After all my years being a travel advisor, it still surprises me when I get an urgent call from a client wanting to get a cabin for two adults and two kids on a cruise for Winter or Spring Break, the week or days before vacation starts. I am glad they are calling me but just about all the time my response is sorry its sold out or there isn't rooms for more than two available on that sailing.
So here is why you want to book early!
The reasons are both demand and safety! "Christmas Break" is the most high demand time in the U.S. cruise industry if not in the world. The cruise lines know when every school and college systems school break dates are and plan their sailings around them. So while new ships are being introduced every year those school break time are highly sought after. The second reason for space limitations are safety based.
The U.S. Coast Guard after reviewing the designs and various aspects of the ship sets a maximum passenger limit for passengers on board each cruise ship. Especially during peak demands the cruise lines may bump up against this limit, and not sell "upper berths" or 3rd and 4ths in cabins. This is a way they have to not accidentally sell a cabin which might put them over the limit and thus not be able to sail without removing or declining some passengers to board. So even though a cruise line has a cabin that can sleep 4 they will not sell it for more then 2 to avoid bumping into the Coast Guard limits.
While the same issue does not affect land vacations, the demand and peak periods due affect getting into the best resort or all inclusive vacation spot that suits your family and style best.
Also affecting any type of vacation, flights have a capacity limits as well, and you are also competing with business travel, and other time period travelers, especially during the school break periods around major holidays. We all see the same news casts with the same stories year in and year out.
The solution to many of these challenges is to book early, and booking early generally gets you the best pricing as well. With that in mind, here are some ideas for family vacations.
