Not sure when you’ll be able to take your next vacation? Hoping to score a great deal on a cruise? Grabbing a great bargain is now easier than ever before. Last-minute cruises are those that are booked either a few days or a few months prior to embarkation. This could be because you’re a procrastinator, or you just may like the idea of snagging a last-minute deal.

Here are a few things to consider if you’re hoping to book a last minute cruise:

Book at the best time

If you’re hoping to score a great last-minute rate, consider looking between 60 to 90 days before your cruise is due to depart. That’s because many cruise lines have this as the last chance for passengers to cancel their reservations without losing their fare. This means that the cruise line will have a good idea of how many cabins are free. If there are more cabins available than there should be, then they’ll often reduce the fares (often heavily).

Embrace shoulder season

You’re unlikely to find a last-minute deal on a Christmas or New Year’s cruise, or during spring breaks. But if you’re open to travelling during shoulder season or non-peak periods, you could grab an awesome deal. Keep an eye open though- you’ll find that peak summer sailings and holiday cruises won’t sell out the way they usually do some years, which means you could end up with a surprise bargain.

Reposition Yourself

Repositioning cruises are when a ship changes to a different region for a new season. This means that they’ll often have an unusual route and lots of days at sea. They’ll also often be longer. This means that you can usually get a great price- as long as you’re prepared to get a one-way or open-jaw flight back.

Shop smart

Some cruise sellers can access lower prices or offer different booking bonuses. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around if you’re looking for the best price. Sign up for emails with some of these agencies or websites and you’ll find plenty of last-minute deals to choose from. Some agencies even have super low rates that they can only sell over the phone.

Check the fine print

Before you book, make sure you understand exactly what you’ll be getting for your fare. Some of the last-minute deals are for specific cabins, which means you can’t choose where you’d like to be on the ship. You may also have to pay port charges, government taxes, or service fees which may not be included in the price.