Booking last minute cruise

[canes20]

This weekend just opened up and wanting to find a quick cruise.What is the best way to find a good price and what is the latest a cruise can still be booked? If it's a Thursday 4 day is it already too late? TIA for any and all help.

[Garth2]

Try Carnival's website or call a travel agent.  But realize that most ships sail with no empty cabins.

[canes20]

I have always been told they sail full but then there always seems to be a few cabins. Probably no shows or real late cancellations and Carnival still gets their money. Just didn't know what the latest a room could be found. Just told my wife I was looking and she doesn't seem real happy bc she likes to have time to plan. Probably will not be able to pull off the trip anyway. 

[canes20]

Just talked to my PVP and there are rooms on 4 day Aug 1 out of Mobile and its 541 per person inside. I thought rooms would go down closer to sailing but he said they actually go up. Guess we can just watch HGTV Island Living this weekend.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

6 minutes ago, canes20 said:

I have always been told they sail full but then there always seems to be a few cabins. Probably no shows or real late cancellations and Carnival still gets their money. Just didn't know what the latest a room could be found. Just told my wife I was looking and she doesn't seem real happy bc she likes to have time to plan. Probably will not be able to pull off the trip anyway. 

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home. That is the latest you can book. I cannot give you the website.Not allowed. There is ONE that lists every sailing for every cruise line and every ship for every date, in leaving every port in the world.  Up to the day before the ship leaves port. it will indicate if certain categories are available and which are sold out. Gives you there lowest price for each category, past guest prices, veterans prices, last minuet deal prices etc. OBC offerings, perks available etc.

[blarko]

8 minutes ago, canes20 said:

Just talked to my PVP and there are rooms on 4 day Aug 1 out of Mobile and its 541 per person inside. I thought rooms would go down closer to sailing but he said they actually go up. Guess we can just watch HGTV Island Living this weekend.

 

$541pp inside? Geez.

4 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home. That is the latest you can book. I cannot give you the website.Not allowed. There is ONE that lists every sailing for every cruise line and every ship for every date, in leaving every port in the world.  Up to the day before the ship leaves port. it will indicate if certain categories are available and which are sold out. Gives you there lowest price for each category, past guest prices, veterans prices, last minuet deal prices etc. OBC offerings, perks available etc.

 

That’s a website I’d be interesting in seeing. Never heard of it. How does one find this “not allowed” to be mentioned site?

[Organized Chaos]

20 minutes ago, canes20 said:

Just talked to my PVP and there are rooms on 4 day Aug 1 out of Mobile and its 541 per person inside. I thought rooms would go down closer to sailing but he said they actually go up. Guess we can just watch HGTV Island Living this weekend.

 

Whoa, $541pp for a 4-day interior on the Fantasy. Ouch. We just booked a 5-day out of NOLA for this December. That's as "last minute" as we've ever booked, we usually book a year out. We got our interior for $250pp, and it's on the Valor, which is bigger and 14 years newer than Fantasy.

 

My wife & I were talking about the prices going up closer to sail date. Part of me thinks they would be more likely to go down because they're more eager to fill up the ship as the sail date gets closer. But the other part of me says, well if the cruise has been steadily booking up, then the law of supply & demand says the price goes up.

[AdGuyMG]

24 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home.

 

Horrible advice....  You would end up going home.

 

Because without a boarding pass or your name already on an electronic or paper manifest you are

 

A) Not going to get any porter to take your luggage

 

B)  You are not going to get past security and inside the terminal building.

 

C) And even if you did get inside the terminal, you will not find a reservation office, a reservation agent, or anyone qualified to make a reservation.

 

And then you get to pay the parking garage fee on the way out.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

3 minutes ago, AdGuyMG said:

 

Horrible advice....  You would end up going home.

 

Because without a boarding pass or your name already on an electronic or paper manifest you are

 

A) Not going to get any porter to take your luggage

 

B)  You are not going to get past security and inside the terminal building.

 

C) And even if you did get inside the terminal, you will not find a reservation office, a reservation agent, or anyone qualified to make a reservation.

 

And then you get to pay the parking garage fee on the way out.

You are totally incorrect. Over the many years of cursing We did two cruises that way. You go in a room and sit there till they come in when boarding time ends and hope the come in and tell you they have a state room available or not.

[AdGuyMG]

1 hour ago, AdGuyMG said:

You are not going to get past security and inside the terminal building.

 

53 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

You are totally incorrect. Over the many years of cursing We did two cruises that way. You go in a room and sit there till they come in when boarding time ends and hope the come in and tell you they have a state room available or not.

Maybe back when you started cruising during the Clinton Administration in the 90's .. but certainly not in the last 20 years since September 11 2001.

[ober134]

I was told 48 hours prior to sail is latest a reservation can be made. Cruise lines must submit passenger list to TSA/Security by 48 hrs. Please don't castigate me if I'm wrong here, just what I recall being told. No longer can check at terminal for last minute availability

[canes20]

2 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Whoa, $541pp for a 4-day interior on the Fantasy. Ouch. We just booked a 5-day out of NOLA for this December. That's as "last minute" as we've ever booked, we usually book a year out. We got our interior for $250pp, and it's on the Valor, which is bigger and 14 years newer than Fantasy.

 

My wife & I were talking about the prices going up closer to sail date. Part of me thinks they would be more likely to go down because they're more eager to fill up the ship as the sail date gets closer. But the other part of me says, well if the cruise has been steadily booking up, then the law of supply & demand says the price goes up.

