Is now a good time to book a cruise? Honestly, I’ve wondered this myself. There are so many unknowns right now and you all know I am a worrier! I reached out to my friend and travel agent, Jessalynn, for thoughts on booking. She’s even more addicted to cruising than I am (if that’s possible) and she offered to share her thoughts on the subject with all of you.
Take it away, Jessalynn.
It’s hard to see it right now, but someday in the future, we will travel again. A lot of my clients are asking me, “Should I be booking a cruise now?” Here are a few things I’m telling them.
It is a great time to book a cruise!
For starters, yes, you should absolutely book your next cruise RIGHT NOW. Maybe even your next two or three! Prices are lower than I’ve ever seen them – especially for Alaska 2021. If you book your cruise with a refundable deposit fare, there’s absolutely zero risk to lock in one of these fantastic rates. Deposits start at $100 per person (for cruises up to 5 nights).
If you book a cruise now, you can take advantage of all sorts of customer-friendly policies. Take Royal Caribbean and Celebrity’s Cruise with Confidence policy: At any point up to 48 hours before your sail date, you can cancel your cruise and receive a 100% credit toward a future cruise. This policy applies to every sailing through April 2022! So you can book a cruise now and change your plans for any reason, even after the final payment.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity also have instituted a “Best Price Guarantee” policy. In the times before COVID, you would occasionally see the price of your cruise drop after you made your final payment, but there wasn’t anything you could do about it. With the Best Price Guarantee, you always get the best price for your cruise. Say you book a cruise now for your family and make your final payment for a total cost of $2,000. If the price of that cruise later drops to $1,500, you’ll receive a $500 onboard credit to use during your cruise!
Cruise lines are beefing up their perks and inclusions in addition to lowering fares. Norwegian Cruise Line is including pre-paid gratuities in addition to their “Free at Sea” program that includes alcoholic drink packages, specialty dining, and wifi. For a longer cruise of 10-14 days, these savings add up considerably. But you have to book your cruise now in order to take advantage of these temporary promotions.
In a coronavirus world, it’s more important than ever to book with a travel agent. We’re here to help you understand all the policies and procedures, to help adjust travel plans when things change, and to make sure that you have the best vacation possible. So whether it’s me or someone else, make sure that you use a travel agent to get a great deal when you book your cruise now!
You can email me at cruises@lovetotravel.com.
There you have it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jessalynn. I know it’s selfish of me but I absolutely love booking with an agent. Why? I hate talking on the phone and really hate sitting on hold for an hour. Jessalynn knows all of my cruising preferences (balcony, midship, flexible dining, etc.) If there’s ever an issue, she sits on the phone with the cruise line and gets it sorted out. Sorry, Jessalynn!
So, do YOU think it’s a good time to book a cruise?
Are you booking cruises right now and taking advantage of the customer-friendly policies? Let us know in the comments below or join our growing community on social media. Ready to start planning? Check out the Cruises page for tips, reviews, and more.
