Should you book early?

A few weeks ago I mentioned the announcement of Celebrity Cruises new ship - Edge.  This technologically advanced ship will start sailing next year in the Caribbean. Well, guess what.  I booked a sailing on it for March of 2019! Okay...I bet you’re thinking “...she’s planning this far in advance, that’s crazy!”  So, I thought that I’d spend this week chatting about booking in advance, some tips and tricks and why you should consider it.

Availability  As an example, the Edge sailing I’m on is selling out quickly, in particular their new balcony category - the infinite verandah - the first ever rooms with glass sliding pocket doors leading to your balcony.  To complicate things, I prefer a room midship both front to back and top to bottom. I feel more stable here and centrally located. Finally, I’m traveling with my BFFs and it’d be nice to be near them, same deck, same side of the ship.  To ensure all of these boxes are checked, I book well in advance.

Price  Pricing is always dictated by the cruise line, airline, hotel and is based on availability - supply and demand.  Airlines, for example work off of a live inventory system (used worldwide!!!) and price changes can be immediate.  You know the story ….You’re searching for a flight online and think you’ve scored a deal, to click the purchase button and the price increases.  I know you know! This can happen with hotels and cruises too, though I’ve seen some cruise lines increase pricing quarterly.

Promotions  I love me some value and I love providing it to my clients.  Celebrity was offering the choice of prepaid tips, an onboard credit, wifi or a beverage package for the first two passengers in the stateroom.  Offers like these usually have some terms and conditions to follow, including a date when it expires. They could extend the offer or not, but I don’t like to take chances.  Lock it in before it’s too late. PS - Airline promos? Not so much - typically the promo is reflected in the fare (which is based on availability).

Adjusting  I have two years to wait for this cruise.  Two, almost full, years! If, by chance, the pricing goes down, I CAN get my booking adjusted as long as it’s before the final payment due date.  Speaking of final payment dates, your deposit is typically refundable up until this date as well….just in case you change your mind, or something comes up.  PS - Airlines not so much - very rare if at all for a ticket to be adjustable, refundable or changeable.

Hope these tidbits help explain why it’s a good thing to book early.  So, start dreaming and making your travel to-do list for this year, 2018 and 2019.  It’s never too soon.