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Need 8 or more Cabins? Group Cruises

• FREE Speciality Dining
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• Up to 60% OFF Your 2nd Guest
• Up to $700 Instant Savings
• Up to $600 Onboard Credit
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Up to 35% OFF

3rd and 4th Guest Discount

Princess Plus and Premiere Benefits

• Up to 50% OFF on Sailing
• Discounted Deposit
• Have It All Benefits
• Kids Discount

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Book a Cruise Online with the Best Cruise Finder and Cruise Booking Website

CruiseDirect is a leading online cruise travel company dedicated to providing customers with better deals than any other cruise website and access to great deals on cruise vacations. Offering special rates and savings on cruise bookings with some of the most popular cruise lines in the world, we are so confident in our cruise packages that each and every deal is backed by a price guarantee. You won't find these prices on other cruise booking sites.

Since 2001, we've helped our customers find the perfect cruise packages and book dream cruise vacations for less. We are a cruise finder and booking website committed to helping you research all your cruise travel options to find a cruise that fits what you're looking for. After you find the perfect cruise, make your reservation with our cutting-edge booking engine. We are the best site to book a cruise with because we are driven by our passion for cruise ship travel. Book a cruise today and enjoy the excitement of cruising the world with us!

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Explore all the different ways you can set sail.

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See the best cruise destinations from up on deck and explore popular journeys

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Save on your next cruise with these deals and have extra to spend on board or on land

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Sail more for less. Members can save an average of 10% on select cruises from top brands

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Trips made easy with all-inclusive cruise options—from dining inclusions to excursions

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*Sail more for less. Members can save an average of 10% on select cruises from top brands.

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WHY BOOK WITH CRUISE.COM?

Award-Winning Service, Decades of Experience and Exclusive Deals

Cruise.com has been connecting travelers with the perfect cruise vacations since 1998. We pride ourselves in the best service possible, an accomplishment acknowledged by the most authoritative companies in the cruise industry. Cruise.com was named Agency of the Year by Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. As well as these major industry awards, MSC Cruises named Cruise.com Online Partner of the Year and many other cruise companies have celebrated our years of service to the cruise travel industry.

Cruises offer a great value and are an excellent way to see your favorite destinations around the globe. Cruise.com offers cruises on all cruise lines, including Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and a host of others. When booking a cruise on Cruise.com you can select your preferred cruise line, destination and many other search options to find the best cruise for your next vacation. Our agents are experts in cruising and are available 24/7 in case you prefer to book over the phone. As one of the largest cruise sellers Cruise.com is able to offer our clients exclusive discounts, onboard credits, upgrades and many other valuable amenities. Call now to get the best cruise deal on your next vacation.

Best Cruises

Caribbean, Alaska & Europe

• Up to $1,700 Onboard Credits
• FREE GRATUITIES
• FREE Beverage Package
• Reduced Airfare
• Healthy Sail Protocols

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Up to 35% OFF + 3th & 4th Guests FREE

• Exclusive: Up to $1,785 Onboard Credit
• Princess Premier Upgrade: Beverage Package, Wi-Fi, Crew Appreciation, Specialty Dining, & more
• Solo Traveler Rates
• Special Resident Rates
• Call in Sale! Save up to $500
• Military: Up to $250 Onboard Credit

60% OFF 2nd Guest

+ 30% OFF 3rd/4th Guests + Instant Savings + Kids Sail FREE + Specialty Dining for 2

• FREE Gratuities or Up to $1,700 Onboard Credit
• Up to $500pp Airfare Savings
• Military, Police & Firefighter Rates
• AMEX Cardholder Benefits
• AMEX Cardholder Benefits: Up to $300 Onboard Credit + Bottle of Premium Champagne

70% OFF 2nd Guest + FREE AT SEA

FREE Open Bar, Specialty Dining, FREE Shore Excursion Credit, FREE 3rd/4th Guest, FREE Wi-Fi + BOGO Airfare

