What is the Cheapest Month to Take a Carnival Cruise?

The cheapest month to sail on one of Carnival cruises is usually September closely followed by October and some of the lowest fares are also available in January, February, and early May. These months are considered special to budget travelers as at this time there are no school holidays and summer vacation, thus, the demand of traveling on cruise becomes significantly lower.

Why are These the Cheapest Months to Book A Carnival Cruise?

The cheapest months to book a Carnival Cruise are September, January, February and mainly October since they are times when demand is low.

September

The demand decreases drastically at the end of summer vacations when families go back to school and this translates to low bookings. September is also high Atlantic hurricane season and some people feel unsafe to travel during this time. Cruise lines reduce their prices in order to attract strong and adaptive passengers although ships have the facilities to evade storms when they occur.

October

As September, October falls in the middle of the hurricane season and between summer and winter holidays. As long as people are uncertain about weather and also there are no large school breaks, demand is not high, which causes the further decrease in fares. Thus, making it one of the cheapest months to go on Carnival Cruise with the family and friends. 

January & February

The activity of traveling especially after the holiday period is slow because individuals need time to get back to their normal programs and the budgets are in most cases strained after the holidays. The low demand after the high season promotes the cruise lines to reduce their prices in order to fill ships during this winter lull.

Early May and Early December

These are the times immediately prior to big growth of demand (school summer vacation in late May/June and the holidays season in mid-late December, respectively). Most families are awaiting the release of the schools or eventual holidays and the cruise lines offer hefty discounts on fares to ensure that the ships fill up until the demand picks again.

The Best Time To Book Carnival Cruise is in those months of the year when the demand level is already low and which naturally occur when the school holidays, working schedule, and weather are not as attractive especially in the Caribbean. In response to this gap cruise lines lower the prices and this is the best time to travel on a budget.

When is the Best Time to book a Carnival Cruise?

The time of booking your cruise is almost as essential as the time of sailing. In the case of Carnival cruises, a traveler can find two major booking periods that present the best chances to get a discount:

1. Fall (Especially September)

September not only has lower costs to sail in, but it is also the Best Time To Book Carnival Cruise. When cruise lines need to fill cabin during the remainder of the year, discounts and last-minute offers are likely to be published. Provided that you are able to sail within a few weeks of booking, you might get the deal that is difficult to ignore.

2. Wave Season (January to March)

The Wave Season is the equivalent of the travel industry Black Friday meet New Years resolution sale. The promotions that the cruise lines offer during this period, usually between the beginning of January and March, are among the largest ones of the year. During this period, you may obtain onboard credits, free cabin upgrades, low deposits, and discounted rates.

The wave season is particularly useful in terms of booking when you are planning to take part in a cruise later in the year but you want to secure the best deal early before prices increased.

How to Get a Lower Rate on a Carnival Cruise?

The lowest possible price of a Carnival cruise cannot simply rely on the timing aspect. These are the tried and tested ways of ensuring that you secure the lowest fare:

• Book Early Saver Rates: On most sailings, Carnival has a category of fares entitled the Early Saver fares that must be purchased several months in advance. Early Saver fares also include a special price protection benefit: should the fare decrease after purchasing (until the full payment is made), you can make a claim and have the difference waived as onboard credit or upgrade to a complimentary higher cabin.
• Watch for Last-Minute Deals: On less popular trips, Carnival can open discount prices later just before dates of sailing to fill empty cabins. But when one waits to get such offers then one has a reduced choice of staterooms and itineraries.
• Join Carnival's VIFP Club: Sign up for Carnival's Very Important Fun Person Club; a loyalty program, which is available to everyone (yes, even if it's your first cruise) to provide member-only rates, deals, and bonus offers. The more cruises you take, the more privileges you earn.
• Be Flexible with Dates and Itineraries: Having flexibility will help you grab a bargain. Sometimes moving your sailing date a week (or choosing the last resort destination) can save you hundreds.
• Sign Up for Carnival's Email Alerts: Carnival sends out promotional emails on a regular basis with last-minute deals, discounts, and limited time offers. When you sign up for their emails you will be at the top of the list to receive alerts on price drops.
• Book a Guarantee Cabin: If you are open on what your actual room is, you can save money by booking a "guarantee" cabin where the cruise line picks your cabin within the category that you selected. You may even receive an upgrade at no extra cost.

Is It Worth Cruising in the Off-Season?

Yes, it's worth cruising during the off-peak season. While there may be some downsides to sailing off-season (such as less family-oriented activities and perhaps rougher weather), it also translates to:

• Low crowds
• Low costs
• Low waiting for excursions and on-board activities
• Greater likelihood of upgrading cabins

Carnival usually keeps the fun going all year. So, you can expect cool shows, good food, and interesting stops, no matter when you sail.

Conclusion

The cheapest months to book a Carnival Cruise are September, October, January, February, and the first couple of weeks in May because the demand is lower during those months for reasons such as school schedules and holidays. Budget flyers can save a decent amount of money by cruising during these times.

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