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How to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals

With the rising cost of hotels and airfare, cruises are still one of the most affordable ways to travel.

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Cruising on a budget? There are many resources available for travelers looking to save money.

Cruising is back – in a big way – after all the turmoil and shutdowns in the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Cruise Lines International Association's 2023 State of the Cruise Industry report, the intent to cruise is higher now than it was in December 2019, before the pandemic. About 85% of travelers who have been on a cruise will cruise again, which is 6% higher than it was pre-COVID.

John Lovell, president of the Travel Leaders Group division of Internova Travel Group, tells us, "Cruising has roared back since the pandemic and the lifting of sailing restrictions. It's a true success story! That means that we will see (and are seeing) full ships, even more so than pre-pandemic." He adds, "While Caribbean cruises remain popular, travelers are embracing river cruises, expedition cruises, smaller ships and off-the-beaten-path ports. There really is a cruise for everyone."

CLIA's report also states that passenger volume for 2023 is projected to reach an astounding 31.5 million passengers – 106% of the volume in 2019. In addition, the cruise industry is seeing higher numbers of solo travelers and people with mobility challenges – and there are more Gen X and millennials booking cruise vacations.

Chris Gray Faust, the executive editor of Cruise Critic, says that cancellation policies have also returned to normal with cruise bookings back to pre-pandemic levels, particularly for mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line . You also probably won't find many deals on sailings in high season and on the most anticipated new ships .

With more demand for cruise travel – one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism – how can you find a last-minute cruise deal in 2023? Read on to find out how to book your dream cruise vacation for less.

When to find the best cruise deals

Scoring a great cruise deal depends on several factors, including the type of experience you're looking for ( adults-only or family-friendly , for example), the destination, the length of the sailing, the time of year and your flexibility to travel.

Lovell recommends booking early for the best pricing. "For many cruise lines, especially the expedition products and with some luxury lines, the best time to find deals is when they open new sailings," he says. "The cruises fill up quickly, so usually the best offer is the first offering in terms of pricing. Some of the larger cruise lines will have pricing and value-added promotions on sailings that still have open space about 100 days prior to sailing."

Summer 2023

If you're planning on traveling within the next few months, you may be able to score a last-minute cruise deal to some destinations, such as Alaska . According to Bob Levinstein, CEO of CruiseCompete.com, "There are still some great deals for the summer, especially in Alaska, which is particularly soft right now."

A representative from Priceline notes that the travel agency is also offering great deals for summer cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

When you're looking at pricing for cruises, be sure to compare fares that include the same costs, Levinstein advises. Some advertised fares that seem like an incredible deal don't include the port taxes and fees, which can substantially raise the price of your vacation.

Within 90 days of sailing

Gray Faust says the window for finding last-minute cruise deals is within 90 days of a sailing. "That three-month mark is when final deposits are due on a cruise, and historically the last point you could cancel your cruise without financial penalty," she says. "At that point, cruise lines try to fill those vacant cabins, usually in the form of slashed fares to entice people to book."

Levinstein agrees. "While the market has heated up, the closer-in the sailing the more likely you will find a bargain." He adds, "But as last-minute deals are based on how full a particular sailing on a particular ship might be at a given time, shopping around is often rewarded regardless of overall market conditions."

Fall or spring

You may find cheaper cruise fares if you're able to book a last-minute cruise departing in the spring or fall when most families with children in school can't travel. As such, cruise lines typically have more availability and lower pricing during these times.

Wave season

If you're willing to book a cruise during the promotional period known as "wave season" – which spans early January through the end of March – you may be able to find a last-minute cruise deal that fits your budget.

Hurricane season

Planning a last-minute cruise during hurricane season in the Caribbean and Mexico – from June 1 to Nov. 30 – is another option. These months coincide with the shoulder season in those regions, so it can be a great time to find cruise savings. If you do book a cruise during hurricane season, consider investing in a travel insurance policy that has trip interruption and trip cancellation benefits. You'll also want to make sure that all of your prepaid and nonrefundable expenses are covered in the policy.

Read: The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Early December

Levinstein says the first two weeks of December are also a great time to take a cruise. Early December is typically when families are preparing for the holidays at home or getting ready to travel at the end of the month for Christmas and New Year's, so it's an ideal time to go on a cruise for less.

Book a last-minute cruise deal on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

How to find last-minute cruise deals

Cruise line sites

If you're internet-savvy and don't mind perusing the cruise lines' websites individually, check out their advertised discounted fares, included amenities and special bonus exclusive offers. These special fares often include free upgrades, airfare and credit for onboard spending. The types and level of perks may increase depending on the stateroom category.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a number of Free at Sea offers. These deals include unlimited open bar, shore excursion credits, dining at specialty restaurants, complimentary Wi-Fi and discounted rates for the second guest. Third and fourth guests staying in the same stateroom even get to sail for free with some deals.

In addition to the Free at Sea offers, Norwegian features CruiseFirst, a special bonus offer that essentially allows cruisers to earn free money. For example, if you purchase a $150 CruiseFirst certificate today for a six-day or longer voyage, it will double in value and you'll have $300 to spend on a cruise that you can take as early as 120 days from the purchase date. The certificates expire within three years.

If you're looking for reduced fares on a luxury cruise, it'll likely be more challenging to find a last-minute deal, with even lengthy – and expensive – world cruises selling out within hours. Levinstein explains this is because there's more demand than supply, when compared with the entry-level market.

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Cruise deal aggregator sites

If you prefer to use cruise deal aggregator sites, you can find last-minute cruises across the industry all in one place. Simply sort your findings by the month you'd like to travel, the length of your intended trip and where you wish to cruise. These are some of the best resources for finding cruise discounts:

• Cruise Critic
• Tripadvisor
• Cruise Compete

"Some lines began steering away from last-minute fare drops a few years ago, so keep an eye out for value-add deals as well," Gray Faust says. "While you might not get a super cheap base fare, things like free gratuities, drink packages and/or shore excursions could actually save you even more than you'd save on a slashed price."

'Kids sail free' fares

Some cruise lines allow kids to sail free , greatly reducing the total price of and/or adding value to your cruise. MSC Cruises allows guests ages 17 and younger to cruise for free year-round when they're the third and fourth passengers in the same stateroom with their parents. If you're considering a family cruise, check out the other cruise lines that offer similar promotions where children sail free, including Holland America Line and Norwegian.

Book a family cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Cruise line loyalty programs

Consider joining your preferred cruise line's loyalty and membership programs for free upgrades. These are some of the best options:

• Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP Club:  This program features up to 40% discounts off fares, up to $50 in onboard credits, access to exclusive deals and other perks. Carnival VIFP members receive a loyalty number and can watch their points and rewards accrue online.
• Viking Cruises ' Explorer Society:   Viking's program offers past cruisers travel credits to use on future voyages, as well as members-only cocktail parties on the ship. Members are also privy to new itineraries and limited-time offers.
• Princess Cruises ' Captain's Circle:  Benefits with the Captain's Circle are based on the number of cruises you've taken. Some perks include early access to new itineraries, discounts for the onboard retail shops and excursions, complimentary minibar setups, priority disembarkation, access to the Platinum and Elite lounges, complimentary wine tasting events, and more.
• Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards:  This tiered program allows cruisers to earn discounts on select Norwegian products and services, such as beverage packages and signature spa treatments. You also get priority check-in, an exclusive cocktail party while on board, laundry service and more.

Cruise deal aggregator loyalty programs

You can also find loyalty programs through sites such as Expedia. An Expedia Rewards membership is free and offers discounts on travel; depending on your level (Blue, Silver or Gold), there are additional perks and benefits. You also earn rewards points to use toward booking future trips.

"On the Expedia website and through nearly 300 Expedia Cruises retail locations across North America, Expedia offers Member Prices, saving travelers up to 10% on last-minute deals, along with exclusive promotions on a variety of cruises," a company spokesperson says. "Expedia also secures special rates in advance on the most popular itineraries and cruise lines through the Expedia Exclusive Staterooms program. Most of all, travelers can reach out to one of Expedia's Vacation Consultants who can help navigate the current environment, answer any questions and help find the best value on their ideal vacations."

Read:  The Best Travel Rewards Programs

Travel advisors

Enlisting the help of a knowledgeable travel advisor can make planning easier – and it's one of the best ways to find last-minute cruise deals. Advisors, especially those specializing in cruises, usually have unique access to perks and discounts for big savings with cruise lines that can further enhance the value of your vacation and/or lower the total price.

Lovell agrees with this tip. "Demand for cruising is very high. I would always recommend booking early and working with a travel advisor," he says. "While there are lots of new ships, they often fill up quickly since travelers are eager to try out the latest and greatest the cruise lines have to offer."

Some aggregator sites also have their own travel advisors to assist in your search. Head of Priceline Cruises Denise Bialek says, "We highly recommend calling one of our Priceline Cruise advisors, as they are the most knowledgeable about the best rate options, know how to combine promotions to get the best deal and will save you time navigating the plethora of cruise lines, cabin categories, pricing, port charges and more." She adds, "An advantage of booking with one of our Priceline Cruise advisors is access to all cruise line offers and loyalty perks, in addition to our many Priceline exclusive deals, all supported by 24/7 service."

Additionally, keep in mind that travel advisors have insight into additional restrictions and the condition of each cruise line.

All-inclusive cruises

Though it may seem counterintuitive, you may be able to score a better value by booking an all-inclusive (or mostly all-inclusive) voyage than a budget cruise with a cheaper base fare. While these options are primarily in the luxury cruise line category, some fares are especially attractive thanks to included airfare costs, transfers to the ship, meals at all dining venues, premium wines and spirits, Wi-Fi access, and more.

