Yes, you can get some great cruise deals if you wait until the last minute and no, if the cruise is scheduled to sail during peak holiday periods. Waiting until the final minute would not be a good idea.

Plan Your Trip

Planning for a last minute cruise deal is probably the best advice but how do you plan for a vacation if you are not completely sure there will be spots available when the cruise is just about ready to depart?

The usual practice is for great deals to be available when bookings first open and booking through travel agents is the best course to take. Once the opening flurry settles down cheap prices will not be as readily available.

Be Flexible

Being flexible with your travel arrangements and concentrating on the off-peak times is the key to getting good last minute deals. Cruise companies don't like sailing with empty staterooms as it means lost revenue and the off-peak season is a great time to find the best deals.

If you are planning a trip to the Caribbean for example, the period from September to the end of the year can present excellent late opportunities.

Online Deals

The internet is a terrific source in finding those last minute bargains. It wasn't too long ago when you needed to rely on the cruise companies themselves and travel agents to find a good deal at the last minute and while the latter is still a viable way of sourcing out great deals, going online has presented a myriad of opportunities.

With the massive increase in ships taking to the waters over the past ten years so too has the number of specialist websites increased. Many of these sites specialize in late minute deals and finding one to suit your travel needs is becoming increasingly easier.

Joining a newsletter list is another great way to ensure you are kept in the loop. If an online service is offering you the opportunity to get on their mailing list then it will pay to do so. This will enable them to keep you up-to-date on what deals are on offer as well as news on cruises in the future.

Waing until the last minute to score a great cruise deal will take a little patience on your part but by being kept informed by sources such as those mentioned above will give you little to be concerned about.