Buy Early or Buy Late for the Best Discounts

If you're looking to save money on a cruise, there are two strategies you can take:

Buy early or buy late.

The biggest discounts for cruises are typically given for buying early (right after the cruises are listed--at least four to eight months before sailing) and for buying late (during the last six weeks when cruise lines are dropping rates to make sure cabins fill up).

If you're a first-time cruiser and there's a set time when you want to take your vacation, you'll definitely find the most peace of mind by taking the book-early route. That way you'll know everything is taken care of and you won't feel stressed wondering if you'll be able to find a good cruise deal as the days tick closer to your vacation time.

If you're an experienced cruiser and/or you are flexible about when you can take a trip, you may also find good discount cruise deals by booking last minute cruises. However, any time you wait until the last minute, you seriously decrease your odds of getting a good cabin, dining room seating, and the airline routing and prices you prefer.

It really depends on your personality and what's important to you. If you know you won't be spending much time in your cabin, it may be just fine that the view is blocked by the life boats.

Those are the two best ways to save money and get great cruises at discount prices though: book early or book late.