Best Time To Book A Cruise In 2024
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Venice has recently cut back on its cruise tourism capacity, in part by forcing some ships to dock in alternate ports and bring guests to the city by bus. We included passenger counts from Trieste, Ravenna and Venice and found June numbers as high as 6,000 passengers arriving, but as low as 4,000. The numbers are lower than Santorini — but then, Venice has a far more complicated crowd control scenario.
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The key to the answer is recognizing that cruise lines adjust pricing as cabins sell out (or fail to do so) on any given ship and itinerary. The best time to book a cruise is when you've done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. If you have your sights set on a high-demand sailing — on a new ship or during school holiday dates — the best time to book a cruise will be as soon as fares are released. This is the only way to guarantee a spot (and secure a particular cabin location). Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months.
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All of these cruise destinations are considered Mediterranean, along with Monaco, the southern coasts of France and Spain, and even Israel. Ports in Portugal are also included in Mediterranean cruise itineraries. Even though it doesn't have any coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal is considered part of the Mediterranean region. Aegean cruises traverse the large open sea between Greece and Turkey and go as far south as Crete, with stops in Athens and Santorini in Greece and Istanbul in Turkey.
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If you book a cruise and see the price drop later, you should call the cruise line and request a refund of the difference. Weather is drier and warm in December, making the early part of the month a great relaxing getaway. Rain is generally limited to the Southern Caribbean, including islands like Aruba. Ocean temperatures in the winter hover around a pleasant 79 degrees and average highs and lows in St. Kitts, for example, are 85 and 74 degrees, respectively. While cruise lines are usually prepared to sail away from storms, it's always a good idea to supplement low fares with travel insurance for incidentals like flight changes. Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine.
Tracking prices allows you to watch the rise and fall of cruise fares over time, so when the fare drops, you'll recognize the price as a deal and be able to pounce on it. This strategy is best if you plan to book early and aren't as concerned about the ship selling out immediately. In actuality, most cruise lines will sell available cabins through the day before sailing, but limit or deny same-day bookings. Depending on the line, you may only be able to book cruises within a day or two of departure directly with the cruise line's reservations department. All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book.
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Those factors play a much bigger role than constant sales offered up by cruise lines. Truth is, there rarely seems to be a difference in what you end up paying for a cruise based on sales. If you are short on cash right now, cruise lines do run deals with lower deposits to book cabins from time to time.
Is January a good time for a cruise? - Royal Caribbean Blog
Is January a good time for a cruise?.
Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in July
The water temperature, however, can be cold at this time of year, so it is not the best time to visit for those hoping to enjoy beach activities. Finally, there is shoulder season, where you will find lower cruise fares and fewer crowds along with relatively comfortable temperatures. In some cases, heat waves and low rainfall can cause European rivers to be too low for ships to sail. Additionally, depending on where you're sailing, July and August may mean some local cafes and restaurants are closed for summer holidays. To decide what crowds would look like in various months, we looked at two popular ports where the effect of multiple ships is felt the most -- Santorini and Venice. Visit Santorini in June or July and you will find yourself fighting for breathing room among as many as 15,000 other cruise ship passengers.
While it will still be dry in the Mexican Riviera, weather in Cabo and other Pacific Coast destinations will be incredibly hot. The summer months and early fall will have some of the best rates, but you'll need to take into consideration the hotter temperatures in the summer that can reach into the 90s – and with high humidity. It's also the rainy season, and it's possible to have hurricanes during these months.
When to cruise to Alaska for the best weather
Travel: Looking to go on a cruise in 2024? Here’s what you need to know - OCRegister
Travel: Looking to go on a cruise in 2024? Here’s what you need to know.
Posted: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better. Explore Alaskan cruises and learn more about each fun-filled trip to the 49th state. Alaska is a special place to cruise because it’s very different from standard tropical cruise destinations. Cruises to Alaska don’t occur during the months of January, February, March, November and December. The dark and cold winters are not ideal for cruises because travelers aren’t able to enjoy the wonders of the state of Alaska. Cruisers can typically enjoy Alaska in October at lower rates than the Alaska summer cruise season prices.
Certain times of the Alaska cruise season also increase your chances of seeing wildlife and/or the Norther Lights. Cruise traffic ramps up in May and June to prepare for the influx of summer-month vacationers. That means ships may be below capacity as high season comes into swing later in the summer. Short cruises remain relatively cheap, but prices for weeklong sailings increase -- some into the four-digit range, per person. The warmest months in Northern Europe are mid-June to August, making the height of the summer season the most desirable time to cruise Scandinavia and the Baltic region.
The months of March, April, May, and November often see the most comfortable temperatures with little precipitation. However, you will have to be prepared for last-minute itinerary changes. Royal Caribbean will not sail into a hurricane, of course, so they might switch from a Western Caribbean to Eastern Caribbean itinerary (or vice versa) to avoid the storm. In July 2024, for instance, a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Harmony of the Seas starts around $980 per person for an inside cabin. The same cruise is offered for $440 less, or $540 per person, in September 2024.
For the lowest crowds, look for one of the few voyages sailing in the winter or early spring. If you’re looking for warmth and sunbathing weather, June and July are good bets — avoid August if possible due to the hottest temperatures and highest crowd levels. Frankly, cruise lines are similar to clothing stores in that they are always running sales. Sometimes it might be an incentive to book and receive onboard credit, or a sale where additional passengers sail for a discount, or a percentage off the total cruise. One more thing to keep in mind is the summer months in the tropics can often mean regular afternoon thunderstorms. (For example, Nassau in The Bahamas see about nine inches of rain in August.) Late winter and early spring months are drier.
With 15,000 people in port, I don't know how you'd be able to walk through town at all. Santorini is a good-sized island, but most of the things cruisers want to see are perched on the narrow rim of the cliffs. If you don't enjoy big crowds with lots of partying, avoid a cruise to Australia during the New Year's Eve festivities, as it's one of the busiest times of year for tourists, especially in Sydney. Australia Day celebrations can also draw crowds, so be aware if your itinerary includes that January holiday.
A cruise-knowledgeable travel adviser can help you plan your trip and determine if the current pricing is good or if you should hold out for a deal. October is one of the wettest months in Alaska, so prepare for low clouds and rain. Alaska weather in October is manageable if you pack the right gear and protective clothing. On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late.
The general consensus seems to be that there isn’t one best month for booking cruises. The best deals tend to crop up throughout the period between mid-November and Mid-March. If I had to pick based on weather, cost and crowds, I'd vote winter as the best time to cruise the Caribbean.
It's hard to determine the best time to cruise the Panama Canal at the lowest prices. Many cruise lines offer short seasons or mix up itineraries, so there's not much grounds for comparison. However, if you want a deal, the one thing that's certain is you should not sail over the holidays. The shoulder seasons may not be the warmest, but they typically offer better pricing than summer cruises. For example, a 14-night sailing to the Baltic with Holland America is $949 in early May 2023 but $1,329 in mid-June. Summer is from May to October, and winter falls between November and April.
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