cheapest time to book cruise

When is the best time to book a cruise?

The best time to book a cruise is when you've done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn't stop vacationers from wondering if they'd find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month.

I'd love to give you a magic date to circle in red on your calendar, so you'd know for sure that was the best time to book a cruise. The truth is there's no one best day, but knowing a few things about how cruise lines price cabins and when they tend to run promotions will help you identify high-value deals. When you see one, you'll know it's as good a time as any to book your next cruise vacation.

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What is the best day to book a cruise?

Everyone wants to know the cheapest day to book travel — as if fares drop like clockwork on Wednesday morning and rise with the sun on Thursday. It doesn't work that way.

It used to be that lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line would offer midweek sales on select cruises every Tuesday or Wednesday. These lines still offer the occasional flash sale, but they don't always fall on the same day of the week.

Within a given cruise sale's promotional period, I've seen cabin prices fluctuate daily and I've seen them stay the same for a week. It all depends on how many cabins a cruise line has allocated for a specific fare class and whether those rooms happen to sell out or not.

I could tell you that it's cheaper to book a cruise at the beginning of a sale because availability is greatest. However, if the line sees a certain cabin category on a specific ship failing to sell as expected, it could drop rates halfway into the sale period.

The exception is world cruises (and other highly anticipated and publicized short-season sailings, like Great Lakes cruises ). World cruises have sold out within hours, even with price tags of $150,000 per couple.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

What is the best month to book a cruise?

If there's no best day to book a cruise for the best deal, you might think there's a best month. While you can find cheap cruises any month you look, I can give you some pointers about which months are most likely to feature cruise sales with value-added promotions.

The best months to book a cruise are January through March, when nearly every cruise line launches some kind of "wave season" promotion , and November through December, when Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales often start well before Thanksgiving and end days or weeks after. You might find a cheap cruise deal or a fare packed with extras (like complimentary beverage packages, free kids fares or reduced deposits).

Are you guaranteed to find the cheapest, most freebie-laden pricing during these months? Of course not! Cruise lines sometimes inflate prices before a sale, so deals for 30% or 50% off may not be as good as you think. Or, the cruise line may offer its best fares in a one-off sale at another time of year.

Whether the winter months are the best time to book a cruise depends on which itinerary you're hoping to book and how popular that sailing is that year. In a year when Alaska cruises are popular, the wave season promotions in January and February might not be especially good because the lines don't need to discount to fill cabins. But if Alaska cruise bookings are soft, the wave season specials could be the best of the year as cruise lines pull out all the tricks to fill ships.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

What is the best time of year to book a cruise?

I could say that winter is the best time of year to book a cruise because that would cover the late-fall Thanksgiving week sales and wave season promotions. I can guarantee that your cruise line will offer some promotions during the winter, but that doesn't mean it's the best time to book.

If you want to book a solo or family cabin on a Mediterranean cruise in July, you likely want to book much earlier than January for the most availability and the best prices. As I said earlier, great sales and deals can pop up year-round, including on other holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

How far in advance should I book a cruise?

All this talk of the best time to book a cruise raises the question of how far in advance you should book. The key to the answer is recognizing that cruise lines adjust pricing as cabins sell out (or fail to do so) on any given ship and itinerary.

Cruise lines want you to book as early as possible. Not only do they get cash in hand sooner, in the form of your deposit, but they can rest easy when a ship sells out early, knowing they don't have to work to get people to come on board and spend more money.

Therefore, cruise lines often offer their best fares when bookings open to incentivize travelers to book early. Cruises open for bookings a year or more in advance. For example, as of March 2023, I can book a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line through spring or fall of 2025, depending on the ship.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on ships

Now, it might be the itinerary I'm looking at won't be popular, and the cruise line will lower the fare closer to sailing. Or, the itinerary will sell well, and prices will only go up from the original price. I can't know for sure, though I can guess that peak-season trips to popular destinations on a newer cruise ship are more likely to sell quickly. Christmas and New Year's cruises , top suites and limited specialty cabins (such as solo and family cabins ) also tend to sell out early.

If you ask me, the answer to "How far in advance should I book a cruise?" is as early as possible for the most popular cruises and cabin categories and at least nine months before most sailings.

Can I book a cruise at the last minute?

Yes, you can book a cruise at the last minute, but that doesn't mean you should.

In the cruise industry, a last-minute booking is considered any cruise purchased after final payment is due, generally 60 to 90 days before sailing. That means you have to pay the entire cruise fare at the time of booking rather than paying a deposit and the rest at a later date.

The final payment date is a day of reckoning for cruise salespeople. It's the last date that undecided travelers can cancel without penalty. Once final payment is due, the cruise line has a more accurate picture of who is likely to sail (since once you pay, you're likely to go, barring an emergency). At that point, the line can see if the ship is comfortably full (meaning it can hold prices steady or raise them because it's not worried about filling the ship) or is too empty (meaning it better run some promotions to get more folks in cabins).

If it's the latter, that's when you get last-minute deals on cruise ships with unsold cabins. However, even if that last-minute cruise is cheap, the 11th-hour airfare or pre-cruise hotel booking could eat into your savings.

For the real procrastinators out there, the absolute last day you can book a cruise before its departure has changed over the years. Currently, a cruise line could accept a booking mere hours before sailing, as long as boarding is still open and the ship's manifest (the list of passengers and crew members on board) has not been submitted to the authorities.

In actuality, most cruise lines will sell available cabins through the day before sailing, but limit or deny same-day bookings. Depending on the line, you may only be able to book cruises within a day or two of departure directly with the cruise line's reservations department.

Booking a cruise just days before sailing should only be attempted by travelers within an easy drive of the cruise port. You should also make sure that you have time to get any necessary documentation, as well as make related travel plans.

How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?

Regardless of when you're booking a cruise, you'll want to know if the fare you're paying for your vacation at sea is a cheap deal, average or overpriced. Sadly, the best way to know that is to do your research.

Tracking prices allows you to watch the rise and fall of cruise fares over time, so when the fare drops, you'll recognize the price as a deal and be able to pounce on it. This strategy is best if you plan to book early and aren't as concerned about the ship selling out immediately.

Don't forget to watch for value-added promotions, as well. For example, Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion currently includes six booking perks (free beverage package, shore excursion credit, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, extra guests and buy-one-get-one-free airfare).

If that sounds like too much math homework, I recommend that you call a travel agent . A cruise-knowledgeable travel adviser can help you plan your trip and determine if the current pricing is good or if you should hold out for a deal.

Bottom line

I'll say it again: The best time to book a cruise is when you see a price and promotion that seems like a good value to you. If you feel like you're getting your money's worth on a cruise purchase, go ahead and book that dream vacation. There's no way to be absolutely sure you're buying when the cruise fare is the lowest possible price with the maximum number of fare inclusions.

Sometimes you may be forced to choose between the cheapest possible fare and one that offers a greater total value, given the included perks. Knowing when cruise lines will likely run promotions will help you strategize, but sales can pop up anytime — and not every promotion offers the cheapest fares.

Stop trying to game the system and focus instead on planning the perfect cruise vacation you and your loved ones will reminisce about long after you've forgotten how much you paid for the trip.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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What is the cheapest time to take a cruise? What travelers should know.

When it comes to finding cruise deals, timing is important. Like other forms of travel, there are certain windows when travelers can find particularly good fares – and others when it's harder.

"If you're looking for a deal over Christmas, you're probably not going to find it," said Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, chief experience officer and owner of the travel agency Live Well, Travel Often. "That's just how it is."

But arming themselves with that knowledge and remaining flexible can help travelers book the cruise they want at the right price. Here's what travelers should know about the cheapest times to take a cruise.

Can travelers still find cruise deals?: Yes ... for now

60% off on a cruise for your guest?: Here are 7 cruise deals to snag during wave season

Learn more: Best travel insurance

What is the cheapest time to go on a cruise?

Travelers can often find deals by sailing when kids are in school and steering clear of major holidays, Goldberg-Glazer said.   For instance, cruises for the week after New Year's can be half the price of those during the holiday with a wider selection of cabins.

"Once you book, there's just generally more availability a little bit longer because the holidays book up so quickly," she said.

But remember that destinations can be seasonal, which may narrow the window of opportunity. The Alaska cruise season, for example, lasts from May to September, while the Caribbean season typically stretches from November through April.

Passengers may also find bargains on repositioning cruises – when cruise lines move ships from one part of the world to another between seasons. Those sailings tend to occur in the spring and fall, and travelers can find them labeled as such on cruise line websites or through a travel agent.

Story continues below. 

What is the cheapest time to book a cruise?

Prospective cruisers can usually find "a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year" during wave season , Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March.

However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail. Goldberg-Glazer recommended booking as far in advance as possible.

"I think that, realistically, if you can book a year or more in advance and block off the time and know that's going to work for you, then that's perfect," she said.

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She cautioned travelers booking nonrefundable deposits – which they may not get back if they have to change their plans – to be certain the reservation they make will work for them. But those booking refundable deposits "have nothing to lose," she said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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These Are the Best Times to Book a Cruise for Deals, Optimal Rooms, and More

Make your dream cruise vacation a reality with these tips.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Saving money feels good — almost as good as sitting on the top deck of a Caribbean-bound cruise with a cocktail in hand. But why not have both? Saving money on that Caribbean cruise (or any cruise for that matter) is easier than you think — you just need to know how the industry works, including the best time to book a cruise, when you can score an upgrade, and how to get the sailing you want without breaking the bank.

Pricing fluctuates based on itinerary, the ship's age, the type of cruise, and how soon the vessel is scheduled to sail. But the best time to book a cruise depends heavily on you: when you want to travel, what you want out of the experience, and how comfortable you are waiting until the last minute.

When to Book Early

If you have your sights set on a high-demand sailing — on a new ship or during school holiday dates — the best time to book a cruise will be as soon as fares are released. This is the only way to guarantee a spot (and secure a particular cabin location).

Cruise Critic explains that many popular sailings offer their best rates when fares first go on sale and then increase prices as the ship fills up. This rule is especially true for luxury itineraries, Disney cruises , and new ships.

When to Wait

If you're not interested in high-season travel or experiencing the latest cruise ship, you can play the waiting game and pounce as soon as fares drop. As any seasoned traveler knows, you'll often find lower rates or free add-ons as the departure date approaches and the cruise line works to fill the ship.

While holding off may result in a once-in-a-lifetime deal, keep in mind that your cabin and category choices may be minimal and there's no guarantee you'll be able to book at all. This approach works best for people with flexible work schedules or retirees who can adjust their dates to snag these less expensive fares.

Tracking Fares

The only way to really know the best time to book a cruise is to track fares, which is not an easy task. Luckily, rate tracking on the Shipmate app and Cruise Critic make it a bit more realistic. They'll let you know if there's a price drop, taking some of the extra work off your plate.

Best Time of Year to Book a Cruise

The best time of year to book a cruise is often January through March. During this period — also known as wave season — industry-wide sales occur and the price of that cruise you've been dreaming of may drop significantly. It's also a good time to find booking promotions, like free upgrades, prepaid gratuities, or onboard spending money.

Best Time of Month to Book a Cruise

While there isn't a "best time of the month" to book a cruise, monitoring fare changes over several weeks can help you spot any price drops. Cruise prices fluctuate frequently based on availability, demand, and special deals. Unless you're interested in a high-demand sailing, be patient and look out for flash sales.

Best Day of the Week to Book a Cruise

People often wonder if there is a specific day of the week when cruise prices consistently drop. Unfortunately, fares don't rise and fall on a set schedule, and it's impossible to predict when they'll change. One 2016 study by CruiseWatch.com found that, on average, cruise fares dropped the most on Thursdays. The data also found that Wednesdays were the worst for price hikes. These data points are constantly fluctuating so your best bet is to track fares throughout the week.

Understanding When and Why Cruise Prices Drop

Wave season may be a popular time to find cruise deals, but not every company releases its best deals and promotions during that period. Sales (or lack thereof) are often based on what is and isn't selling. If a cruise is filling up quickly, the company has no reason to release a sale to entice customers. But if a cruise's departure date is fast approaching and the ship is only partially booked, prices will drop and complimentary add-ons will increase, resulting in some happy customers.

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This Is When You Should Book a Cruise to Score the Best Deals

Wave season, which kicks off every january, is when cruise companies roll out some of the best cruise promotions of the year. these are among the top cruise deals we’ve spotted so far in 2024..

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You can save up to $3,000 when you book cruise and airfare together on select 2024 Uniworld itineraries, like this Ganges River cruise through India.

Courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

You’ve finally landed on the cruise you want to take—maybe it’s a winter expedition to Norway to see the northern lights or perhaps you’re keen on sailing around the Galápagos to see the islands’ impossibly curious animals—but now the question is, when should you book? Is it better to secure reservations far in advance or do you stand a better chance of snagging a deal if you wait?

