carnival holiday cruise 2023

Cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International offer rates that might drop as low as $75 per person per night -- and sometimes even lower.

If you want a real bargain, consider a transatlantic or repositioning cruise. These cruises are one-way or open-jaw trips, that start in one port and finish at another. You can score a deal sailing from Florida to Europe, for example, or even from New York to Florida. Just be aware, you'll probably have to pay a bit more for airfare to return.

What are Tips to Finding Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

While being flexible date wise will always get you the best last-minute cruise deals, it's particularly helpful if you live near a cruise port and can quickly drive there. That way you'll probably be able to jump on those deals that might pop up just a week or two before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Or if you don't have flexibility with either departure dates or embarkation locations, be willing to compromise on exact destinations. This will allow you to find a wider range of last-minute deals traveling to locations in their off-season or so-called shoulder season.

Do plenty of research and know what your ideal cruise is and costs on average, so both are already on your radar. When you see it drop, pounce! (Many cruise lines update pricing several times per day, so preparation is crucial.)

Best cruises in 2024

There's truly a cruise style and ship for everyone, and that has never been more the case than in 2024, as vessels continue to come in an array of sizes – from riverboats and expedition vessels to the largest-ever mega ships. And it's not an exaggeration to say some are loaded with so many activities that you couldn't possibly enjoy them all in a single sailing.

Families will find plenty of options and activities onboard big ships, which have transformed cruising, making the vessels as exciting as the destinations themselves. The Caribbean is always a great option for families, offering lots of sunshine, great beaches and culture. Alaska, famous for its incredible vistas and abundant wildlife, is also a solid family cruise option. Consider cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and even Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line for a great multi-generational voyage.

Or on the smaller side, by comparison, river cruising remains a hot ticket item this year, with exciting routes that send eager guests down the Danube or Rhine rivers in Europe or to lesser-frequented locations, like the Mekong River in Cambodia or Vietnam, or soon the Magdalena River in Colombia. Popular river cruises embark in timeless cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Lisbon. River cruise lines to consider encompass Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, Tauck, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Riverside Luxury Cruises, as well as American Cruise Lines for a domestic alternative.

If you're an adventurer at heart, an expedition cruise might be best for you. These voyages, often onboard small ships (only a few hundred passengers tops), offer an intimate experience that brings passengers right up next to glaciers, whales, penguins and iguanas. Ships visit tiny spots all over the world – from pole to pole – including the Arctic, Alaska, Australia, Greenland, the Galapagos and, of course, Antarctica. Passengers will spend their time zodiacing, kayaking, hiking, biking and exploring with expert guides and knowledgeable naturalists. Expedition travelers love cruise lines such as Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, UnCruise Adventures, Silversea, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), Ponant and Quark Expeditions, as well as an ever-expanding list that now even extends to Seabourn and Viking.

But for the most decadent form of travel, luxury cruises offer all-inclusive experiences onboard small to median-sized ships (usually under a thousand passengers) with perks like butlers, high-end amenities and personalized, intuitive service, not to mention the finest dining at sea. Ships often feature luxury touches like marble and crystal decor, intimate spaces and beautiful spas. Because luxury ships tend to be on the smaller size, they can often reach off-the-beaten-path destinations bigger ships simply cannot access -- ports like St. Tropez or Guadeloupe. If you're looking for a luxury cruise, consider Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and upcoming Four Seasons Yachts.

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Here Are all the Cruise Lines That Have Canceled Russia Sailings

Poseidon Expeditions is the latest addition, canceling seven itineraries

Astrid was the Senior Special Projects Editor at TripSavvy.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, cruise line after cruise line has altered itineraries with stops in Russian ports or canceled voyages entirely.

Poseidon Expeditions is the latest addition to this list after a March 17 statement announcing that seven polar voyages are canceled for the summer. An additional four Arctic sailings have new itineraries. "The terrible situation in Ukraine makes planned operations in Russian waters untenable, and we cannot support promoting these trips in any way for the 2022 season," said Angelica Vorea, founder and CEO of parent company Poseidon Arctic Voyages, Ltd.

Carnival Cruise Line, Windstar, and Atlas Ocean Voyages were some of the first big names to announce that they scrapped all stops in St. Petersburg. Carnival announced via Twitter they will be swapping Russia out of all current cruise itineraries in the coming week "once alternative ports can be confirmed." In the same post, the cruise line's holding company, Carnival Corporation, stood by Ukraine in light of the attacks, declaring, "We stand for peace."

Royal Caribbean Group released a statement canceling stops in St. Petersburg for summer 2022 sailings for all its brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silver Sea. "We have planned alternative ports and will communicate itinerary changes in the next few days to our guests and travel partners. Guests can feel comfortable knowing they are able to reschedule their cruise with our Cruise with Confidence program," the statement read.