When you book one of these cruises, you'll know the total cost upfront, and there won't be any unwanted surprises when you close out your shipboard account at the end of the cruise. Some of the traditional extras on noninclusive cruise lines – like bottled water, snacks, specialty coffee, gratuities or even beach equipment rentals on the line's private island – can add up quickly, diminishing the impact of your original fare savings. These are some of the all-inclusive cruise options:

• Viking Ocean Cruises:  On  Viking Ocean Cruises , travelers enjoy veranda staterooms; all meals (including alternative dining); beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; one complimentary excursion in every port; and more, all in the base fares.
• Silversea Cruises:  Silversea Cruises  boasts door-to-door all-inclusive fares that encompass private transfers, gourmet meals, butler service, beverages and at least one complimentary excursion in every port.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises:  Regent Seven Seas Cruises  offers two-for-one all-inclusive fares that also feature business class airfare on international flights, free two- or three-night land programs, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, free unlimited beverages and open bars, complimentary dining in specialty restaurants, unlimited Wi-Fi, shore excursions, prepaid gratuities, and more.

These lines also offer other discounts, and you may be able to combine them with exclusive offers that your travel advisor can access. Book an all-inclusive cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Short cruises

Three- to five-night cruises generally equate to instant savings since they have lower fares than voyages lasting a week or longer. You may also be able to drive to the port, saving on airfare and other travel expenses. If you sail from ports in Florida or Texas, you can visit destinations in the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico; ports of call may include stops at private, cruise line-owned islands like Royal Caribbean International's Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

If you're in the northeast U.S., you can book a short sailing to Bermuda  aboard a few different lines. Bermuda sailings with Carnival Cruises depart from New York City and Norfolk, Virginia, while Royal Caribbean sails to the nearby island from New York City and Baltimore .

From Los Angeles , embark on four-night Royal Caribbean cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. With Celebrity Cruises , passengers can book six-night voyages that call on select California cities and Vancouver . The line also offers six-night, round-trip sailings from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Shorter itineraries are less expensive not only because of their length, but also because they typically don't use the cruise lines' newest, largest vessels. Still, some ships have been updated, including Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, which underwent a $116 million amplification in 2020. Its upcoming itineraries make short trips between Miami and the Bahamas.

Repositioning cruises

Repositioning cruises are another option for booking a great cruise deal. The price on these voyages is less expensive since most of the days are spent at sea as the ships move from one region of the world to another. The itineraries are longer, so you'll need to have a flexible schedule for extended travel.

One of the pros of booking these cruises is that you'll get to see incredible destinations like Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, Portugal, Spain and Italy – with considerable savings. If you enjoy spending time on board the ship and don't need a port of call to explore every day, then this may be a great cost-saving option to consider.

For example, Celebrity has a 16-night Mediterranean Passage Transatlantic sailing from Rome to Tampa, Florida , in November 2023. The sailing includes eight ports and nine sea days, with fares starting at $899 per person.

Want to plan a cruise? See the top cruises on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Email alerts

Sign up for email alerts to receive updates on discounted pricing through the cruise line websites, travel aggregators or your travel advisor. That way, you'll be the first to know about limited-time offers, last-minute deals or value-adds that may make the price just right.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts and traditional masted sailing ships. Most recently, she traveled on a small expedition vessel in Antarctica and crossed the notorious Drake Passage twice. She covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Cruise Lines for the Money
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10 Rules to Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise

Tell us if this process sounds familiar.

You want to book a cruise, so you start searching around. A web search takes you from one site to another. Before you know it, you’ve looked at a dozen different sites to try and find the best deal.

What’s more, you’ve tried searching multiple dates, itineraries, cruise lines, and room types, searching for that best combination of price, time and route.

It’s enough to make your head spin… and that’s before you actually purchase your fare .

After that, you end up checking the same cruise obsessively, making sure you’ve gotten the best price possible.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way . We’ve spent years studying the cruise industry and have come up with our best rules to follow to make sure you’re getting the absolute best rate with as little headache as possible.

It’s no guarantee that you’ll get the lowest rate offered for your cruise, but these rules will help you be smarter about buying your vacation.

In This Article...

Want a cheap cruise? Study this chart

Before we get into the rules, we want to walk you through some of research. First, we want to show you the most important resource when it comes to what you will pay for a cruise.

The chart below shows the historic per-person cruise fare for both an interior cabin and balcony room for a 3-day Carnival cruise over a period of two years between 2021-2023 . This particular cruise sailed from Miami, with a stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

We selected this cruise because it runs weekly, giving us a chance to compare the price of the trip over multiple years and see the trends in the fare.

First, you can see from the blue line (price for an interior room) that prices to travel last minute are consistent with the same time a year later. In other words, you don’t see that much of a discount — if any — by waiting until the last minute .

Second, notice the trends in the rise and fall of the prices. Cruise fares see large spikes during holidays and the summer. The basic rule of thumb is that if school is out, then cruise fares are high . Cruising off season can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Of course, there is so much more to learn about finding the best rate on your next cruise. We go into full detail of all the rules you should follow to find the lowest rate possible…

Rule #1: DO be flexible with your days to cruise the cheapest

As you can see in the chart , the fares for the same cruise can vary dramatically, depending on when you sail.

Holidays like Christmas and New Year’s fetch the highest prices by far. These rates can often be double what you would pay in the lower season. The highest rates found around the holidays are closely followed by peak summer rates when families with kids like to cruise:

The best times to sail with the lowest rates? The fall months when people are back at school and work, meaning that rates hit their lowest. You can also find lower rates in the time between New Year’s and Spring Break.

Rule #2: DON’T think there is a magic website with cheaper cruise fares

The cruise line’s website, Expedia, Cruises.com, Travelocity… the list of sites where you can search for trips is endless. The odd thing? They usually all have the exact same rates.

We researched the most popular sites for a Carnival cruise (although this rule applies to all cruise lines), comparing prices with the cruise line’s official website. This trip is a 7-day cruise from Miami in June 2025 aboard Carnival Magic. We’ve tabulated the prices we found below:

So which site should you use?

We generally suggest booking through the cruise line’s website. We like this because it takes out the middleman in booking your sailing. Should there be an issue, you can call the cruise line directly and everything is dealt with through their site.

However, many third-party sites can have special deals such as onboard credit that’s not available if booking through the cruise line. We’ve seen up to $750 in onboard credit just for booking through these types of sites, depending on their offers.

[Read: The Best Websites to Book a Cruise ]

As well, third-party sites take your search across multiple cruise lines. So instead of just searching for Carnival cruises or Royal Caribbean, you can search every cruise line — potentially finding a cheaper cruise with another line. Meanwhile, you typically won’t pay any more than booking directly from the cruise line.

If you know the cruise line you’d like to sail, we suggest booking directly through them. If you are open to which line you sail, then third-party websites give you the ability to search more cruise lines and itineraries to find a better price.

Rule #3: DON’T think you’ll save a ton by booking last minute

It would make sense that you would find the cheapest fares right before the ship sails. After all, if a room sails empty, the cruise line earns nothing from that cabin. They should want to get you on the ship and at least earn some cruise fare, then hope to earn more on excursions, drinks, and shopping onboard.

If that were how things actually worked, however, the cruise lines would go insane trying to plan. If rates were lowest right before the trip sailed, then every passenger would wait until the last minute. The cruise lines wouldn’t be able to plan their needs for the trip ahead of time or predict revenue, costs, or profits.

That’s why cruise lines have largely eliminated last-minute discounts.

In fact, if you look at our chart of prices for the cruise below, you can see that the price you pay for a cruise about to depart is inline with the same time a year later.

Where you can really get burned by waiting until the last minute is in your room selection.

When you book late, many of the prime rooms have been taken already. So if you had your eye on a certain type of room or location on the ship, it might not be available if booking late.

For more on buying last-minute cruises, read 9 Smart Last-Minute Cruise Buying Tips .

Rule #4: DON’T get distracted by cruise line sales

The cruise lines are like department stores — they constantly run sales and special offers. Sometimes it is 50% off the second fare. Sometimes it’s lower deposits. Sometimes it’s onboard credit.

We’ve found that there is a constant flow of deals, and they usually are all about the same. In other words, we don’t really think you should let it influence whether or not you buy… or let it affect the timing of your purchase.

Yes, it is possible that one deal might be better than another. However, they typically end up around the same price. If a cruise line really needs to fill rooms, they will simply lower the price of the specific cruise instead of offering a fleetwide discount via a sale.

Rule #5: DO sail on older ships for cheaper deals

It’s not written in stone, but you will usually pay much less to sail on an older ship compared to a newer one. Older ships are still kept up and comfy, but simply can’t offer the space or amenities as the larger, newer ships.

Over the past two decades, ships have seemingly transformed from simply seagoing vessels to floating amusement parks. From huge waterslides to promenades, robot bars, roller coasters, ice rinks, and more, it’s hard to believe what they can put on a new ship these days.

If you don’t need these sorts of things on your cruise, then look for an older ship to get a much cheaper cruise.

What can you expect to save? It’s difficult to compare apples to apples as different ships sail to different ports at different times, but we found two similar cruises to compare.

The first was a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral, departing April 2025. Wonder of the Seas is one of the cruise line’s newest ships, and it’s priced accordingly.

The cheapest price (interior cabin) we found for an April sailing on this new ship was $1,106 per person .

Compare this rate with a 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard an older Royal Caribbean ship — Adventure of the Seas. We found this cruise departing Port Canaveral during the same month (April 2024). Despite being one night longer, the trip was priced at just $955 per person for an interior cabin . That’s about $150 per person less for an additional night.

In other words, sailing the older ship in this example costs considerably less than the new ship — despite the cruise being a day longer.

(Note: There is also a 6-night cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas during that same month starting at just $666 per person — an even larger discount.)

Rule #6: DO choose your room location carefully

While not every cruise line does it, many will charge you different amounts for the same class of room in different locations of the ship. For example, a room on a higher deck will cost more than one on a lower deck. Through years and years of bookings, the cruise lines know which rooms are most desirable and charge accordingly.

Most times the premium you pay for room location won’t seem like a big deal. The cruise lines sometimes frame it by adding something like $3-5 per person, per day.

Let’s do the math, however.

