Last minute and flexibility - good strategy?

[PhilBiker]

Hello all cruise critics. Great site. I have a plan and I want to know if it's a good one.

 

My wife and I went on our first and only cruise in 2002, aboard Royal Carribean's Voyager of the Seas in the Western Carribean. It was a group cruise, and we had a wonderful time.

 

We are planning on cruising again this year late August/Early September. We don't have a big budget, budget is an issue for us. This is our plan:

 

We want to sail from any of the ports from NYC to Norfolk, VA. We want to go from 7-10 days, within about a 25 day window. We are not married to a specific angenda. We are open to any cruise line, they're all nice, the boat we sail on doesn't have to be as elaborate as the Voyager was, they're all nice. We would be happy going to New England and/or Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, Carribean, or even trans-atlantic if the price is right and we can get a reasonable flight home.

 

My plan was to watch the late booking specials at some of the cruise web sites and get us on whatever great deal showed up. I've heard that this is a good way to get a lot of cruise for a little money. Is it true? If so, any specific recommendations in this regard? I plan on calling a local travel agent for advice also.

[Sandra*]

The more flexible you are in dates, the better. Your local TA will be able to give you the heads up on the last minute deals, I'd check online travel sites as well. I'm in the same boat (pun not intended!), we're trying to plan a two week vacation in July and our plans fell through so I've been surfing the net trying to find something interesting to do! I have noticed that flexibility is the key to a better deal - even better if you're not concerned about which cruise line you take. There have been some great deals and I haven't been able to take advantage of them due to the date or cruise line (I'm trying to build up my 'frequent sailing' points).

[Trevoli]

I would think that September in New England and/or Canada would be fabulous.

 

I'd be afraid of sailing in August or September to the other places you mentioned because of hurricane season. You sound pretty adaptable, though, so if you missed a port or two, or were re-routed somewhere else, it wouldn't ruin your trip.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

T