then offer guests more favourable rates, although this may not always be the case.
It can be a good idea to book a cruise early if guests want to secure a particular type of cabin.
A guest said: “The earlier you book, the greater the chance you’ll get the room you want, if you are picky about things like that.
“Generally, prices only increase so booking early gives you the lowest price.”
Another guest said they always booked their next cruise while onboard to secure a better price.
They said: “The more you cruise, the better the benefits. I see all sorts of offers for people who have played at the casino or games like deal or no deal.
“It all depends on if that is how you want to spend your cruise. We book as soon as we decide on a cruise and then watch pricing and offers.”
However, another guest disagreed and said they had found the best prices by waiting until the last minute.
They said: “It seems like the prices are the highest, the earlier you go with cruises departing in less than a month discounted.”
Another guest said: “I think cruise lines drop prices when it gets really close to the departure date if they need to sell more rooms.
“But that may not be the case if it’s a high demand cruise that starts selling quickly.”
Cruise lines may drop prices at the last minute but there’s no guarantee that this will happen for popular sailings.
British tourists will also need to consider the price of flights if they need to fly to the cruise’s starting point.
Flights are often most expensive closest to the departure date so booking late could incur other costs.
However, if guests aren’t fussy about their destination or cabin, booking late could be one way to secure a bargain.
In demand cruises such as inaugural trips on new ships or round the world voyages will usually sell out early.
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