| Cheap last-minute cruises are yours to be had IF | | | | These cruises are, of course, offered in the |
| you're a flexible traveler. Do you keep a bag packed, | | | | "shoulder" seasons, between the winter and summer |
| maybe even by the door? Are you an experienced | | | | peak periods. |
| cruise passenger who knows what to look for? Are | | | | And speaking of shoulder season, that's another |
| you a potential first-time cruiser who won't try out | | | | great time to find a bargain, even if you want a |
| this vacation experience unless you can get a great | | | | more standard round-trip cruise. Summer and winter |
| deal? If you're even partially in one of these profiles, | | | | are the busiest travel and cruising times--but that |
| then last-minute cruising may be for you. | | | | could mean your ship will be crowded. Try the |
| Research the cruise lines, ships and destinations | | | | shoulder season between those points, when there is |
| closest to where you live. You'll have the most | | | | lower demand, which equals lower prices. |
| flexibility if you can show up at almost a moment's | | | | Act fast. That should go without saying for a last |
| notice, and that doesn't include a cross-country | | | | minute cruise, but we'll say it anyway. When cruise |
| airplane trip. If you find a couple of destinations that | | | | lines are approaching departure date with a few |
| interest you, pack a bag with toiletries and extra | | | | empty cabins, they lower prices to put an extra |
| clothing that's suitable for those destinations. Put a | | | | body in a bunk. But they're only willing to do that so |
| luggage tag on it, and put it in your closet. If you find | | | | long. And eventually the ship will leave without you, |
| a cruise you want leaving tomorrow, there's no last | | | | or someone else will snap up that deal. This is getting |
| minute panic. Just grab your bag and go, knowing | | | | more difficult to do, since cruising is becoming more |
| you've saved yourself hundreds of dollars, if not | | | | popular, but if you're persistent, deals can be found. |
| thousands. | | | | Find a travel mate to go with you. For last-minute |
| Look for a "repositioning" cruise. Most cruise lines | | | | cruises, this can be difficult. Another option is to ask |
| have more cruises than ships. There are winter | | | | the cruise line for a share rate. This will give you a |
| cruises and summer cruises, and they're rarely the | | | | cabin mate of the same gender, though likely |
| same. For instance, summer cruises might head for | | | | someone you don't know. Still, it's a chance to make |
| destinations like Alaska, Canada or New England, while | | | | a new friend, assuming you hit it off. If not, well, the |
| winter cruises might feature locations like Mexico, the | | | | ships are huge and you're only likely to run into each |
| Caribbean or South America. | | | | other when brushing teeth. |
| However, that ship needs to be moved, or | | | | Use the standard travel websites to check for |
| repositioned, from New England to Mexico if it's going | | | | last-minute bargains. Most have tabs or an icon for |
| to make its winter routes. Cruise lines used to just | | | | last-minute deals, and some of these will include |
| sail the ship to the new location and start the new | | | | cruises. Then check the web sites for cruise |
| round of travel, but then someone got wise. What if | | | | specialists, like or |
| people were willing to pay for a one-way cruise? And | | | | With pre-planning, flexibility, and a quick mouse-click |
| repositioning cruises started. You'll need airfare back | | | | finger, you can find cheap last minute cruises that will |
| to your departure location, but most times the | | | | make your vacation even more relaxing. |
| savings on the cruise will more than offset that. | | | | |