By Carl Dombek
Here’s what I found.
In all, 39 cruises were on offer. One Alaska cruise left on August 16 -- one week from the date of the email, making it truly “last-minute.” The farthest out was a Caribbean cruise that sails on October 24.
Notably, prices highlighted for 31 of the 39 cruises were for inside cabins. A few were for “ocean view” or “verandah suites.” Savings ranged from $145 per person for an inside cabin to $810 for a verandah on 7-day sailings to $1,685 for a 45-day Ultimate Mediterranean cruise with an Atlantic crossing. Cruise durations ran from a single overnight from Seattle to Vancouver, BC to a 48-day Ultimate Mediterranean cruise with an Atlantic crossing.
Percentage-wise, savings ranged from a low of about 3.5% to a high of 45.4%.
What all that means depends on where you live, where you want to cruise, how flexible you can be and how much you’re willing to spend on any airline tickets you may need to get you to your departure port on short notice.
Bon voyage!
Over the weekend of Aug. 8 & 9, I received an email from Holland America Cruise Lines offering “Last-Minute Cruise Deals” for cruises “departing in the next 60-90 days.” Even though our schedule wouldn’t allow us to take advantage of these specials, I was curious. Click on the link above if you are, too.
In all, 39 cruises were on offer. One Alaska cruise left on August 16 -- one week from the date of the email, making it truly “last-minute.” The farthest out was a Caribbean cruise that sails on October 24.
When I initially clicked the “Book now” link, many cruises had cabins available, though most were either inside or ocean view rooms. We are not willing to sail in anything less than a verandah suite, so these were nonstarters for us, and yet everyone has their own preferences. But what surprised me most is when I returned to the website a few hours later to do some research for this article.
In just those few hours, most of the available cabins for sailings in the upcoming few weeks had been snapped up and many sailings were completely sold out! The farther out the cruise’s departure date and the longer the voyage, the better the chance that cabins in several categories would still be available, but not always.
A 25-day Mediterranean Cultural Crossing departing October 24, more than two months away, had only verandah suites available and a 13-day Cultural Crossing with Brugge and Falmouth departing October 18 offered only inside cabins.
In just those few hours, most of the available cabins for sailings in the upcoming few weeks had been snapped up and many sailings were completely sold out! The farther out the cruise’s departure date and the longer the voyage, the better the chance that cabins in several categories would still be available, but not always.
A 25-day Mediterranean Cultural Crossing departing October 24, more than two months away, had only verandah suites available and a 13-day Cultural Crossing with Brugge and Falmouth departing October 18 offered only inside cabins.
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| Holland America's ms Zuiderdam |
Notably, prices highlighted for 31 of the 39 cruises were for inside cabins. A few were for “ocean view” or “verandah suites.” Savings ranged from $145 per person for an inside cabin to $810 for a verandah on 7-day sailings to $1,685 for a 45-day Ultimate Mediterranean cruise with an Atlantic crossing. Cruise durations ran from a single overnight from Seattle to Vancouver, BC to a 48-day Ultimate Mediterranean cruise with an Atlantic crossing.
Percentage-wise, savings ranged from a low of about 3.5% to a high of 45.4%.
What all that means depends on where you live, where you want to cruise, how flexible you can be and how much you’re willing to spend on any airline tickets you may need to get you to your departure port on short notice.
Bon voyage!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
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