{"id":2361,"date":"2024-09-03T10:37:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T00:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/behind-the-seas\/?page_id=2361"},"modified":"2026-02-18T17:16:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T06:16:47","slug":"holiday-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/behind-the-seas\/news-events\/holiday-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Booking Holidays Early"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New research commissioned by Carnival Cruise Line has uncovered compelling insights into the financial and wellbeing benefits of booking holidays up to a year in advance. Conducted by Pureprofile, with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Australians, the research found that a staggering 78% of Australians feel like they need something to look forward to now more than ever. The findings reveal that planning holidays early is more than just practical\u2014it\u2019s beneficial for mental health and financial wellness.<\/p>\n<p>As the demand for cruises, both domestically and internationally, continues to surge into 2025 and 2026, the simple act of having a holiday on the horizon is proving to be a powerful tool for improving mental health and wellbeing. <span class=\"animate-highlight\">The majority of Aussies feel happier (87%), more confident (69%), and more productive in their personal life (59%) and at work (43%) when they have a holiday to anticipate.<\/span>\n Three-quarters of Aussies (74%) agree that it reduces stress, and they are more patient (60%) because they know they have a break coming. Two-thirds of Aussies (66%) even have more fun on their trip when they book it in advance.<\/p>\n<p>These benefits ring true to Aussie parents with more than half (51%) saying that booking their holiday several months in advance makes them feel like a better parent.<\/p>\n<p>Despite financial pressures, Carnival Cruise Line has seen that travel remains a priority for Aussies, with 68% booking holidays months in advance to maximise financial benefits like better deals (64%), more time to save (57%), and improved budget management (50%). Interestingly, a quarter of Aussies (25%) are even engaging in \u2018travel math,\u2019 claiming their holiday feels \u2018free\u2019 once it\u2019s been paid off in advance.<\/p>\n<p>The research also showed that even a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/cruise-to\/getaway-cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>short break<\/strong><\/a> can go a long way as one-third of Aussies (33%) feel refreshed after a holiday for as little as 3-5 days.<\/p>\n<p>The anticipation of a future holiday and the associated emotional and psychological benefits are not surprising to habit expert and wellness advocate Dr Gina Cleo. She defines it as a \u2018pre-holiday glow.\u2019 \u201cHaving a trip to look forward to is proven to boost mood and overall wellbeing. Anticipation of a holiday triggers the release of dopamine, which makes us feel more joyful. Advanced planning also helps to reduce our stress hormone, cortisol.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Dr Cleo, booking a holiday six months in advance is the optimal time to get the most out of a future trip, no matter how long or short. \u201cThis time frame between booking and going on holiday allows for a healthy level of anticipation. It eliminates planning-related stress so we can focus on all the positives a holiday can bring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Four out of five Australians (80%) enjoy the anticipation when they book a holiday several months in advance. The number one reason Aussies like to book in advance is to be organised (81%), while some of the other reasons include liking to book annual leave early (36%), coordinate big groups of family or friends (12%), shop for new outfits (11%), and some even want to plan their social media content (4%).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlanning ahead not only helps Aussies secure their ideal holiday, but it also allows them to relax and get excited well before they set sail,\u201d says Kara Glamore, Vice President of Carnival Cruise Line. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to see that booking in advance gives our guests greater financial flexibility and peace of mind, enabling them to fully embrace the FUN experience we\u2019re known for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nearly half of Australians (48%) are more inclined to book a holiday with all-inclusive elements, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/\">Carnival Cruise Line<\/a> offers just that. Guests enjoy a fun-filled holiday at sea, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/staterooms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accommodation<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/dining\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">food<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/onboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">entertainment<\/a> all included in the ticket price.<\/p>\n<p>Carnival Cruise Line releases sailings up to two years in advance, giving guests ample time to plan and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/personal-holiday-planners\">book the FUN holiday<\/a> of their dreams while savouring that pre-holiday glow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New research commissioned by Carnival Cruise Line has uncovered compelling insights into the financial and wellbeing benefits of booking holidays <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com.au\/behind-the-seas\/news-events\/holiday-research\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2369,"parent":111,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2361","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Benefits of Booking Holidays Early | Carnival<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Benefits of booking holidays early include reduced stress, better budgeting, and savings on Carnival. 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