| Find cheap, cheap cruises by knowing the advantages | | | | pay more, but the upside is that the air cost is part |
| and disadvantages of booking very early, or by | | | | of the package and not immediately payable. Your |
| booking very close to your sail date. | | | | cost will remain the same, and any cancellation |
| There are many scenarios that could provide cheap | | | | penalties will include both cruise and air. Therefore, |
| prices for you. If you Identify only one such scenario | | | | you are not stuck with unused air tickets. |
| (from many, among the various cruise lines) you will | | | | Cruise advice on booking close to your sail date: |
| find yourself in price paradise. The price, terms and | | | | Cruise lines give steep discounts on unsold cabins. In |
| conditions of booking (especially those pertaining to | | | | addition to unsold cabins, individuals or groups (due to |
| cancellation) will determine if and when you actually | | | | many circumstances) may cancel their cruise at the |
| make the reservation. | | | | last minute even though they lose money due to late |
| Consider making the reservation if you are | | | | cancellation penalties. Cruise lines can then discount |
| guaranteed the lowest price for early booking. This is | | | | those cabins with little (perhaps no) revenue loses. |
| not necessarily the same as an early booking | | | | A major disadvantage to booking your cruise late is |
| discount. Others, at a later time, may also get a | | | | that of air fares. Rarely will a cruise line have "air" to |
| special (or some other promotional name) discount | | | | offer with a late cruise booking. Therefore, with late |
| that is greater than the one you receive. Therefore, | | | | bookings you are often left to get your own air |
| look for a guaranteed lowest price. | | | | travel to the port of embarkation. This could cost |
| Another reason for booking your cruise early is to | | | | you more money than any savings you receive from |
| get a desired cabin and or location of your cabin on | | | | your cruise discount. |
| the ship. Also, keep in mind that a combination of | | | | Also, if you arrive late (perhaps due to air travel |
| "free" incentives (pictures, drinks and cocktails, etc) | | | | difficulty) and the ship has sailed, you must pay for |
| are as important as a cash discount in determining | | | | your passage to the ship's next port-of-call to avoid |
| the overall value of your cruise package. | | | | losing out on your cruise altogether. |
| You can purchase air tickets separately or you can | | | | Still, if price is more important than other factors, |
| purchase them as part of your cruise package. Early | | | | booking very late may give you the cheapest price |
| booking of air travel separate from your cruise | | | | between making your reservation early or booking |
| package can save you money. (For two or more | | | | late. |
| people the savings can really add up). | | | | Just know your travel cost, and how you are going |
| The downside is that you pay for your air tickets | | | | to arrive at your port of embarkation before you |
| immediately, even though your cruise is months | | | | purchase your cruise ticket. |
| away. Another downside occurs if you need to | | | | Note: You have permission to reproduce this article |
| cancel your cruise. Low cost air tickets are | | | | on your site or in your ezine as long as the entire |
| non-cancelable and subject to change fees plus any | | | | article is reproduced, the article remains unchanged, |
| increase in price. | | | | the author's resource box at the bottom is included |
| If you book your air with the cruise line you will likely | | | | and all links remain intact. |