• FREE Gratuities
• Up to $1,700 Cash Back
• Up to $300 Onboard Spending
• 50% Reduced Deposit
• Reduced Rates for Singles
• Past Guest Offer

Anniversary Sale

+ Up to 45% OFF + Up to $1,000 Onboard Credit + FREE 3rd & 4th Guests + 50% Reduced Deposit

• Exclusive: Up to $1,700 Cash Back
• FREE Gratuities on select 2024 Alaska
• Early Booking Savings
• Exclusive Savings for Members
• Distinctive Voyages: Amenities include Cocktail Reception + Exclusive Shore Event

PICK YOUR PERK

$1,000 Onboard Credit OR $1,000 Airfare Discount

EARLY BOOKING BONUS: 20% OFF, Beverage Package, Wi-Fi & Shore Excursion Credit

• FREE AzAmazing Evening Event
• Reduced Single Supplement
• Back to Back Cruise Savings
• Beverage Package
• Dine at the Chef's Table

Popular Cruises:

• Last Minute Cruise Deals
• Caribbean Cruises
• Holiday Cruises
• Mediterranean Cruises
• River Cruises
• Royal Caribbean Cruises
• World Cruises

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Cruise Deals on All Major Cruise Lines

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DAILY CRUISE DEALS

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Exclusive Cruise Offers

+ 30% OFF 3rd/4th Guests + Kids Sail FREE + Instant Savings + Specialty Dining for 2

• Up to $500 Air Savings
• AMEX Cardholders: Up to $300 Onboard Credit + Bottle of Champagne
• AMEX Cardholder Benefit

GREAT SAVINGS:

Up to 75% OFF 2nd Guest --> + Instant Savings + FREE AMENITIES: FREE Beverage Package + Basic Wi-Fi

• Exclusive: Up to $1,700 Onboard Credit
• Galapagos: Save 20% + FREE Airfare
• Back to Back Savings
• Special Military Rates

LIMITED TIME:

Up to 35% OFF + 3rd & 4th Guest FREE PRIVATE SALE: Up to $1,800 Onboard Savings + Reduced Deposits

• Call in Sale: Save up to $500 per stateroom
• Military Special
• Military: FREE Onboard Spending up to $250
• Solo Traverler Rates
• Complimentary Wine

EARLY SAVER SALE

Up to $50 Onboard Credit + 50% Reduced Deposit + FREE Upgrades

+ AUSTRALIA SALE: Great Guaranteed Rates + Reduced Deposit SPRING SAVINGS: Great Reduced Rates

• PACK & GO SALE
• Up to $1,600 Cash Back
• FREE Upgrades
• Resident, Military & Senior Rates

Up to 45% OFF

+ Up to $1,000 Onboard Credit + 50% Reduced Deposit + 3rd & 4th Guests FREE

Exclusive Savings for Members: Call for Details

• FREE Gratuities on select Alaska 2024 sailings
• Distinctive Voyages: Cocktail Reception + Exclusive Shore Event

70% Off 2nd Guest + Take All FREE: FREE Open Bar + FREE Specialty Dining + FREE Wi-Fi + Shore Excursion Credit + 3/4 Guest Sail FREE + BOGO Airfare

• 50% Reduced Deposits
• Solo Reduced Rates
• Past Guests Offer

Four Queens Bonus Event:

Up to $600 Onboard Credit + 50% Reduced Deposit UPGRADES ON US: Up to $800 Credit + Stateroom Upgrade + Grill Suites: Drinks, Hotel & Dining service charges included Up to $250 in FREE Onboard Spending-->

• Solo Traveler Discount: Up to 25% OFF
• Sailing Soon Savings: Fares from $1099
• Military: Up to $250 in FREE Onboard Spending

DISCOVERY AWAITS EVENT

Up to $2,000 Onboard Credit + Reduced Deposit + Past Guests: Up to $1,200 Discount + Grill Suite Guests: FREE Gratuities & Drinks

