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A woman says she has a hack to save you 90% on a cruise line. Does it really work?
There may be a hidden way to get a massive discount on cruises.
Going on vacation is getting pretty expensive. Over the past year, the cost of travel increased by 8.7% more than double the U.S.’s overall inflation rate. At the same time, consumers see incredible price hikes in various areas: airline tickets, gasoline, hotels, and restaurants.
As a result of these growing prices, many Americans are looking for any way to save money on travel. One hack for cruise line sales is going viral—but does it really work?
What Is This Travel Hack?
In her video, TikTok user Keena (@keenaexplores) overlays herself on another creator’s video with the statement, “She’s about to be in so much trouble with the cruise lines for telling everybody this.”
The original creator then begins to explain her “number one travel hack.”
“Never book cruises more than 90 days in advance,” the TikToker states. “You can get discounts up to 90% on just about any cruise by doing this.”
The reason for these massive discounts, she claims, is that cruise lines don’t always fill up their cabins by the time they are supposed to leave port. As a result, they will sometimes sell extra rooms “at massive discounts last minute out of desperation.”
The TikToker then advertises an app to find these discounts. In one example, she says she was able to have a “fortnight Bahama cruise go from $4,849 to just $299.”
Does This Really Work?
There are reasons to be skeptical of this advice. For example, the woman in the video claims to be a former cruise worker of three years—but other creators have posted videos with a very similar script advertising the same website, including the three-year experience claim. The original creator upon whom Keena overlaid herself has also made several videos repeating this script and advertising the same site.
Still, just because something is an advertisement doesn’t mean the facts contained within it aren’t true. Consequently, the question remains—can you really get a good deal on cruises by booking last minute?
Yes—but there are a few catches.
Frequent cruise travelers say that booking 60 to 90 days in advance can often allow one to score a decent deal. This window is typically the “last call” for penalty-free cancellations. In practical terms, this means that the cruise knows exactly how many cabins are left—and thus, how many more it needs to sell to fill the ship.
As a result, you can occasionally find good deals by going directly onto a cruise line’s website and looking for departures in the next 60 to 90 days. One may also find better deals by speaking with a travel agent.
Here’s The Problem
This advice has a few caveats.
To start, Cruise Critic notes that certain times of year are unlikely to have unsold cabins—and thus, one is not likely to find a deal at those times. For example, you shouldn’t wait until 60 to 90 days before Christmas, New Year’s, or Spring Break in hopes of getting a bargain.
Next, unless you live near a port, any savings may be wiped out by expensive travel costs. Unlike cruises, flight prices tend to increase closer to departure. If you wait until 60 to 90 days before your cruise to book, then have to book a pre-cruise hotel and a flight to get to your port, you may end up paying close to the same amount as you would have if you purchased everything earlier.
Finally, The Points Guy notes that last-minute cruise deals are not as common as they used to be. Cruise lines have improved revenue management over the years, meaning there are not as many unsold rooms closer to departure as there used to be. Consequently, these deals are often few and far between.
Instead, TPG recommends booking as early as possible. In fact, the best deals can frequently be found by booking as soon as sales open—not by waiting until they’re about to close.
If you’ve been itching to go on vacation and have some free time in the next 60 to 90 days, it’s probably worth it to see if there are any last-minute deals. However, if you’re planning a cruise trip for your friends or family, you probably shouldn’t wait in the hopes that a cheap room will open up.
BroBible reached out to Keena via email and Instagram direct message and the original creator via Instagram and TikTok direct message.