MSC Cruises, which had four ships scheduled to call in St. Petersburg beginning this May, announced it had suspended all Russian stops and was in negotiations for possible alternative options, including Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also announced that they would remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from 2022 itineraries across their brands, including Norwegian, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas.

"It's disappointing because St. Petersburg is one of the crown jewels of the Scandinavian itineraries," said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, during the company's earnings call last Thursday.

Regent Seven Seas had particularly significant plans for Russia this year, with several stacked itineraries, including the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, St. Petersburg, and Odessa, Ukraine. Norwegian Cruise Line canceled a majority of its Baltic sailings on the Norwegian Getaway. Some cruise lines are forgoing modification and canceling their itineraries outright. The luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. Russian stops on Viking's ocean itineraries will be modified, and impacted guests and travel advisors will be notified.

The cancellations add to the ripple effect Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused throughout the travel industry. Earlier in March, travel expert and television personality Rick Steves announced he would be canceling all Russian tours that his company, Rick Steves' Europe, had planned this year.

"Our mission ... is to help Americans better know and understand our neighbors through travel," Steves wrote in a blog post from late February. "But when we bring travelers to another country, we also bring their dollars—dollars that would support Putin's aggression. Therefore, as of today, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include a stop in Russia."

Cruise Industry News. " Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs. " March 17, 2022.

Travel Weekly. "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls." February 28, 2022.

Cruise Critic. "Cruise Lines Alter Russia Itineraries, Cancel Ports Due to Ukraine Conflict." March 15, 2022.

Reuters. "Norwegian Cruise Cancels Sailings to Russia, Ukraine Ports." February 24, 2022.

Travel Pulse. "Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine." February 25, 2022.

Viking River Cruises. " Updates on Current Sailings. " March 1, 2022.

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Russia Cruises

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On a river cruise in Russia you’ll likely visit two of this expansive country’s most important cities, St. Petersburg and Moscow. St. Petersburg has always been more of a city focused on the arts and Moscow on business and politics. Tolstoy even remarked about this dichotomy in his masterpiece novel Anna Karenina . In St. Petersburg you’ll find the ornate Hermitage Museum, an art museum which was started by Catherine the Great. In Moscow you’ll be wowed by the colorful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral at Red Square. When cruising through Russia you’ll also get a chance to experience the rural parts of Western Russia in Goritsy or the Mandrogi village, which is reconstructed to look just as it did during the 18 th century.

Things to Do on a Cruise to Russia

Adopt the pluck and determination of the Russian people and realize that there is nothing you can’t do on your cruise to Russia. Russia is full of crazy stories, exciting history and beautiful traditions, so drink it in with some unforgettable experiences. A few of our favorite things to do are outlined below:

• Explore the armory at the Kremlin where you can see the stunning royal jewels of the czars and czarinas. Don’t forget to check out the Faberge eggs, intricately decorated and jewel-adorned eggs created in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  
• Visit a wooden church with 22 domes that is made without one single nail. This remarkable building is in Kizhi Island surrounded by other buildings at an open air museum.  

• Spend a day discovering the more than 3 million works that make up the Hermitage Museum, which is housed in the Winter Palace, a former home of Russian royals located in St. Petersburg.  
• Though ballet comes from Italy, Russia has made this elegant dance form what it is today. Be sure to enjoy a performance at either the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow or the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg.  

• Enjoy a Shashlik lunch. Shashlik is a Russian variation of a shish kebab which generally consists of grilled beef or cubed lamb that is been marinated and is roasted on a spit often paired with a variety of vegetables such as tomato, onion and eggpant.  This is a popular fast food dish in Russia.  
• Go to GUM, Moscow's exorbitant shopping mall, to shop (or just browse) through one designer store after the other.  

Map of Russia:

Top 10 russia cruises, russia: cruise lines.

River cruise lines offer in-depth visits to Russia where you’ll get a real sense of the nation’s culture – from the big cities to the rural outposts. Each day is packed with history, art and tradition. 

Russia: Departure Ports

Russian river cruises either flow north or south, meaning they either start in St. Petersburg or Moscow. Moscow is the current capital of the country, but St. Petersburg used to hold that title and was the home of many of the country’s czars. Both of these large cities offer great art museums and incredible domed churches. No matter where your river cruise starts, you’ll get a real sense of Russian culture as St. Petersburg offers an exploration of Russian history while Moscow is on the cutting edge and looking forward. 

Photo Gallery for Russia Cruises

Catch a glimpse into grand Russia in our Russia cruising photo gallery. Preview many of Russia’s national treasures – like the Peterhof Palace, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Katherine’s Palace and Red Square – before contacting one of our cruise experts to plan your very own trip to this fascinating nation.

Assumption Cathedral in Yaroslavl from Volga River

Church of the Dmity in Uglich from the Volga River

Fountains in Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg

Interior of Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

Katherine's Palace in Pushkin, Russia

Matrioshka Nesting dolls from Russia

Red Square in Moscow, Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow

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