How to Know, When Is The “right Time” to Buy Your Cruise

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By thecruzlady
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Know, When Is The “right Time” to Buy Your Cruise

It’s “when” you first “think” about taking a cruise Are you thinking about taking a cruise now ? Then the answer is … RIGHT NOW ! WHY ?

In general, there are four types of planners. Those that plan EARLY (12-15 months prior) ! Those that plan within a moderate time prior to their cruise (10-12 months prior). Those that wait till THE LAST MINUTE (3-6 months prior) ! And those that PROCRASTINATE ? Which are you ? If you are a last minute person or procrastinator, the EARLY PLANNER is your rival/enemy ! It’s the early planner who’s getting YOUR cabin and YOUR price ! As in many topics, the EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM !

When I say EARLY PLANNERS, I’m talking about those that book as soon as the rates come out at the cruise lines. With select cruise lines and destinations, this can be as early as 15 months prior to sailing ! It’s now March of 2009, and already, select cruise lines have rates out for Alaska and Europe and Bermuda, for summer of 2010. Why would the cruise lines come out with rates as early as 15 months prior, IF, there weren’t cruisers who planned this early ?

Do you know WHY there are cruisers who plan this early ? They know the cruise industry and the value of planning early ! Here’s some reasons the EARLY PLANNER PLANS EARLY:

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

SUPPLY AND DEMAND: Do you know what drives rates up on cruises ? Supply and demand. The more cabins sold on a sailing, the less cabins there are left, so the rates get higher ! The cruise lines sell so many cabins at one rate, then the price goes up, to sell so many more cabins !
Step 2

PRICES. Some consumers don’t realize, for the most part, the BEST RATES come out in the beginning ! It’s when rates first come out … Up to 15 months prior to sailing. When you hear about CRUISE SALES, at the last minute, in many cases, all the rate is doing, is coming back down to it’s original rate, that came out 15 months prior to sailing ! Sometimes, it is true, it will get lower than the original rate ! If there’s a lot of cabin left on a particular sailing, it’s possible the rates began too high, and this is why they come down. But if there are only a few cabins left, it’s because no one wants these cabins (and YOU don‘t either). The name of the game is to buy early to get your CHOICES (deck
and cabin location) … Then keep an eye on the rates, on your date, up till final payment. Call your cruise specialist if you see rates go down. It is true, there are select sales that are for the “first time buyer”, and you won’t qualify ! But again, it’s usually because of these cabins that no one wants ! Remember, you want choices !
Step 3

CHOICES: Such as deck choice, cabin choice, and choice in pricing ! Planning EARLY gives you more OPEN CHOICES ! The choice in which pricing you prefer, which deck, and especially the wide choice of cabins ! For example: If you prefer the pricing and deck location of deck 5, to include the cabin location of mid-ship, waiting can cause you to have to settle. If deck 5 is what you want, the choices left may only be front and back of the ship. Or if mid-ship is still a priority to you, maybe you’ll have to choose deck 7 for $ 100 per person more. Or to keep your cost within the price you want to pay, maybe you’ll have to go down to deck one to find a mid-ship location. It’s about CHOICES. Or, it’s about SETTLING with what‘s left !
Step 4

TAKING FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CHILDREN. Here’s another big reason to plan early. When you need more than one cabin, you aren’t the only one who wants choices. You may not care where your cabin is, but those going with you may truly care. Not planning early, cuts off the choices of those going with you ! So if you’re the group leader, it’s about making everyone happy, isn’t it ? ! Of course, it’s no only about choices, it’s about AVAILABILITY ! As the group leader, only if 2, 3, 4 or 8 cabins, it’s about not placing an extra burden on yourself, as the GROUP LEADER, when it comes to finding enough space ! Keep in mind, groups need to plan 12-15 months prior to sailing ! Available GROUP SPACE is NOT as plentiful, as the consumer thinks. GROUP SPACE can be gone as early as 12 months from sailing, even in OFF SEASON, like fall ! Though space is priority, again, it’s also about choices and pricing, for your group (small or large), too … AND, it’s about giving your group the time needed to get their monies together, and planning for their time off ! And if your group need cabins for 3 and 4 in the room, like when taking children, then you need to book earlier than EVERYONE ELSE ! These cabins are the FIRST to go. And the next cabins to go, are adjoining cabin. So even if you don’t plan to put the kids in your room, if you need them next door to you (even if not adjoining) or across the hall from you, the longer you wait, you’re not only making this difficult on you, but on your cruise specialist. Cruise specialist are not miracle savers ! Cabins can’t be pulled out of a hat that don’t exist !
Step 5

I’ve yet to mention the true # 1 reason to planning NOW ! It’s for YOU !
1. It’s a great feeling to get projects complete, even if it’s the concept of planning and confirming our future vacation
2. Knowing you have an upcoming cruise, it gives that little joy in our lives, to help us through our every day hectic lives !
3. If your partner (or group) has agreed to go on this cruise, did you know, that if you don’t confirm these plans within 2 weeks, you’ll loose them ! Something will come up or they’ll change their mind about going ! PROCRASTINATION CAN BE YOUR DOOM … And you won’t be going, at least, not this year ! (Another reason people don’t buy the cruise they had been dreaming of ? Rates go up while PROCRASTINATING !).

How to Know, When Is The “right Time” to Buy Your Cruise

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