How early do cruises fill up?

[Kontos]

Hi everyone,

I'm moving from Kelowna to Vancouver in March or April next year and want to try and catch one of the cruises out of Vancouver to either Alaska (Aug 2) or San Diego (Sept 11).

My brother is booking in the next few weeks and I want to tag along as well with my other brother as neither of us have cruised before. Is it too late to book if I wait until after my move around April 2017? What generally goes first, inside rooms or ocean view rooms?

Thanks for your responses

 

[dcassetta]

Rooms will probably be available on the Alaska cruises next summer if you wait to book in the spring. However, the fares for those cruises will likely be higher. Alaska fares tend to go up rather rapidly. I would guess people would probably prefer an ocean view room versus an inside room on the voyages to Alaska, but because the inside rooms are less expensive they may sell out first.

 

[PlanoNana]

If you have the deposit money, then I would book now. You can always cancel if it doesn't work out. Alaska would be my choice as San Diego is one way only.

 

[Ofinn]

You will find a lot of last minute discounts on European and Caribbean cruises, but Alaska not so much. This is true for all cruiselines Alaska is very popular.

 

[bcwife76]

Alaskan cruises tend to fill quite well and the price just keeps going up and up and up!! We just changed our August Alaskan cruise from the August 2nd cruise to a 7 day at the end of the month. I booked the original cruise on opening day and since then, my room category went up $1700 for our family of 4!!! So while I am paying more for the 7 night cruise, had I booked the 5 night now I would actually be paying MORE than the same room category on the 7 night. Basically what I'm saying is BOOK NOW!!! You can cancel and get all your money back as long as you do it before you PIF

 

[xlxo]

Alaska (Aug 2) or San Diego (Sept 11).

My brother is booking in the next few weeks and I want to tag along as well with my other brother as neither of us have cruised before. Is it too late to book if I wait until after my move around April 2017? What generally goes first, inside rooms or ocean view rooms?

if I was in your situation.... I would check current prices and write it down on a piece of paper. Then watch prices weekly for increases. If the price increases approaches your comfort ceiling.... you need to decide to book or skip the idea of cruising until the following year.

While I do see price drops with other cruise lines.... I rarely see price drops for DCL's pixie dust.

 

[Kontos]

Alaskan cruises tend to fill quite well and the price just keeps going up and up and up!! We just changed our August Alaskan cruise from the August 2nd cruise to a 7 day at the end of the month. I booked the original cruise on opening day and since then, my room category went up $1700 for our family of 4!!! So while I am paying more for the 7 night cruise, had I booked the 5 night now I would actually be paying MORE than the same room category on the 7 night. Basically what I'm saying is BOOK NOW!!! You can cancel and get all your money back as long as you do it before you PIF

Thanks how much is a deposit usually and how far out is the pif date? Also I may have misread but if you cancel you lose your deposit?

 

[Geomom]

Deposit is 20% of the cruise fare. For Alaska, I believe that until 120 days out (the PIF date), you would get your deposit back. Between 120-56 days out, cancelling is the loss of deposit. 55-30 days is losing 50% of the cruise fare, 29-15 days is losing 75% of the cruise fare, and after that no refund. You get less of a refund if it's concierge/suite room.