When Is The Best Time To Book A Cruise?

Vacations are about the memories you make, and it starts with the anticipation — from finding just the right destination and pinning down your itinerary, to nabbing a value that gets you even more excited to get away. The best time of year to book a cruise depends on your personal situation and travel plans — but rest assured, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. 

With a lineup of more than 260 destinations, newly modernized ships and a new private island destination, Royal Caribbean is dialing up the adventure like never before. If you’re a return guestor are considering cruising for the first time, you’ll want to start off your planning with a few basics on timing.

Curious to know the best time to book a cruise and your flight, or if there are surefire ways to score upgrades? Read on for tips to help you plan like a pro.

1. How Far In Advance Should I Book A Cruise To Get The Best Price?

Guests book within different time frames for a variety of reasons and benefits. I’ve broken it down into three buckets:

12 to 18 months: As a general rule of thumb, the farther you are traveling, the further out you will want to consider booking — especially if you’re planning a cruise for the first time. Cruise lines open their new itineraries around the world earlier than airlines do. If you’re planning a bucket-list trip around Australia or the Baltics, or headed to a locale best explored by sea (like the Mediterranean or Alaska), it’s wise to book early. Having plenty of lead time will give you the greatest choice when it comes to choosing your preferred style of accommodations and airfare.

6 to 12 months: This is typically the sweet spot for travelers. At six months or so from your travel dates, you’ll usually find top deals on airfare, even for international destinations. It also strikes a great balance between that exciting moment when you book and the anticipation of waiting for the vacation to arrive.

Closer in: Arranging your cruise three or four months before your vacation time is possible, and occasionally there are amazing deals to be found — but it’s not always recommended. In general, when you are this close to the departure date, many itineraries and staterooms have been booked (especially on sailings that are seven nights or longer).

2. Are There Incentives Or Upgrades I Should Know About?

Booking During Wave Season

Booking Early

Searching For Special Offer Periods

Finding Last-Minute Deals

Off-Season Bookings

To save costs, cruise in the shoulder and low seasons when fewer people are sailing. These are the best months to book a cruise cost-effectively.

Don’t forget to ask about special programs that might be inclusive of your profession, like a police officer, firefighter or member of the military. You might also want to consider trying out RoyalUp — a new bid-based stateroom upgrade program.

Find Great Deals For Your Upcoming Cruise

If you’re considering the best time to book a cruise, use this information to help you decide when the best time to book might be for you. At the end of the day, you’ll find plenty of great deals year-round — and for different reasons.

Now, you know exactly when to find them, too!