Our Guide to Last Minute Cruises

Booking at the last minute can be a great way to wangle a cheap cruise. Depending on the cruise line, the best time to make a late booking can be between 90 days before to just a couple of days before the ship sails.

Many of the usual offers will still be available, and at about 60 to 90 days before sailing you stand a good chance of snapping up prime cabins that other holidaymakers have had to cancel. You may also find cruise packages that have been heavily discounted at the last minute to fill empty cabins.

But make sure you do not leave it too late to book a last-minute cruise. Sometimes cruise ships are required to submit a list of all passengers up to 48hrs before departure. Once that inventory has been submitted, there is no getting on the guest list.

To grab the best last-minute deals, you must be on the ball. Sign up for newsletters from your favourite cruise lines and agencies, follow them on Twitter and Facebook, and search through the cruise lines to find last-minute cruises departing soon.

Even if you have left it exceedingly late, you may still find bargain-basement prices without sacrificing on choice. Don’t be shy of picking up the phone to haggle too – you might find that there are even better deals available, or you could request an upgrade or all-inclusive bundle to add even more value to your last-minute cruise.

Your chances of bagging a cheap cruise improve enormously if you are flexible about your departure date. Bear in mind that you are much more likely to find a bargain cruise if you sail out of peak season.