A room with two people being charged an extra $5 per person, per day would rack up $10 per day — or $70 in room location charges over the course of a week-long cruise. That may not sound like much to some of you, but that comes about to about 4-6 drinks from the bar if you were to want to spend your money on alcohol instead.

The rule of thumb is that the higher up your room is on the ship, the more you will pay.

For the absolute best rate for your particular room class, let the cruise line place you automatically at their lowest rate.

Rule #7: DON’T buy the “wave season” hype

You might have heard of “wave season.” This time of year — running from January through March — is supposed to be when the cruise lines offer the best deals. That’s due to the cold weather in most of the country making people think of warmer places combined with the passing of the Christmas holiday. It is definitely true that more booking activity goes on during this period. But it may not mean better prices. 

Our take? Wave season is hyped up, similar to “Black Friday.” Sure there may be good offers — but not enough to keep us from booking a good deal when we see one a different time of year.

If everyone waited until the wave season because the deals were better, then the cruise lines wouldn’t have anyone book the other nine months of the year. You’ll find that the deals offered aren’t that much different than those found the rest of the year.

Rule #8: DON’T think booking far ahead will save much

If last-minute booking doesn’t offer much of a discount, then surely you’ll be rewarded by booking well in advance, right?

Not so much.

Rates vary the most by time of year… not by how far in advance the departure is. For example, you’ll see similar fares for a cruise in September, whether that’s three months from now or a year and three months from now.

Now, that’s not to say that the fare for a cruise well in the future won’t drop at some point. If the cruise line has trouble filling rooms, they will certainly drop the rate. But many times, there is no huge advantage to booking a year or more in advance (although you will have more cabin options).

Rule #9: DO book your cruise when you find a rate you like

We know that trying to find the best rate can be nerve-wracking. Don’t let it get to you. We think the key is to do some research first on the cruises offered and what they are selling for. Once you have a ballpark idea of what they cost, you can have a better idea if you are getting a good deal.

Once you find a rate that you think is fair (including any sales/promotions), go ahead and book it. There’s no sense in waiting and watching to see if the price will fall more, especially since it could also rise. ( Read more on the best time to book a cruise. )

And while you want to book your cruise once you’ve found a rate you’re happy with, we recommend NOT paying in full. In fact, put down the smallest deposit allowed.

This will give you some leverage for Rule #10. (Keep in mind that if you book last-minute, you often have to pay for the trip in full at the time of booking.)

Rule #10: DO monitor price drops…and call the cruise line

So what if after all this you book your cruise and then the price drops?

First, you should be monitoring the price of your cruise after you book if you want to save money. We’re not saying to check it every day, but once or twice a month is sufficient.

If you run across a price drop, then you should contact the cruise line immediately. This is where having put down only a deposit — and not paying in full — buys you some leverage.

Many times the cruise lines will work with you to compensate for the lower fare, even though they often aren’t obligated to do so. They can refund the difference or offer onboard credit to make you happy.

Some lines have price protection policies in place. Carnival, for example, has it’s Early Saver Program :

1. When you book a 3-5 day cruise three months in advance, or 6 day or longer cruise five months in advance, you are assured the lowest rate. 2. In the unlikely event that you do find a lower Carnival-advertised rate after booking your cruise, we will honor it and adjust your cruise rate accordingly. Simply fill out the Price Protection Claim form and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you only have a deposit down, and they won’t work with you on the price difference, determine the refund policy to see if it is worth it to cancel your original trip and re-book the cruise at the lower rate.

If you’ve already paid in full, it’s still worth calling the cruise line if you see a lower fare. The lines want happy customers and will sometimes work with you to compensate for the new lower price.

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, there is no crystal ball that will tell you the absolute best time of year or day of week to book your cruise. That said, the tips above can help you carve out the best deal possible — without driving yourself crazy.

More on Cruise Buying:

• The Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• The Best Time to Book a Cruise (Save Money, Better Cabins)

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, 12 cheap summer cruises for 2025, the best time to book your cruise (save money, better cabins), how to watch football on a cruise (nfl and college games), explained: differences between large and small(er) cruise ships, the cheapest u.s. cruises for all of 2025 (starting at under $200), 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

Informative but I am really confused what I am missing. I looked at several Azamara cruises on both their website and VTG. There was a huge prices difference. Even if I subtract things like port fees and gratuities, it did not come close to accounting for the price difference. Can anyone explain why?

I agree that the fall months as well as early in the year are best for cheaper rates but I live on the East coast and I monitor hurricanes every year. It seems to be a very big risk booking during hurricane season. I’ve been researching cruises to Bermuda. Last time I booked was first week in June. That was my first cruise so I was a total newbie. Great cruise, however. Your article was very informative. I’ve never cruised on Carnival before, always cruised on NCL.

Hello, this is more about the cruise incentive, rather than cruise price. I booked August 31 to sail December 1 with Expedia for HAL. Expedia is now offering the drink package at a reduction of $400 each plus more onboard credit.I would be saving $625, initially I did receive free gratuities.

They are not willing to help as of my phone call, any tips on what to do? Thanks in advance. Your site is great, I have been enjoying the tips.

So you’ve called and they won’t give the better offer? What sort of cancellation fee are you looking at? It might be worth cancelling and then re-booking the better deal if you wouldn’t be out too much money.

I agree with most everything you said in this article except letting the cruise line choose your room. Yes you may save a few dollars that way but you will also most likely get an undesirable room. Undesirable rooms are those under the Lido deck, above and below the nightclubs, next to the galley, and next to the elevators. Also if you are booking an inside room (which is the cheapest), be sure you are not booking a room with an upper and lower berths if that is not what you want. If you are booking an outside room and you really want the view, be sure you are not booking one with a restricted view (life boats, structure, etc). If you elect the cruise line choosing your room be sure you are selecting the right category. This is where a travel agent can help.

Thanks for the comment. We always let the cruise line choose the room for us to save money. Never had an issue with location.

Probably the truest article I’ve read! So many other sites seem to be in some kind of alliance with the cruiselines so they halfway tell you something then backtrack. Also, I find it interesting that you mentioned the fact that the sales are constant and basically offer the same. I witnessed it first hand over the last few weeks. I kicked myself for not booking when the rates went down, however, when they increased $25 per person (2 in cabin, so $50 more), the onboard credit increased $50 with the offer. So it was essentially the same deal. I think all in all, in 2 different cruises after searching, waiting and continually checking even after booking, I’ve only missed out on a total of an extra $25 onboard credit for the entire cabin.

It’s great that you elaborated on which dates are best for finding better deals on cruises. I remember when my husband and I discussed going on a cruise sometime, we weren’t sure what dates we would want to plan ahead for. What you said about going in the falls months when people are back to work and school means lower rates, in general, was very interesting to me.

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How to Find the Best Cruise Deals

What's a good deal and when to book it

Finding a cruise deal is often a combination of timing, planning, and just good luck. What constitutes a deal is often a matter of perception. Sometimes it's just getting a free cabin upgrade to a higher deck on the ship or moving you to an ocean view or balcony cabin because you have booked a cabin category guarantee.

Cruises are much like any other product—you get what you pay for! Much like hotels, cruise ships range from basic accommodations and school lunchroom-style food to ultra-luxury pampering and gourmet cuisine. Cruises can cost anywhere from less than $100 per day per person to over $1000 per day per person, depending on the amenities, the size of the ship, and space. So, a cruise deal on an ultra-luxury ship might be $500 per day, a 50 percent discount, but still too steep for many travelers' budgets.

If you have never cruised before, do research on cruises and become knowledgeable before planning your cruise . Then, find a travel agent who specializes in cruise travel. Once you have selected a destination and a cruise travel budget, many cruise travel agents (either online agents or agents in your hometown) can help you find a cruise deal that fits your needs and desires. 

Let's look at some ways to get a cruise deal.

Book a Cruise Early—Several Months in Advance

Cruise lines like to sell their "berths" (cabins) as far in advance as possible. If you plan and book your cruise more than six months in advance, you will often get the best deal. Some cruise lines also offer "low price guarantees," so if the fare drops after you book, you will get the lowest price. If you book far in advance, continue to monitor the fares, and report any price changes to your travel agent, who should be able to either get you a refund or a cabin upgrade.

Booking your cruise far in advance may also help you to use frequent flyer miles for your airfare to the cruise embarkation port.

Book a Cruise Late—Just a Few Weeks (or Days) in Advance

Cruise ships do not like to sail with empty berths. Any revenue from an unfilled bed is lost forever. In addition, many mainstream cruise lines bring in as much revenue from onboard expenditures as they do from fares. Many who cruise spend more on shore excursions , wine, specialty dining, and in the shops and casino they do on the cruise fare! In addition, empty cabins do not generate tips for the crew , leading to unhappy workers.

If you can be patient, cruise lines will sometimes offer extremely good last minute deals on upcoming cruises sailing in the next few weeks (or days). This tip works best for those who (1) can take off without much notice from their jobs, (2) are retired, or (3) live close to an embarkation port since last-minute airfares are often very expensive.

Book a Repostioning Cruise

Many experienced cruisers book repositioning cruises to get the best cruise deal. It's all a matter of supply and demand. Cruise ships sailing in destinations like Alaska or northern Europe must move (reposition) to warmer locales in the winter months. Repositioning cruises include many sea days and are usually longer in length, so they might not be right for you.

Since many people do not like many sea days or cannot take two weeks off for a cruise, the demand is not as high, so cruise lines often offer great cruise deals on these cruises. Cruise lines also offer good deals on repositioning cruises since more sea days results in higher onboard revenue.

Cruise in the Off-Season

Like all products, supply and demand contribute significantly to the cruise fare. If you can travel in the off-season, your price will be lower since fewer travelers are competing for the same cruise ships. For families with children or those who work in education, this is often impossible since vacations have to be taken during school holidays. The most expensive cruises are during the December holiday season, spring holidays, and the summer school holiday months.

Many travelers are reluctant to travel to the Caribbean in September and October because it is still hurricane season. However, since hurricane warnings are usually days in advance, cruise ships will modify their itineraries to bypass the storms. Don't forget, your safety is their most important goal. Plus, they have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in their ships.

