5 Reasons Families Should Never Book A Cruise Last Minute

Booking a family cruise at the last minute can mean missing out on far more than just a good price.

I used to be happy booking cruises whenever the mood took me. Now, with a family to think about, I’ll happily book two years ahead if I can.

That’s because some of the things families really want can disappear surprisingly early. And once they’re gone, there may be no way to get them back.

What I’ve Learned From Working in the Cruise Industry

I spent five years working for a well-known cruise travel agency, so I’ve probably spent more time staring at cruise websites and comparing deals than most people ever will.

And for years, I was convinced that booking early wasn’t necessarily the smartest way to save money.

Before working in cruises, I worked for travel companies where I regularly saw last-minute holiday prices tumble. If flights still had empty seats and hotels had rooms to fill, prices could be slashed as departure approached.

So naturally, I assumed cruises worked the same way.

But family cruises are different.

Waiting can sometimes get you a cheaper fare, but price isn’t the only thing that matters. The cabins, places and options families need most can disappear long before the ship sails.

And if you’re travelling with children, there are 5 particularly important reasons why leaving it late can backfire.

Why Families Should Book Cruises In Advance

1. Cabins That Sleep 3, 4 Or More Can Sell Out First

Cruise ships might be more family-friendly than ever, but that doesn’t mean every cabin is designed for a family.

Most standard cruise cabins are built for two people. Some have sofa beds or Pullman beds that allow a third or fourth guest to stay, while certain ships also offer larger cabins and suites that can accommodate families of five or more.

For example, Royal Caribbean has staterooms for five or more guests, while some MSC Cruises ships have cabins that can sleep up to six.

The problem is that there are far fewer of these cabins than standard two-person cabins.

So, as a sailing fills up, families can find their options disappearing much faster than couples do. If you need one cabin for four, five or six people, waiting for a last-minute bargain could leave you with nothing suitable to book.

Couples might still find a great deal on the two-person cabins left behind. Families don’t always have that luxury.

2. Waiting Can Mean Paying More For The Same Cabin

If, like me, you’re on a tight budget, you might choose an inside cabin to save money. But even within the same cabin type, there can be several different grades at different prices.

The differences aren’t always huge. A more expensive cabin might be in a more convenient part of the ship, have a better location within its category or sometimes offer a little more space.

For example, you might see:

• Cheapest grade – less desirable location
• £50 more – more convenient location
• £100 more – better location or slightly different features

Personally, if the cheaper cabin suits my family, I’d rather keep that extra £100 for something else. I don’t mind walking a little further to get to the buffet!

The problem is that the lowest-priced cabin grades can disappear as a cruise fills up. Once they’re gone, you may have to pay for a more expensive grade even though you still want exactly the same basic cabin type.

And for a family, those seemingly small increases can make a noticeable difference to the total cost of the holiday.

3. Ships Sometimes Only Accept So Many Children in Each Age Group

It’s not just the cabins that can fill up on a cruise ship. Even if there are family cabins available, if you try to book your cruise too late, you may find that the onboard kids’ club is full.

To avoid turning children away from the kids’ clubs at the door, some cruise lines don’t allow any more children to book on to the cruise once the kids’ club is full.

For example, if the 3-5 age group is at capacity for the kids’ club, you won’t be able to book the cruise with a four-year-old. However, if you tried to book with a six-year-old you would be fine.

Suggested read: Cruise Kids Club Age Groupings Guide

If you have children of different ages, you’re more likely to be affected by this.

4. School Holiday Cruises Fill Up More Quickly

It’s a sad fact that cruises (and most other types of holidays) cost lots more in the school holiday periods. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.

Due to the increased demand, school holiday cruises also book up much faster than those sailing outside of term time. This makes it pretty much impossible to get a cheap last-minute deal on a family cruise cabin in the school holidays.

However, annoyingly, last-minute school holiday bargains are more often available for couples – great news if you’re a teacher with no kids! Here’s why…

I saw a last-minute cruise in October half term. £699 per person. Great value, I thought! I enquired about a cabin for two adults and two children and was quoted over £5000. Why? Why does a cruise for four people cost seven times the ‘per person’ price???

The answer is that the cheap cabin only sleeps two, and it was reduced because couples aren’t exactly queueing up to book a cruise on a family ship in half term! The four-person cabin which was left would have been of a higher grade.

Occasionally, a solution to this problem can be to book two cabins. After all, children are sometimes charged the full adult fare anyway, so two cheap cabins can be cheaper than one luxury one in this situation.

However, as you’d need to have one adult and one child in each cabin for safety reasons, you’d want cabins next door, or at least nearby. And by the time cruise prices drop you’ll be unlikely to find this.

5. Booking Early Gives You Longer To Pay

The biggest advantage of booking early for me is simple: I have much longer to pay for the cruise.

I couldn’t suddenly find the money for a family cruise departing next month. But if I book something that’s sailing in 18 months or two years? That’s much easier to budget for.

You usually only need to pay a deposit when you book, with the remaining balance due closer to departure. The exact deadline varies by cruise line, so always check the terms before booking.

There are also ways to spread the cost. Some cruise lines and travel agents offer monthly payment plans, and you can sometimes find deals with very low or even zero deposits.

For a family cruise costing thousands of pounds, having a year or two to put the money aside can make a huge difference.

You Can Book A Cruise Years In Advance

Cruise lines release their itineraries well ahead of departure, and it’s not unusual to be able to book cruises around two years in advance.

In fact, Royal Caribbean is already selling cruises for 2028, while P&O Cruises has announced that its winter 2027/28 holidays go on sale in October.

So if you know roughly when and where your family wants to cruise, it’s worth keeping an eye out for new itineraries rather than waiting until the year you want to travel.

If you sign up to my email, I’ll send you a free weekly roundup of the best cruise deals I’ve found.

Booking early won’t guarantee that you’ll get the cheapest possible price. Cruise fares can go up and down, and there will always be tempting last-minute deals.

But when you’re travelling as a family, price isn’t the only thing that matters. You need the right cabin, space for your children, a sailing that works with the school holidays and a price you can actually afford.

That’s why I’ve gone from being sceptical about booking early to planning some of my family cruises years ahead. For families, waiting for a last-minute bargain can sometimes mean waiting until the best options have already gone.

If you have any questions about booking your cruise, please ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer for you.

Related Posts:

• The Best Cruise Lines for Families
• The Best Cruises for a Family of 5
• The Best Cruise Ships for Kids
• How Late Can You Book A Last Minute Cruise?