• Up to $400 Onboard Credit

ESCAPE TO SEA: Cruise Only Rates from $179

Bundled All in: Add Drinks and Wi-Fi & Save

• Kids Sail FREE
• Exclusive Rates - Must Call to Book
• Military, Civil & Interline Rates

EARLY SAVER SALE: Up to $50 Onboard Credit + 50% Reduced Deposit + FREE Upgrades

AUSTRALIA SAVER SALE: Up to $50 AUD Onboard Credit + 50% Reduced Deposit

• Exclusive: Up to $1,600 Cash Back

FREE PRE-CRUISE HOTEL STAY

SIMPLY MORE PERKS: 2 for 1 Cruise Fares + Roundtrip Air + FREE Shore Excursions + Specialty Dining + FREE Champagne, Wine & more + FREE Unlimited Wi-Fi + Airport Transfers

• Premium Economy Air Upgrade from $499
• Past Guest Savings: 10% Exclusive Savings
• Solo Travelers: 50% Single Supplement Waived

UPGRADE & EXPLORE MORE: FREE 2-Category Suite Upgrade + $500 Shipboard Credit

Kids Sail FREE or REDUCED

• Up to $250 Onboard Credit
• Reduced Single Supplements
• Kids Sail from $999
• Air Specials Available
• Extended Voyages: Up to 25% Savings per suite
• 2 For 1 Fares + FREE GRATUITIES + FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions + FREE Beverages

SPRING SALE: FREE International Airfare + $25 Deposit

Exclusive Offer: $200 Shipboard Credit

• FREE Shore Excursions
• FREE Beer & Wine with lunch and dinner

SALE BEYOND EVENT: 2-Category Veranda Suite Upgrade + Up to $2,000 Shipboard Credit SEABOURN CLUB SAVINGS: 5% Discount for all Suite Categories

• Complimentary Wine, Welcome Champagne
• Private Cocktail Reception + Exclusive Shore Event

GREAT SAVINGS: + $1000 Onboard Credit or $1000 Airfare Discount

EARLY BOOKING BONUS: 20% OFF + Premium Beverage Package, $300 Onboard Credit & Unlimited Wi-Fi

• Back-to-Back Savings

SPRING SAVINGS SALE: Reduced rates starting from $299p

FREE DRINK PACKAGE: My Drinks Packages Included

• SOLO TRAVELERS: Save up to 80%
• Exclusive Rates: Book Now and Save
• CostaClub Benefits Available — Call for details

CRUISE.COM EXCLUSIVE: Up to $2,800 OFF

REDUCED DEPOSIT: 50% OFF Required Deposit

• Limited Time - Save up to 25%
• Limited Time - Special Military Rates
• Offers may be combinable with your Castaway Club Rewards Benefits - Call for details.

PICK YOUR PERK: FREE Hotel Night (pre- or post-cruise) OR Up to $1,000 Shipboard Credit OR FREE Upgrade to All-Inclusive Fares for Premium Suites Guests

• Upgrade to All-Inclusive Fares: Unlimited Beer, Wine & cocktails, Wi-Fi & Gratuities from $79pp per day
• Reduced Rates on ALL Destinations
• Distinctive Voyages: Up to $300 Shipboard Credit + Private Welcome Reception + Host
• Complimentary watersports (port/weather dependent)
• Welcome Cocktails + 24 hour in room dining

SPRING INTO SAVINGS SALE: Ocean Cruises: Save up to $4,500 per Suite River Cruises: Save up to $12,000 per Suite

OCEAN: 2 for 1 Fares + Up to $11,000 FlexCredit RIVER: 2 for 1 Fares + Up to $3,000 FlexCredit

• EXCLUSIVE RATES: Book Now and Save
• Complimentary Gratuities
• Unlimited Drinks
• FREE Wi-Fi & Excursions
• Complimentary Transfers
• Personal Butler

