How to save big on the best family cruises in the Caribbean, without having to book last minute

Last-minute deals are a surefire way to save big when booking a Caribbean cruise, but let’s be honest: Most of us can’t get that close.

Taking off from work, booking flights for the whole family, and finding a cabin that can accommodate everyone comfortably (and that’s in a prime location on the ship) becomes a lot harder to do when you’re a few weeks or even months away of departure. Let’s not add this unnecessary stress to our plates, okay?

With a little strategy, you can score an unbeatable discount on one of the best family cruises in the Caribbean. You can save even more with “Kids Sail Free” promotions offered by almost all major lines. Additional bonuses such as $100 onboard credit, “free” tips and specialty restaurant inclusions further increase the value of your results.

So where to start? The best places to look for deals are on cruise planning websites (which feed you deals from a multitude of online travel agencies) and directly on cruise line sites. You can also keep an eye on deals by subscribing to mailing lists to receive alerts. Broaden your results by listing on multiple sites and cruise lines.

Once you’re connected to a network of deals, it’s time to implement money-saving tools. Here are three ways to score big savings on the best family cruises in the Caribbean.

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1. Book a cruise during “wave season.”

Think of wave season as the cruise industry’s Amazon “Prime Day,” only This the purchasing window extends over a few months. Every year from January to March, after the holidays are over, cruise lines offer some of their most competitive prices.

Deals advertised during wave season entice travelers to “go on the waves,” so cruise lines can fill their ships for the coming year(s). It’s a win-win for the lines as well as families, who can save a pretty penny on crossings, giving them plenty of time to plan ahead.

Almost all major lines are involved in wave season. You’ll find deals on all ship types, large, small and expedition, as well as itineraries. Sometimes cruise lines offer discounts on sailings during popular times of the year, such as mid-summer or the holidays.

Common deals for wave season include discounts of up to 50%, BOGO deals, onboard credits, and extras like free cabin upgrades and complimentary packages.

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2. Be strategic with Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday specials.

Not all Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday promotions are good deals. Some lines have even been known to raise their prices around this time. The real value usually lies in more generous extras such as significantly reduced deposits, “free” shore excursions and higher onboard credits. Some lines will also include the plane ticket.

Sign up for deal alerts on the best Caribbean cruises for families, at least a few months in advance, to see when prices and deals are changing. This will allow you to better spot an offer when you see one. Don’t think you have to wait for the end-of-month retail hustle and bustle, either. A handful of Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday deals are quietly being made available in early November.

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Additionally, some cruise lines will announce a Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday deal and keep it going through wave season, just renaming it and perhaps refreshing some of the extras. So don’t be discouraged if you’re too strapped for cash during the holiday season and aren’t quite ready to book.

3. Plan a cruise in the fall.

September, October and November are among the cheapest months of the year to take a Caribbean cruise. There are two reasons for this: It’s hurricane season and kids are back in school, so demand is much lower.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Technically, any ship sailing during this time has a greater chance of being diverted to avoid a storm. Despite all this, June, July and August are among the most popular months for Caribbean cruises. This is not the case, however, for the latter part of the hurricane season, which peaks from mid-August to mid-October.

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Even with a higher probability of storm activity, the chances of your cruise being affected remain relatively low. In the most likely scenario, you will need to call at another port or spend an extra day at sea in order to move further out of the path of a storm. You might also experience rain or rough seas, but this can happen at any time of the year.

If you don’t have your heart set on a particular destination and your family wants to go with the flow, then sailing in the fall could be your ticket to the best Caribbean cruises for families. Want to reduce your risk of getting seasick? Consider a Southern Caribbean itinerary. Islands like St. Lucia and Aruba rarely experience tropical activity, due to their southern location and climate.

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