We polled travel advisors who specialize in cruises to better understand when the best time to book a cruise is. Here’s what they had to say.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

While there’s not necessarily a wrong time to book a cruise, there are time frames where travelers can benefit from discounts and promotions.

Beyond holiday periods such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday , and Labor Day when there may be some flash sales, January and February are particularly good times to book a cruise , as the first two months of the year are considered “wave season” in the cruising industry. It’s when companies are looking to base load their ships for the year.

“Wave season is when cruise lines announce incredible promotions in an effort to sell as much unsold space for the year as possible,” explains Jeremy Hall, a travel advisor at Cruise Vacations International.

Those promotions could include free stateroom upgrades, highly reduced cruise fares, discounts on deposits, free sailings for children, complimentary airfare, and discounted beverage packages, among other offers.

The best wave season cruise deals for 2024

AmaWaterways : River cruisers can save up to $2,000 per stateroom and earn $50 in onboard credit per stateroom on select 7- to 11-night European river sailings in July and August 2024 (including a 7-night Colors of Provence cruise, a wine-themed Burgundy sailing, and a Rhine castles and Swiss Alps cruise). For 14-night European river cruises (such as the Grand Danuba sailing) during the same period, travelers can save $4,000 per stateroom and receive $100 in onboard credit.

Aurora Expeditions : Environmentally friendly expedition operator Aurora Expeditions is offering a slew of savings on sailings to the Arctic and Antarctic in 2024 and 2025, including up to 25 percent off some itineraries and air credit on others. The savings are available on bookings made before March 31, 2024. Here’s our recent review of sailing with Aurora in the Arctic.

Azamara : Travelers can save up to $2,000 per stateroom on select 2024 sailings when booked before March 21.

Celebrity Cruises : Until February 1, cruisers can save 75 percent on their second guest’s cruise fare (specifically for nonrefundable cruises; otherwise it’s 50 percent off) for sailings from now until April 30, 2026.

Cruise Croatia: Passengers can enjoy up to 30 percent off on more than 25 departures along the Dalmatian Coast between May and October for bookings made through January 31.

Crystal Cruises : The newly relaunched luxury line Crystal is offering complimentary suite upgrades on select 2024 sailings booked before the end of January.

Emerald Cruises : Savings on this accessible luxury river cruise line include two-for-one fares and up to $3,750 off per suite on select Europe and Southeast Asia river cruise sailings. Bookings must be made by March 31.

Explora Journeys : On the recently launched cruise line Explora Journeys, passengers can save up to 40 percent on their trip when they book either an Ocean Terrace Suite or Ocean Grand Terrace Suite for sailings on Explora I (we were among the first onboard this brand-new vessel, which aims to court noncruisers ) and Explora II by January 31. The deal is applicable for sailings through April 2026. Some available trips include the 44-night A Grand Journey Connecting Continents and the 10-night A Celestial Caribbean and Creole Soul .

Holland America Line : Cruisers can save up to 40 percent on bookings made by February 29. Bonus deals include up to $500 per stateroom for onboard spending (depending on cruise length), free fares for kids, and stateroom upgrades.

Hurtigruten : From now until the end of March, cruisers can get up to $4,000 off select voyages within Norway.

HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) : For select bookings made by March 31, 2024, for departures between March 29, 2024, and March 29, 2025, HX is offering flight credits of up to $2,000.

Lindblad Expeditions : Until March 31, guests can save up to $2,000 on cabin fare and up to 40 percent on solo cabins. Here’s what recently sailing around Svalbard with Lindblad entailed.

MSC Cruises : One of the largest cruise lines in the world is offering a sale to kick off the new year. Guests who book during wave season also receive Wi-Fi for up to two devices per stateroom and up to $400 in onboard credit. Kids sail free. The deal applies to sailings in the Caribbean and North America, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Southern Caribbean through winter 2025.

Oceania’s 1,200-passenger Vista launched in 2023 and offers some of the best fine dining at sea, plus impressive solo cabins and immersive port excursions.

Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises : On these fine-dining–focused cruises , you can get up to 50 percent off per stateroom on 112 sailings in 2024 and 2025 if you book before the end of February.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises : Through February 29, ultra-luxury line Regent Seven Seas is offering an Upgrade Your Horizon promotion that gives guests a free two-category suite upgrade (up to a Penthouse Suite) on select cruises departing between now and June 2026. This past November, Regent unveiled the latest “world’s most luxurious cruise ship”: the 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Grandeur with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and exclusive art pieces.

Scenic Luxury Cruises : On Scenic’s river cruises, guests who book by March 31 can get up to $4,250 off per suite, a promotion that can be combined with Scenic’s 2-for-1 fares on 31 departures in 2024. For ocean sailings (including expedition-style cruises to Antarctica, Greenland, and Australia’s Kimberley region), guests can book 2-for-1 fares and receive up to an additional $13,000 off per suite. The discounted fares are available on more than 60 sailings in 2024 and 2025.

Seabourn : For both ocean and expedition voyages booked by January 31, guests sailing on Seabourn’s super-luxurious cruise ships can save up to 25 percent off fares and receive up to $1,000 in shipboard credit per stateroom. Maybe this is your sign to book Seabourn’s epic 90-day Africa itinerary , which will stop in 44 ports in 26 countries as it circumnavigates the continent.

Sea Cloud Cruises : For select sailings booked before February 29, cruisers can save 25 percent on the fare and receive $500 in onboard credits.

Silversea Cruises : Luxe line Silversea is offering savings of $4,000 per suite on door-to-door all-inclusive fares (which even includes pre- and post-cruise private transfers and airfare) or $2,000 per suite on port-to-port all-inclusive fares for bookings made through February 29.

Star Clippers : On select sailings aboard the Star Clipper or the Star Flyer, cruisers will receive $240 in air credits per person and $200 in onboard credits per cabin. The deals are good for bookings made by March 31.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Cruisers can save up to $3,000 when they purchase cruise and airfare together on select 2024 itineraries with this boutique luxury line. This offer is valid on new bookings made through January 31 for travel in 2024.

Viking : Viking is offering special fares (with just a $25 deposit) on new bookings across its collection of river, ocean, and expedition offerings through January 31. Select voyages include free airfare.

Virgin Voyages : Through January 31, cruisers can get 70 percent off the second guest’s booking. They will also receive up to $600 off their bar tab, depending on the length of the voyage. Virgin Voyages—which launched its newest ship, the 2,770-passenger Resilient Lady , in 2023—bills itself as the perfect cruise line for people who don’t like cruises. Here’s our take .

Windstar Cruises : Book a Windstar sailing by February 29 and you can choose an additional perk, which could include a free night in a hotel (pre- or post-cruise) or up to $1,000 in onboard credit. Those who book a premium suite can upgrade to the all-inclusive fare, which includes alcohol, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. Our suggestion? Sail the Mediterranean with Windstar this winter , when there are fewer crowds and no extreme heat.

You’ll have access to a sauna with glacier views on Seabourn Venture .

Rendering courtesy of Seabourn

How far in advance should you book a cruise? Is it better to book early?

Travelers who are less concerned about deals and more focused on a specific destination or making sure they get choice accommodations may want to take a different approach to booking a cruise. Cruise companies open up bookings for sailings as early as two years in advance. While that might sound like plenty of time to mull over sailings, William Kiburz, a travel advisor at Coronet Travel , says the earlier you book, the better, especially when it comes to expedition-style or specialized cruises, as well as sailings to Alaska , as those are itineraries that often sell out more than a year in advance.

Samantha Robichaud, a travel advisor and owner of Fabulous Adventures Travel Company , says that booking early also means travelers have more choices when it comes to travel dates, staterooms, specialty dining reservations at preferred times, and shore excursions.

Todd Smith, owner of AdventureSmith Explorations , says that if you want to go on an expedition cruise, which typically involves a smaller ship, it’s imperative to book early.

“ Booking last minute also means you get what remains available instead of the best trip, ship, cabin, and program for you,” Smith says.

Another reason to try to book early: The cabin price is usually lower. “Cruise fares tend to rise as the time before departure draws closer,” Hall says. “Even though you may see a new promotion announced for the cruise you booked six months ago, chances are you got a better deal because the cruise fare more than likely went up before that new promotion was announced.”

There are often perks for guests who book early. For example, Holland America Line offers an early booking bonus that allows guests to enjoy all the benefits of the standard “Have It All” package, including shore excursion and specialty dining credit, plus included gratuity, a low-price guarantee, and upgrades to premium Wi-Fi and an “elite” beverage package, which covers all premium spirits, beers, and wines.

Is it possible to score last-minute cruise deals?

If pricing is more important than preferred accommodations, travelers can opt to wait until closer to the departure date to see if they can take advantage of any last-minute offers . It’s a bit of a gamble—you risk the ship selling out. And, in the 11th hour, flights to the port might be more expensive.

To find deals, travelers can sign up for email newsletters from various cruise lines, as the companies often send out updates on flash sales. You can also search the cruise line websites—some, like Holland America , have pages on their website dedicated to last-minute deals.

Hall says that his company typically sees more last-minute deals with river cruises than ocean cruises. He also notes that last-minute deals usually involve added amenities or a waived single supplement.

Will working with a travel advisor get me a better deal?

“There are so many ways to get a good deal on a cruise, and nobody knows better than an experienced travel advisor ,” Hall says. “There are so many promotions, amenities, loyalty programs, and pricing structures these days—it makes finding the best deal a daunting task. Your travel advisor will know precisely how to narrow down the search field to find the right cruise and deal for you.”

Robichaud echoes that sentiment, saying that travel advisors can leverage relationships with cruise companies to get discounted rates or free add-ons. And Smith notes that agencies that book a lot of cruises often receive free upgrades for their clients as an incentive from cruise lines aiming to build up a loyal network of travel advisors who sell and book their cruises.

Are there better times for families or groups to book a cruise?

Only certain ships and expeditions offer accommodations large enough to fit three or four people, so groups and families looking to stay in the same cabin should book as soon as possible because options may be limited.

As Robichaud notes, rooms that can accommodate more people tend to fill up fast during holidays and school breaks; if travelers have a specific sailing in mind, it’s essential to book early.

Judy Perl, president of Judy Perl Travel, adds that for parents looking to travel around school schedules, it’s worth noting that spring break is often the cheapest for cruising, and summer break offers more destination options. The winter holiday season is always significantly more expensive, she says.

Sailing with Celebrity? Upgrade to the Retreat, a private resort area within the ship.

Courtesy of Ryan Wicks/Celebrity Cruises

How to bid on a cabin upgrade

Just as some airlines offer the opportunity to bid for a business- or first-class seat upgrade , many cruise companies offer travelers the opportunity to bid on stateroom upgrades.

• Some cruise lines will email confirmed customers before their voyage, offering them the chance to bid on a higher class of cabin at a steeply discounted price.
• Travelers suggest a price they’re comfortable with spending.
• If the cruise company accepts the offer, guests will be charged the amount of their bid and receive an updated booking with their new room details.

Robichaud says she just got back from a Virgin Voyages sailing where she was supposed to have a Sea Terrace stateroom but won her bid for a Mega RockStar suite (complete with daily spa access, a bottomless in-room bar, a personal butler, and access to a members-only sundeck). Similarly, some companies have dedicated landing pages on their websites where guests can bid.

When bidding for an upgrade online, be aware that you can’t cancel your bid once accepted (but you can cancel or change the offer before acceptance).

Upgrades are also available after you’ve boarded the ship. Perl recommends that people keen on a larger room go to the purser’s office and inquire if there have been any cancellations or no-shows. “Once the ship leaves the dock, typically, it is no longer under revenue management control back at headquarters,” Perl explains. “The ship can make their own pricing decisions about what to charge to maximize the yield on their available inventory.”

What’s worth it and what isn’t in terms of cruise add-ons?

Amenity add-ons, like beverage packages, onboard credit, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and included gratuities, only have a value if you are going to use them. A person who drinks only one glass of wine each day or someone who likes to disconnect from tech on vacation may find little worth in an unlimited drinks package or premium Wi-Fi, respectively. It’s important to know the value of these items for you and purchase accordingly.

This story was originally published in March 2023, and was updated on January 12, 2024, to include current information.

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Did you know that the window immediately following the New Year’s celebration often harbors the  cheapest weeks to cruise ? Yes, this period hosts a treasure trove of  affordable cruise dates  that many aren’t aware of. I’ll share insights into the  cheapest time to take a cruise ,  budget-friendly cruise seasons , and  off-season cruise deals  that will have you booking your next maritime adventure without a second thought about cost.