UP TO 80% OFF 2ND GUEST

• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Complimentary Dining in All onboard Restaurants
• Group Fitness Classes
• Water, Drip Coffee, Teas, Non-Pressed Juices & Soda

EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS: Save 5% when you book early & pay in full

FAMILY VACATION SAVINGS: Save up to 50% OFF for kids & additional guests

• Unlimited Fine Beverages
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Culinary Experiences
• In-suite Welcome Bottle of Champagne upon arrival

DOOR-TO-DOOR ALL INCLUSIVE FARES: Up to $4,000 Savings

VENETIAN SOCIETY SAVINGS: Additional 5% Savings

• Refer a Friend: Save up to $500
• 25% Single Supplements Fares
• Complimentary Beverages
• Welcome Bottle of Champagne

LIMITED TIME: Save up to 40% on select cruises

GALAPAGOS BOGO: Buy One Cruise Fare, Get Second Cruise Fare FREE on select Galápagos sailings - Must Call to Book!

• Hurtigruten Expeditions: Save up to 45%
• Single Travelers: Reduced or Waived Single Supplements
• Northern Lights Promise

UPGRADE OFFER: Wi-Fi, Specialty Dining & Premium Drink Package

Premium Drinks Package from US$19 per day

• Unlimited Drink Package
• Select Shore Excursions
• Onboard Entertainment

SPRING SERENITY SALE: Up to $1,000 Savings per stateroom

• Open Bar with select wines & premium spirits
• 24 hour room service
• Daily selection of Wines for lunch & dinner

BOOK NOW SAVINGS

Save up to $5,400 per Suite

• Expedition Cruises: Save up to $10,000 per Suite

Up to $1,700 Onboard Credit

• Open bars throughout the ship

Exclusive Adult Only Departures

• Two Adventure Guides
• Outstanding Accommodations
• Most meals during trip
• Gratuities Included

Save up to $150 per person

Travel With Friends:Save 5% on 5 - 9 People

• Solo Traveler Savings Save $50 per person
• Group Discounts on 10+ people
• Military Discounts
• Special Student Discounts
• Small Group Departure

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Up to $1600 Tour Credit

Small-Group Discovery

• Worldwide Destinations
• Guided Sightseeing Tours
• Gratuities included

Up to $1,700 Tour Credit

• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
• Hotel Accommodations

Independent City Stay

Choice Touring by Globus

• Small Group Discovery Tour

Exclusive Experiences

• TAUCK BRIDGES: Family Discovery Tours
• Ken Burns American Journeys
• Airport Transfers

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Up to $1,600 Tour Credit

• All Hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• Airport Transfers on the first and last day of your guided holiday
• An expert Travel Director and separate driver
• VIP entry to many sights

SUMMER TRIPLE SAVINGS: Up to $4000 Savings + Complimentary Upgrade + Up to $100 Onboard Credit

BONUS SAVINGS: Additional 5% Savings

• Mekong River: 2-For-1 Land
• Christmas Markets: Save up to $2,000
• Solo Traveler Specials
• FREE Wi-Fi + Unlimited Beverages

SAIL AWAY & SAVE: Up to $3,500 Savings + $100 Shore Excursion & $100 Onboard Credit

EXCLUSIVE: Up tp $1,700 Onboard Credit

• Complimentary Shore Excursions
• FREE Wi-Fi, Beverages

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Complimentary AirFare + Up to $1,500 Savings

• Complimentary cocktail hour each evening
• Breakfast room service
• Afternoon tea service in the Sky Lounge

AIR & CRUISE SAVINGS: FREE Airfare + Save $500 per couple

• Mekong River: Save up to $2,000 per couple
• Galapagos: Save up to $1,500 per couple
• Single Supplement Waived
• Complimentary Excursions

