When is Peak Booking for the average cruise

[Coopdog08]

i was checking out my September cruise and seeing what rooms were still available. You always hear, carnival sails full. I didn't count nor look at every available room option but there had to be 200 rooms, probably more still available. I understand that there are cruises available for early 2016 that can be booked. My question is at what point of the cruises life do most people book cruises? 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months or over a year. For myself personally I would say it has been in the 3-9 month range. I have received some free casino cruises which has made me choose in the 3-6 month range most recently. Just wondering how empty my cruise will be in September as I see it being difficult to fill that many open rooms in 78 days.

[ohiogymrat]

They will just drop prices until they sell. Also they havent assigned the gty cabins so its impossible to ever know how many cabins are actually left.

Edited July 12, 2014 by ohiogymrat

[blarko]

How are you able to check how many rooms are still available on a ship?

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

[Coopdog08]

How are you able to check how many rooms are still available on a ship?

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

 

Do a fake booking.

[Stallion]

I think there is obvious glut of Caribbean cruises right that is really beginning to show in mid August-September. Unusual weakness in June-July sales even with sales with no single supplement and heavy promotion was a good predictor for low prices starting in late summer. This seems particularly true in ports with multiple competing lines.

[getupgo]

I did a fake booking and saw my cabin was listed as available. I called and they reassured me that I have it reserved.

[firemanbobswife]

I did a fake booking and saw my cabin was listed as available. I called and they reassured me that I have it reserved.

 

If it's showing available, there is something wrong. Did you get a rate drop that may have switched the deposit requirements? I would have them resend you a confirmation. Rooms that are booked will NEVER show as available unless they truly are.

[kona_wahine]

Previous cruise was about 4 months out, but the others have been over a year. I like the early saver feature for one, plus I like being able to make payments over time. Doesn't feel like I have to come up with a couple thousand all at once. But then carnival goes and gives 10% extra on gift cards and I end up paying off the cruise 10 months early and get some OBC. :D

[Baby_Bear]

I think guarantees may be a big factor. They may have sold a ton of guarantees in all categories. Those wouldn't show as assigned cabins. Think the cruise lines usually assign the rooms a few days in advance, although people on this forum have also posted stories about how they didn't know which room they got till the last minute, sometimes literally at the port. The point is, once they assign rooms to all the guarantees, you may see a drastic reduction in rooms available per category.

 

Personally, I'd love to sail on a ship that's not 100% full. My first Carnival cruise was on the Valor and she was about 85% full. It was so great! No lines anywhere and we always got seats when listening to music, etc. Even got better service in the dining room as the staff wasn't as rushed.

[Stallion]

Cruised on the Explorer of the Seas on the first cruise after 9/11. Ship was only 1/2 full

[S.S.Oceanlover]

They will just drop prices until they sell. Also they havent assigned the gty cabins so its impossible to ever know how many cabins are actually left.

 

I thought Carnival just said they weren't going to keep dropping prices and would let the ships go out less than full to stabilize pricing?

 

Bill

[Scotch Mist]

Both the prices of my b2b's for Sept have remained steady. I have received a small price drop for 14 Sept sailing but zero for 22 Sept! Other sailings around this time have had price drops but it would seem that they aren't reducing anything significantly just yet. Maybe they are hoping for a last minute surge!

 

Freedom b2b Sept 2014

Splendor Jan 2014

Breeze Sept 2013

Imagination Sept 2013

Triumph Sept 2008

Pride Sept 2007

Miracle Sept 2006

[Stallion]

They don't drop significantly until you are within 60 days. The bottom has fallen out on more than half their cruises in late August. The Breeze (8 days) and Magic -new ships are going for $399 and $459.

[ohiogymrat]

I thought Carnival just said they weren't going to keep dropping prices and would let the ships go out less than full to stabilize pricing?

 

Bill

 

They are still offering pack n go rates and waiving single supplements, so I haven't seen them implementing the less than full plan to stabilize pricing.

[Stallion]

I count at least 8 Carnival 7 day cruise ships cruising the Caribbean going for under $500 on multiple dates in August

[ewenyelrimc]

This seems to carnivals most set in stone rule.

[mzloolue]

I count at least 8 Carnival 7 day cruise ships cruising the Caribbean going for under $500 on multiple dates in August

 

Prices are traditionally lower in August.

 

School is back in session, in the south anyway, and the hurricane season has started.

[golfadj]

If it's showing available, there is something wrong. Did you get a rate drop that may have switched the deposit requirements? I would have them resend you a confirmation. Rooms that are booked will NEVER show as available unless they truly are.

 

very true something is wrong.