Cheapest Month to Book a Cruise?

Key Takeaways

• Pinpoint the  cheapest weeks to cruise  by targeting the start of the year , especially when the holidays wrap up.
• Learn about  affordable cruise dates  that coincide with the kids’ school schedules to maximize savings.
• Understand why the  cheapest time to cruise  taps into off-peak industry rhythms for unbeatable rates.
• Discover why  budget-friendly cruise seasons  offer not just price cuts but enhanced cabin availability, too.
• Unravel the secrets of snagging  economical sail times  with repositioning cruises during spring and fall.
• Get ahead with  reduced-rate cruise windows , ensuring you know the best times to book for less traveled destinations .
• Find out when to set sail with  off-season cruise deals  that promise considerable savings for the savvy traveler.

Optimal Periods for Inexpensive Cruising

When asked when the cheapest time to cruise is, my answer invariably falls within the first quarter of the year. Cruisers in the know often refer to this time as the “ wave season ,” a span between January and March rich in cost-saving opportunities. The cruise industry , aware of the lull following the festive season, unveils a treasure trove of promotions and discounts to fill their fleets for the year’s voyages. These incentives can include anything from free stateroom upgrades to complimentary airfare , luring savvy travelers into setting sail at slashed rates.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS:   Get Deals on Your Next Cruise Now!  

The most  economical sail times pleasantly coincide with when children are tucked away in classrooms and the chaos of holiday travel has subsided. At this time, the  cruise low season  welcomes fewer tourists, translates to lower prices, and opens up a greater variety of available cabins. For those who thirst for tropical destinations, finding  cheap cruises in the Caribbean  becomes particularly feasible during this period. Meanwhile, colder destinations like Alaska present a different seasonal pricing model, which is best taken advantage of outside the summer peak.

• Cruise Low Season : January to mid-February
• Optimal Cruise Pricing Periods : Wave season deals (January-March)
• Best Time to Find Cruise Deals : Just after the New Year
• Off-Season Cruise Deals : Discounts prevalent when vacationing families are less likely to travel
• Cheapest Months to Cruise : Historically, in late January and February

Best Time of Year to Book a Cruise

My advice for cruisers is straightforward: early reservation is a strategic maneuver. This ensures access to various  budget-friendly cruise seasons  and  discounted cruise schedules , which is particularly advantageous for specialty or expedition voyages where demand may soar swiftly. As expected, price points generally ascend as the departure date draws near, solidifying that the  cheapest time to cruise  is at the genesis of wave season or at the inaugural moment when bookings are first available.

• Secure early deals during  January and February , the peak of wave season.
• Look for luxury and specialized cruises, such as Disney and expedition cruises , when they first open for booking.
• Be vigilant of the cheapest cruise line  promotions to maximize savings.

Best Time to Book Caribbean Cruises

For  cheap cruises in the Caribbean , the consensus among seasoned travelers is to aim for the  best time to cruise to the Caribbean, which typically falls during the wave season.

Booking during the early months of the year, especially from January through March, can secure you a  cheap cruise in the Caribbean . This period is often punctuated by a lull in demand post-holiday season, making it the  best time to go on a cruise to the Caribbean if you’re on a budget. I’m also a big fan of cruising in October, November or Decemeber when the sailing dates are not during a holiday. Holidays sailings are often come with peak prices. Remember, if kids are out of school, the rates will be much higher.

Booking your cruise during wave season offers numerous promotions that can lead to substantial savings.

I’ve prepared a comparative table to guide you on when might be the best time for Caribbean cruise bookings based on factors such as average prices, demand, and weather conditions. This may also help you snag those elusive  cheap Caribbean cruises  we all covet:

Watching for last-minute offers can lead to significant savings for those with flexible schedules. However, I want you to know that this strategy comes with risks, including limited cabin availability and the potentially rapid selling out of desired itineraries.

When to Book Early

If your dream vacation includes a particular stateroom or a spot on the newest mega-ship, Waiting won’t do; the prime picks, whether cabins or dates, tend to sell out with surprising speed.

• The early bird catches the worm: Recent high demand makes this advice, even more relevant today.
• Anticipated releases: Booking when new itineraries are released can lock in incredible deals.
• Marquee cabins: Early booking is non-negotiable for prime locations such as aft balconies or unique suites .
• Peak travel periods: Holidays and school vacations call for strategic, early reservations.
• Exclusive experiences: Small ship and expedition cruises with limited capacity similarly demand foresight. This also goes for any unique itineraries.

Cheapest Time to Cruise Alaska

I’ve discovered that the  best month to cruise  this breathtaking region aligns with the fringes of the tourist season called the ‘shoulder season’ in May and September. These months mark the most economical sail times to Alaska, with the onset and conclusion of the cruise calendar offering the  cheapest time to take a cruise  to the Last Frontier. While summer in Alaska can be spectacular, prices during June, July, and August surge due to high demand.

I’ve also found that  Alaska cruise deals  often include what’s known as repositioning cruises. These are one-way itineraries where ships relocate from one region to another. Repositioning cruises at the start and end of the Alaskan season isn’t just an opportunity to save but also offers a unique perspective of transitioning landscapes. By targeting these specific time slots, I can relish the uncrowded serenity of Alaska’s majesty while benefiting from some of the cheapest time of year for cruises to this destination.

Tracking Cruise Fares

I recommend  tracking cruise fares  to snag the  best price . Patience and persistence are essential, as fares fluctuate based on various factors, including the chosen itinerary, the age of the ship, and even the time of year. Insights gathered from  cruise fare tracking  can guide you on the best time to purchase a cruise , potentially saving you a substantial amount.

Through diligent monitoring, I’ve observed that Thursdays occasionally present notable fare drops. However, there’s no guaranteed timeframe for when deals appear, so flexibility is a boon if you’re employing this tactic to  get the best deal on a cruise . While there are no guarantees with fare tracking — with some risks, like limited cabin availability — it is often worth the effort for those with adaptable travel plans.

Plan Your Trip?

Need help planning a trip? Check out these helpful links:

• Cheap Flights
• Affordable Hotels
• Affordable car rental options
• Affordable excursions, tours, and day trips
• Travel Adapter  – All in one, so you don’t have to carry a bunch around

Best Time to Go on a Cruise – FAQ

When is the best time to book a cruise?

The best time to book a cruise is typically during Wave Season, which runs from January to March and offers great deals and promotions.

What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

The cheapest months to cruise are usually September and October, known as the shoulder season, offering lower prices and fewer crowds.

How can I find the best cruise deals?

To find the best cruise deals , consider booking during the off-peak season, being flexible with travel dates, and checking for last-minute cruise deals.

Which cruise lines offer the cheapest cruises?

Cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean often offer competitive pricing and discounts on their cruises.

Is booking a cruise early or waiting for last-minute deals better?

It depends on your flexibility and preferences. Booking early ensures a better selection of cabins, while waiting for last-minute deals can sometimes result in discounted prices.

What are some popular cruise destinations to consider?

Popular cruise destinations include the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Northern Europe, offering unique experiences and attractions.

How important is using a travel agent when booking a cruise?

Travel agents can offer valuable insights, expertise, and often access to exclusive deals and promotions, making them an excellent resource for booking your next cruise.

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How and When to Book Your Cruise to Get the Best Rates

As soon as I started to sell cruises back in 1992, l tried to identify cruise-booking trends. At that time, the playing field was completely different from what it is today. You’ve probably heard stories when people showed up at the port with their suitcase hoping for a last minute deal if someone canceled or a stateroom was unsold. Then 2001 happened and the industry and booking tactics changed.

Now, the cruise lines want you to book your cruise early. Why? So they can use your deposit money of course. But also important, it gives them an opportunity to monitor their own booking trends far enough out so that promotions and sales can be well planned to fill vacancies.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “When is the best time to book your cruise for the best rate?”

Here are some reasons why people don’t want to book early.

• They don’t want to tie up their funds 18 months before their cruise.
• They are sure the rates will drop closer to sailing time and then they’ll get the best deal.
• They’re not sure what their plans will be so far in advance.
• If they wait til the last minute, there will be plenty of staterooms from which to choose. Because who takes a Caribbean cruise in September?
• They don’t care where on the ship their stateroom will be located because they’re buying the cheapest possible accommodation.

What they don’t know is that…

• The best deals are rarely at the last minute. Instead, book your cruise at the time of the deployment announcement; that is, when the new schedules and itineraries are made public, usually 18 months ahead.
• Early booking means stateroom selection is wide open. Don’t get stuck with an adjoining room next to the Loud Family or under the Disco or the pool deck.
• If the rate drops before final payment is due, ask for a price adjustment. If the rate drops after final payment…well, that’s another issue altogether, especially on the mass market cruise lines. I’ll address that further on.
• Buy travel insurance. If vacation plans change and third-party travel insurance with a Cancel for Any Reason waiver was purchased, almost all of the monies are returned if canceling for a non-covered reason.
• No matter what season, cruise ships usually sail full. For a certain itinerary, stateroom location or groups of family/friends, the sooner you book and deposit your accommodation, the better your selection.
• Supply and demand rules. Full ships usually mean higher prices for leftovers.

Plan your cruise: Find and compare lowest rates .

Book your cruise late and you won’t get early dining in the main dining room..

Dining times are also affected. Book late and you’ll end up either dining at 8:30pm or most likely, all that will be available is an Anytime Dining program. Early/main seating in the Main Dining Room fills up quickly for yet another reason to book early.

When to expect rates to change in your favor? Promotions added?

Here’s a little trick of the trade. Large travel agencies block out huge quantities of staterooms as soon as the new deployment is public. While the rates may be equal to what everyone else can access, by grabbing dozens or even hundreds of staterooms, these agencies may be able to give their clients onboard credits, wine, hors d’oeuvre trays, shore excursion money and more. Enticing.

At some point, any unsold group space has to be returned to the cruise line or the agency will get stuck paying for any unsold space. This usually happens at intervals; 90, 60 and depending upon the contract with the cruise line, even 30 days before the cruise.

Suddenly, the cruise lines are faced with hundreds of empty cabins pretty close to the sailing date. Here’s when you might be able to pick up a good deal. But you must know what your cruise line’s cancelation penalty policy is so you don’t get your nose out of joint if they won’t let you reduce the rate on your cabin.

New promotions can pop up at almost any time…especially around the holiday season plus Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July. Keep scanning the horizon.

Are you listening? Know the penalties, then decide.

Say the rate significantly drops while you are under the least amount of penalty; ex. the loss of your deposit. It can be cheaper to cancel, lose your deposit, and rebook the same cruise at a lower, discounted rate. You’ll either save money or break even and maybe be able to upgrade your stateroom. I know this works. I’ve done it for myself several times. It was cheaper to cancel, pay a small penalty and rebook myself into a higher category stateroom and still come out ahead.

A little knowledge can go a long way. No one likes to feel they’ve paid too much. And frequent cruisers know that people love to blab about what they paid for their cruise. Put any 10 people together on a cruise and you’ll probably get 10 different prices.

Bottom line.

• Book your cruise early. Then re-book later on if necessary, following the cruise line’s booking and penalty policies. Know before you buy.
• Use a cruise-oriented travel agent. Someone who’s actually been on many cruises and is focused on selling cruises.
• Book early to choose your favorite dining time, the best stateroom based on your budget and the stateroom location on the ship.
• Monitor the rates and contact your agent if the prices drop. Chances are when your agent is on the phone with the cruise line, not only will you get the lower rate, your agent might be able to combine new promotions that you would not otherwise receive.

Another little know reason to book a cruise early? If you like the best of the best, remember that the highest category suites are the first to sell out.

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

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That’s a great question. But as long as you avoid booking a stateroom with a connecting door to another, you minimize the risk of listening to noisy neighbors. Walls are thin anyway and the adjoining door is even worse.

“Early booking means stateroom selection is wide open. Don’t get stuck with an adjoining room next to the Loud Family or under the Disco or the pool deck.”

How do you know where the Loud Family is going to book?

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Updated on February 22, 2018 by Sherry Laskin

Best Time to Book a Cruise? (Late vs. Early Booking)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

The biggest question everyone asks is, “when is the best time to book a cruise for the best price.”

Passengers love to debate whether you can save money by booking early or booking late.

So when is the best time to book a cruise?

The best time to book a cruise is as early as possible. Prices are lowest when reservations first go on sale, typically 1-2 years before departure. You can also take advantage of price protection if prices drop by booking early.

Unfortunately, we can never know precisely when cruise prices are their lowest.

But we can offer some advice to help you make the best decision based on your budget and flexibility to help you save more money when booking your cruise.

Table of Contents

When is the Best Time to Book a Cruise?

The best time to book a cruise is as early as possible to get the lowest price on your cruise vacation.