Even traveling at the beginning or end of the season (called the shoulder season) will get you a discount. For example, traveling to Europe in March through May or September through November is always cheaper than in the summer. The weather might be a concern, but it rains in the summer too. And, it's hot!

Cruises to Alaska are usually a better deal if you can travel in May or September. One good thing about booking in September—all the shops have fantastic "end of season" sales!

Cruise Where the Supply of Ships Is High

Linda Garrison

The Caribbean continues to be the most popular cruise destination. There are dozens of ships sailing to the Caribbean each week. Therefore, competition among the cruise lines is high, and they are constantly offering better cruise deals for the Caribbean than for anyplace else in the world. Since North Americans do not have to travel as far to their embarkation port, the air cost is not as much as other cruise destinations.

Note that Europe is also a very popular destination, and the cruise season is year-round in some places like the Mediterranean. European cruises often cost about the same price per day as a Caribbean cruise. For Americans, the issue is the airfare, but for Europeans, the total cost can be less than the Caribbean.

Do Your Research

The Internet has opened the ability to do in-depth travel research to all who are willing to spend the time and effort. This time invested in researching cruise lines, cruise ships and cruise destinations will pay off with a better cruise vacation.

Even if you get a terrific cruise deal, it won't be worth it if the ship or ports of call don't meet your expectations. Check out the cruise lines' websites, read general tips on planning a cruise, read about the cruise ships and destinations, set your cruise budget, work with a travel agent, find a cruise that matches your interests, and GO!​

Related Articles

More related articles.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Cruise Site for Deals

Are you tired of endlessly searching for the best cruise deals, only to be left feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to book? Picture this: you’re dreaming of your next vacation, but finding the right cruise site with the best deals seems like an impossible task. What if we told you there’s a simple solution to your search for the perfect cruise at the best price?

In this article, we’ll guide you through the maze of online cruise sites to uncover the hidden gems that offer unbeatable deals. Imagine effortlessly comparing prices, amenities, and itineraries all in one place, making your decision a breeze. Get ready to set sail on your dream vacation without breaking the bank. Let’s navigate the sea of options together and find the best cruise site for deals that suits your travel desires and budget.

Key Takeaways

• When evaluating cruise deal sites, consider factors such as reputation, transparency in pricing, variety of options, user-friendly interface, and available discounts.
• Factors affecting cruise prices include the cruise line, destination, time of booking, travel season, cabin type, and additional amenities.
• Top-rated cruise deal websites include Cruise Critic, Expedia, Priceline, CruiseDirect, and Last Minute Cruises, catering to various preferences and budgets.
• To find the best cruise deals, pay attention to timing, consider off-season cruising, utilize alerts/newsletters, and prioritize user-friendly design.
• Avoid common mistakes when booking a cruise deal by checking the fine print for terms and conditions, and considering travel insurance options for added protection.

Evaluating Cruise Deal Sites

Key criteria for selection.

When evaluating cruise deal sites, the key criteria for selecting the best one include checking the site’s reputation, transparency in pricing, variety of cruise options, user-friendly interface, and available discounts or deals.

Start by researching the reputation of the cruise deal site. Look for user reviews and ratings to ensure you’re dealing with a trustworthy platform that delivers on its promises. A site with positive feedback and a good track record is more likely to provide reliable deals and customer service.

Next, transparency in pricing is crucial. Make sure the site clearly displays all costs associated with the cruise, including taxes, fees, and any additional charges. Hidden fees can quickly inflate the final price, so opt for sites that are upfront about the total cost from the beginning.

Consider the variety of cruise options available on the site. A good cruise deal site should offer a wide range of cruise lines, destinations, and itineraries to cater to different preferences. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly cruise, a luxury getaway, or a budget-friendly option, the site should have something for everyone.

Furthermore, a user-friendly interface is essential for a smooth browsing experience. An intuitive layout, easy navigation, and clear instructions can make the process of searching for and booking a cruise hassle-free. Look for sites that make it simple to filter search results, compare prices, and customize your itinerary.

Lastly, keep an eye out for available discounts or deals. Many cruise deal sites offer special promotions, early booking discounts, or last-minute deals that can help you save money on your cruise. Be on the lookout for limited-time offers and exclusive discounts to get the best value for your money.

Factors That Affect Cruise Prices

Several factors can influence cruise prices, including the cruise line, destination, time of booking, travel season, cabin type, and additional amenities.

The cruise line itself plays a significant role in pricing. Luxury cruise lines with upscale amenities and services generally come at a higher cost compared to mainstream or budget-friendly options. Consider your preferences and budget when selecting a cruise line that aligns with your expectations.

Destinations also impact cruise prices. Popular tourist destinations or exotic locales may command higher prices due to demand. Keep in mind that cruise prices to different regions can vary based on factors such as distance, port fees, and local economic conditions.

The time of booking can affect the price you pay for a cruise. Booking early may give you access to early bird discounts or promotions, while last-minute bookings can sometimes result in discounted rates to fill up remaining cabins. Flexibility in your travel dates can help you secure the best deals.

Travel seasons, such as peak or off-peak times, influence cruise prices. Peak seasons, like summer or holidays, tend to be more expensive due to higher demand, while off-peak times can offer more affordable rates. Consider traveling during shoulder seasons for a balance of good weather and lower prices.

Top Rated Cruise Deal Websites

Cruise critic: comprehensive reviews and deals.

When looking for the best cruise deals, Cruise Critic stands out as a top choice. Offering comprehensive reviews and a plethora of deals, this platform provides you with a wealth of information to make informed decisions. By combing through user experiences and expert reviews, you can gain valuable insights into various cruise options, ensuring you choose the best deal that suits your preferences and budget.

Expedia: One-Stop-Shop for Travel

Expedia is your go-to destination for all things travel, including cruise deals. With a user-friendly interface and a vast array of options, Expedia simplifies the search for the perfect cruise deal. Whether you’re after luxury cruising or budget-friendly options, Expedia’s platform allows you to compare prices, amenities, and itineraries conveniently in one place. Take advantage of Expedia’s tools to secure the best cruise deals tailored to your needs.

Priceline: Deals and Price Comparisons

If you’re on the hunt for enticing deals and price comparisons, look no further than Priceline . This platform offers a range of cruise deals with transparent pricing, enabling you to make cost-effective decisions. With Priceline, you can easily compare prices across various cruise lines and destinations, ensuring you snag the deal that offers the best value for your money. Explore Priceline’s offerings to discover budget-friendly cruise options without compromising on quality.

CruiseDirect: Exclusive Offers & Direct Booking

CruiseDirect sets itself apart with exclusive offers and direct booking options, making it a preferred choice for those seeking unique deals. By booking directly through CruiseDirect, you can access special discounts and promotions that may not be available elsewhere. The platform’s streamlined booking process and secure payment options give you peace of mind when finalizing your cruise plans. Dive into CruiseDirect’s offerings to uncover exclusive deals that cater to your travel desires.

Last Minute Cruises: Spur-of-the-Moment Deals

For spontaneous travelers looking to embark on spur-of-the-moment adventures, Last Minute Cruises offers unbeatable deals. Whether you have a flexible schedule or simply enjoy impromptu getaways, Last Minute Cruises provides you with access to discounted cruise packages that cater to your immediate travel cravings. Keep an eye on Last Minute Cruises for flash sales and last-minute availability, allowing you to seize exciting travel opportunities at a moment’s notice.

You now have a curated list of top-rated cruise deal websites that cater to various preferences and budgets. Explore these platforms to uncover the best cruise deals that align with your travel aspirations, and embark on unforgettable cruising experiences without breaking the bank.

Tips for Finding the Best Cruise Deals

Timing is everything: when to book.

To secure the best cruise deals, remember that timing plays a crucial role. Booking your cruise early can often result in lower fares due to initial promotional rates or early booking discounts. If you are flexible with your travel dates, consider booking during wave season, typically from January to March, where cruise lines offer significant promotions and perks. However, if you’re looking for last-minute deals, booking closer to the departure date can also result in discounted fares as cruise lines aim to fill remaining cabins.

The Benefits of Off-Season Cruising

Opting for off-season cruises can lead to substantial savings while still enjoying a fantastic experience. Traveling during the shoulder season or off-peak times can offer reduced fares, as demand is lower during these periods. Additionally, cruising off-season allows you to avoid crowds, explore destinations more comfortably, and often experience better weather conditions. Keep in mind that while off-peak times may offer better deals, certain destinations may have limitations on activities or attractions during these periods.

Utilizing Alerts and Newsletters

Signing up for alerts and newsletters from cruise deal websites can be a valuable way to stay informed about the latest promotions and discounts. Many cruise sites offer email alerts for price drops, exclusive deals, and limited-time offers. By subscribing to these notifications, you can be among the first to know about discounted cruises, special promotions, and flash sales. Additionally, joining loyalty programs or newsletters of specific cruise lines can provide you with access to member-exclusive deals and perks, enhancing your overall cruise booking experience.

The Importance of User-Friendly Design

When exploring cruise deal sites, you’ll find that the ease of navigating these platforms plays a crucial role in securing the best deals. User-friendly design can significantly enhance your browsing experience, allowing you to swiftly search, compare, and book the most attractive cruise offers.

Navigating Sites for the Best User Experience

To ensure a smooth navigation experience, look for cruise deal websites that offer intuitive search functions and clear categorization of deals. When a site is well-organized with easy-to-use filters, you can efficiently refine your search based on preferences such as destination, cruise line, departure port, travel dates, and budget constraints. This streamlined process saves you time and enables you to focus on finding the most suitable deal for your dream cruise vacation.

For example, websites like Cruise Critic and Expedia provide user-friendly interfaces that guide you through a plethora of options with simplicity. They present deals in a structured manner, making it effortless for you to compare prices, amenities, and inclusions. By selecting user-friendly sites, you can make informed decisions quickly and secure the best cruise deals available.

