This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.
Booking a cruise at the last minute can save you a surprising amount of money, but there are a few catches you need to be ready for.
You could have to pay the entire fare immediately, your favourite cabins may already be gone and the best excursions could be fully booked. But if you can be flexible, a late deal can be a brilliant way to squeeze in an extra holiday without spending a fortune.
Marella Cruises can be particularly tempting for a spontaneous getaway because its standard packages include so much in the price. But before you grab your suitcase and book, there are 7 things worth knowing.
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1. You May Need To Pay For Your Cruise In Full
One thing that can catch people out with a last-minute cruise is having to find the money much sooner than they expected.
When you book well in advance, you can usually pay a deposit and settle the remaining balance closer to departure. Book after the final payment deadline, though, and the full balance may be due when you book.
That doesn’t make a last-minute deal bad value. In fact, you could still pay significantly less overall. Just make sure you’re prepared for the upfront cost before getting carried away by a tempting price.
2. Don’t Waste Time Buying A Whole New Cruise Wardrobe
A lot of people love the whole build-up to a cruise, including the chance to go shopping for a new holiday wardrobe. However, if you’re on a tight schedule, you probably won’t have much time for a pre-cruise shopping spree.
That’s fine though – you don’t need to. There’s a good chance you’ll already have everything you need, and so packing wisely using your existing wardrobe can save you a lot of time and effort.
If you’re sailing within days, focus on versatile outfits that work for both casual days and evenings. You can always use the laundry services onboard if you need them.
3. Popular Shore Excursions May Already Be Sold Out
One downside to booking late is that other passengers have had months to reserve their shore excursions. By the time you book, some of the most popular options may have limited availability or be completely sold out.
That doesn’t mean you have to stay onboard. Look at independent excursions or explore ports on your own where that’s practical.
And staying on the ship isn’t necessarily a bad Plan B. Port days can be a great opportunity to enjoy a quieter pool deck and make the most of the facilities onboard while many other passengers are ashore.
4. Check Exactly What Your Marella Fare Includes
One of the big advantages of a standard Marella Cruises package is that your flights and transfers are included, which can make organising a spontaneous getaway much easier.
However, Marella also offers Cruise Only fares without flights and transfers, so check exactly what you’re booking before you pay.
If your package includes flights, you’ll still need to work out how you’re getting to your departure airport. Don’t automatically choose your usual option. Last-minute train fares can be expensive, so compare the cost of driving, airport parking, trains and taxis before deciding.
5. Check Your Passport Before You Book
A quick tip that anyone hoping to travel should always stick to – make sure your passport is valid for travel!
If you’re booking last-minute and you discover your passport doesn’t have enough time left on it, you’re going to have to book a fast-track renewal and potentially visit your nearest passport offices (which often aren’t very ‘near’ at all)…
If there’s any doubt about your passport, check the requirements for your destination before you book. Last-minute travel leaves much less room to fix problems with your documents, so this is one check you don’t want to leave until after you’ve paid.
6. Your Favourite Cabin Might Already Be Gone
Booking a last-minute cruise can mean that you have limited options with cabin availability. If you’re someone who always books a balcony cabin, you might find that they’re all sold out, and that only insides remain.
It’ll vary depending on the cruise but my advice would be, if there’s a great deal, don’t let a less-than-perfect cabin choice put you off. You never know, you might find that you love the category instead!
Think about how much time you actually spend in your cabin. If you’re usually exploring the ship, relaxing by the pool or heading ashore, accepting an inside cabin instead of a balcony could be a small compromise for a much better last-minute price.
7. An All-Inclusive Fare Makes Last-Minute Planning Easier
One of the easiest ways to take the stress out of a spontaneous cruise is to choose a fare that already covers most of your holiday costs.
Marella Cruises is All Inclusive as standard, with meals, snacks, selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and tips included. Standard packages also include flights and transfers, although Cruise Only fares are available if you’d rather arrange your own travel.
There are optional extras you can spend money on, including speciality dining and premium drinks. But having so much included means there are fewer separate costs to organise when you’re trying to get everything sorted at short notice.
And when you’ve only got a few days or weeks before departure, keeping things simple can make a last-minute cruise much easier to pull off.
Final Word
Last-minute cruises won’t work for everyone. You need the flexibility to travel at short notice, enough money available to pay for the booking and a willingness to compromise if your first choice of cabin or excursion has already gone.
But if you can be flexible, it’s always worth seeing what’s available. Sometimes the deal that appears far too late to plan properly turns out to be exactly the excuse you needed to get away.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Marella Cruises offers…