Many cruise lines allow reservations for their sailings from up to 2 years before the sail date. If you don’t mind waiting for your vacation, you’ll get a better price when you book early.

Cruise lines offer the lowest rates when tickets first go on sale. As more people book, cruise lines raise prices.

This price trend is especially true with luxury cruises and mainstream cruise lines. They have a huge demand for sailings and open initial bookings up to two years before the sail date.

You’ll also find extra perks like exclusive discounts, complimentary upgrades, free WiFi, drink packages, or onboard credits when you book early.

Another benefit of booking early is getting the first choice of cabin location and dining time. You get the first choice of cabin selection to avoid the worst cabins on a cruise ship .

If you are worried about the cost of booking so far in advance, most cruise lines only require a small deposit to hold your cabin. So, if your plans change, you can cancel without a hassle.

The biggest risk with booking early is the possibility of itinerary changes. Cruise lines can alter the itinerary at any time. If your heart is set on a specific port of call, the cruise line may remove it from your itinerary.

Another Reason to Book Early: Price Protection

Price protection is another crucial reason to book your cruise early. When you book early, you get a lower price if your cruise fare drops.

Although early prices are almost always the lowest, cruise prices can move up and down over time. If you book a cruise and see the price drop later, you can call the cruise line and request a refund equal to the price difference.

Taking advantage of price protection has saved us thousands of dollars on cruise vacations and is one of the primary reasons I prefer to book early.

Many last-minute cruise fares have their prices locked.

If you book within six months of sailing, you might not qualify for price protection on your cruise fare.

Booking early is a win-win because you’ll either purchase your cruise fare at the lowest price or receive the discount later.

The only downside is that you’ll have to watch the cruise prices to take advantage of any price changes.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait for a Sale to Book a Cruise

If you’ve begun researching for your next cruise vacation, you may have noticed that every cruise line seems to be running one deal or another. 

Whether offering a price drop or an incentive to book and receive onboard credit, it seems cruise lines are always running a sale.

The truth is that cruise deals run so often that cruises seem to be on sale 365 days of the year. That means it won’t matter whether you purchase this sale or wait for the next one.

Your price tends to be the same regardless of the current sale.

The only exception is Black Friday cruise deals , which often bundle several perks with your cruise fare.

What About Wave Season?

In our experience, prices during wave season aren’t any better than the rest of the year.

Wave season in the cruise industry refers to a period typically spanning from January to March each year. This season is considered the busiest time for booking cruises, with a surge in consumer interest and booking activity.

The term “wave season” originates from the observation that after the holiday season, many people begin thinking about and planning their vacations for the year, leading to a “wave” of bookings. This period is particularly crucial for the cruise industry, as a significant portion of their annual sales can be generated during these months.

According to popular belive, travel agents and cruise lines offer deals to take advantage of the wave of bookings. But we’ve never seen this come true. Prices are the same during wave season as the rest of the year.

Last Minute Discounts on Cruises?

You can sometimes find deeply discounted last-minute cruise fares by booking your trip 45 to 90 days before sailing. Cruise lines will drop the price to fill the empty cabins when ships don’t fill up or face unexpected cancellations.

However, even the last-minute deals might not be as low as the early-booking price.

But, on rare occasions, you might mind last-minute cruise fares as low as $40 per night.

The downside of last-minute booking is that you may not have much choice regarding your cabin location or class.

Additionally, you’ll have to be flexible with ship selection and cruise itinerary. Ships often sell out months before the sailing date. If your heart is set on a specific itinerary, it could sell out while you wait for a last-minute deal.

You can find out if a cruise ship is full with a couple of clever tricks. If there’s a lot of availability, you might get incredible deals on last-minute cruises.

But be warned.

The money you save on the fare may be lost when you book a last-minute flight.

Quite a few last-minute cruisers make the mistake of booking their trip at rock bottom, only to find out later that the money they saved will be put towards the last-minute airfare.

We only recommend booking a last-minute cruise if you live in a port city. This way, you can safely book your last-minute cruise without worrying about the cost of airfare or hotel stay.

Other Ways to Book Your Cruise

Visit The Next Cruise Desk

One of the lesser-known options is to book your next cruise while on your current cruise. Almost every cruise ship has a “Future Cruise Desk,” allowing passengers to book their next cruise before they step off the boat.

The Future Cruise Desk typically offers valuable incentives, including special discounts, onboard credit, and low deposits.

Many people dislike being pressured to purchase another cruise vacation while onboard, but in my experience, I’ve never felt pressured when speaking to the Future Cruise Consultants.

The best part, even though you are booking directly through the cruise line, many will allow the booking to be made under the same profile as your current cruise. That means the travel agent or booking provider will remain the same. So, if you like your travel agent, they’ll get credit for the sale.

Use a Travel Agent

Booking your cruise vacation through a travel agent helps you save money.

A good travel agent can help you save money through deals and discounts that may not be apparent. Moreover, travel agents can access group pricing and special promotions unavailable to regular travelers.

Beyond saving money, a good travel agent can provide you with knowledge and experience to help you make the most of your vacation.

And, if an issue arises or a billing discrepancy occurs, having a travel agent is worth it every time. When there is an issue, travel agents have your back and are the ones that deal with the cruise line instead of you.

Most importantly, it shouldn’t cost you anything to use the services of a travel agent. Cruise lines pay travel agents a commission for booking guests on one of their cruises, so you have nothing to lose!

When to Book Shore Excursions

Like buying your cruise ticket, we recommend purchasing your shore excursions well before your cruise departs.

Shore excursions can fill up before you even step foot on the ship. It’s always best to research your ports of call in advance. Book it as early as possible if your heart is set on a particular shore excursion.

Many cruise lines will even provide price protection when you book early. So, if the price drops after you purchase your tour or excursion, you might be able to get the difference refunded.

In our experience, the price of shore excursions is highest once you are on the ship. So book early to get the best price.

Bottom Line

Book early if you want to lock in a great rate, secure price protection, or have your choice of ship or itinerary, especially when booking a popular cruise line that sells quickly.

Book a cruise late if you want the lowest possible price, and don’t mind being flexible about your cruise ship and itinerary. This strategy is best for cruisers living close to a homeport who don’t have to rely on last-minute airfare or hotel stays.

Watch for cruise line promotions, and book when you see an offer that satisfies your budget. It might not be the absolute best price, but a good deal for a great time is well worth the money!

Marcello De Lio

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The Best Ways to Book a Cruise

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Not all cruise sites are created equal. While you may find comparable prices on different sites, each site has its own benefits, offers and cancellation policies. 

Before you book, though, have a look at these credit cards that come with cruise benefits to sweeten the pot even more.

What is the best way to book a cruise?

The best place to book a cruise will vary depending on what you're looking for out of the experience. We've broken out cruise booking sites based on common booking goals.

From our findings, here are the top cruise booking sites for your next vacation, plus the pros and cons they offer travelers.

For sailings across the Caribbean, Mexico or Central America: CheapCaribbean

CheapCaribbean.com is the best cruise website for the Caribbean, Mexico or Central America. It offers a best-price guarantee plus limited-time offers and discounts.

If you find a better deal within 24 hours of booking, CheapCaribbean will price match and beat it by $25. The company's customer service is available seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Best-price guarantee.

Customer service is available seven days a week.

Charges a $24.99 processing fee on reservations.

Must provide an email address to receive the best deals and promos.

» Learn more: The best cruise lines

For consulting reviews from other cruisers: Cruise Critic

Cruise Critic is an independent website that encourages community members to post reviews and share tips.

Its message boards offer ways for website visitors to ask questions and share feedback with others based on their personal experiences and opinions. The site also acts as a metasearch for cruise deals, pulling in prices from multiple cruise websites.

Read cruise reviews from travelers who've been on that itinerary before.

"Deal Score" ranks deals to find the best value.

Price tracker shows 90-day trends for cruise prices.

Must click through the deal to book your cruise on other websites.

Prices are not guaranteed and can change before booking due to fees and restrictions on the sites where the cruises are being sold.

To review several cruise prices at once: CruiseDirect

CruiseDirect is the best cruise website when all you want are cruise prices. It doesn't offer hotels, flights, rental cars or other reservations you may want for your next vacation. CruiseDirect does, however, offer bonuses for travelers booking through its site.

Travelers can filter search results by destination, cruise line or departure port on various ships. This site offers cruises for every type of traveler, from budget to luxury, and every type of ship, from riverboats to mega-ships.

Bonus offers on every reservation provide extra value.

Best-price guarantee and free reservation holds.

Buy now, pay later financing options.

Promos offered by cruise lines aren't exclusive to CruiseDirect.

Customer service can be unfriendly.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

For budget-friendly options: Priceline

Priceline was originally known for its "Name Your Own Price" promotions, but has grown into a full-service online travel agency offering flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises, saving consumers more than $1 billion dollars per year.

Travelers who book a cruise with Priceline receive up to $2,000 to spend at sea, plus waived deposits on their reservations.

Up to $2,000 to spend on board.

Waived deposits of up to $500 when booking your cruise.

110% best-price guarantee within 48 hours of booking.

Ability to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more from the same site.

Must call Priceline to get exclusive offers and unpublished fares.

Restrictions make the best-price guarantee harder to benefit from.

» Learn more: Tips for getting the best cruise deals

For booking travel experiences beyond the cruise: TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is an online reviewer community where travelers share their experiences, pictures and ratings of hotels, suggested activities and more. This honest feedback and travel inspiration also make it one of the best websites to book a cruise.

Search over 70,000 cruise deals from more than 60 sites at once.

Dedicated ship pages share details, reviews, photos and itineraries.

Too many search results make it harder to narrow down your choices.

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

To match with a vacation planner: Avoya Travel

Avoya Travel is a family-owned website that matches travelers with a vacation planner based on their preferences. It's the best way to book a cruise using a travel planner because it offers a low-price guarantee without charging extra fees for the planner.

The downside is that online pricing is not "live." Therefore, you must speak with a travel planner to get the latest prices and book your cruise.

Match with cruise planners according to your needs.

Does not charge Avoya fees for booking, changes or cancellations.

Get a low-price guarantee and the expertise of a vacation planner without extra fees.

Must become a member to unlock the best deals.

Pricing on the website is not "live" pricing, so actual cost may vary.

Cannot book a cruise online. You must speak with an independent vacation planner.

» Learn more: The best cruise insurance right now

To book a vacation package with an airline or hotel

American airlines cruises.

American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn airline miles when booking cruises at BookAACruises.com . All members earn one mile for every dollar they spend on cruise reservations, up to 10,000 miles. Some cruise specials offer up to 100,000 miles based on your selected cruise.

If you have an American Airlines credit card, you'll earn 2x miles, up to 20,000 miles. These miles and Loyalty Points count toward airline elite status. Additionally, trips booked through this site are eligible for promotions offered by the cruise lines.

Earn miles and Loyalty Points toward travel and elite status.

Cardholders earn 2x miles, up to 20,000 miles on cruises.

Cruise experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cruise reservations are offered by a third party, so customer service issues can be a challenge.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Delta SkyMiles Cruises

Delta Air Lines is another airline that allows members to earn airline miles when booking cruises through its portal. Booking through SkyMilesCruises.com helps you earn Delta SkyMiles on your purchase.

Members get up to 10,000 miles on most cruises and up to 100,000 miles on luxury cruises. Plus, the site waives deposits on eligible cruise reservations.

Can earn up to 100,000 miles when booking a cruise.

Waives deposits when booking eligible cruises.

110% price guarantee within 48 hours of booking.

Most cruise awards are capped at 10,000 miles.

Miles earned are based on the length of the cruise, not the amount spent.

United Airlines Cruises

United Airlines MileagePlus members can earn up to 25,000 miles when booking a cruise through United at Cruises.United.com .

When you have a United Airlines credit card, you'll earn up to 45,000 miles. By offering up to 4x miles per dollar spent (or 7x as a cardholder), this site is the best way to book a cruise and earn airline miles on your purchase. If you have Premier status, you receive additional perks on select cruise lines, like wine and onboard credits.

Earn up to 7x miles on cruises.

United MileagePlus Premier members receive additional perks.

Can redeem miles to pay for some or all of your trip.

Not all cruises can be booked online.

Prices do not include a nonrefundable $24.99 processing fee.

Marriott Bonvoy Cruises

If you want to earn hotel points on your cruise, Marriott Cruise with Points is the best cruise website for you. You'll earn up to 6x points on your cruise purchase, or you can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points to pay for your trip.

Plus, Marriott cardholders can earn an extra 2x points when they use that card for their purchase. While most cruises max out at 25,000 Bonvoy points earned, some luxury cruise lines offer up to 250,000 Marriott points.

