Is booking early the best deal

This January, as most do has seen all the cruise lines come up with some very good promotions, Royal Caribbean’s All Inclusive, Celebrity’s 123Go campaign, P&O’s extra on board Credit, NCL’s On board Credit and then various other cruise lines reduced/ Free flights, Free cabin upgrades etc.

So have you missed out by booking early?

Sometimes yes you have and other times no, and here’s what I have come across so far.

Royal Caribbean are offering Pre paid gratuities and a drinks package that covers Beers, Wines and soft drinks and then for the last 2 weekends Extra On Board Credit. So naturally my clients have called and emailed asking if the cruise they booked 6 months ago that now has this offer can be amended to include all the extras, The answer with Royal is always no, ‘For new bookings only’ we are told.

But……..

On almost every occasion I have looked into this the cruise they booked 6 months ago (or so) has increased by £200, £300 and even £400pp. So is the free grats and drinks actually free?

P&O’s extra on board credit, and very generous at that has generated calls from disgruntled early bookers. This is hit and miss. No they will not honour the current promotion on a booking already made and on some occasions the cruise has not gone up in price either, where it has increased in price I have found so far that it has not gone up much.

Celebrity are offering 123Go, choose from 2 of 3 or 1 of 3 extras including Free Drinks, Free On board Credit or Pre paid grats. I have only had 1 call from a client going to Alaska. The cruise which included flights, transfers, 1 night pre cruise hotel and a 6 day post cruise land tour had not changed in cost and yet the free drinks and grats are now included. 1 call to Celebrity and before I knew it they had honoured the extras and added to the clients booking, made months ago. Well done Celebrity, 1 happy agent and 1 delighted client.

In my eyes if cruise lines are willing to give it away for free now then why not give a little extra to those that have committed to the cruise months ago, where they have parted with their money, now sitting in the cruise lines account.

So this year is it worth waiting until next January to book 2016/ 2017 cruises?

Personally I find it hard to advise, yes next January the same extras will be there but will the price be more? Will the cabin or category that you want be there? Will the cruise actually have any availability? No one knows.

Your decision I’m afraid, I’m keeping out of it.