EXCLUSIVE ONBOARD CREDIT

• Save up to $4,000 per Suite
• FREE Wine & Wi-Fi
• Call for Rates TOO LOW to Advertise

YACHT VOYAGES: 2 for 1 Fares + Up to $5,000 Savings OR FREE Airfare

RIVER CRUISES: 2 for 1 Fares + Up to $3,700 Savings or FREE Airfare

• Exclusive Rates: Book Now & Save
• FREE Drinks at Lunch & Dinner

BOOK NOW & SAVE

• FREE use of bicycles during port visits
• FREE water, coffee and tea

CRUISE SAVINGS EVENT: Save up to $3,000 per person

RIVER HERITAGE CLUB SAVINGS: Save up to $500 per person

• Solo Traveler Savings: Waived Single Supplement
• 205 Early Booking: Save 10%
• Unlimited Beverages
• Complimentary Internet & Wi-F
• Complimentary Culinary Experiences

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $200 Shipboard Credit

• FREE Unlimited Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks
• Exclusive Rates

All offers are based on select sailings and categories and are subject to availability at time of booking. Not all offers are combinable with other offers.

Featured Cruise Deals

Featured Land Tours

WEEKLY VIDEO CRUISE DEALS

Royal Caribbean

• 30% OFF ALL Guests
• FREE Spa Treatment

Holland America Line

Carnival Cruise Line

• Great Reduced Rates
• Military Early Saver Offer

Check back weekly to see the newest deals and visit our YouTube Channel to experience the latest in cruise innovations and unique destinations.

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The Best Ways to Book a Cruise

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

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

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

What is the best way to book a cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Best-price guarantee.

Customer service is available seven days a week.

Charges a $24.99 processing fee on reservations.

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

» Learn more: The best cruise lines

For consulting reviews from other cruisers: Cruise Critic

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

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

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

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

Price tracker shows 90-day trends for cruise prices.

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

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

To review several cruise prices at once: CruiseDirect

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

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

Bonus offers on every reservation provide extra value.

Best-price guarantee and free reservation holds.

Buy now, pay later financing options.

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

Customer service can be unfriendly.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

For budget-friendly options: Priceline

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

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

Up to $2,000 to spend on board.

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

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

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

Must call Priceline to get exclusive offers and unpublished fares.

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

» Learn more: Tips for getting the best cruise deals

For booking travel experiences beyond the cruise: TripAdvisor

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

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

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

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

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

To match with a vacation planner: Avoya Travel

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

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

Match with cruise planners according to your needs.

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

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

Must become a member to unlock the best deals.

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

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

» Learn more: The best cruise insurance right now

To book a vacation package with an airline or hotel

American airlines cruises.

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

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

Earn miles and Loyalty Points toward travel and elite status.

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

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

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

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Delta SkyMiles Cruises

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

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

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

Waives deposits when booking eligible cruises.

110% price guarantee within 48 hours of booking.

Most cruise awards are capped at 10,000 miles.

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

United Airlines Cruises

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

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

Earn up to 7x miles on cruises.

United MileagePlus Premier members receive additional perks.

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

Not all cruises can be booked online.

Prices do not include a nonrefundable $24.99 processing fee.

Marriott Bonvoy Cruises

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

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

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

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

Can use Bonvoy points to pay for your cruise.

Redemption value of Bonvoy points is only 0.4 cent.

Must call to book cruises using points.

Processing fee of $24.99 per reservation.

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

For cruise package deals: Costco Travel

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

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

Earn 2% rewards and extra perks with Executive Membership.

Some cruises offer Costco gift cards or onboard credit.

Must be a member to book reservations with Costco Travel.

Directly with the Cruise Line

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

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

Simple search functions.

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

Less likely to get scammed by fraudulent sites.

Miss out on deals offered by third-party sites.

