How to save on a cruise: 33 money-saving tips from an expert cruiser

Table Of Content

• What is the cheapest time to take a cruise? What travelers should know.
• Booking a cruise has never been easier with flexible payment methods and payment options.
• The cheapest times of year to cruise
• The Cheapest Royal Caribbean Cruise of 2021
• What Kind of Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals Can You Expect to Find?

Therefore, cruise lines often offer their best fares when bookings open to incentivize travelers to book early. 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. 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 are willing to sail on smaller ships, you can typically find great prices! Smaller ships don’t have all the bells and whistles, but they certainly can still provide a great cruise experience.

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

It's understandable why you might think there's a special or better time to book a cruise, because in other forms of travel there are inside scoops on when is the best time to book. 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. MSC Cruises often offers mind-boggling deals as they are still trying to break into the U.S. market. A major pro to prepaying them is being able to board your cruise and not spend another penny. However, if you received any onboard credit and were thinking of applying that to your gratuities, you’d have to wait until you’re onboard. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.

Booking a cruise has never been easier with flexible payment methods and payment options.

As the Icon of the Seas Launches, Some Passengers Prefer Smaller, Older, Cheaper Cruises - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal

As the Icon of the Seas Launches, Some Passengers Prefer Smaller, Older, Cheaper Cruises - WSJ.

Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The first day you’ll depart from Miami, sailing overnight to Nassau, in the Bahamas. You don't have to employ every one of these tips to save money on your next sailing, but keep them in mind to make smart decisions as you plan your next vacation and once you're on board. It's always OK to splurge a little on vacation, but you want to make sure you're not spending unnecessarily. What matters is that you're getting the biggest benefit from your vacation buck. Your cruise ship's spa or boutiques will often host seminars about wellness practices or understanding gemstones.

The cheapest times of year to cruise

Other than those three months, watch for the aforementioned Black Friday cruise deals. A May cruise in Alaska won’t be nearly as warm as a summer sailing, but it’s the driest month of the year for the state. Cruising this early in the season before school lets out can score you a cheap fare to enjoy Alaska’s stunning natural beauty.

Cruises

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. 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. 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.

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

You can learn more about this cruise – and other inexpensive trips – at RoyalCaribbean.com. If you wanted to upgrade to a balcony cabin, then the price jumps almost $300 to $951.76 — or about $475 per person. The ship was built in 2000, but was most recently refurbished in 2019. Finally, you’ll wrap up your cruise and head back to Miami for disembarkation early the next morning. Your best bet is to always book as far in advance as possible, you could try for a last-minute booking instead. Cruise itineraries are usually released around two years in advance.

The Cheapest Royal Caribbean Cruise of 2021

Based on my experience booking cheap Royal Caribbean cruises, here are the key tips that I would share to find the best deal on a cruise. Planning your cruise for the beginning of the season in March or April, or cruising at the tail end in November is the best way to save money on a Mediterranean cruise. Save money on an early-December booking just before the holidays drive prices up. Since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, their peak season is around December and January because that's when their summer is. If you're okay with slightly colder temperatures, you can usually snag a great deal around then.

What Kind of Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals Can You Expect to Find?

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. The final payment date is a day of reckoning for cruise salespeople.

Cheapest months to cruise to the Mexican Riviera

If you're thinking of purchasing some souvenirs, look for promotional events listed in your daily schedule. If you're looking to splurge on high-end jewelry or other expensive gifts, look for specials in those boutiques. These purchases won't be cheap, but you might be able to save a bit or get an extra bauble thrown in for free. The other really good time of year to book a cruise is when Royal Caribbean releases new itineraries. If you had the inspiration to book a cruise, ideally it would be in the beginning of the year during Wave Season. Imagine having access to a limited-capacity beach club, offering an infinity pool, upscale dining, beachfront cabanas and more on your next cruise.

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. Royal Caribbean loves to hype and advertise that they have the biggest ships in the world. Ships that have more amenities and attractions are expensive for the company to operate. For them to be profitable, the cruise fares simply need to be more expensive. Sorting prices from 'low to high' is my favorite way to find cheap cruises.

Here you can do everything from simply hang out on white-sand beaches to renting an over-the-water bungalow to visiting a full-fledged water park with one of the tallest waterslides in the world. There you can do everything from swim with dolphins, head to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, get a hotel daypass, or visit the Straw Market for souvenirs. See our list of things for cruise passengers to do in Nassau here.

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. September is one of the hottest times of year, and cruises from that month through November will still be rainy. But it’s peak season for enjoying the beauty of the rainforest as well as an inexpensive time to cruise. Just avoid Thanksgiving week at the end of November to get the best cruise fare.

Going during the shoulder season while temperatures and demand are lower will get you the lowest prices of the season. It depends on your destination, but prices for most Royal Caribbean sailings rise steadily from late spring through mid-summer before dropping as kids return to school. Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean frequently enhances its fares with onboard credit and category upgrades while teasing you with both dollars and a percent off of the base fare. It’s easy to search for cruises on the line’s website, but it will take a few clicks to get the hang of finding the deal that suits you best. Royal Caribbean deals on inside cabins start at around $60 per person per night (before taxes and port fees).