Mobile Accessibility and Apps

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the availability of mobile-responsive cruise deal platforms and dedicated apps enhances your accessibility to exclusive offers on the go. Opt for websites that offer mobile-friendly versions or apps that allow you to browse, book, and manage your cruise reservations conveniently from your smartphone or tablet.

Mobile apps like those offered by Priceline and CruiseDirect empower you to access real-time deals, receive notifications on price drops, and make instant bookings while traveling. These apps incorporate user-centric design elements for seamless navigation, ensuring that you can take advantage of last-minute promotions and limited-time discounts effortlessly.

By prioritizing user-friendly design elements and mobile accessibility when selecting cruise deal platforms, you simplify the process of finding and booking the best cruise deals tailored to your preferences. Embracing intuitive interfaces and mobile functionality optimizes your cruise deal hunting experience and increases your chances of securing unbeatable offers for your next voyage.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Booking a Cruise Deal

Overlooking the fine print.

When booking a cruise deal, one common mistake to avoid is overlooking the fine print. The details in the fine print might contain crucial information that could impact your overall experience. It’s essential to carefully read through the terms and conditions of the deal, including any restrictions, cancellation policies, additional fees, or specific requirements. For example, some deals may have blackout dates or limited availability, which could affect your travel plans. By paying attention to the fine print, you can avoid surprises and ensure a smooth booking process.

Ignoring Travel Insurance Options

Another mistake to steer clear of is ignoring travel insurance options. While it may seem like an added expense, travel insurance can provide valuable coverage and peace of mind, especially when booking a cruise deal. Travel insurance can protect you in case of unexpected events, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. By not considering travel insurance, you could be leaving yourself vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances that may disrupt your travel plans. It’s advisable to explore different travel insurance packages and choose one that aligns with your needs to safeguard your cruise vacation.

You’ve learned about the key factors to consider when hunting for the best cruise deals online. By focusing on user-friendly design and mobile accessibility, you can streamline your search process and secure unbeatable offers. Remember to pay attention to details, utilize intuitive search functions, and explore reputable sites like Cruise Critic and Expedia for a smoother booking experience. With these tips in mind, you’re well-equipped to find the perfect cruise deal that suits your preferences and ensures a memorable vacation on the high seas. Happy cruising!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i find the best cruise deals online.

To find the best cruise deals online, consider reputable cruise deal sites like Cruise Critic and Expedia. Evaluate sites based on pricing transparency, variety of options, and available discounts. Factors impacting prices include cruise line, destination, booking time, travel season, cabin type, and amenities.

Why is user-friendly design important on cruise deal websites?

User-friendly design on cruise deal websites improves the ease of navigation for users, making it simpler to find and secure the best deals. Well-organized sites with intuitive search functions and clear deal categorization, like those provided by Cruise Critic and Expedia, enhance the browsing experience.

How can mobile accessibility benefit my cruise deal search?

Mobile accessibility and apps from platforms such as Priceline and CruiseDirect offer real-time deals and instant booking options on the go. By utilizing mobile features, users can conveniently access offers, compare prices, and secure bookings efficiently.

Hi, I'm Richard, a passionate traveler and cruise enthusiast. With over a decade of experience exploring the world's oceans, I've developed a deep love for all things related to cruising. Whether it's luxury liners or intimate river cruises, I enjoy sharing my insights and tips to help others plan their perfect getaway. When I'm not sailing the seas, you can find me writing about my adventures or planning my next voyage

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11 Ways to Find a Cheap Cruise: The Secrets of Cruise Discounts in 2024

By Tamara Hinson

May 31, 2024

Bag a shoulder season deal

In travel, shoulder season is the period between peak season and low season, and you’ll find it in cruising, too. Cruise lines don’t only offer consistently lower prices during shoulder season sailings—they’ll typically offer regular flash sales during these times, too. 

“Keep an eye out for flash sales during shoulder seasons,” says Elaine Warren, founder of specialist cruise travel agency FamilyCruiseCompanion.com . “Cruise lines are desperate to fill ships during these times. I've found some real steals by being ready to book as soon as I see a great offer pop up.” 

Bear in mind that different regions have different shoulder seasons. In Alaska, for example, the main shoulder seasons are April and early May, and then at the end of summer between September and mid-October. Europe’s shoulder seasons are April and May, and then again in September to November. For Caribbean cruises, it’s May, June, and July and then in December, January, and March.

Try to book at least six months in advance 

Passionate cruisers Don and Heidi Bucolo, founders of top cruise blog EatSleepCruise.com , say that advance booking can be a key to great deals. 

“Our advice is to book cruises between 6 and 12 months in advance. Typically, cruise prices tend to go up closer to the sail date, especially for newer ships or for more desirable travel dates.”

Consider repositioning cruises 

Repositioning cruises are one-way sailings during which ships relocate from one region to another, like when they switch between summer Europe sailings to a winter Caribbean schedule. Because these voyages typically cross entire oceans, they’re a great way to see multiple regions. 

You’ll need to brush up on shoulder seasons to find the best deals. For example, autumn is when ships based in the Mediterranean are most likely to head to the Caribbean’s sunnier shores, while spring is when ships based in the Middle East often reposition to the Mediterranean. But when you find a good repositioning run the savings can be huge.  

“Repositioning cruises can be 50% cheaper than regular sailings, offering great value and the chance to discover destinations many travelers overlook,” says Jeremy Clubb, founder of Antarctica Cruises .

Consider an itinerary with fewer port days 

On the itinerary of the cruise you’re considering, pay extra attention to the number of in-port days and the number of sea days. Doing so can help make your money go further while also making sure you get the most out of your sailing.  

“I always try to weigh up port days versus sea days based on the [client’s] interests and budget,” says travel advisor Elaine Warren, founder of FamilyCruiseCompanion.com . “Extra time on board means fewer shore excursions, and excursion costs can really add up over a week.”

Leverage your loyalty

If you’re considering booking with a cruise line you’ve sailed with before, ask for a loyalty discount. Remember that it always pays to ask. "Even if your preferred cruise line doesn’t explicitly promote loyalty discounts, there’s absolutely no harm in asking for one,” says Jeremy Clubb at Antarctica Cruises . “More often than not, you’ll be successful because cruise lines prefer to incentivize repeat business rather than spend more attracting new customers.”

Book your next cruise while you’re still aboard

When you’re still on a cruise, you’ll almost always be able to get a discount off future sailings on the same cruise line, and many ships have special booking desks set up expressly to handle new reservations. Some lines will also give you onboard credits to use for expenses on your next voyage. So if you’re planning another vacation with the same cruise line, don’t wait until you’re on dry land.

Ask about special discounts

You may not know that many cruise lines offer fixed discounts to shareholders, military personnel, senior citizens, and members of the armed forces. And the reason you may not know is they’re usually poorly advertised, and when they are, details are often vague at best. 

For example, Royal Caribbean promotes discounts for anyone aged 55 and over ( RoyalCaribbean.com ) but only on selected cruises, while Cunard touts onboard credit offers to members of the armed forces ( Cunard.com/en-us/military ). Norwegian Cruise Line gets bonus points for clearly laying out its discounts for shareholders on a dedicated page ( NCLhltd.com ) although there’s no information relating to other discounts.

It’s important to bear in mind that cruise lines won’t necessarily shout about available discounts—if you don’t ask, you won’t get them.

Don’t hold out for last-minute bargains 

These days, waiting for last-minute cruise discounts can end up costing you more. 

“While cruise lines once used last-minute reductions to fill their ships, there’s not currently any need for them,” says Chris Owen, founder of ChrisCruises.com ). “This is because, currently, post-pandemic, there’s no need as there’s still this huge pent-up demand.”

Hold off booking that expedition cruise

If you dream of exploring Antarctica or gawping at the Galapagos’ sea lions but you’re put off by the high prices associated with this type of cruise, don’t despair. Cruise lines are constructing an ever-growing number of expedition-style ships serving these destinations, and as availability to these regions increases with time, prices are likely to fall. 

“More cruise lines are starting to offer expedition voyages,” say Don and Heidi at EatSleepCruise.com . “In the coming years, there will be an increase in the number of cruises being offered to places once considered remote—destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic Circle and the Galapagos are all becoming more accessible.”

Consider older ships

Only looking at new ships could cost you dearly, and the rewards aren’t necessarily worth it.

 “Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas , the world's largest cruise ship, has cruise fares which are close to double what you might pay for similar sailings on other megaships from the brand's older Oasis-class ships, which were once record-breaking ships and still have loads of onboard attractions and amenities,” says the team behind  EatSleepCruise.com . “To get the most value for your money, we’d suggest looking at ships which are between 5 and 7 years old. These will still offer some of the best on-board options in terms of restaurants, entertainment, and nightlife but will be considerably cheaper than ships which are 1 or 2 years old.”

Use a trusted travel advisor

As tempting as it might be to go it alone, booking through a travel agency—ideally, one specializing in cruises—will frequently result in the best deals. Because they deal with the cruise lines often, travel advisors may know how to find the best discounts, too. 

“Travel advisors can access the best perks, like on-board credit and free gratuities, as well as other promotions in addition to the deals the cruise line might be offering at that time,” say Don and Heidi of EatSleepCruise.com . “Additionally, they’ll be able to help with any issues that may arise before or during your trip.”

If you know the specific line and departure date you want to take but don’t know a good travel agent to book it with,  CruiseCompete.com , which has been running since 2003, allows travelers to obtain free price quotes from multiple travel agents at the same time. Many of them will throw in upgrades or onboard credits to earn your business.

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5 Affordable Cruise Vacations to Book — Plus How to Find the Best Deals

Here's what you need to know to save money on your next cruise.

