Last-minute deals do not necessarily mean you will be jetting off tomorrow, in fact when you search last-minute cruises with Marella (we will show you how to do this at the end of this post) you will find cruises that could be sailing anywhere from a few days time, to up to two months away.

Here are real examples of 5 last-minute deals we have found – Please note prices were correct at the time of writing and all cruises are subject to availability.

First up is Adriatic Explorer, a  night cruise that starts in Corfu Town and visits Ancona, Italy, Koper, Slovenia, Split, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Croatia and Kotor, in  Montenegro before returning to Corfu Town. Sailing on Marella Explorer and staying in an extra large balcony gave a saving of £520 per person for this cruise.

Next on the list is Spanish Sunsets 1. An 8-night cruise that starts in Dubrovnik, Croatia then heads to Palma, Majorca followed by Gibraltar, (the ideal stop to stock up on some Christmas gifts), and finishes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife. Sailing on the adult-only ship Marella Explorer 2 in an inside cabin, there was a saving of £553 per person for this cruise.

Ancient Treasures is a 6-night cruise that visits 4 different countries. It starts in Marmaris, Turkey, followed by Piraeus (for Athens) in Greece then Valletta, Malta and finishes in Palma, Majorca. Sailing on Marella Discovery in a junior suite gave a saving of £569 per person for this cruise when booked last minute.

Up next is Ancient Icons. This 7-night cruise starts in Marmaris, Turkey, then visits Limassol, in Cyprus, Alanya, in Turkey, Rhodes Town, in Rhodes, Bodrum, in Turkey and finally Heraklion, in Crete before returning to Marmaris. Sailing on Marella Discovery and staying in an inside cabin gave a last-minute saving on this cruise of £739 per person.

Last but definitely not least is Voyage to Paradise. An 11 night cruise that starts in Malaga, Spain and visits Gibraltar, Funchal, Madeira, Castries, St Lucia and finishes in Bridgetown, Barbados. Sailing on Marella Voyager and staying in an inside cabin there was a last-minute saving on this cruise of a whopping £1054 per person.

What’s included we hear you ask? As with all Marella cruises, your flights, transfers, standard all inclusive drinks, tips and food (excluding speciality dining) are included in your cruise fare so the price you see is the price you pay. Find out more here.

The pros are that in a lot of cases you can save some serious money and you don’t have to wait very long before you step onto a cruise ship.

The cons are when booking months or even years in advance you will have a wider choice of airports you can fly from and you will almost have the pick of the ship when it comes to cabin choice, but obviously those options mean you will be paying full price for the cruise.

Flexibility

If your job gives you little or no flexibility on when you can take your holiday then it will be more difficult to grab a last-minute bargain but if you are prepared to take the gamble, there are definitely deals to be found.

Payment

Booking a last-minute deal will also mean that you will have to pay for the cruise in full at the time of booking as all cruise lines require you to pay in full at least 3 months before the cruise departs.

Excursions

Excursions usually go on sale around 4 months before your cruise departs so there is a chance the excursions you want may already be sold out, but fear not, researching the ports you are visiting will usually give you alternative things to do.

Airport Parking

We have never failed to get airport parking or transport to the airport when we have booked last minute, but do make sure you do the relevant research as soon as you have found a cruise you intend to book so you are prepared.

Documentation

Make sure you have sufficient time for documentation, the countries you are cruising to may require specific visas that in some cases can take a while to arrange and of course make sure your passport has at least 6 months remaining from the end date of your cruise.

Holiday Shopping

Make sure that you have done your holiday shopping and have everything you need to enjoy your last-minute cruise to the full. Things like swimming costumes, summer dresses, and suncream, these items can in most cases be purchased while on board or at one of your ports but the more organised you are before you travel will give you more time to enjoy your cruise.

It is very easy, simply click this link here, then search either by departure date, price low to high or price high to low. It really is that simple and, because it’s last minute, the countdown to your cruise is so much shorter so you can start getting excited immediately.

As we said at the start of this post all prices were correct at the time of writing and are subject to availability and even if the cruises we have highlighted are no longer available you are guaranteed to find some last-minute bargains by following this link.

Booking last-minute cruises can have its drawbacks but if you follow the advice we have given above, it’s a great way to enjoy a fabulous Marella cruise at a discounted price. It also means you can afford to cruise more often, which sounds like a win, win to us!

Book your last minute cruise deal now!

Further reading –

A Beginners Guide to Marella Cruises

Marella Cruises Complete Dining Guide

Cruising at Christmas and New Year with Marella Cruises

Magic of Spain with Marella Cruises