Cruising the right route

You should book early if

• You can only travel on specific dates, whether that’s during school holidays, or for weddings or other family events

• You want to secure the best possible deal on air travel to the port of departure, or when you are using frequent flyer miles to buy an airline ticket via a special deal which may not be available closer to travel time

• You want a specific cabin type: this could be a specific location, because you’re travelling with friends or family and want adjoining cabins, or because you need a cabin with handicapped facilities • You wait to sail on a ship's inaugural cruise or to travel to a specific destination with limited availability, such as Antarctica, or the Galapagos Islands quick have quotas, or your choice is for a world cruise, because these tend to sell out faster than others

• You want to pay for your cruise in regular monthly payments rather than all at once

• You want to travel with a group – when you need to book early to ensure all guests will be accommodated

• And of course, when you want to take advantage of special early booking savings.