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

Comparing cruise prices across websites

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

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

Mitigate cancellation policy risks with travel insurance

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

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

» Learn more: The best credit cards for cruises

Travel cards with cruise benefits

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

on Chase's website

on Bank of America's website

on American Express' website

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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

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

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

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

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

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Booking a cruise recapped

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The 9 Best Sites to Book a Cruise

Avital Andrews

Avital Andrews, SmarterTravel's editor-at-large, is a travel and lifestyle journalist who is also a contributing editor for AAA's Via magazine. Her stories have been among the 10 most emailed or viewed on the Los Angeles Times, Outside, Sierra, and SmarterTravel websites, and have also appeared in USA Today, HuffPost, Apple News, Business Insider, and many other nationwide outlets. Her travel book , sold at bookstores and on Amazon, is in its fourth edition, and her journalism gets national media attention, including from The New York Times , The Atlantic , Time , NPR, and MTV. She's currently working on her first children's book. Follow her on Twitter @avitalb .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: My laptop—the lightweight and stylish HP Spectre x360—since I'm almost always on deadline.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: A round-the-world cruise that makes stops to experience Aurora Borealis, the Olympics opening ceremony, Borneo, Madagascar, the Jerusalem Festival of Light, the Bolivian salt flats, Kenya's Giraffe Manor, the Galapagos, the Maldives, Bora Bora, the Seychelles, and every Disney park. (That itinerary definitely exists, right?)

Travel Motto: I'll steal Saint Augustine's: "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Window, always. For the views and also the naps.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Booking a cruise isn’t always simple. It can be a complicated, time-consuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. But knowing the best site to book a cruise can help a lot.

And while would-be travelers are accustomed to clicking around on travel search engines to find the best deals on flights , hotels , and rental cars , many people don’t realize that they can use these same types of sites to book cruises, too.

But is there one best site to book a cruise? That depends on what you’re looking for. Sometimes the best cruise website is actually a cruise line’s own site—since technically, cruise booking websites aren’t allowed to undercut the prices that the cruise lines set.

Often, though, the best cruise search engines are indispensable for locating incredible deals, including ones that throw in booking incentives worth hundreds of dollars—in Amazon gift cards, complimentary shore excursions, onboard freebies, and so on.

To save you the hassle, SmarterTravel investigated the glutted space of cheap cruise sites to determine which are worthy of listing as the best cruise websites; below are a few that come highly recommended.

The Best Sites to Book a Cruise

• Expedia (including Travelocity and Orbitz )
• TripAdvisor

Avoya Travel

Cheapcaribbean.com, cruisedirect, cruise critic, costco travel, cruisewatch.

Expedia is an obvious first mention in a list of the best cruise booking sites, in part because it’s an absolute juggernaut (Expedia also owns Travelocity and Orbitz ). Its cruise-booking interface is simple and straightforward, only requiring you to enter your preferred sailing destination and date range, as well as how many passengers you’ll be bringing along. Then Expedia does the heavy lifting for you, with comprehensive results that make it one of the best cruise search engines.

On Expedia, it’s common to find bookable cruises for 70 percent off face value, with the ability to sort by price so the best cruise deals come up at the top of the list, saving you the scrolling. A sample search for a mid-June cruise to Alaska, for example, quickly came up with a seven-night itinerary starting at $389 per person—that’s less than $56 per person, per night for a mostly inclusive weeklong vacation.

Expedia’s cruise deals tend to come paired with other enticing offers, including steep discounts on pre-departure hotels when you book both your cruise and hotel through Expedia. There’s also a dedicated 800 number that lets you speak to Expedia’s cruise experts and, often but not always, a generous amount of onboard credit thrown in for good measure.

Best feature: Sheer search power. Expedia’s easy-to-use cruise search engine generates a useful and well-ordered list of the best cruise deals, without much effort required from the user. Also, Expedia’s prices frequently match what the cruise lines themselves offer.

