while the kids are out of school and
that means vacation vacation vacation
many of you may have planned your trips
for months others may be waiting to book
until the time gets closer it's true you
can get some great deals on vacations
including cruises but you do need to
understand booking those trips at the
last minute can come with some risk
joining us now is Scott Lera a local
travel agent Scott thanks for joining us
he's got so this issue of cruises I'm
going on my first one in September so
I'm trying to learn I'm glad you're
telling me some of this stuff what are
some things people really want to know
when planning their cruises particularly
maybe if they waited
exactly right so many people think if
you wait to the last minute you're going
to get a great deal but the problem is
when you wait to the last minute the
prime cabins are gone so many people are
cruising now that they know those best
cabins and if you wait to the last
minute you may not even get on board the
ship because it could be full hour
Carnival elation here in Jacksonville
sails full every time so you've got a
book ahead to get the basket far ahead
usually before it starts to fill up I
knew what's a good buffer to make sure
you're still gonna be okay
you know I would say six months out you
know don't call a travel agent a week or
two weeks and say hey I want a steal of
a deal because if you do you are gonna
be by the bow thruster you'll be
underneath the Lido deck you'll be by
the show lounge so you're not gonna have
a very restful vacation as far as
planning cruises as far as storm season
what are some tips there I mean no one
really knows what's going to happen
that's exactly right and that's why you
know I keep tuned to channel 4 to see
what the weather's gonna be like but the
key is is that going during hurricane
season it's okay the ships are going to
divert they're going to make sure that
you are safe because they don't want you
to be sick because what you're not
spending money you're not spending money
in the casino and you're not spent on
shore excursions so they the cruise
lines want to keep you safe that's their
number one priority sure as far as you
wait till the last minute and you don't
get the great room but maybe you don't
get the ship at all is that a big issue
as you cut off to know if you're gonna
even make this well like I said six
months in advance is the best time to
really lock it down I mean talk to
family and friends whatever maybe a year
in advance but if you're waiting closer
to
it could be sold out and even if it
isn't sold out you're not gonna get the
best cabin and the ports a call is a big
thing Oh as your Lapidus you'll have to
switch where you're going that's
absolutely right I mean because if
you're looking here in Jacksonville
because our cruise ship is right here
you may have to go to Port Canaveral or
Miami or Fort Lauderdale to get a cruise
and now to flip it for the cheapskate
out there if they do want to risk it can
you make can you save much in the end
you can save a little bit if you wait to
the end but again you know what are you
looking for in your vacation if you have
kids or like myself I have a grandson
you know I want to have a nice cabin but
if you're just trying to get on the ship
all bets are off because you know you
don't want to come back and tell your
family and friends oh man was horrible
there was a lot of noise and so as
people booked these is is the process if
they try and book it on their own
some people use travel agent some people
don't is it a difficult process to book
these I'm honestly never booked a cruise
until now there's my first time well the
thing is when you go to an online site
you're not gonna get the super-secret
tips that I'm gonna give you I have over
600,000 views on my youtube channel
giving people tips and that has helped
me as a travel agent to help you know
consumers find our YouTube channel just
type Scott Lera la RA and you'll see all
my social media stuff and I actually
booked Melanie in a tarik on a cruise
and they had a great time you did I do
that's good to know and as far as our
most of them good are there certain
cruises that you know I'm gonna have a
good time on this one although unsaid
maybe I want to say oh that's a great
question because like you know guys our
age right and I know you have a daughter
and I have a grandson that you want to
have something kid-friendly like
carnival or NCL or Royal Caribbean but
not everyone's going with kids says that
that's exactly right
and I love Holland America Line because
it's an older group fewer kids the food
is like six star six star service and
it's great so just depends on your
demographic perfect thanks Scott for
coming on really appreciate good thing
to talk about that now is the time to be
booked and if you haven't already