What has worked best for you?

I'm looking at a Med cruise (Celebrity Reflection on 8/15/14) but keep hesitating due to prices ($2579 for a veranda). It seems like last summer's rates for Europe were slashed by up to 60% after final.

Ultimately, I'd like a veranda (or higher category) but I'm not picky about cabin location. How risky would it be to wait?

I've also considered booking now and watching for price adjustments ... then trying to upgrade after final.

Hi lf,

>Ultimately, I'd like a veranda (or higher category) but I'm not picky about cabin location ....<

It is highly likely that you will get a discounted cabin, but you might not like it.

If you book a veranda now, you know you will have it while you check the website to see what cabins are available.

If the ship isn't full by the cutoff date, cancel and get a discount.

If it is, you have your verandah.

Happy Holidays

Hi!

If you have a specific cabin in mind, in a specific location, then I would go ahead and book it now. Then, you will be assured that you have a great stateroom location. Often, the sales are for cabins in odd, noisy locations near elevators, under the running track, under the kitchens with rolling carts as cooks and dining staff prepare for meals. We see the sales come out, the discounted rate can be applied to your reservation. Then, you get best stateroom + best price.

Have a great day!
Julia

Whether this is a good price depends on the length of the cruise.

If you waited to the last minute and were flexible on your ship, dates, and itinerary, then you might save more, but then you'd have no choice of cabin and would probably end up in an inside or in a less attractive cabin that no one else wanted.

But I think you're mistaken about prices. I'm sure you'd find 60% off the brochure rate, but not 60% off the discounted rate. And this price is likely already about 50% off the brochure rate.

The one thing I'd recommend is waiting until January. Often wave season sees some booking advantage. It's not as much price these days as an onboard credit, but that can be useful.

2013 and 2014 rates are not comparable for a number of reasons. The most important one being inventory/capacity.

For 2013, the North American Mass Market cruise lines (Carnival/Princess/RCCL etc) had an over abundance of ships in Europe. The excess capacity led to deep discounting from everyone in their attempt to fill the ships.

We criused this past August for $75 a day (under $900 for 12 days) booking an ocean view cabin and we were upgraded to a top category balcony cabin.

The trip report at Fodors is here: http://www.fodors.com/community/crui...rrek-isles.cfm

For 2014, with ships relocating to elsewhere (Asia, Alaska etc), there are less ships (capacity) in Europe, plus the Euro based cruise lines (example: MSC) are relocating ships to the Carribbean, further depleting the capacity in Europe.

http://www.fodors.com/news/cruise-li...2014-6831.html

Our TA had told us 2013 was the year for Europe as the discounting was one of the deepest in memory and that's why we booked a trip for Europe last minute this past summer and took advantage of the discount.

We have been told 2014 would be the year of deep discounts for the Carribbean. So far, for Jan and Feb, we have seen rates below $400 for a 7 day cruise.

I would say the $2579 for 10 days on the Celebrity Reflection on 8/15/14 sounded like the going rate and not discounted yet.

My rule of thumb for a good rate would be paying $125-$150 per day for a balcony cabin. (Inside $50-$75, oceanview $75-$100). I would pay Princess/Celebrity/HAL near the higher range and Carnival, RCCL or NCL on the lower end.

August is also high season and I wouldn't count on deep discount happening any time soon. At least not till late May anyway.