Earn up to 6x points on your cruise, up to 250,000 Marriott points.

Marriott cardholders receive an extra 2x points when paying with their cards.

Can use Bonvoy points to pay for your cruise.

Redemption value of Bonvoy points is only 0.4 cent.

Must call to book cruises using points.

Processing fee of $24.99 per reservation.

» Learn more: Airline credit cards vs. hotel credit cards

For cruise package deals: Costco Travel

Costco is a retailer that offers exclusive products and pricing to its members. Through its Costco Travel website , members receive exclusive prices and benefits when booking hotels, rental cars, cruises and travel packages.

Executive Members earn 2% back on Costco Travel purchases and receive additional benefits on select packages. Plus, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholders earn 3% cash back rewards on Costco Travel purchases.

Earn 2% rewards and extra perks with Executive Membership.

Some cruises offer Costco gift cards or onboard credit.

Must be a member to book reservations with Costco Travel.

Directly with the Cruise Line

In some cases, booking directly with the cruise line can be best because it eliminates a third party. If there's a problem with your reservation or you need to make a change, you don't have to worry about the booking site and the cruise line pointing fingers at each other.

This may be the best approach if you know which cruise line you want to book and which cities you want to visit. However, you may miss out on promotions offered by third-party sites.

Simple search functions.

No hassles with third parties for problems, changes or cancellations.

Less likely to get scammed by fraudulent sites.

Miss out on deals offered by third-party sites.

Harder to compare prices, benefits and routes from multiple cruise lines.

Comparing cruise prices across websites

Without being able to compare prices, it can be a challenge to determine the best site for booking a cruise. To make it easier to compare, we priced out a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two adults. 

We selected the lowest-priced balcony room on Royal Caribbean departing from Miami in August 2023. Here are the results:

Mitigate cancellation policy risks with travel insurance

If you're worried your trip plans being disrupted by bad weather or a change of plans, travel insurance might help. This optional standalone insurance can be purchased separately from your cruise bookings.

But you might not even need to pay out-of-pocket for trip insurance because many credit cards offer travel insurance as a built-in benefit to customers who pay for travel expenses on that card.

» Learn more: The best credit cards for cruises

Travel cards with cruise benefits

You can get even more perks by booking your cruise with the right card.

on Chase's website

on Bank of America's website

on American Express' website

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Get 25% more value out of your points when you book cruises through Chase.

Book with your card to get automatic travel protections for your cruise.

Redeem miles as a statement credit to cover spending on cruises.

Book with your card to get automatic travel insurance coverage for your cruise.

Earn 2x points on travel spending, including cruises and some ship excursions.

Book with your card to get trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and other travel assistance services.

Get American Express Cruise Privileges Program benefits when you book at least five nights with eligible cruise lines. Terms apply.

Cruise program benefits include $300 credit redeemable toward dining and spa services plus amenities like wine, chocolates and champagne. Terms apply.

Booking a cruise recapped

When looking for the best way to book a cruise, the price is virtually the same on every website. The difference lies in how each seller sweetens the deal.

Several cruise booking sites set themselves apart from the competition by offering additional benefits to encourage booking through them. Additionally, being able to book other parts of your trip — like flight and excursions — on the same site, or offering access to a travel agent, distinguishes some of the best cruise websites. 

When prices are the same, we recommend cruise bookers compare the perks being offered, then book on the site with the most appealing bonuses, like onboard credits, airline miles, hotel points or cash back.

If you're searching for cruises on a third-party website, you may question the legitimacy of that site. This is especially true if the site doesn't look professional or some of the information is outdated.

For this reason, you should stick with one of the best cruise booking sites on this list because they've been vetted for legitimacy and have a good track record with travelers.

Yes, last-minute deals can be the best way to book a cruise. If your travel plans are flexible, these deals can save you a lot of money. Keep in mind that you may not be able to book your preferred destination or routing if it is sold out.

Unfortunately, most cruise lines do not offer free cancellations or changes to take advantage of price drops after you book. Passengers can always negotiate with a booking site or cruise line, but they aren't obligated to refund the difference. Instead, they may offer you onboard credit, complimentary excursions or credit toward another cruise booking.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

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Cheapest Weeks of the Year to Take a Cruise | Best Times to Cruise

Looking for the cheapest time to cruise during the year?  If you’re like me you want to go on as many cruises as possible, as often as possible.   If you try to book a cruise during peak season, you might face some major sticker-shock.

Some of the cheapest times of year to cruise are late winter and early fall.  There are caveats that go with that, so let’s dive in and find what time of year will save you the most money on a cruise vacation.

Here are some tips for booking a cruise vacation for as little money as possible.  And it’s all done simply by choosing the right time of year.  Can’t beat that right?

Rule of Thumb for Cheapest Times to Cruise

While we believe that there are no bad times to take a cruise, certain weeks of the year are often cheaper than others.  A good rule of thumb is that prices are likely to be higher around any holidays or when kids are out of school.

So basically the most convenient times of year to cruise are also the most expensive.   Want to save money?  Go against the flow.  Book your vacation while everyone else is busy working or in school.  It’ll make your vacation photos that much sweeter when you come back to show all your friends how awesome your cruise getaway was as well.

What causes prices to change from week to week?  It is all based on supply and demand.  While some weeks (especially Christmas) are notorious for having high rates due to an increase in demand, the following weeks are generally the cheapest times to take a cruise.

It is worth noting that any week can have high prices if a specific sailing is selling well, even if it is during a week listed below.  But if you’re asking, “When is the cheapest time to cruise?” you’ve come to the right place.

Related:   What would it cost if you took a cruise every week for a year?

Cheapest Weeks of the Year to Cruise

• 2nd week of January through early February – Great rates can often be found right after the extremely popular Christmas through New Year’s Eve season.
• Last week of February – Prices are often higher for Valentines Day week, who doesn’t want a Love Boat cruise?  However, prices tend to drop after Valentines Day until Spring Break.
• Early May – After the popular Spring Break weeks, there tends to be a slight lull in early May before kids get out of school for summer.  Once Memorial Day comes around, prices will go up.
• September after Labor Day – With kids back in school and hurricane season in full swing, great rates can normally be found from the week after Labor Day through October.
• First two weeks of December – Sandwiched between the popular cruise weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the first two weeks of December will often have great rates.
• View Top 10 Cruise Deals

Our recommendation for finding the cheapest time to cruise?  Book early and take advantage of price drops, guaranteeing that not only will you get the best selection of staterooms, but also the best price.

Chart Showing Cheapest Cruise Weeks

Even though this chart is a few years old, not much has really changed in terms of when the cheapest time to cruise throughout the year will be.  This chart is from Cruise Market Watch and highlights the average cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise for an inside cabin throughout the year.

Use this chart more as a visual than a concrete unit of measurement for the specific costs of cruising during these times.  Again, this graph was made in 2012 but general rules of pricing during the weeks of the year are still valid today.

Notice the price spikes during December’s busy holiday season, followed by the sharp decrease in pricing early into January.  This chart is a great way to see the cheapest cruise months at a glance.

Leading into Spring there are some price increases for cruise vacations as people get ready for spring break.  These prices however are still lower than the dramatic increase during the peak cruise season of June and July.

My Favorite Time to Book Caribbean Cruises

I love booking cruises in September because it’s typically still warm and you can find rock bottom deals.  Even though there is the threat of cruising during hurricane season, if you are flexible you will be fine.  Your ship may have to change its itinerary because of an incoming storm, but pack your sense of adventure and you will still be glad you got such a great deal.

Cheapest Time to Cruise Hawaii

The same rule applies for cruises to and around Hawaii.  Book during the slowest time, which is typically from November to February, and you will save the most money.  This is also the rainy season for Hawaii so expect to see a few rain showers on your trip.  During holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas you will see a spike in prices, as some travelers want to book their vacations during time already off from work.

Some like to cruise Hawaii between December and April because this is when humpback whales can be seen in these waters.

Between mid-April and mid-June there is often a lull in travelers to Hawaii so cruise costs can take a small dip during these times as well.

Cheapest Time to Cruise Alaska

Remember that cruises to Alaska have a relatively short window of time.  The cheapest cruises to Alaska will often take place at the beginning of the cruise season (May) and at the end of the season (September).

These times also are more vulnerable to inclement weather and some tours or ports may be canceled.  So in order to save a few bucks, some flexibility is required.

Cheapest Cruise to Mexico

The most inexpensive times to cruise to Mexico will be very similar to Caribbean cruises.  The holidays of Christmas and Easter can be particularly busy for travelers in Mexico and costs will reflect this, with both higher cruise costs and flights.

The end of July through November can be some of the best times to book a cruise to Mexico in terms of pricing.  But also remember the end of summer will also be unbearably hot at times in this part of the world, and hurricane season will be in full swing.

If the cost of a cruise is more important than the ideal temperature and meteorological implications, go for it.

In our article on 7 Tips for Scoring the Best Deal on a Cruise we mention that cruising during the off season is one of the best ways to stay within your budget.  Using the information above you can find the cheapest time to cruise to The Bahamas or Caribbean in general.

What Cruise Lines Offer the Cheapest Rates?

Looking to cruise for as little money as possible?  Some of the most popular cruise lines that offer great deals on cruises are Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean is on the higher end of that spectrum but offering great value for the price.

MSC Cruises often offers mind-boggling deals as they are still trying to break into the U.S. market.

For the absolute lowest price on a short 2 day cruise, it’s hard to beat the price of Margaritaville at Sea, with rates as low as $89 a person.

What’s the best deal you ever scored on a cruise just by going in the off-season?  Let us know and we will do a happy dance together.  Does this post inspire you to get a sweet deal on a cruise?  If so, we have done our job!

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

Cruise Ship Showdown: South Carolina Town Votes Tonight on Carnival’s Future [Update]

10 things you’re not supposed to wear on a cruise, carnival cruise ship finds new home in new orleans, carnival announces major wi-fi update: starlink now on every ship, related articles, repositioning cruises unlocked: 10 pro tips i wish i knew sooner, 5 reasons i check cruise ship deck plans before picking a cabin, 5 things to know when cruising with a third person in a cabin.

I just did a 7 night Alaska cruise for for $100 + port fee,tax and gratuities for an ocean view room as a solo with No solo penalty! It was the first week of September. The weather was great.I glad I found it. My airfare was more than my cruise.

The cheapest cruise I got was a 7 night Bermuda cruise on the RC Explorer of the Seas. 429.00 pp. Second week of September 2014

You are right about cheaper prices in late August through November for Caribbean cruises sailing out of Galveston. Last year I decided on a late August cruise to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean. We got caught behind Hurricane Harvey, and my one week cruise turned into a two week cruise. It included a trip to Miami.

What the heck! I am retired, and I did not have to get home. But hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean during the fall. So make sure you plan accordingly. More than 60 percent of the passengers on our ship got off in Miami because they needed to get back to work or get home to get the kids off to school.

The ride back to Galveston was great. It felt like the ship was deserted. No lines. And Royal Caribbean came through like a champ. Basically, they cut the price of everything in half.

Afraid not Leonard. Airfare is an addition to cruising as many people (especially here in the States) have easy access to cruise ports. Most cruise lines can put a package deal together for you that include both but you may find the airfare less expensive if you buy it independently. And most important, Fly into the cruise port city the day BEFORE the cruise so you can avoid flight delays and not miss the ship. Bon Voyage…

When booking for a cruise, do the prices include airplane fare, departure from Montreal??

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Big Benefit of Booking a Cruise a Year in Advance (That Most Overlook)

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When is the Best Time to Book a Cruise Vacation?

By Carnival Cruise Line

When you think of going on a cruise vacation, do you imagine exploring new places, delicious food (both on board and off), and admiring the sunset from the ship’s deck? If so, you’re on the right track. Truly, these are all part of what makes cruising a phenomenal experience.

So, when’s the best time to book a cruise vacation ? These tips below will help you decide.

Who is Going on the Cruise?

Summer holidays offer excellent cruising opportunities for families. The kids are out of school, spirits are high, and the weather is just right. Plus, there are plenty of great destinations just waiting for you.

A summer cruise is a wonderful way to make family memories. Kids will also love and cherish making their own new friends. Here are just a few of the onboard clubs and activities designed for kids and teens:

Seuss at Sea® – Arts & crafts, a character parade, interactive stories, and movies are just some of the whimsical activities your kids can experience from the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss.

WaterWorks® – An outdoor water park complete with waterslides, racing slides, splash pads and lighting effects. Let your kids take full advantage of cruise life as they splash the day away.

The Warehouse Arcade – Great for kids and teens, the ship’s very own video arcade is packed with all sorts of games they know and love, including multi-player games like air hockey and driving games.