Check out Expedia

Priceline is another powerhouse among cheap cruise websites. The initial interface comes off a bit clunkier than, say, Expedia’s or Kayak’s, but the tradeoff is that you can quickly search by cruise line, both standard and luxury, as well as by cruise length and departure port.

Using the seven-night Alaska example, Priceline brought up an itinerary aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas that starts at just $374 for the full week—roughly $53 per night. Hard-to-believe cruise deals like this show up on Priceline with regularity, which is part of what solidifies it as one of the best cruise websites.

Also adding to the appeal: deals exclusive to Priceline, plenty of bonus amenities (examples include $50 in onboard credit, third and fourth guests sailing free, and free specialty dinners for two), no money down to book certain sailings, frequent onboard credit sales, an 800 number to call should you need assistance while booking, and a loyalty club that’s ties in with every cruise line’s loyalty program. Priceline also lets you click a “senior discount” box if that applies to you.

Best feature: Priceline’s “ 110% Best Price Guarantee ” promises that if you find your cruise listed at a lower price on another website within 48 hours of booking, then Priceline will refund you 110 percent of the cost difference, including port charges.

Check out Priceline

Tripadvisor

Many people think of Tripadvisor mainly as a travel review site, where you go to get real talk on hotels and attractions, and to see non-glamorized photos of places as seen through actual travelers’ eyes. But Tripadvisor is also an excellent site for travel deals, including on cruises.

Tripadvisor Cruise , which launched in April 2019, is among the best websites for cruise deals—it lets you nab the lowest price by comparing more than 70,000 ocean and river cruises from some 60 of the best cruise websites. It’s got an attractive, inspiring landing page, and its newest function, “Explore Ship-tinerary pages,” lets you browse full ship profiles, details, photos, and itineraries.

Though Tripadvisor is technically a meta-search site for cruises, which means that it will send you elsewhere to actually book, its search engine lets users sort by destination, length, cruise line, and month of travel. The default search results are ordered by “best value”, unless you specifically click that you’d rather see the results organized by price, cruise length, departure date, or cruise ship. Even when you click on “price,” the lowest-priced offering doesn’t always come up first, though it only takes a few seconds of scanning to determine which itinerary has the lowest price—that seven-night Royal Caribbean International trip to Alaska came up on Tripadvisor starting at $365.

Best feature: What makes Tripadvisor one of the best sites to book a cruise? In addition to having one of the best cruise search engines, Tripadvisor lets you read other cruisers’ candid reviews of the cruise that you’re considering, so that you get the non-sugarcoated truth about each sailing.

Check out Tripadvisor

7 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Ship

A rarity on the internet, Avoya Travel is a family-owned company that has been dealing in travel for more than 55 years. Avoya is one of the best sites to book a cruise in part because of its patented technology that lets travelers search cruises by destination, date range, cruise line, and last-minute status—and then get matched up, in real time, with one of Avoya’s expert vacation planners, who use that algorithm to customize a cruise booking to your specific preferences. (From Avoya’s website: “…we combine the ease of online search, with the expertise and personalized service of Independent Vacation Planners, plus secure exclusive deals and extras so you get more out of every vacation.”)

Avoya’s team of staffers and wide network of independent agencies make for a cruise booking website that’s a bit different from the rest. Its front page shows the “Best Travel Deals,” which might include half-off cruise fares, onboard credit, prepaid gratuities, and free or reduced airfare.

Like several of the other best cruise websites, Avoya offers a low-price guarantee; if you book a cruise with Avoya and then find a lower rate on another website within 24 hours of booking, Avoya will refund the difference.

Best feature: Avoya offers free membership, and members get exclusive deals and discounts, access to unpublished fares, first dibs on promotions, the ability to save favorite searches, and the right to book, change, or cancel travel without incurring any Avoya fees.

Check out Avoya Travel

When looking for the best site to book a cruise, don’t be put off by CheapCaribbean.com ’s overly specific moniker. Despite the site’s name, it offers cruises all over the world. The site’s vibe is beach-oriented and a bit cheeky, with a front page that can overwhelm—but click on the “Cruises” tab, and a cleaner interface appears. There you can search by cruise line, ship, destination, departure date, and departure port.