Best Affordable Cruise Lines

How to find the best cruise deals, tips for saving money while on board.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruising has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. This form of travel is incredibly convenient (read: no need to pack and unpack), and everything you need can be found right on board — ultimately taking the stress out of trip planning. Plus, with hundreds of ships at sea across dozens of lines, there’s a cruise out here for every type of traveler. Fortunately, cruising doesn’t have to cost a small fortune, and many budget-conscious travelers may opt to set sail for their next trip. Below, we’ve rounded up the best cruise lines offering affordable fares coupled with value-packed inclusions to stretch your dollar further. We’ve also tapped some expert cruise specialists to share their top tips and tricks to help you save money both on and off the ship.

Here's everything you need to know to book an affordable cruise vacation.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

This adults-only cruise line from Richard Branson — which also happens to be a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Award winner — offers excellent value. In fact, according to T+L A-list cruise advisor and Q Cruise + Travel founder and president Rob Clabbers, Virgin Voyages fares “include more than on most mainstream large-ship cruise lines.” For example, he says, “Virgin fares include internet access, gratuities, all meals — there are no cover charges for its restaurants that on most other lines would be considered specialty restaurants.” Beverages like soft drinks, coffee, and tea are also included, as are snacks, mezze at the aft terrace, and group workout classes. Best of all, there are no pricey beverage packages. “Instead,” says Clabbers, cruisers — or, as Virgin calls them, sailors — can buy their own reasonably priced drinks (think: beers from $6, $10 cocktails, and wines by the glass under $11) a la carte. Additionally, with some promotions , the cruise line throws in a “ bar tab ” credit that can be used towards drinks.

Princess Cruises

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Another World’s Best Award winner — and WBA Hall of Fame Honoree, no less — this fan-favorite ocean line is renowned for refined ships, serene ambiance, and exceptional service. Moreover, per Clabbers, passengers can choose from “optional packages to help customize a passenger’s trip that provide savings over buying things separately.” For an extra $60 per day, consider Princess Plus, which offers perks like Wi-Fi for one device per guest, gratuities, fitness classes (two per sailing), and beverages like bottled water, specialty coffee, soft drinks, and juice. Alternatively, for $80 per day, passengers can spring on the Princess Premier package, which features the same beverages plus specialty dining (two per sailing), unlimited fitness classes, premium desserts, reserved theater seating, and Wi-Fi (four devices per guest).

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Norwegian Cruise Line is a favorite among families of all ages for its over-the-top entertainment and activities (think: go-karting, Broadway-caliber productions, and so on). “While Norwegian Cruise Line may price slightly higher than some of its competitors, you need to consider the Free at Sea package,” says travel advisor Jennifer Travis of Marvelous Mouse Travels . She goes on to describe the promotion as a “game-changer when it comes to cruising” since it includes perks like a “free open bar (up to $1,400 in savings), free specialty dining (up to $180 in savings), free Wi-Fi (up to $200 in savings), and a $50 discount on excursions.” Other Free at Sea perks include 70 percent off second guests, free third and fourth guests (on select dates), and free airfare (per the cruise line’s website: “ Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock in roundtrip flights for two ”). Also, you can’t go wrong with the Free at Sea Plus package, which includes a wider selection of beverages, more specialty dining, unlimited Wi-Fi, and additional shore excursion credits. Before booking, be sure to check the line’s full selection of deals , which run the gamut from half-off deposits to $150 cruise credits and more.

Royal Caribbean

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Zip lines, water slides, surfing simulators, ice skating, rock climbing walls: Find all this and more aboard (most) Royal Caribbean ships — and, best of all, they’re complimentary! Ideal for fun- and adventure-loving travelers of all ages — read: kids and kids-at-heart alike — it’s pretty much impossible to be bored while cruising on this World’s Best Award-winning mega-ship line. Additionally, according to Travis, Royal Caribbean “offers some of the best short itineraries,” some of which clock in at under $200 per person for two-night sailings. Longer itineraries, including a seven-night Bahamas sailing aboard one of the line’s newest ships, Odyssey of the Seas , clock in at under $600 per person. The line also offers an abundance of deals , including up to $600 off sailings, 60 percent off second guests, and more.

Carnival Cruise Line 

Courtesy of Carnival Cruises

“ Carnival Cruise Line is known for its competitive pricing without cutting back on the onboard activities or various dining options, thus making them an attractive option to budget-conscious cruisers,” explains Travis. For example, many itineraries, including a four-night Bahamas cruise from Miami , clock in at just over $150 per person. Additionally, says the travel advisor, “Carnival sails to a wide variety of destinations from so many local ports that you almost do not need to fly to your cruise ship anymore, which is another huge savings given the cost (and stress) flights can add to any vacation.” Keep an eye out for frequent flash sales for even more savings.

Booking early is an easy way to save on your next cruise vacation . “Typically,” says Travis, “the best pricing on a cruise is when the schedule is first released.” And, while you could wait for a last-minute deal, “you may not get the room category that you want.” Similarly, Clabbers says that flexibility is key when it comes to finding — and scoring — the best cruise deals . For example, he previously told T+L that if you are “very flexible and are looking for a standard room on a large ship on an itinerary that repeats week after week, you are more likely to find a promotional fare.”

Conversely, giving up some of that flexibility sometimes pays off. According to Clabbers, select cruise lines will offer lower fares to those who opt for a nonrefundable deposit instead of a refundable one. Finally, you may also consider cruising in shoulder season or even low season. Sure, the weather won’t be perfect, but the fewer crowds and cheaper fares more than make up for that, especially if you’re on a budget.

While your tab can quickly rack up once on board, there are several savvy ways to save money. For one, consider bringing your own booze. According to Travis, “Many cruise lines allow their guests to bring a specific amount of alcohol or nonalcoholic beverages onboard the ships, which can help save you money while you are on the ship.” Additionally, ​​Michele Benard , another travel advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels, advises packing your own necessities from home — like Advil, Tums,  motion sickness medicine, and after-sun lotion — as opposed to buying them on board at a much higher price. You’ll also want to skip the souvenirs at the onboard gift shop, which tend to be more expensive than those you’d find in port.

Benard also recommends taking advantage of “all the free activities on the cruise ships,” which can include everything from water slides to trivia game shows. Pro tip: “Stay onboard during a port day, and the lines won’t be as long.” On a similar note, spa treatments tend to be less expensive on port days, so those craving some R&R — that is, sans breaking the bank — may consider booking a service during this time.

Finally, says Clabbers, save money on your next cruise by enlisting the help of an onboard cruise consultant to select your next sailing. “You will typically receive an onboard credit or savings on your next cruise, and your own travel advisor will be alerted so they can help you plan your vacation.”

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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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Keri Stooksbury

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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.

Key Takeaways

• Websites like CruiseDirect offer comprehensive cruise search tools, often featuring discounts, bonuses, and bundled deals.
• Aggregators like Kayak or Orbitz compare prices across multiple platforms, helping find the best cruise deals and promotions.

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 $65 per year and Executive for $130 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 !

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Last-minute cruises: Should you book the deal?

A spontaneous cruise vacation can be fun. And if you aren't too picky, there are some amazing last-minute cruise deals. You might even be able to snag a week in the Caribbean for less than $400 per person.

The thing is, just like clothes that have hung on sale racks for a while, if you're picky, you might not find an acceptable cruise bargain. If you wait too long, you'll be left with whatever selection is available — ships, cabins and dates — that are less likely to be near the top of your wish list.

Don't expect a deal on the latest, greatest ship or route, or in the fanciest cabin. High demand equals fewer last-minute offers. If you're trying for something last-minute, you also should be flexible on when you will cruise or the length of the itinerary.

At the same time, these deals can satisfy the itch when your brain says, "I want a vacation, NOW," but your pocketbook says otherwise.

So, is it best to book a cruise last minute? Here's a primer to help you figure out if a last-minute cruise fare is right for you.

What are last-minute deals and why are they offered?

Last-minute deals become available when a cruise line has not sold the number of cabins that officials hoped to sell on a particular sailing. To fill vacant cabins, a cruise line might slash fares.

Offers for last-minute cheap cruises come out after everyone who booked in advance makes their final payment, which, depending on the line and itinerary, could be 60 to 90 days before embarkation.

Cruise lines get a good chunk of their income from onboard spending, so they make a bigger profit if they get more people on board — even if they need to reduce fares drastically to attract a larger crowd. But that strategy can backfire.

If lines always offered last-minute cruise bargains, more people might be hesitant to take advantage of early-bird offers, and other sales geared to those passengers booking several months in advance — which is the period when cruise lines really want you to book.

Related: When is the best time to book a cruise?

Because of this, cruise lines don't always offer last-minute deals. When they do, they are targeted on a ship-by-ship, sailing-by-sailing basis.

How can I find a last-minute cruise deal?

Last-minute fares are right out in the open, along with other sales a cruise line might be holding.

Norwegian includes a "last-minute cruise deals" category on its online deals page . Royal Caribbean's last-minute deals get their own page; scroll to the bottom to sign up for alerts, so you get first dibs on the offers. Carnival lists last-minute fares as Pack & Go , with a pricing button that allows you to filter results by your preferred price range. Sign up for Carnival's VIFP Club to receive alerts — and maybe additional discounts.

You can also find last-minute offers from a variety of cruise lines in one place at vacationstogo.com . Once you provide your contact information to the online agency, you have access to a large, scroll-down list of last-minute deals over the next 90 days.

Cruiseline.com provides listings and a price alert you can sign up for, and icruise.com offers a last-minute deals page.

If you work with an experienced cruise travel agent , they can help you track deals, as well.

How much can I save?

Comparing deals listed at vacationstogo.com, you'll see last-minute deals ranging from about 30% to more than 85% off full fares. Keep in mind, though, that it's rare for anyone to pay a full fare or brochure price.

When checking out a last-minute fare, you should do a comparison with other value-added offers and booking perks from the cruise line.

For instance, some lines offer kids-sail-free deals , free category upgrades or free drinks as enticements, but they might not apply to certain last-minute fares. Depending on your specific needs, you could be better off booking early and taking advantage of these value-added ways to save.

What are the cancellation policies on last-minute fares?

You are likely booking a nonrefundable fare. If you go the last-minute route, you must make a full payment at the time of booking, rather than putting down a deposit as you would if you were booking further out.

