On-board booking future cruise

[D1324tt]

We're taking our first Princess cruise later this year along the west coast. Our next cruise we hope to transit the Panama Canal. Is it beneficial to book a future cruise while on-board? Are price and room availability better?

 

I've been researching cruises in early 2026 and suite availability is extremely sparse.

 

Thank you for your comments.

 

[Rick&Jeannie]

There are *occasionally* onboard "specials"...but you will likely get the best deal by just purchasing 2 FCDs (future cruise deposits) which will serve as your next cruise deposit as well as provide you with some OBC (on board credit)

[D1324tt]

Thank you Rick. Can you please expound on the FCD suggestion. Cost and usage.

 

Thank you

[LACruiser88]

[memoak]

I just don’t trust those third party future cruise sales people to book anything for me. The are almost always screw something up. We used to buy FCD’s but since they only last one year now and we have multiple cruises booked through 2025

 

[Mike07]

I have booked PCL trip onboard and it ended up never happening. I felt like the prices were no different from shore. Also, it's very difficult to price shop when you're at sea.

[Rick&Jeannie]

33 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

Also, it's very difficult to price shop when you're at sea.

100% agree! It just seems like you're wasting your *current* vacation planning for a *future* vacation. Just get the FCD and book after you get home, when you can research at your leisure. 

[Mike07]

3 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

100% agree! It just seems like you're wasting your *current* vacation planning for a *future* vacation. Just get the FCD and book after you get home, when you can research at your leisure. 

 

 

I have other people jumping on me for value place in products. If I earnestly thought PCL future sales could save decent coin, I'd tell OP, but I earnestly think the fares are the same. Though, sometimes corporate does authorize them to add a little extra in OBC... At least on one cruise I was on, they wouldn't shut up about it and I looked at princess.com and didn't see anything like it anywhere on there.

[Steelers36]

Yes, prices are the same.  Except a while back they had deals on near-term voyages that were well under-sold.  Not sure they have that issue these days.

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 minute ago, Mike07 said:

 

 

I have other people jumping on me for value place in products. If I earnestly thought PCL future sales could save decent coin, I'd tell OP, but I earnestly think the fares are the same. Though, sometimes corporate does authorize them to add a little extra in OBC... At least on one cruise I was on, they wouldn't shut up about it and I looked at princess.com and didn't see anything like it anywhere on there.

I don't think that I have ever actually sat down with the personnel on board to book a cruise. I had to one time when I couldn't purchase FCDs through the app...some temporary glitch. Assuming it is working,  just go through the app and get your FCDs. The big plus with this is that you get OBC in addition to getting a deposit for only $100.

[memoak]

3 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

I don't think that I have ever actually sat down with the personnel on board to book a cruise. I had to one time when I couldn't purchase FCDs through the app...some temporary glitch. Assuming it is working,  just go through the app and get your FCDs. The big plus with this is that you get OBC in addition to getting a deposit for only $100.

Remember future cruise sales are not Princess personnel they are a third party company and have no idea how to book things like casino deals etc. Buyer beware 

[jeromep]

@D1324tt best advice is to just buy the FCD in the app a day or so before disembarkation and then book your future dream cruise through your normal travel agent or through Princess.  My most recent cruise search for a cruise we were interested in showed little price differentiation between various TAs and the Princess web site.  The benefit of the FCD is that you can generally book a cruise with only the FCD as your "down payment" or security, plus you get a little bit of OBC.  But our schedule is never such that we can plan a brand new cruise while we are on the current cruise.  I generally need to be away from a cruise for about 3 or 6 months before I get to hankering to take another.