Late birds get discounts too. Consider the largest ship lines first. The ships that cruise these waters are huge. They need to fill space early and capture last-minute voyagers. Many such cruises are promoted by offering two-fers, kids free or reductions for frequent cruisers.
Many ships have to reposition from one route to another as the seasons change.
This opens up low-cost cruising opportunities. The best bet to finding out about repositioning cruises is to maintain a good relationship with a travel agent who specializes in cruises. Find such specialists through the Cruise Line International Association. Book a cruise using standby. The standby system is operated by Vacation Registry, which is a clearinghouse service to travel agencies.