We are going on Valor in September and got OV for $272pp. We were just hoping Carnival might want to fill the ship if they had unsold rooms but guess they do not reduce that much if they do not sell.

[Stallion]

It seems like all the cruise cancellations and itinerary changes may have made this early August period a Sellers Market-I'm seeing ships fill up. Usually, as you move from mid-August toward September prices should drop sharply in a "normal year"

[Purvis1231]

3 hours ago, twodaywonder said:

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home. That is the latest you can book. I cannot give you the website.Not allowed. There is ONE that lists every sailing for every cruise line and every ship for every date, in leaving every port in the world.  Up to the day before the ship leaves port. it will indicate if certain categories are available and which are sold out. Gives you there lowest price for each category, past guest prices, veterans prices, last minuet deal prices etc. OBC offerings, perks available etc.

 

I think before 9/11 this could be done. I once sailed on a non-Carnival cruise that was only half full. I asked if they call people near by to see if they want to sail but I was told names had to be submitted to the government 48 hours in advance. 

[Essiesmom]

4 hours ago, ober134 said:

I was told 48 hours prior to sail is latest a reservation can be made. Cruise lines must submit passenger list to TSA/Security by 48 hrs. Please don't castigate me if I'm wrong here, just what I recall being told. No longer can check at terminal for last minute availability

Yes, you are wrong.  Manifest goes in 60 min before sailaway.  With Carnival, you can call in the morning - can't do it online - and sail in the afternoon.  In fact, a couple of years ago when a hurricane devastated Puerto Rico and Fascination had no place to go, they were calling people and offering free cruises for port charges and fees - if they could sail the same day.  I think the calls went to those who receive casino offers...EM

[AdGuyMG]

15 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Whoa, $541pp for a 4-day interior on the Fantasy. Ouch. We just booked a 5-day out of NOLA for this December. We got our interior for $250pp, and it's on the Valor, which is bigger and 14 years newer than Fantasy.

 

Much of it has to do with the season.

 

An August 1st mid summer (High) season cruise is a different animal than an early December (Low) season cruise regardless of the age and size of the ship.

 

Your early December $249pp Valor cabin would be more than double the price, upwards of $500 - $600pp later in the month for the week of Christmas or New Years.

 

Then back down again for Early January 2020.

[ObstructedView2]

18 hours ago, twodaywonder said:

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home. That is the latest you can book. I cannot give you the website.Not allowed. There is ONE that lists every sailing for every cruise line and every ship for every date, in leaving every port in the world.  Up to the day before the ship leaves port. it will indicate if certain categories are available and which are sold out. Gives you there lowest price for each category, past guest prices, veterans prices, last minuet deal prices etc. OBC offerings, perks available etc.

 

You post a lot of misinformation.

 

Regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security require cruise lines to now submit their passenger manifests 72 hours before sailing.

 

 

 

☺️

Edited July 31, 2019 by ObstructedView2

[ObstructedView2]

18 hours ago, twodaywonder said:

 

Are you a short driving distance to the terminal? If so. Pack and go there and ask while they are boarding. You will either get a super deal or go back home. 

 

 

 

⬇️ This.... ⬇️ ---------------- ⬆️ Not that.... ⬆️

 

17 hours ago, AdGuyMG said:

 

Horrible advice....  You would end up going home.

 

Because without a boarding pass or your name already on an electronic or paper manifest you are

 

A) Not going to get any porter to take your luggage

 

B)  You are not going to get past security and inside the terminal building.

 

C) And even if you did get inside the terminal, you will not find a reservation office, a reservation agent, or anyone qualified to make a reservation.

 

And then you get to pay the parking garage fee on the way out.

 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

54 minutes ago, ObstructedView2 said:

 

You post a lot of misinformation.

 

Regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security require cruise lines to now submit their passenger manifests 72 hours before sailing.

 

 

 

☺️

You post a lot of misinformation. Excuse. Who are you to say that. We did exactly what I said many years ago. I have no idea if things have changed. As for the web site I am referring to. That is positively correct. Guess you are not well informed.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Cruise prices and or perks start changing usually 90 days before the sailing. Cancellations happen between those times and cabins become available again. Again 60 days before the sailing. Last minute are available on certain web sites and from TAs. The best website was posted here yesterday and I would think removed. Not here now.

[canes20]

58 minutes ago, ObstructedView2 said:

 

You post a lot of misinformation.

 

Regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security require cruise lines to now submit their passenger manifests 72 hours before sailing.

 

 

 

☺️

Not sure how many hours manifest must be submitted but PVP was going to book me yesterday around noon eastern for Aug 1 Fantasy departure.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

1 minute ago, canes20 said:

Not sure how many hours manifest must be submitted but PVP was going to book me yesterday around noon eastern for Aug 1 Fantasy departure.

This year we booked a cruise with our TA the day before the cruise. Last minute great deal.

[canes20]

12 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

This year we booked a cruise with our TA the day before the cruise. Last minute great deal.

Do you think that is the best way to find best deal? PVP did not have a good deal. $541 pp inside not good. 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

9 minutes ago, canes20 said:

Do you think that is the best way to find best deal? PVP did not have a good deal. $541 pp inside not good. 

I wish I could give your the mane of the web site. I can not. As I mentioned. Someone posted it yesterday and it is not on here today. Google last minute cruise deals and see what comes up. A well informed TA that wants to help their client is a great asset. Let them know what you are looking for and hopefully they can find it for you. Search the internet.

[ray98]

What you are missing is there probably are no 'good deals'.  This is still peak season, there has been very limited availability for weeks and I am sure the lines have a waiting list already.  If it was October it may be a different story.