Twist Or Stick?

We are coming to that time in the cruising world where those of you that have not yet booked for this year are starting to think about it and get something confirmed, a busy time for us!  You know by now that I am a advocate for booking early however, I do understand that some of you out there do like to wait and see what there is around.

Waiting till the last minute of course can have its benefits and some of you are very lucky with great prices for exactly what you wanted in the first place. But, and there has to be a “but” I’m afraid!  Please do remember that any late availability is basically what the cruise lines have not yet sold and some have restrictions.  So, I hear you say what restrictions are they?

The first one has to be the guaranteed cabin! What is one? Well, you buy a cabin grade, say a balcony but you will not find out till closer to time where that cabin is. Some cruise lines will tell you a couple of weeks before you go, or you may have to wait till a few days before you go to find out. Please do bear in mind that the cabin can be anywhere on the ship. If you have booked for example a balcony cabin you may end up with a restricted view.(unless you have picked a grade that is not restricted!)

There can be also other extras you will not qualify for if you book. For example let me look at P&O.  There guaranteed cabins are usually called a late saver.  With them if you book a late saver you can not amend, and bookings are subject to a 100% full cancellation fee. Your dining times on board the ship are NOT confirmed till you get on board – pointless asking us to request a time as we are unable to do this for you. The shuttle buses in port may also be chargeable unless they are provided for health and safety reasons. Have that versus a normal fare (or Select ) where you can pick your cabin, pick the deck, pick your dining time, do not have to pay for shuttle buses and you even have the flexibility to change your booking!  You can see where I am coming from I hope! Yes, the fare may be cheaper but please do remember these restrictions.

While I have just discussed P&O I would also like to point out the wonderful “upgrade” question with them!  Most people would think a upgrade would be to a better cabin, perhaps on a better deck. Nope! To P&O the upgrade will be to what they think – so for example you are booked on a LF grade of outside you may end up in another grade but on a different deck NOT where you would book in the first place, say from mid ship to front of the ship. Once you say YES at the time of booking to upgrades and they give you one, you can NOT change it! Please watch out!  With saver fares you do not have the choice to say yes or no – if they want to move you they will.

Late bookings can be a minefield however, as I have said you can end up with a really good bargain, it is the name of the game I’m afraid, hence my title – Stick Or Twist!  What is more important to you???