If you’re not cruising with children, you may want to set sail during the school year when fewer families are on board. For a girls’ weekend, couples cruise or any other adults-only vacation plans, fall could be the best time to enjoy life on the cruise ship .

Any time of year, whether the kids are along or not, you can escape to the onboard Serenity Adult-Only Retreat™ . This exclusive 21+ space is made for a break from the main deck’s nonstop action. Here, you can enjoy calm sea breezes while sipping cocktails. Aaah.

Where Are You Cruising To?

With so many exciting cruise destinations like the Caribbean, Hawaii, The Bahamas , Mexico, Alaska and more, picking your ideal location can help you plan when to book your cruise.

Perhaps you’ll love the outdoorsy, rugged, and extraordinary wonders of an Alaskan cruise . Discover beautiful glaciers and wilderness and come back with stories to tell!

In Hawaii, you can get up close to a volcano, experience some of the world’s most famous beaches, and learn to hula at a real luau.

Or, head for the Caribbean ! With a variety of destinations chosen from among the region’s more than 5,000 islands and cays, there is plenty of paradise to enjoy. A Caribbean cruise also offers a fascinating mix of cultures and flavors to explore.

Wherever you decide to go, Carnival has put together some incredible experiences and picked the best times of year for you to savor every minute of your cruise vacation.

Plan for the Weather

No matter where you’re going, it’s easy to plan for the best weather. Cruisers to Alaska will want to go in the summer when the sun is out and temperatures are pleasant. Conveniently, most cruises to Alaska depart in these ideal summer months, with a few in the shoulder months of late spring and early fall.

If you’re dreaming of sand and sun, cruises to popular destinations like the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico depart all year round. In these sunny destinations, temperatures will vary only slightly from season to season, with the summer months being the hottest. Even in the wetter months, you’ll see short-lived rainfall that clears quickly and cools things off.

For Hawaiian destinations , you’ll have temperature and rainfall variations depending on when you go and which islands you visit. While the weather is quite pleasant all year round, summer tends to be the hottest. This makes it a great time to visit some of those famous beaches. The months from April to October are drier, while the wettest time is between November and March. Do some research to narrow down your favorite islands!

Book Early and Save

Booking early not only means you’ll get a great price, but you’ll have more time to look forward to and plan for your cruise! Studies actually show that anticipation is one of life’s greatest joys and having something to look forward to contributes to overall happiness.

You have options for your cruise, but here’s a hot tip – fall has some of the best prices of the year . After the summer crowds have died down and the weather is nice and breezy, you can take advantage of some great deals to amazing destinations . Where will you go?

Save Even More with Carnival® Mastercard®

While booking early or traveling during the fall are fantastic ways to save on your cruise vacation, FunPoints® help your budget too! How do you earn them? With a Carnival Mastercard. The fun starts with your very first purchase, where you can earn bonus FunPoints, which can be redeemed for a statement credit.

That’s not the only way to earn though. You’ll receive FunPoints on any purchase with Carnival Cruise Line and the World’s Leading Cruise Lines brands, as well as a FunPoint on all other purchases. That’s great news for those of you who love to shop!

Shore excursions offer excitement and adventure for the whole family at any time of year on a cruise. You’ll save even more money, when you book your excursions with your Carnival Mastercard. Choose your favorite excursions and book them on carnival.com before your cruise to get a reFUNd.

Terms & Conditions

If it’s new adventures you’re after, there really is no bad time to take a cruise. But if you’re looking for a last-minute getaway, if you want to book early for the best deals and availability, or you’re just looking for a great price, why not book now for a fall cruise? We can’t wait to see you onboard!

Dr. Seuss Properties TM & © Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by  ship  and destination.

Related articles

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https://www.carnival.com/cruise-from.aspx

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The 17 Best Websites To Book Cruises at the Cheapest Prices [2024]

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Table of Contents

1. cruise line’s website, 2. cheapcaribbean.com, 3. cruise critic, 4. cruisedirect, 5. priceline, 6. tripadvisor, 7. cruisesonly, 10. cruises.com, 11. american airlines cruises, 12. delta skymiles cruises, 13. united cruises, 14. marriott bonvoy cruises, 15. costco travel, 16. cruise.com, 17. travelocity, price comparisons, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

So, you’ve decided you want to go on a cruise. Great news! But, do you know where to book it to get the best price?

There’s no shortage of websites out there that can help you book a cruise. There may even be more options to book cruises than hotels or flights. In addition to the traditional online travel agencies, there are a bunch of cruise-only sites that you can choose from, too.

So how do you know which site offers the best price? That’s where we come in. We combed through the most popular websites used to book cruises to look at their pros and cons and to do some head-to-head price comparisons.

If you’re only concerned about finding the cheapest price, scroll down to the price comparison section at the bottom of this post to see how all of these sites stack up against each other.

Your first instinct when booking a cruise may be to go directly to the cruise line’s website, especially if you have elite status with a specific cruise line. There are definitely some benefits to this — it’s simple and there are fewer hassles if you have to make any changes .

If you’re sure of the cruise line you want to take, it makes your search a little easier because you’re just looking at one specific line.

The big drawback when booking directly on a cruise line’s website is that you can miss out on extra deals that online travel agencies (OTAs) may offer.

Pros and Cons of Booking Directly with the Cruise Line

• Simpler search functions make it easier to locate specific cruises.
• There’s no middleman (another website) to deal with if there is a problem.
• You might miss out on extra deals offered by other sites.

Bottom Line: No matter where you choose to book your cruise, be sure to use the right credit card — refer to our list of best credit cards for cruises to get you started.

CheapCaribbean.com is an OTA that specializes in travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. It was founded in 2000 and prides itself on offering the best prices and great U.S.-based customer service . The site’s sales agents are available 7 days a week to help you plan your ultimate Caribbean vacation.

Despite the name, you can book cruises to destinations other than the Caribbean through CheapCaribbean.com, including Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska.

CheapCaribbean.com sometimes offers extra bonuses, like extra onboard spending credit. Plus it offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise for a cheaper price (available to the general public) on another website, CheapCaribbean.com will refund 110% of the price difference.

The not-so-great thing about CheapCaribbean.com is that it charges a $24.99 processing fee on each booking. It’s lumped into the taxes and fees, so you may not realize it unless you read the fine print.

Pros and Cons of CheapCaribbean.com

• Occasional special deals like extra onboard credit may be offered.
• 110% best price guarantee.
• There’s a $24.99 processing fee on each booking.
• You need to sign up for emails or call in to book a cruise if you want to access exclusive deals.

Hot Tip: Want to save more? CheapCaribbean.com offers exclusive deals to email subscribers and offers unpublished fares and exclusive offers if you call in to book your cruise. 

Cruise Critic is a cruise-focused website that features reviews, tips, and advice for a huge community of cruisers. The Cruise Critic forums provide a place to ask questions, give advice, and get help booking your next cruise.

The site also acts as a metasearch engine for cruises, allowing you to compare prices from lots of other websites . You can search for your perfect cruise and when it’s time to book, Cruise Critic will transfer you to another site to complete your booking.

Pros and Cons of Cruise Critic

• The site offers lots of cruise reviews, plus cruise tips and a travel forum to help you plan your trip.
• You can sign up for email alerts so you’re notified when the price of a cruise drops.
• The prices you see are not guaranteed and may be subject to other fees or restrictions depending on what website they are from.

CruiseDirect is a website that specializes only in cruises. The site allows you to quickly search cruises by destination, cruise line, departure port, or last-minute deals . You’ll find lots of different types of cruises, from budget to luxury and from mega-ships to riverboats.

With each cruise listing, you’ll see bonus details next to each sailing date — just click on each icon for details. Some of these are already reflected in the price and some are extras like onboard ship credit or discounts on shore excursions.

Pros and Cons of CruiseDirect

• Bonuses are offered with each cruise ranging from discounts, shipboard credit, or discounts on shore excursions.
• The bonuses offered are often from the cruise line and not exclusive to CruiseDirect, so you can get them regardless of where you book.
• The site is a bit cluttered and can be hard to navigate.

Kayak is a popular online travel agency but the site doesn’t support cruise searches anymore.

Priceline gained fame from its “Name Your Own Price” feature but has since transformed into a more traditional OTA. In addition to hotels, flights, and rental cars, you can use this site to book cruises, too.

Priceline often offers deals above and beyond what’s being offered through the cruise line. At the time of writing, a few different deals offered perks like $1,000 in onboard credit or 30% off every guest .

Plus, Priceline offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find a lower, publicly available price for the exact same cruise within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Extra deals like onboard credit or room upgrades are sometimes offered.
• The site offers a 110% best-price guarantee.
• Some offers, including the one for up to $1,000 in shipboard credit can be confusing. Once you read the fine print, you’ll realize you need to spend $20,000 to get the full $1,000 credit.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide on booking travel with Priceline .

While you might think of Tripadvisor as just a place to get reviews and photos of hotels, restaurants, and activities, it’s actually much more than that. In addition to reviews and traveler forums, Tripadvisor acts as a metasearch engine , comparing prices on lots of other websites.

When you’re searching for a cruise, just click on the drop-down arrow that tells you how many deals there are — then you’ll be able to see that cruise’s price on many sites.

Pros and Cons of Tripadvisor

• It offers lots of great ship reviews and travel forums.
• It’s a great site to quickly compare prices on many sites at once.
• You may not be able to see all the deals being offered on each site.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to booking travel on Tripadvisor .

CruisesOnly claims to be “the best” because each of its call center agents has an average of 5+ years of experience plus professional training.

While that might be helpful if you’re new to cruising or need some advice about which cruise line, ship, or destination you should choose, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best price (scroll down to the Price Comparison section to see how CruisesOnly stacks up against other websites).

CruisesOnly also has its own loyalty program. The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club is free, and you’re signed up automatically if you have booked with CruisesOnly at least once before. Benefits include things like shore excursion credits and onboard spending credits.

The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club only applies to cruises on these cruise lines:

• Holland America
• Royal Caribbean

CruisesOnly’s best price guarantee is similar to other sites — a refund of 110% of the price difference if you find a lower price on an identical cruise within 48 hours of booking.

Pros and Cons of CruisesOnly

• The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club is free and offers plenty of benefits.
• The site offers a 110% best price guarantee.
• The site, like many other OTAs, can be very busy, making it hard to narrow down the cruise you really want to take.
• The loyalty program only applies to 6 cruise lines.

When booking a cruise through an OTA, be sure to use a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases, such as the  Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  which earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on cruises purchased from any website or travel agency.

Expedia might be one of the first websites you visit to search for flights or hotels (and it’s probably a site you have used for a long time), but did you know that you can book a cruise through Expedia as well?

The site is straightforward, easy to use, and offers cruises from all the major cruise lines . While Expedia doesn’t charge any booking fees, it also doesn’t offer any price guarantees. However, you can sometimes find additional bonuses for booking your cruise through Expedia.

It also does a nice job of showing exactly what’s included and what might cost extra.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• The site sometimes offers extra bonuses like onboard credit.
• It’s easy to use and is very clear about what’s included in the price.
• No price guarantee is offered

Hot Tip: For more information check out our complete guide to using Expedia .

Orbitz is a typical OTA that offers flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises. There are no booking fees on cruises and a price guarantee is offered . However, the price guarantee isn’t as strong as some of the other sites — you’ll need to find a lower price within 24 hours to receive the difference in price as a refund.

Like Expedia, Orbitz does a good job at displaying prices clearly so there’s no confusion.

One of the nice things about Orbitz is that it offers a rewards program, but, unfortunately, cruises are not eligible for Orbitz Rewards.

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• It offers a best price guarantee.
• There are no booking, change, or cancellation fees.
• Cruises aren’t eligible for Orbitz Rewards

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our complete guide to using Orbitz to book travel .

Cruises.com is another site that claims to be the best place to book your cruise. It can offer some impressive deals, but once you read the fine print, well, you realize there’s a lot of fine print.

For example, a deal was offered for up to $2,000 cashback, $1,500 to spend onboard, or a Visa gift card. However, after reading the fine print you’ll notice that in order to get the full bonus you’d have to spend $20,000+ on a cruise. To top it off, the bonus is only available for select cruise lines.

So while the deals offered could be lucrative, they aren’t necessarily a slam dunk.

Cruises.com also has its own loyalty program. It’s free and you’re signed up automatically if you have booked with Cruises.com at least once before. Benefits include things like shore excursion credits, onboard spending credits, or deposit waivers. Benefits are identical to those offered through the CruisesOnly loyalty program.

Pros and Cons of Cruises.com

• A loyalty program is offered for past guests.
• There are sometimes extra bonuses beyond what’s offered by the cruise line.
• There is a lot of fine print with its offers.

