Have you ever looked at teletext holidays P228 for worldwide cruises, including Caribbean. Thomson Destiny is regularly quoted just under £1000 each for an inside cabin. Personally would not go near a "high street" TA as their prices are way too high! Apart from our first cruise, when we were fleeced by a TA, we have always had much better value. As far as the drinks package is concerned, remember that you spend a considerable amount of time off-ship and that many of the "premium" drinks still carry a charge. If you get a better deal for the cruise, then the drinks cost will look after itself.

I imagine it depends on how flexible you are. As we have two children and need to go during school holidays, last minute bargains rarely come up. But when the kids eventually leave home I will spend a bit more time shopping around.

Last minute often means less choice on both ship and dates, you have to be prepared to be flexable.

Having one ship with one date can leave you with nothing or just cost more.

We try to allocate a few windows(4-5) at various times of te year and if there is nothing for one wait for the next one we usualy catch 2-3 deals a year.

Still a little early for the end of March deals they are still pushing the Jan/Feb, wait till the repricing starts in Jan

Thomson 22march is showing £999pp on TXT228 but that will be the insides so your pricing is not far off since it is likely there are none left at the cheap price.

If looking at this time period I would look for a Transatlantic great value for money or try to go earlier for a Caribbean, OV is down to <£800pp Jan.

Here are some March deals I have in my inbox from some agents for 12n-14n

£889pp P&O http://www.iglucruise.com/cruise.cfm?cruiseID=23752
£929pp celebrity http://www.cruisekings.co.uk/1celebrity/cs260309.htm
Various OV dates http://www.1st4cruising.com/ocean_village_feb_mar_caribbean_cruise_offer.phtml
£919 P&O TA (seen this cheaper) http://www.scotlandscruisecentre.co.uk/specialofferinfo.phtml?id=156107&dealtype=9

thanks for your replies.
unfortunately we can't go earlier than 29th march and don't want to do transatlantic
i think we'l wait until early january and contact the high street again and the web.

I think you are mad to limit yourself to Thomsons. I would look at what the mainline Cruise Companies have to offer and I feel sure that you will find better value and a higher grade of ship etc. Late deals well I don't know if a really good deal comes along then I would book it but that would be based on say Celebrity or Cunard in my case.

Sue