Cruising is one of the most exciting and relaxing ways to travel, combining luxury, convenience, and adventure into one unforgettable holiday experience. While some cruises may seem expensive at first glance, there are plenty of ways to find a cheap cruises that fit your budget. With careful planning, flexibility, and a few insider tricks, you can secure incredible cruise deals and enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about finding cheap cruises, from booking strategies to saving money onboard.
What You Will Find Here
Where to Find Cheap Cruises
Finding the cheapest cruise deals begins with knowing where to look. From online platforms to trusted travel agents, here are the best resources:
Cruise Line Websites
Many cruise lines post their promotions directly on their websites. These deals may include discounts on fares, free upgrades, onboard credits, or all-inclusive packages. Royal Caribbean, Marella Cruises, and MSC are known for their frequent sales. Signing up for newsletters ensures you’re always informed about the latest offers.
Travel Agents With Help You Find Cheap Cruises
Specialist travel agents often have access to exclusive cruise deals that aren’t available to the general public. They may offer bundled packages that include extras like drinks packages, excursions, or prepaid gratuities. Agents are also invaluable for tailoring your cruise holiday to your preferences, ensuring you get the most for your money.
Plan Your Trip
Check out these handy links to help you booking your next trip.
Online Cruise Deal Websites
Platforms like Iglu aggregate deals from various cruise lines, allowing you to compare prices and find the best options. These allow you to filter offers for last-minute deals, destinations, and specific cruise lines.
Understanding What Makes a Cruise Cheap
A “cheap cruise” isn’t necessarily about sacrificing quality—it’s about smart planning and knowing where to look for value. Cruise prices can range from as little as £50 per night to several hundred, depending on factors such as the cruise line, destination, and season.
Factors That Influence Cruise Costs
Chose An Inside Cabin
Inside cabins are typically the most affordable choice on any cruise. These cabins are located on the ship’s interior and don’t have windows, so you won’t have a view of the ocean. If you don’t mind the lack of natural light or prefer sleeping in total darkness, then an inside cabin will work for you. Despite this, they offer all the standard amenities such as a comfortable bed, private bathroom, TV, and storage space.
If you are looking for the lowest price possible to stretch your budget for other aspects of your cruise holiday, like shore excursions or dining upgrades. Or are budget-conscious travellers prioritising exploring the ship and ports over spending time in their room? You would benefit more from booking an inside cabin.
Book A Guaranteed Cabin
Guarantee cabins are an excellent choice for travellers prioritising savings over specific room preferences. When booking this option, you pay for a particular cabin category (e.g., inside, oceanview, or balcony) but leave the specific room assignment to the cruise line. This makes it one of the cheapest ways to secure your desired cabin type, and there’s even a chance you could be upgraded to a higher-tier cabin at no extra cost.
However, there are trade-offs to consider. With guaranteed cabins, you won’t have control over the exact location of your room, meaning you could end up near high-traffic areas like elevators, noisy venues, or spaces prone to motion, such as the forward or aft sections of the ship. This option may not be ideal if cabin location is crucial for your comfort—especially to avoid seasickness or disturbances. Despite these drawbacks, guarantee cabins can provide excellent value for flexible travellers willing to take the gamble.
Destination: How Your Cruise Choice Impacts the Price
The destination of your cruise is one of the most significant factors influencing the cost of your trip. Popular routes attract more cruise lines, increasing competition and, often, lowering prices. However, pricing dynamics vary widely depending on the destination, its seasonality, and the availability of alternative options.
Caribbean Cruises
The Caribbean is one of the most sought-after cruise destinations in the world, known for its turquoise waters, sunny weather, and tropical islands. Due to the high number of cruise lines operating in this region, including budget-friendly options like Carnival and MSC Cruises prices remain competitive year-round.
Shorter itineraries, such as 3- or 4-night cruises to popular destinations like the Bahamas or Cozumel, tend to offer the cheapest fares. There are deals to be found on short Caribbean cruises all year round. You can also get a great week’s cruise by doing two short cruise back to back.
It’s not for everyone, but travelling during hurricane season (June to November), when fewer travellers book cruises, can save a lot of money. While there’s a risk of itinerary changes, ships are equipped to reroute if necessary, and prices drop significantly during these months.
Mediterranean Cruises
The Mediterranean combines culture, history, and beautiful coastlines, making it another highly popular route. Ports of call often include iconic cities like Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Dubrovnik. Similar to the Caribbean, the wide range of cruise lines operating in this area fosters competition, keeping prices relatively affordable during off-peak seasons.
April to early June and September to October (shoulder seasons) are the best times to find cheap Mediterranean cruise deals. The weather is still pleasant, but you’ll avoid the peak summer crowds and prices.
Look for 5- or 7-night itineraries departing from major European ports, as they tend to have better deals than extended two-week voyages. Also, eastern Mediterranean cruises, which visit destinations like Greece and Turkey, often cost less than Western Mediterranean routes, focusing on Italy, France, and Spain.
Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords
While cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and other parts of Northern Europe can be pricier than Caribbean or Mediterranean options, there are still opportunities to save. And with more ships sailing the Norwegian Fjords, there are becoming more opportunities to grab a bargain.
The cheapest prices are typically available in May and September, just outside the peak summer months. These times still offer stunning scenery but at a fraction of the cost.
You can also get some great bargains taking mini-cruises or round trips departing from ports like Southampton or Amsterdam can be an affordable way to explore the Fjords without committing to a long voyage.
Alaska Cruises
Alaska cruises offer breathtaking landscapes, glaciers, and wildlife, making them a bucket-list experience for many travellers. However, they can be expensive due to shorter sailing seasons and high demand.
Early season (May) or late season (September) often sees discounted fares. Look for one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Anchorage, sometimes cheaper than round trips. But you have to factor in flight costs if you are sailing in and out of different ports.
Carnival Cruise Line often offers lower-priced options compared to more premium lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises or Princess Cruises.
Transatlantic and Repositioning Cruises
Transatlantic and repositioning cruises are excellent options for travellers seeking unique destinations at lower costs. These cruises typically occur in spring and autumn as ships move between regions. This is when cruise lines reposition their ships for the next season, it has become a vey popular cruise for cruise passengers who are more flexible with holiday dates and enjoy long periods of time at sea.
The per-night costs can be significantly lower than standard cruises, with fares as little as £40–£50 per night for an inside cabin. Stops in ports like the Azores, Canary Islands, or Bermuda make these journeys especially appealing. These cruises often last 10–14 days, offering incredible value for travellers with flexible schedules.
When to Book Cheap Cruises
Timing is everything when it comes to finding affordable cruises. Whether you’re planning far in advance or hoping for a last-minute deal, understanding the right booking window can save you a lot of money.
Early Bird Discounts
Booking 12–18 months in advance often comes with early bird discounts. Cruise lines reward early planners with lower prices and the best choice of cabins. This is particularly beneficial for peak season high-demand routes like the Mediterranean, Transatlantic and the Caribbean.
Families booking cruise lines such as NCL, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruises need to plan and book early for the best deals. Three and four-berth cabins sell out quickly, to get the right cabin at the right price, plan dates early and look for family cruise discounts and free kids spaces.
Get Cheap Cruises By Booking A Last-Minute Deal
If you’re flexible with your dates and destinations, last-minute cruising can be incredibly rewarding. Cruise lines often slash prices within 60–90 days of departure to fill unsold cabins. Signing up for deal alerts or checking dedicated last-minute sections on cruise websites is key to snagging these bargains.
How to Find Cheap Last-Minute Cruises
Last-minute cheap cruises are a fantastic way to travel affordably, but they require flexibility and quick decision-making. Choosing a nearby port, such as Southampton, for UK travellers reduces additional costs like flights.
Also, by letting the cruise line assign your cabin, you can save significantly and plan leave for months like September and October, which is ideal for finding last-minute deals, especially for Caribbean or Mediterranean cruises.
Look For The Best Deals on All-Inclusive Cruises
All-inclusive cruises can provide excellent value by bundling meals, drinks, and entertainment into one upfront cost. To find affordable all-inclusive options. Look for cruise lines offering inclusive packages: Marella Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) are known for comprehensive pricing.
Book during promotions, many cruise lines periodically include extras like drinks packages or shore excursions in their fares. Plus, compare all-inclusive fares vs standard fares. Ensure the cost of an all-inclusive cruise doesn’t outweigh what you’d spend on extras like meals or drinks if booked separately.
Tips for Saving Money Onboard
Even with a cheap cruise fare, onboard expenses can add up quickly. Here’s how to keep costs under control. Avoid buying pricey items like sunscreen, toiletries, or chargers onboard by packing them in advance.
Most cruises offer complimentary meals in main dining rooms and buffets. Save speciality restaurants for a special occasion. Plus onboard Wi-Fi can be expensive. Consider downloading necessary files or entertainment before boarding.
Some cruise lines allow passengers to bring a limited amount of wine or soft drinks. Check the policy with the cruise line before you sail.
Explore ports independently or book through local operators rather than paying premium prices for cruise-organised excursions.
Hidden Cruise Costs to Watch Out For
When booking a cheap cruise, accounting for potential hidden costs is essential. Many cruise lines automatically charge daily gratuities to your bill, which can add up over a week. Check if these are included in your package or pay them up-front.
Drink packages can be expensive, so calculate whether you’ll use them enough to justify the cost. But remember, most drink packages include soft drinks, water, tea, and coffee; when these are factored in, the savings can be huge even though the upfront cost of the package seems to be a lot of money.
While many activities are included in cruising, some, like spa treatments or special classes, come with extra fees, so be aware of costs and budget those in.
Please note this post is a collaboration.