Hot Tip: Cruises.com and CruisesOnly are both owned by World Travel Holdings, along with other websites, including Cruise411.com. These sites offer the same loyalty program and similar perks, however, their prices can be different.

Did you know that you can book a cruise through American Airlines ? The best part is that when you do, you’ll earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles for your purchase (in addition to any points or miles you will earn from your credit card).

• Earn 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on cruises booked through American Airlines (up to 10,000 miles)
• American Airlines credit cardholders will earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on cruises booked through American Airlines (up to 20,000 miles)
• Occasionally, additional bonus points will be offered for select cruises

Hot Tip: Base miles earned by booking a cruise through American Airlines will also count as Loyalty Points that help you earn American Airlines elite status .

American Airlines Cruises also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

The bad news is that you’re charged a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

Pros and Cons of American Airlines Cruises

• AAdvantage members have the ability to earn lots of American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points.
• There is a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

Bottom Line: While you can book a cruise through American Airlines, you can’t use AAdvantage miles to pay for it.

In addition to flights, you can book cruises through Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles Cruises and earn Delta SkyMiles at the same time.

Currently, you’ll earn 2 SkyMiles per $1 spent on a cruise , excluding the taxes, fees, and port charges.

SkyMiles Cruises also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Pros and Cons of Delta SkyMiles Cruises

• Earn extra Delta SkyMiles.

Bottom Line: While you can book a cruise through SkyMiles Cruises, you can’t pay for your cruise with Delta SkyMiles.

When you book a cruise with United Cruises you can choose to either earn United MileagePlus miles for your purchase or you can use MileagePlus miles to pay for your cruise !

United Cruises offers different ways to earn miles on your next cruise:

• Earn 2 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on an interior or oceanview stateroom
• Earn 4 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on a balcony stateroom or suite
• Any United MileagePlus credit cardholder will earn 4 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on an interior or oceanview stateroom
• Any United MileagePlus credit cardholder will earn 7 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on a balcony or suite stateroom

Additionally, there are sometimes opportunities to earn even more miles.

United Cruises offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Unfortunately, United Cruises charges a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

Bonuses for United Premier Members

If you have any Premier status with United Airlines you’ll also receive onboard extras with select cruise lines:

• A bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries in your stateroom
• $100 spa credit
• $200 onboard credit
• $250 onboard credit

Use United MileagePlus Miles To Pay for Your Cruise

Paying for your cruise with miles is a great option to have. Unfortunately, you’ll lose out on some value if you do so .

When you book a cruise using United Miles, you’ll get about 0.7 to 0.8 cents per mile in value. United miles are generally worth around 1.3 cents per mile (or more if you’re booking business or first class flights), so you’re getting less value than you could get if you used your miles for a flight.

However, if you have a bundle of United miles and prefer cruising to flying, it might be a good redemption for you.

Pros and Cons of United Cruises

• MileagePlus members have the ability to earn lots of extra miles.
• United Premier members receive extra perks with Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines.

Bottom Line: When you choose to book your cruise through United Cruises, you can either earn United MileagePlus miles on your purchase, or you can pay for your cruise using your United MileagePlus miles.

Marriott Bonvoy Cruises allows you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your cruise or you can choose to pay for your cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points !

When you book a cruise through Marriott , you’ll earn up to 3 points per $1 spent . Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cardholders will earn an extra 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on a cruise booked through Marriott Bonvoy Cruises.

Marriott Bonvoy also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Hot Tip: If you book a cruise through Marriott Bonvoy, know that you’ll be charged a non-refundable processing fee of $24.99. That’s a pretty hefty fee considering many other sites don’t charge any fees.

Use Marriott Bonvoy Points To Pay for Your Cruise

It’s a great option to be able to pay for your cruise with points , and Marriott Bonvoy makes that possible. However, it’s not the best way to use your Marriott Bonvoy points.

When booking a cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll only get 0.4 cents per point in value. Since Marriott Bonvoy points are generally worth about 0.7 cents each, you’ll be missing out on some value, so you might want to look into other ways to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy for hotels or flights .

Pros and Cons of Marriott Bonvoy Cruises

• Members can earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points.
• You can pay for your cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points.
• The site offers a 110% best price guarantee
• You’ll be charged a non-refundable processing fee of $24.99 per reservation.
• Marriott cruises can only be booked with Marriott Bonvoy points over the phone.

Bottom Line: When you book a cruise through Marriott Bonvoy, you can pay for your cruise with points or you can choose to pay cash (I mean, credit card!) and earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your purchase.

Costco Travel is an in-house travel agency that’s only available to Costco members . Costco offers 2 levels of membership: Gold Star for $60 per year and Executive for $120 per year. Executive membership comes with a valuable extra perk for travelers — 2% back on your purchases through Costco Travel (up to $1,000)!

Another great thing about Costco Travel is that you’ll sometimes find deals that offer extra shipboard credit or a Costco shop card as a bonus.

Costco Travel is easy to use and offers all of the search and filter functions found on any other website.

Pros and Cons of Costco Travel

• Executive members receive 2% back on purchases through Costco Travel.
• Costco shop cards or onboard credit are sometimes offered as a bonus.
• Costco Travel is for members only.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed post on using Costco Travel .

Cruise.com  is a cluttered website and can be overwhelming when you’re searching for a cruise (especially if you’re a first-time cruiser and not quite sure how everything works). It offers lots of deals and discounts, but many of those are actually offered through the cruise line, so it can be hard to tell which bonuses are actually coming from Cruise.com.

Pros and Cons of Cruise.com

• Lots of deals for a variety of cruise lines are offered.
• The website is very busy and cluttered.
• No price guarantee is offered.
• You may be contacted by cruise.com after searching for a cruise on the site.

Hot Tip: Don’t be confused — Cruise.com and Cruises.com are 2 separate websites!

Travelocity is a website that many travelers use to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises. The simple interface and the fact that there are no booking fees will make this a good choice for many travelers.

While Travelocity doesn’t advertise as many deals and savings as other sites, the price still manages to come out about the same as other websites.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• There are no booking fees.
• It’s simple to use.
• No rewards program or extra bonus points.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our complete guide to booking travel with Travelocity .

Let’s get to the important part — price comparisons! We priced out a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Prices are for 2 adults in an Infinite Central Park View Balcony room.

As you can see, most websites offer the same price . The difference comes in the extras like onboard credit, free specialty dinners, free gratuities, or bonus miles.

The exception in this example was Cruise.com, which offered a savings of $50 on the price of the cruise. However, some of the extras offered by other sites could be worth more than that, so it’s always a good idea to price your cruise on multiple websites before booking.

Bottom Line: The base cost of a cruise is generally the same across most websites. The big difference comes in the extras — onboard credit, specialty dinners, cash-back, or bonus miles. 

No matter where you book your cruise, you’ll be paying the same base price 9 times out of 10. Even though a website might be offering “the best prices” or a “50% discount,” when you actually look at the numbers they’ll usually be the same as every other website.

To get a great deal, you’ll need to look for bonuses that a particular website is offering, such as onboard credit, free specialty dinners, cash-back, or bonus airline miles.

The higher the room category you’re booking, the more bonuses you’ll be able to get. Keep in mind that lots of the bonuses you may see advertised won’t kick in unless you book a balcony stateroom or a suite. Cashback and onboard spending bonuses are generally tied to your stateroom level as well which means you’re not going to get anywhere near the amount advertised if you’re booking an interior or ocean-view cabin.

No matter where you book your cruise, be sure to check out our post with cruise tips and a downloadable packing guide !

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get the best deals on cruises.

To get the best deals on a cruise, it’s important to know which website is offering the most bonuses. The base price of your cruise will be the same from website to website 9 times out of 10, so you’ll need to find the website that’s offering the best bonuses like onboard credit or free specialty dinners.

Is it better to book directly with the cruise line?

Surprisingly, you’ll usually get a better deal when you book your cruise through an OTA (think Cruise.com, Expedia, or United Cruises). When you book through these types of sites you’ll get any deals that are being offered directly by the cruise line plus any extras offered by the OTA.

Is it better to book cruises last minute?

While you can find some great deals on last-minute cruises, it’s not a guarantee. If you have any preference about your cabin type or location, you’ll want to book as early as possible to make sure you get exactly what you want. If you’re traveling with a group and want to book cabins that are next door to each other, you’ll also want to book ahead of time. However, if you’re super flexible and don’t care what type of cabin you’re in, where it’s located, or even what cruise you’re on, you can often find some good deals at the last minute.

What is the best website for booking cruises?

Unfortunately, there’s no one site that always offers the best cruise deals. Most of the OTAs like CheapCaribbean.com, Cruises.com, or Priceline offer the same prices. The difference usually comes when you factor in extras like onboard credit or free gratuities.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Cheapest Month to Book a Disney Cruise

When you book a Disney cruise during a cheaper time of the year, you can experience a magical vacation for an affordable price. How else can you lower the cost? Here’s a look at the cheapest month to book a Disney cruise so you won’t break the bank!

Which Month is Cheapest for A Disney Cruise?

Cruises are less expensive several times of the year, but one month stands out as the cheapest.

Overall, September is the cheapest month to book a Disney cruise. This is due to two factors: the schools are back in session after the summer recess, and hurricane season is underway. Because of these factors, the Bahamas and Caribbean are less popular during September, which results in lower fares.

When it comes to European sailings, the shoulder season has the lowest fares. The Mediterranean’s least expensive months are March, April, and November. May and October are the most affordable for Northern European cruises.

Some places are not at risk from hurricanes (such as Europe and Alaska ), but if you intend to sail to the Bahamas or the Caribbean , you should be aware of the hurricane threat. While this is a risk, it could be worth it because the rates are less expensive, and the weather is pleasant despite the possibility of storms.  Travel insurance may be wise if you plan to take a Disney Cruise during hurricane season .

In addition, September isn’t a popular month to go on vacation because children are back in school after Labor Day, and parents are usually back at work.

Other Months When Disney Cruises are Cheaper

January and early february.

January (except around New Year’s) and early February are cheaper than average. The weather is still pleasant in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, so you can take advantage of lower prices and escape the cold winters back home.

May is another cheaper month to travel. The weather is starting to heat up in many destinations, but you can find good deals on airfare and accommodations. Students are still in classes during May, so families usually don’t take summer vacations until June, July, and August. For these reasons, May is another great month to take a Disney cruise.

September is usually the cheapest month to take a Disney Cruise, but October can also be affordable.

Since the weather is cooler, you will not have to worry about the heat. Since it’s not peak season, you will find cheaper airfares. You can also take part in Halloween-themed cruises during October.

Early November and Early December

Early November and early December are also typically cheaper months to book a Disney cruise.

This is the shoulder season in many places, so you can find great deals if you’re flexible with your travel dates. Just steer clear of Thanksgiving week/weekends and the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s because they are very popular (and expensive) weeks to book a Disney cruise.

May and September Alaska cruises have lower prices | Image © Disney

What Months are Expensive for Disney Cruises?

Disney cruises are most expensive during holiday weeks and summer . The higher prices are due to higher demand, as kids are on school break and families have more time to go on vacation. In other words, the best time for prices isn’t necessarily the best time for your schedule.

The most expensive time to take a Disney Cruise is during the summer months. The reason for higher prices is a higher demand: when kids are on school break, families have more time to spend on vacation — and Disney tops the list of best cruise lines for kids .  If you’re looking for the cheapest month to take a Disney Cruise, avoid June, July, and August .

The holiday season and increased demand make mid-December through New Year’s week an expensive time to travel. Thanksgiving week also tends to be a costly week for cruises since very few schools are in session.

Other times to avoid February vacation, Spring Break, and April vacation .  Disney cruises with special themes may also be more expensive. Examples include Pixar Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime Cruises.

If possible, it’s best to avoid these dates altogether and wait until an off-peak time. You’ll experience lighter crowds and cheaper fares on Disney cruise ships .

Tips for Finding the Cheapest Time to Book a Disney Cruise

Off-peak / off-season times to go on a disney cruise.

If you want to save money on your Disney Cruise, try to travel during the off-peak season. Off-peak cruises occur during the weeks and months when families are less likely to travel. Most of the time, off-peak coincides with the school year, especially during the summers and holidays or long weekends.

As outlined in the previous section, notable off-peak times include January through early February, May, September, October, and Early November and Early December. You’ll be able to find lower Disney cruises fares and lower airfare when fewer people are traveling.

Weekdays vs. Weekends

When booking your Disney Cruise, consider whether it’s cheaper to travel during the week or on the weekends (if the itinerary you’ve chosen sails on different days of the week throughout the year).

It’s often cheaper to travel during the week because fewer people are vacationing at this time. However, some weekends may have special deals, so check both options before booking. The more you’re flexible with your travel dates, the more chances you’ll have for finding the cheapest dates to book a Disney cruise.