Once you click "buy," you've booked a cruise. If you cancel, you will get considerably less back than you paid – and nothing if you decide not to cruise less than 30 days before sailing.

Are these fares offered at certain times of the year?

Last-minute offers are available year-round, and you can improve your chances of snagging one of these deals by keeping an eye on the calendar.

Busy periods for Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises include any time that kids are out of school for a week or more, such as winter and spring school holiday periods, summertime and around Christmas and New Year's. You won't find as many last-minute fares during these periods.

On the other hand, some of the best deals are before and after these time slots when the kids are back in school. Plan to sail later in September through December (with holidays an exception) and you'll likely find last-minute deals.

The same holds true for the month after New Year's and into February. There are always other pockets, so it pays to keep track.

Related: How to get a deal on a cruise

For itineraries in Europe and Alaska , look for deals early or later in the season, the so-called shoulder season. The crowds come late in the spring through August, with peak season in the summer.

Flexibility is key. You are more likely to find a last-minute deal if you search for an available period of several weeks or even no set time in mind for your cruise, rather than targeting a specific date you want to sail.

Are there more last-minute deals on specific itineraries?

Yes. Deals on last-minute cruises tend to be on Bahamas, Caribbean and even Mediterranean cruises that are shorter than a week or on cruises of more than 10 days. This includes repositioning cruises — when a ship moves from one region of the world to another — such as between Europe and the Caribbean.

That does not mean you can't snag a last-minute fare on a popular seven-day sailing in the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera or the Mediterranean, but there could be fewer offers on those routes.

What sort of cabins are offered last minute?

There's the rub. This is a case where you need to be flexible. Last-minute fares are not necessarily going to be for all cabin categories.

Since the cheapest and most expensive cabins tend to sell out first, don't expect these accommodations to be available. If you're on a route like Alaska, where everyone wants a balcony cabin with views , don't expect many of those to be available, either. The same applies to cabin types that are limited in number, such as family, spa or solo cabins .

Be prepared to take what you get in terms of both the type of cabin and the cabin location. You might find the last-minute deal is for a " guaranteed cabin ," which means you don't choose your cabin at all — the cruise line does.

In a good scenario, you could receive a better cabin than you paid for, but conversely, you might get a cabin — like one in a noisy area of the ship — that earlier bookers avoided for a reason.

How close to sailing can I book?

Theoretically, you can book just hours before a cruise, though you can't book after the ship's manifest has been submitted to authorities. Logistically, this means the last day to book is one to two days before the cruise, rather than on embarkation day.

Be aware that if you're waiting until the very last minute, you might not be able to book online, and calling the reservations line could mean sitting on hold for hours.

Should I book a last-minute cruise if I have to fly?

You can, but the savings you get from cheap last-minute cruise fares could be gobbled up by the airlines. Last-minute airfare deals can be hard to come by. Definitely check to see if you can save by booking your flight through your cruise line .

Because expensive flights can ruin your savings strategy, last-minute cruises might work best for those passengers who can drive to catch the ship. Last-minute deals work especially well for people who live in Florida or who are wintering in the Sunshine State because they have several major cruise departure ports within driving distance offering a choice of sailings.

Will I still have access to shore excursions and drink packages?

Yes, but you might have to be OK with taking what's left. The closer to departure you book a last-minute fare, the less opportunity you will have to pre-book shore excursions ; the most popular ones are likely to be sold out. The same goes for the opportunity to pre-book spa treatments and specialty dining at popular times, as well as prepaid drinks packages , which are limited in number.

Do I need a passport?

If you are looking for a last-minute deal on a route where a passport is required , such as Alaska, make sure your documentation is up to date. Renewals can take months, so don't count on that happening 90 days or less before a cruise.

Bottom line

Just because you can get a last-minute deal for a cruise doesn't mean you should take it. However, if you're flexible with your dates and type of cabin, and especially if you can drive to a departure port, go for it. A spontaneous and affordable vacation is often just what you need.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

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7 Tips for Getting the Best Deal on Your Next Cruise

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So you’re ready to book a cruise to enjoy some time on the water and exploring port cities. But when is the best time to book a cruise? What if prices drop after you’ve already paid for your trip? Are the onboard drinks and Wi-Fi packages really worth it?

Christopher Festerman, a senior travel professional for CruisesOnly, has some advice on how to find the best cruise deals. Here are seven things to consider before booking your next cruise:

1. Book early if you have special needs or a large party

You don’t want to risk the rooms you need being unavailable, and you can often get money back if the per-person price drops later.

2. Your travel agent might be able to track price changes

Once you’ve already purchased a trip, some can set up an automatic notification to let you know of a price drop and refund the ticket difference to you as long as the final payment hasn’t passed.

3. Wait to book for last-minute deals

If you are really flexible on dates, location and cabin type, you may be able to get deals within 30 days of your departure.

4. Don’t assume an interior stateroom is the best deal

Often, the ocean view and balcony rooms will come with perks such as unlimited beverages and included gratuity. The difference you spend may save you money and make your vacation more comfortable and memorable.

5. Book shore excursions from outside vendors

You can find local shore excursions online and get more options with smaller group sizes.

6. Book spa treatments while at port

When the ship is docked, you can get spa treatment packages for much cheaper than on land in a destination city. Take the morning for a spa treatment and the afternoon to explore the area.

7. Only buy Wi-Fi if you absolutely need it

You can get Wi-Fi in coffee shops, local bookstores or restaurants at port stops.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ 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

Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: Does cruise travel fit into your credit card strategy? I survived a cruise and you can too Should you insure a cruise?

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South America: Buyer's Choice Galapagos Outer Loop Cruise

7-night celebrity flora cruise.

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Celebrity Cruises

You'll always remember the islands that time forgot. In the Galapagos, modern explorers come eye to eye with ancient tortoises, comical birds and other amazing beasts; plus landscapes as fantastic as the animals for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. For seven glorious days, follow in the footsteps of Darwin, viewing this realm through the eyes of certified naturalists, making discoveries on shore excursions — two per day included — in small groups of travelers who share your interests. Each evening, come home to one of three vessels that are as extraordinary as the islands.

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Sailing Itinerary

Note: Cruise itineraries are subject to change. Please verify ports and times directly with the cruise line.

Port of Call Port of Call (Arrival, Departure)

Baltra Island

Baltra, also referred to as South Seymour Island, is one of the smaller islands of the Galapagos, with an area of roughly 8 square miles. The island lies in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles west of Ecuador. The significance of Baltra rests in the fact that it is the main entry point into the Galapagos Islands. The main airport of the archipelago is located on Baltra (a second smaller one is in San Cristobal). Before Volcanic faulting occurred, Baltra was part of Santa Cruz, making it the newest of the islands. Due to its small size, there are no visitor accommodations in Baltra. Though the island is dry and the vegetation desolate, a large number of birds-frigatebirds and boobies- can be seen at the harbor. Land iguanas, marine iguanas and marine turtles can also be observed. After your arrival at Baltra, take the time to visit Bachas Beach, where you will be introduced to the wonders of the Galapagos. Also, don’t miss the chance to take a panga ride through Black Turtle Cove and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mangroves.

Gardner Bay

Gardner Bay, located on the eastern side of Espanola(Hood) Island, has a long and beautiful white sand beach with a large sea lion colony. Rocks off the coast offer great snorkeling with reef sharks and many other tropic fish. White-tipped sharks, puffer fish, and colorful tropical fish fill the waters around Gardner Bay. It's simply beautiful.

Punta Suarez

Located on Espanola(Hood) Island, Punta Suarez has a trail leading through masked and blue-footed boobies colonies to a blow hole, where sea water is forced some 20m up into the air. Also the most colorful marine iguanas and lava lizards in the isles, sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, Hood mockingbirds, Darwin finches and Galapagos doves and hawks can be seen. But the main attraction are the waved albatrosses, which are on the island from March to December.

Punta Cormorant

Punta Cormorant boasts of a larger lagoon with flamingos and other water birds. A trail leads to a sandy beach where turtles, rays and seabirds can be seen. Off the coast is Devil's Crown, a half submerged volcanic crater. This is a great snorkeling site with starfish, sea urchins and tropical fish in the shallow center and larger fish like sharks and rays around the outside of the rocks.

Post Office Bay

Located on Floreana Island, Post Office Bay, where 18th century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop, can be visited today. The idea behind the barrel was that British whalers or passer-bys to the island would pick up the letters and hand-deliver them in England. Letters and postcards without stamps can still be dropped in the barrel in this present day; however don’t expect a speedy delivery.

Punta Moreno

Located on the west side of Isabela Island, Punta Moreno means "dark point," taking its name from the very dark, new rocks formed by the lava flow from a fairly recent volcano eruption. Punta Moreno has very interesting new lava flows and pioneer plants, which are directly living on the raw rocks. There are small oases with green lakes, where you can sometime see flamingos, flightless cormorants, penguins, marine iguanas and pelicans.

Noteworthy because it is an area that was elevated from sea level in 1950's during the eruption of the Alcedo volcano. A part of the shoreline was raised more than 4 meters, and now the visitor can walk on what was once the sea floor, and see the dried corals and remains of a variety of mollusks and other sea organisms that were stranded by sudden uplift. Urvina Bay is located on the western coast of Isabela at the foot of Alcedo Volcano. On the trail going inland it is possible to see colorful land iguanas and even Galapagos Tortoises. Along the coast there are huge marine iguanas, pelicans and flightless cormorants and at times even penguins.

Punta Espinoza

Punta Espinosa is a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen: marine iguanas conglomerate here in larger groups than in any other island. Following the trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared.

