Best Time to Book a Cruise—and When to Wait

• The best time to book depends on the type of cruise, when you want to travel, and your tolerance for risk.
• Reserve popular or new itineraries as early as possible to get the best prices and accommodations.
• You may be able to snag a deal during the winter wave season or at the last minute as companies lower prices to fill cabins, though choices can be limited.

Saving money feels good—almost as good as sitting on the top deck of a Caribbean-bound cruise with a cocktail in hand. It’s easier than you think to get the best of both worlds—you just need to know the best time to book. In many cases, securing your spot as early as possible will get you the best price. If you miss the early-bird fares, consider waiting until the wave season, January through March, when cruise promotions abound. Of course, pricing also fluctuates based on demand.

The best time to book a cruise depends largely on when you want to travel, what you want out of the experience, and whether you’re daring enough to wait for a deal. Read on to find out how to snag the cruise of your dreams without breaking the bank.

When to Book Early

If you have your sights set on a high-demand sailing—for example, on a new ship or during school breaks—the best time to book will likely be as soon as the fares are released. Experts say this is particularly true if you want to get the best cruise deals on a luxury line like Silversea or Seabourn, a Disney Cruise, or a small ship sailing. As the ship fills up, prices increase. Apart from saving you money, booking early might be the only way to guarantee a spot (and secure a particular cabin location).

When to Wait

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 can often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship. In those cases, prices will likely drop within 90 or 60 days of embarkation, after final payments are due.

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 travel dates to take advantage of these less expensive fares.

Tracking Cruise Fares

The only way to really know the best time to book a cruise is to track fares, which you can do through the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic website. Sign up to be alerted if there’s a price drop, taking the stressful task of incessant scanning off your plate. Some people also have luck with requesting a price match even after they’ve booked. It all depends on the cruise line, so keep those alerts on.

Best Time of Year to Book a Cruise

Known as wave season, January through March is often the best time of year to book a cruise. Demand plummets after the holidays, and during this period of industry-wide promotions, the price of that cruise you’ve been dreaming of may drop significantly. It’s also a good time to find booking perks like free upgrades, prepaid gratuities, or onboard spending money.

Best Time of Month to Book a Cruise

While there isn’t a specific time of the month that’s best to book a cruise, monitoring fare changes over several weeks can help you spot any price drops. Cruise prices fluctuate frequently based on availability, demand, and special deals. Unless you’re interested in a high-demand sailing, be patient and look out for flash sales. Don’t overlook traditional discount days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November.

Best Day of the Week to Book a Cruise

People often wonder if there is a specific day of the week when cruise prices consistently drop. Unfortunately, fares don’t rise and fall on a set schedule, and it’s impossible to predict when they’ll change. Your best bet is to track fares throughout the week.

Understanding When and Why Cruise Prices Drop

Wave season may be a popular time to find a good price on a cruise, but not every company releases its best deals during that period. Promotions (or lack thereof) are often based on what is and isn’t selling. If a cruise is filling up quickly, the company has no reason to release a sale to entice customers. But if a cruise’s departure date is fast approaching and the ship is only partially booked, prices will drop and complimentary add-ons will increase, resulting in some happy customers.