Booking cruises a few days or weeks before they set sail has saved me a lot of money. Here's how I find and take advantage of discounted cruises.
Peggy Cleveland
Last-minute cruises can be an excellent way to save money.
Holland America Line has its standby program, where travelers can sign up for last-minute cruises for as little as $99 a day.
But the catch is you won't know if you're cruising until about seven days before departure, and options can be pretty limited.
Although standby deals can be tough to navigate, I do still book almost all of my cruises a few days or weeks before they set sail.
Doing so helps me get great deals — I've gone on new ships for cheap and cruises that cost as little as $60 a day.
Here are my secrets to finding great last-minute prices on cruises.
Travel agency Vacations To Go has a 90-Day Ticker tool that I use to find cruises that are coming soon and available at a steep discount.
The first deal I got through it was a discounted sailing on a new Disney ship that came with a bunch of onboard credits. I've sometimes seen sailings listed for up to 90% off.
I also like to use Vacations To Go to research different ships — the deals usually have info about when they were built and last refurbished. I never want to sail on a tired, outdated ship.
Although I've had good experiences with the site, be sure to do your own research and look through the deals carefully.
Peggy Cleveland
Last-minute cruise deals can often lose their value when you factor in the cost of last-minute airfare.
So, save money by driving to a departure port whenever possible. There are more than a dozen in the US alone.
When I lived on the East Coast, I booked cruises out of Port Canaveral in Florida. Now, I live near a port in Seattle and have found great deals on Alaskan cruises.
To avoid potentially missing your ship, I recommend you drive to the departure port the day before your cruise and stay at a hotel.
Some offer park-and-cruise options, which allow guests to keep their cars at the hotel during their trip. This can help you save on the price of parking at the cruise terminal.
The more you sail, the more perks you get. But you can join most cruise lines' loyalty programs before you even sail with them.
By signing up online, you get access to special promotions and pricing. This is also a good way to start educating yourself on a cruise line's offerings and prices so you recognize a good deal when it comes up.
Peggy Cleveland
In my experience, members of Facebook groups about cruises love to share advice.
I've seen a lot of people share great deals they've found and tips for scoring discounts. These groups can also be an excellent resource for information about a specific ship, such as what cabin to book or which onboard premium restaurant is not to be missed.
I tracked the cost of an Alaskan cruise I wanted to take for two years.
Eventually, I found a last-minute deal from Holland America Line's loyalty program that enabled me to take my dream cruise at a good price with three weeks' notice.
To track the prices on a specific cruise, I check places I'm a member of that offer travel discounts, including Costco, AARP, Vacations to Go, and USAA.
I also keep an eye out for military and cruise loyalty discounts.
Peggy Cleveland
This is the key to scoring last-minute deals.
If you're open to different cabins, dates, and locations, you'll find more options. For example, shoulder seasons often have the best deals but may not have the best weather — plan accordingly.
I've usually found plenty of availability with mid-tier veranda cabins, but the cheaper and most expensive cabins tend to sell out first.
Also keep in mind that booking last minute can limit your choices for specialty dining times, excursions, and other reservations.
I recommend reserving what you can as soon as you book your cruise and checking for availability again once you're aboard, as there are often cancellations.