Punta Vicente Roca

In the north of Isabela there is a small promontory known as Punta Vicente Roca, on the southwestern edge of Volcano Ecuador. The point presides over a pair of jewel-like coves. The coves lie on either side of the eroded remains of a volcanic ash cone, which make up the point. The sheltered bay is a popular anchorage for boats and visitors may have a look around in dinghies. The surrounding cliffs are actually the interior walls of a fallen volcano and there is a partly flooded cave. The area is also very good for scuba diving. Its abundant ocean life is the product of cool, nutrient-rich waters up welling off the volcano's steep submarine slopes. On the other side of the point is a secluded cove, accessible from the sea only through water-filled subterranean passages. Sea lions travel through these passageways and gather on the protected beaches of the hidden waters. Large numbers of blue-footed and masked boobies inhabit the point and the sheer cliffs, and flightless cormorants can be seen along the shoreline.

South Plaza Island

This enchanted Subtropical island is comprised of two small islets that are uplifted from the coast of Santa Cruz Island. Despite its slightly smaller size, the unique vegetation and location of Plazas island creates a setting in which the fauna and flora of the Galapagos can truly be experienced to its fullest. Some of the most intriguing species of the archipelago can be found on these amazing islets. One of the most common creatures to be seen on Plazas is the land iguana. This magnificent creature can most often be found lying in the cool shade of a cactus. The rugged cliffs of Plazas Island create a prime habitat for swallow-tailed gulls, along with many other species of tropical birds. The coast of this island is protected by a distinct rocky seashore. This protection has allowed a colony of lively sea lions to establish their home here on Plazas. The island’s main attractions are its sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, yellow-tailed mullets, Audubon’s shearwaters, red-billed tropic birds, frigate birds, land iguanas, and brown pelicans.

Daphne Islands

One of the central islands, Daphne lays north of Santa Cruz and west of Baltra. There are actually two islands Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. Daphne Major is the younger of the two and the one that is visited. Though its location is easily in reach for most cruises, it is a select few that are able to visit this special place. The national park service restricts visitors allowed to visit Daphne. Visits are only allowed under special written permit by the National Park. Many boats do cruise by close enough to view the many birds and sea lions that live on Daphne. It is also a popular dive site for local dive operators from Santa Cruz.

Cerro Dragon

The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). Known by its flamingo lagoon that gives a colorful touch to the scene. The trail leads to a small hill where land iguanas live and nest. This area is accessible only by sea due to the fact that it is covered in extensive mangroves.

Puerto Ayora

The largest settlement area, offering the most services in the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora is a port town situated along Academy Bay on Isla Santa Cruz. Most yachts offering cruises of the Galapagos hail from Puerto Ayora. Also home to the National Park Services and the Charles Darwin Research Station, it is the hub of tourism in the islands. Puerto Ayora is far from the bustling cities on the mainland. The bay is full of sailboats, sea birds fill the air and marine iguanas line the shore. Though a thriving center of commerce people enjoy a laid back island attitude. Most travelers to the Galapagos will include a visit to Puerto Ayora during their trip. Most cruises include a visit to the Darwin Station and arrange free time to explore the town and shop for souvenirs. This may be the only opportunity to souvenir shop in the islands. Stores carry everything from t-shirts to jewelry, post cards, books, beach ware and ceramic items. The grocery store offers the opportunity to stock up on any forgotten items, snacks, beverages, or other items you might desire on board. If you are in need of additional money, the Banco del Pacifico offers cash advances on Master Card. They also offer a Cirrus ATM machine, though it does not always work. Puerto Ayora offers options for visitors who prefer to sleep ashore or extend their stay in the islands. There are a variety of tours available allowing visitors to design their own Galapagos experience including day-trips to a number of the islands, dive trips, kayaking, highland tours, hiking, mountain biking and horseback rides.

Onboard the Celebrity Flora

Celebrity Flora

Costco member reviews.

• Year Built: 2018

Double Occupancy Capacity: 100

Celebrity Flora® marks an evolutionary turning point in the approach to ship design—creating a sense of being truly immersed in the destination, instead of just visiting it. Indulge in the largest and most luxurious accommodations in the Galapagos Islands, where every stateroom on board is a suite. Dine on delectable menus, curated by a Michelin-starred chef, and allow your Personal Suite Attendant to help you unpack. All this to ensure that your visit to these primitive islands is anything but.

Member reviews become available after at least 5 are received in order to provide you with an accurate picture of this travel product.

Onboard Activities

Activities & services (included in cruise).

Observatory

• Fitness Center
• Sauna/Steam Room
• Water Sports Platform
• Whirlpool/Jacuzzi
• Bars/Lounges
• Concierge Desk
• Safe Deposit Boxes

Activities & Services (available for an extra fee)

• Full-Service Spa
• Dry Cleaning/ Laundry Service
• Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques

Seaside Restaurant

Main Dining

Seaside Restaurant:  Experience a culinary journey in the Galapagos in the Seaside Restaurant. It's a spacious "barefoot chic" space that features destination-inspired design elements and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout for stunning vistas that complement the mouthwatering meals you'll enjoy here—morning, noon, and night.

Ocean Grill

Casual Dining

Ocean Grill Restaurant:  Ocean Grill is an outdoor casual restaurant that offers panoramic views during the day and stunning, starlit skies at night. Here, there's every opportunity to enjoy both the destination and our culinary expertise daily. From grilling up the highest quality, sustainable seafood from the area for lunch to what we like to call Dinner Under the Stars, Ocean Grill is the envy of any destination restaurant around.

• > Suite Stateroom

Suites feature a private balcony, complimentary sparkling wine, use of snorkel equipment and wetsuits, and much more.

Guarantee - Suite (Category: W)

Category: W This category can be booked for a special rate, guaranteed to you. Please note that the category is not associated at the time of booking with a specific stateroom, deck, bedding configuration or other particular settings. The assignment of an actual cabin will be performed during your check-in. The cabin can be anywhere on the ship.

Sky Suite with Veranda (Category: S1)

• Complimentary premium refillable water bottle
• Daily delivery in-suite delectable
• Customized mini-bar offering
• Champagne / sparkling wine upon arrival
• Complimentary backpack
• Complimentary rain poncho
• Use of high-end marine binoculars
• Ecuadorian chocolates
• Use of sunglasses and readings glasses
• Local high-end, eco-friendly, organic bath amenities cooling gel, lip balm, sunscreen
• Spacious veranda
• Outward facing design
• King-sized bed
• Spacious shower
• Full Suite automation
• Double faucet vanity with stone countertop
• In-suite filtered water refilling station
• Premium linens and pillow menu
• Extensive offering of live and on demand TV programming and movies
• Personal Suite Attendant
• Laundry service twice per sailing
• 24-hour in suite room service
• Full in-suite dinner service
• Laundry service twice per sailing*
• Makeup and turndown services

Sky Suite with Infinite Veranda (Category: SK)

• Outward-facing design
• Infinite Veranda
• Double-faucet vanity with stone countertop
• 24-hour in-suite room service

Premium Sky Suite with Infinite Veranda (Category: SP)

• Outward-facing spacious spa tub and shower

Ultimate Sky Suite with Infinite Veranda (Category: SU)

• Private refrigerator
• In-suite safe

Royal Suite (Category: RS)

• Robes with optional personalization
• Spa tub with floor-to-ceiling window
• Separate shower
• Spacious private veranda

Penthouse Suite (Category: PS)

• Largest, most luxurious suite in the Galápagos Islands
• Additional half bathroom
• Wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows
• In suite filtered water refilling station

Sky Suite with Infinite Veranda (Category: SL)

Sky suite with veranda (category: s2), sky suite with veranda (category: s3).

• Ship Name: Celebrity Flora
• Year Entered Present Fleet: 2019
• Ship Class: Expedition Series
• Maximum Capacity: 100
• Number of Passenger Decks: 6
• Number of Crew: 70
• Tonnage (GRT): 5,739
• Capacity Based on Double Occupancy: 100
• Country of Registry: Ecuador
• Total Staterooms: 50
• Suites with Balcony: 50

Available Dates & Prices

Departure date, inside stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom, suite stateroom, departure date - 12/29/2024, terms & conditions.

*Price shown is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for select stateroom categories only. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for details.

♦Included Extras are per person based on double occupancy. Included Extras cannot be substituted with other items or services and have no cash value. If included activities or private events are not attended, no cash reimbursement will be given. Included Extras are not applicable to any third or fourth guests in a stateroom. Guest host and special events are subject to change, and are outside the control of Costco Travel.

♦♦The Bonus Digital Costco Shop Card only applies when booking directly through Costco Travel; transferred bookings will not qualify. It is nontransferable, valid per stateroom and will be sent by email to the primary account holder of the Costco membership two to four weeks after completed travel. The Bonus Digital Costco Shop Card will be sent separately from the standard Digital Costco Shop Card. Any changes made to the reservation may result in the assessment of cancellation penalties or service fees. Other restrictions may apply.

±All Included: Classic Drinks Package: is available for select drinks only, and does not include room service, in-stateroom purchases, mini-bar items or souvenir glasses. 20% service charge included. Package prices may reflect an additional tax for certain ports or itineraries. Packages may not be shared, and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bar, or room service. Must be 21 or older to purchase/consume alcohol. Unlimited Basic Wi-Fi Package: includes basic internet service allowing web browsing, email access and text messenger services. Guests with Internet Packages will receive instructions for Internet access in their staterooms on the first day of the cruise. Included extras cannot be substituted with other items or services and have no cash value. Included extras are applicable to the third or fourth guests in a stateroom. No refunds will be issued for unused credits.

†One Digital Costco Shop Card per room/stateroom, per stay. The exact amount of the Digital Costco Shop Card will be calculated during the booking process. The Digital Costco Shop Card promotion is nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. A Digital Costco Shop Card will arrive by email approximately 10 days after the start of your cruise. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for additional information.

Ship's registry: Ecuador

Digital Costco Shop Card

This booking includes a Digital Costco Shop Card which will arrive by email one to two weeks after you return from your vacation. The Digital Costco Shop Card is a convenient payment option in our warehouses and on Costco.com.

Ship Rating

An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.

A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.

A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.

A modest quality cruise experience with less attention to detail and service.

Expect a very basic cruise experience with minimal attention to service, hospitality and finesse.

Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.

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