Is September always the least expensive month to cruise?

[westjones]

We booked another cruise for next September. It just happens that our daughters' (twins) birthdays are in September and they have celebrated their last 3 birthdays on the cruise.

Well, we just wondered about the cost of going in the summer and OH MY!!! What a difference. It is like twice as much.

Is September the least expensive month (when I went to the "Ask the Captain" session he mentioned that industry wide, September is the slowest cruising month--although our ship was full). Then when I went to rebook, they had these great special going for September 2003! So we booked!

But we could NEVER afford this same cruise in the summer time!

Just wondering if there are other months like September where the rates a lower.
DJ

BTW: I checked my DU's reservation and there are only 3 families booked for our Sept. 13th Western 7 Day in 2003. We need 8 to get a nice surprise in our staterooms. Come on everyone! They have some great deals going for September 2003. Come join us! We want another surprise in our room like we had this year!

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Depending on the sailing date, I've been able to get similar rates for cruises in November and December, but I do think that September usually has one or two cruises that don't sell well, so you can get the best deals there.

Back when DCL had "fall fantasy" rates, they applied for cruises from the end of August through the middle of December, excluding Thanksgiving week.

I think that to get similar rates during the summer, you'd have to book well in advance. Even so, they probably would not be as low, as summer cruises tend to sell much better, so they would not have to price them as low to fill the ship.

 

[tstobb]

School has just started in most parts of the country in September so fewer people are willing to take their kids out that soon and September (the 9th) is the "peak" of hurricane season.

 

[Michelle]

Yes, typically September IS the least expensive month for cruises. The rest of the fall and early winter (excluding holidays) is also less expensive, but September is typically THE least expensive month to sail.

 

[4nana]

I believe the discount rates go into December, as we got better than old FF rates for the week before Christmas. Looking forward to leaving Md's cold weather behind and enjoying some warmth.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Westjones...
I did the same thing as you....priced next summer, next Thanksgiving and next Christmas in order to avoid taking the kids out of school. Well, guess what? We can't afford it! So, I figure, with the $2500 or so that we save by going in September we could hire tutors to catch them up if we needed. Just kidding, they're both good students and it didn't hurt them to miss a week this year.
The rates are just too attractive to not cruise in Sept. By the way, we are either booking the 9/13 or the 9/20. Just can't decide between east and west. We are booking with DU as well.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Westjones...
I did the same thing as you....priced next summer, next Thanksgiving and next Christmas in order to avoid taking the kids out of school. Well, guess what? We can't afford it! So, I figure, with the $2500 or so that we save by going in September we could hire tutors to catch them up if we needed. Just kidding, they're both good students and it didn't hurt them to miss a week this year.
The rates are just too attractive to not cruise in Sept. By the way, we are either booking the 9/13 or the 9/20. Just can't decide between east and west. We are booking with DU as well.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

I didn't really check Sept. prices but the week before Christmas was a deal to us. Yes, the kids will miss 5 days of school,but the last two days before Christmas very little is done other than crafts and parties( 2 nd grade). 7 day Eastern Magic for 2 adults and 2 kids(8) in a cat 10 (secret porthole) for under $2900 (without ins.) Got ins.through Insuremytrip.com for waaaay less than what was offered through Costco. Hope it all goes well - we are very excited!!!

 

[outahere]

Just in case anyone's interested....

Yesterday I compared the price for a Cat 4 for September 2003 and for April 2004 -- exact same price. I can only guess that both dates are far enough away to qualify for the maximum early booking discount.