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How soon to book cruise?

[Deleted User][Deleted User] member
100 Comments
in Honeymoon Discussions
FI and I are planning on a cruise to Alaska for our honeymoon. It looks like the earliest we can go after our Oct. wedding is May. How soon in advance should we book? I've traveled on my own but the planning has always been taken care of as part of a group and FI hasn't traveled much so I really have no idea how soon to book cruises. Also, is it fine to book through the cruise ship site or would it be better to use a travel agent? Anyone who's done a cruise (specifically to Alaska would be best) what's the best cruise line to get the most for your money?
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Re: How soon to book cruise?

  • strlzfan11strlzfan11 member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited June 2012
    A friend recommended I use cruisecomepete.com.  It's a free service that allows you to enter your specific cruise information and will then generate a bunch of quotes from various agencies.  You can then choose which one you book.  For my 2009 cruise, we ended up getting money back (price went down), onboard credit, and a bottle of wine in our stateroom from our agency.

    ETA: Check out cruisecritic.com to read reviews of all the lines that offer itineraries to Alaska.
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  • lls31lls31 member
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    I have always booked cruises 6 months to a year in advance.  For our HM cruise, we booked in January for our November HM.
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  • jjswinjjswin member
    100 Comments

    I would say book a year to 6 months out. Princess and Royal Caribbean have the best reviews for Alaska. Each cruise line has an 800 number you can call and talk to one of their travel agents direct if you don't want to do it online.

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  • m tullim tulli member
    100 Comments
    Keep an eye on weather. I went in early November 2010 to Juneau and it rained the whole time. But it was so beautiful. I want to go back.
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  • kikirst33kikirst33 member
    100 Comments
    I did an Alaskan cruise at the end of May and we had beautiful weather - YMMV.  I did the Anchorage to Vancouver leg.  Amazing.  If you can I would suggest a few days before or after to get into Danali National Park. I wish I had been able to do this.

    I would book as soon as you can.  Most cruise lines will work with you if their rates drop and provide you that same rate or the difference in on-board credit. 

    I seccond the use of Cruise Compete - have gotten excellent rates using this service.  Just do some research on the TA you may use to make sure they have good ratings.  I have always gotten better rates using Cruise Compete than booking direct - if the rates drop is is more work to get your TA to get the lower rate but I've only had rates drop low enough to bother on only one cruise (I've bene on more than 10).

    Have a great trip!
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  • wildchild57wildchild57 member
    10 Comments
    Booking as soon as you can is usually your best bet. You get to choose your room and usually they have promotions for early bookers. I did all of the research myself but then took it to my travel agent and had her book the room for me. If you are doing Alaska my recommendation is that you book the package from Princess that does the train ride through Danali National Park. My parents said that they wish that they had known about the train part before they took their cruise last year. I would go to each cruise site and put in the info for your trip and see what it brings up for dates and sailings.
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  • carlynkevincarlynkevin
    10 Comments
    We have had our booked for a year and we still have six months to go.  I have also booked a cruise just four weeks in advance.  I live in Seattle and the weather in May is totally iffy, and it in will be all the way up the coast.  If you want to be in shorts and t-shirts on your vacay wait until August.
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