How to Make your Disney Cruise Cheaper

You should consider these factors when trying to find the best Disney cruise fares.

Book Early for Cheaper Cruise Fares

You should plan and book a Disney cruise as early as possible for several reasons.

First, you’ll get the best price when you book early. Unless you luck out on a last-minute deal, Disney cruise prices are cheapest the day they go on sale and increase in costs as the ship fills up.

Secondly, you’ll have the best selection of cabin types. If you wait too long, you may only have a few options, and they may not be the ideal stateroom for you and your family.  Higher-priced stateroom categories may be the only choices remaining because staterooms with the lowest prices sold out earlier.

Finally, booking your cruise a year in advance gives you more time to plan your trip and ensure everything is in order before leaving. By doing this, you can avoid any last-minute surprises or changes. It also gives you more time to pay down your trip if you have set up a payment plan with your travel agency.

So don’t wait – book your Disney cruise today!

Book with a Disney Travel Agent

There are a few different ways that a Disney travel agent can find you the cheapest Disney cruise ship departure. They will search through all the available sailings to find one that meets your needs and budget.

They can create a custom package for you that includes all your activities and help create a payment plan so you don’t have to pay it all at once.

Travel agents also have access to special rates and discounts that you may not be able to find on your own. So, if you’re looking for the cheapest Disney cruise ship departure, be sure to talk to a travel agent. They’ll be able to help you find the best deal for your family.

If you need help navigating your Disney Cruise Line vacation plans, we highly recommend contacting The Vacationeer .

Their team of experienced Disney travel agents will help you find the lowest price and the best itineraries , and there’s never an additional charge for their services!

Click HERE for a free, no-obligation price quote .

Look for Onboard Credit

Onboard credit is a type of credit (or free money) used towards expenses on a Disney cruise ship. Guests can use it to pay for excursions, alcohol, souvenirs, or tip crew members .

Disney travel agents typically give onboard credit to guests who book their cruise through them (as a booking incentive). The onboard credit amount varies depending on the book method and the cruise cost. For example, guests who book an $8,000 cruise through a travel agent may receive $400 in onboard credit (or $200 if it’s an onboard bookings/transfers). It’s a great perk!

We again recommend The Vacationeer because they offer some of the highest onboard credit rates in the industry.

Onboard credits go towards your on-ship purchases through your onboard account. Not familiar with the onboard account?  Here’s an overview:

Check for Special Offers, Deals, and Promotions 

If you plan a Disney Cruise trip, you must be aware of Disney’s special promotions. These deals can make your Disney cruise less expensive no matter which month you book.

It is common for Disney Cruise Line to run limited-time promotions for specific sailing dates, departure ports, cabin types, or even residents of particular states or countries. While there may not be a lot of Disney cruise deals to choose from, you may be able to find one that meets your needs and budget.

Disney Cruise Line frequently offers special discounts on cruises for Florida residents, US military members, Castaway Club members , and Disney Vacation Club members.

It is essential to read the fine print on the promotions page, as some deals may be for guaranteed fares with many restrictions. You can also ask your travel agent to check for any discounts you may qualify for. In some cases, they can ask Disney Cruise Customer Service to add a newly-announced discount to your existing booking.

The best way to save money on Disney cruises while still receiving the magical cruise of your dreams is by taking advantage of Disney’s special promotions and sailing during the months when Disney cruises are cheaper.

Last Minute Restricted Guarantee Staterooms May Be Available

If you’re flexible with your travel dates and stateroom type, you can save money on your Disney cruise by booking a Restricted Guarantee stateroom.

With this type of stateroom, you won’t know your exact room assignment until about two weeks before your cruise, but you’re guaranteed to get at least the stateroom type you booked. So if you’re willing to take a chance on your stateroom assignment, you could save money on your Disney cruise.

While we like the idea of the Restricted Guarantee stateroom in principle, we still recommend booking well in advance to get the best fare and room of your choice.

Shorter Cruises Are More Affordable

If you want to take a Disney cruise but are worried about the cost, booking a shorter one might be the best option. Shorter cruises are less expensive per night, so you can save money while still getting the whole Disney cruise experience.

Disney offers three- and four-night cruises to Baja, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. If you have never been on a Disney cruise before or are worried about seasickness, these shorter cruises are the perfect way to try them out. They’re also less expensive per night than a week-long cruise, so you’ll get all the benefits of a Disney cruise without breaking the bank.

Inside Cabins Are Cheaper

Consider booking an inside cabin if you want the lowest fare on your next Disney cruise. Inside cabins are without a porthole window or a veranda/balcony, making them the most affordable option on any cruise line. On Disney ships, inside cabins have a few added features that make them feel less dark and enclosed.

For example, Disney Wish has a giant piece of artwork on the wall of its inside staterooms. Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have inside staterooms with a porthole-shaped mirror on the wall. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy take it one step further with magical portholes – round video screens that show a real-time view of the outside, along with a bit of additional character from time to time.

So if you’re looking to save money on your next cruise, consider booking an inside cabin on a Disney ship. You may be surprised at how comfortable and spacious they are.

What is the cheapest time of year to take a Disney cruise?

Let’s sum up this article, shall we?

• September is the cheapest month to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation, but some off-peak weeks and months are also more affordable. If you want the lowest fares, avoid holidays, school vacation weeks, and the summer.
• There are often discounts for Florida residents, military members, Castaway Club members, and Disney Vacation Club members, as well as other limited-time promotions. Check to see which one you may be eligible for before booking your Disney cruise.
• We recommend working with a knowledgeable Disney travel agent. They will help you plan and book your trip, apply applicable discounts to your package, and set up a payment plan if you wish. They can also give you valuable onboard credits to apply to your stateroom account.
• If you want to save more money, consider shorter cruises, inside cabins, or booking a Restricted Guarantee Stateroom. However, your best bet for the lowest fares and best selection of staterooms is to book as early as possible.

When you combine these ways to save on a Disney cruise with an off-peak time to sail, you have the best chance of getting the lowest possible fares.

We hope our Cheapest Month to Book a Disney Cruise article has been helpful. Enjoy your magical cruise!

Book your Disney Cruise Now, and Save!

Working with an experienced travel agent is the best way to ensure smooth sailing, and The Vacationeer is ready to help you find the cheapest month to go on a Disney cruise in 2024 or 2025.

Their team of Disney travel agents can arrange every part of your cruise and provide a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases and activities while you’re on the ship.

There’s never any obligation to book, and there’s no additional charge to use their planning services! Click HERE to get a free quote today.

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About the author: joshua powell.

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We went last September. The weather was fantastic, and luckily, we avoided hurricanes! We found that the Disney Cruise Line was more affordable during that time of year.

That’s great to hear, Virginia! My wife and I love that time of year. Thanks for your feedback!

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The Best Ways to Book Cheap Cruises

Posted: February 19, 2024 | Last updated: February 19, 2024

Sail Away for Less

Dropping a couple thousand dollars on a cruise will never be frugal. From camping to road tripping, there are just cheaper ways to vacation. But if the high seas are calling, there are a few things you can do to keep your expenses low, according to frugal Redditors . Here are 10 ways to book the cheapest cruise possible.

Pay in Advance

Gratuities and fees abound on cruises — and not all of them are optional. One Redditor suggests pre-paying these extra charges to make budgeting for your trip easier. Don’t worry about not tipping enough. If the service is exceptional, you can still tip extra later on.

Account for Transportation Costs

Transportation to and from the port will be costly, especially if you’re traveling abroad. While it may be more boring than a cruise along the French riviera, it’s cheaper to choose an itinerary that begins and ends close to where you live.

Related:   Best Cruises for Senior Couples Under $100 a Night

Beware of Room Upgrades

Even after you’ve purchased your ticket, cruise lines will do everything they can to upcharge you. The biggest shakedown? Room upgrades. Make sure to do your research and commit to a room before getting on board. While cheap, most undesirable rooms may not be worth the savings if you cave for an upgrade once you’re on board.

Arrange Third-Party Shore Excursions

Shore excursions are also a minefield of potential upcharges. You can avoid them altogether, or organize your own excursions with more affordable third-party companies.

For more cheap travel advice, please sign up for our free newsletters .

Avoid Specialty Dining Options

Remember: Food (often a buffet) is included with your ticket. If you want to save money, don’t be enticed by expensive upgrades, especially since dinner is often quite good in the main dining room, one Redditor writes.

Book a Longer Cruise

If this is your first time cruising, then you might be tempted to test the waters with a weekend trip. But one commenter says this is a mistake. Not only are weekend trips exhausting, they’re also more expensive per day than trips that are five nights or longer.

Sign Up for a Travel Credit Card

You can offset some of your expenses with a credit card specifically geared toward travel savings. Forbes Advisor even has a list of the best credit cards for cruises .

Book With Vacations To Go

Don't let the outdated website dissuade you. Multiple Redditors recommend booking with Vacations To Go , which specializes in cheap, last-minute cruise deals. CruiseCompete , another discounter, also comes up often in Reddit threads.

Don’t Cruise With Carnival

Despite Carnival's reputation as a low-cost cruise line, Redditors say that it’s worth paying a bit extra for Norwegian, which has a better “cost-to-enjoyment” ratio. “Carnival might offer some of the best prices, but they might not offer the kind of experience or atmosphere that you're looking for,” one comment reads.

Sneak in Drinks

While we don’t condone any serious rule breaking, some Redditors suggested sneaking alcohol aboard to avoid the astronomical drink prices. The practice is so common that vendors on Amazon sell entire kits dedicated to rum running . Just keep in mind that some cruise lines will go as far as kicking you off the ship if they discover your contraband.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

The one thing cruise ship passengers do that drives crew mad

Share this with

Cruise ships have their own set of rules , and a holiday at sea isn’t like your average getaway.

Lucy Southerton, 28, from  Birmingham , has been working on cruise liners for the past nine years, meaning she knows all the tips and tricks to get the most from your time aboard .

On her YouTube channel, Cruising as Crew , she shares her knowledge to ensure first-time passengers avoid common pitfalls – and the mistake cruise newbies make most can end up ruining your break.

According to Lucy, ‘treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday’ is the main faux pas she notices at work.

She said: ‘If some people have solely done all-inclusive holidays, they make the mistake of thinking a cruise vacation is very similar to that.

‘So a lot of people do not budget for extra expenses while they are on board because they have the misconception that most things will be free.’

The crew member says that although things like buffet meals will be included in the price of your trip, dining at certain restaurants on board or going on excursions often costs extra.

Forgetting to factor this into a budget can ‘really ruin people’s vacation’, Lucy says, as they have to miss out on things they perhaps looked forward to.

Gratuities are a big deal on a cruise too, so it’s recommended to set aside some cash to tip staff at the end of your holiday.

She said: ‘With a lot of cruises, you get hit with the gratuity bill at the end, which I have also seen a lot of people not budget for.’

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Alongside this, Lucy claims first-time ‘cruisers’ can struggle with the tight timings ships have to adhere to and miss their departure after a stop.

She said: ‘They get off at the port, go off and explore by themselves, which is part of the fun – but what they don’t allow for is time to get back. It obviously makes things very difficult for the cruise line and it is just an all-around mess.

‘So, when you’re on a cruise, it is very different from a hotel that is going to stay stationary. You absolutely have to make it a priority to get back to the ship on time and ask crew members what the traffic is like at each port if you’re getting a taxi to a certain destination.’

Her next warning is around travel insurance, which is particularly vital to get at the time of booking because cruises can get cancelled or flights to your starting destination can be delayed.

Lucy said: ‘Unlike a land holiday, where if your flight is eight hours late and the hotel stays where it is, the cruise ship moves so if your flight is eight hours delayed that’s going to mean you’ll miss it.

‘You absolutely have to get travel insurance as soon as you book the cruise.’

Overbooking excursions is another no-no, so try to balance ‘some exciting days but some relaxing days’ when planning out your itinerary to avoid ending up exhausted.

Lucy also advises pre-booking activities or excursions rather than leaving it to the last minute, ensuring you pack essentials (including medication), researching ports ahead of time, and listening carefully to safety briefings so you’re prepared for emergencies.

And, last but not least, she urges first-timers to always consider where their cabin is – particularly if they might be prone to seasickness.

She says: ‘You want to be in the centre of the ship. You don’t want to be in the back, you definitely don’t want to be in the front, because that’s where you’re going to feel the movement the most.

‘So when you book a cabin, make sure it is in the centre of the ship, and make sure the cabin you book is surrounded by other cabins.’

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Lucy adds: ‘The cheaper cabins will have a restaurant or a gym above them and it’s going to be noisy, so cabin location is really important.’

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