Until recently, it was quite easy to find cheap Alaska cruise pricing. Now, such bargains are getting harder and harder to find, with demand for Alaska cruises going through the roof.

Just how can one save a bunch of cash on an Alaska cruise? Is it still remotely possible to vacation in Alaska while adhering to a reasonable budget? The answer is YES! You really can still find great Alaska cruise deals — if you know how to look.

Many vacationers think that the best method to get low cost cruise fares to Alaska is to book at the very last minute. But while this method used to work reasonably well (and still works very well for Caribbean cruises, on account of the huge number of cruise ships in that area), it is no longer too effective for Alaska Inside Passage cruises.

Alaskan ships often sell out far in advance for the months of July and August. Despite their higher cost, balcony rooms tend to be the first to sell out, especially on Holland America cruises. If you really must take your cruise in August or July, then you’ll be wise to book far in advance of your sale date to make sure you get the best fares. (Alaska cruises can be booked up to 18 months ahead of their sale date.)

Of course, if you are more flexible about your sail date and/or your cabin category, you dramatically increase your likelihood of locating some great Alaska cruise deals.

The best months for specials are September and May, the start and conclusion of the cruise season in the Alaskan Inside Passage. The lowest priced Alaska cruise fares of all can be found in the very first week of the month of May, at the very start of the Alaska cruise season, when fares can be half the price of mid-summer fares.

Of course you can also save by booking a lower priced room category. Cabins located on the interior of the ship are as much as 50% to 70% less than those located on the outside of the ship. Inside rooms have no windows and can be a little smaller than ocean view rooms, but they can be a wonderful bargain, especially since many people spend so little times in their rooms anyway.

However, if you are at all claustrophobic, an inside room might not be for you. Nonetheless, you can still find a great Alaskan cruise deal on an outside room. On many cruise ships, you will find some rooms have views that are obstructed by poles or lifeboats or the like.

Obstructed view cabins are often much cheaper than standard outside or ocean view cabins. In fact, obstructed view cabins can be almost as cheap as inside cabins, yet they have windows that admit sunlight and can help ease claustrophobia.

Sure, you still can locates many, many deals on cruises to Alaska. Remember, no matter what, cruises still are a great deal and they are the cheapest way to see the Great State of Alaska, hands down.