CheapCaribbean.com offers refunds on 24-hour cancellations (within certain parameters) and a “ 110 percent best price guarantee, ” a promise that if you find a lower price on the same cruise within 48 hours of booking, the company will refund you 110 percent of the difference. The site also lists traveler reviews about each cruise ship (as supplied by Cruiseline), though the reviews often include comments about the ship’s destinations other than the one you’re considering, which isn’t entirely helpful. There’s also a live chat widget if questions come up while booking.

Best feature: Helping to make CheapCaribbean.com one of the best cruise search engines is the fact that it lets you check boxes for additional discounts, including a senior discount, discounts by state (just enter your ZIP code), and past guest discounts if you’ve previously sailed with, say, Princess, Norwegian, or Disney.

Check out CheapCaribbean.com

Its front page is clunky and sort of in your face, but CruiseDirect is still one of the best cruise sites for a variety of reasons. As a cruise-only company, CruiseDirect doesn’t deal in flights, hotels, or rental cars, allowing it to focus its full capacity on helping you find the best cruise deal possible. On the site, you can search by destination, departure port, month, length of cruise, and cruise line. There’s real-time online chat and a contact number for support from a cruise expert. If you aren’t quite ready to buy, you can “heart” cruises to save them as favorites to refer back to later.

CruiseDirect offers perks on most sailings, like onboard credit, free drinks, free Wi-Fi, free gratuities, free travel insurance, or a free specialty dining experience—check out the “Bonus” box on the cruise listing you’re considering to see what extras it comes with.

Best feature: Like some of the other cruise websites on this list, CruiseDirect offers a “ best price guarantee ,” which means that if you find a lower price on another cruise booking website within 24 hours of your initial booking, you’ll get refunded the difference. But one key difference between CruiseDirect and the other cruise sites is that you don’t have to pay the cost of your cruise up front, just a deposit—and then if your cruise fare drops before you’ve made your final payment, CruiseDirect will readjust your rate accordingly.

Check out CruiseDirect

5 Crazy Themed Cruises You Can Take in 2022 and 2023

A subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Cruise Critic has similar search results to that site, but it offers a bit more comprehensive information for seasoned cruisers who want more details before they book. Cruise Critic has tons of filters and sort options to help you find what you want, including everything from cruise line to cruise style (family cruises, luxury cruises, cruises for the disabled). Each itinerary clearly lists what is and isn’t included in the fare; Wi-Fi, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, and port taxes and fees are among the common exclusions.

Certain itineraries are marked with graphics declaring that the ship has won one of the site’s “Cruisers’ Choice” awards, denoting vessels that Cruise Critic members declare to be the among the best in categories such as cabins, entertainment, and family-friendly features.

You can sign up for price alerts, which will notify you by email when the fare on your selected itinerary drops.

Once you’re ready to book, Cruise Critic shows you a variety of offers from some of the best cruise booking sites, including bonuses such as onboard credit and prepaid gratuities. Then you click off to the site of your choice to make your purchase. Prices generally match what’s advertised on Cruise Critic.

Best feature: Under each search result is a tab for “reviews” where you can read reviews from Cruise Critic members who’ve previously traveled on the ship. On certain cruises you can click over to a full-length write-up of the ship by one of the experts on the Cruise Critic editorial team, including detailed information on dining options, cabins, entertainment, dress code, and more.

Check out Cruise Critic

When you think of Costco, you probably think of bulk food and toilet paper. But the next time you’re booking a cruise, it’ll be worthwhile to pull up Costco Travel , which is, unexpectedly, one of the best cruise websites.

The site doesn’t look fancy—it’s pretty bare-bones, visually—but the upside of going with a no-frills cruise-booking website is that Costco Travel offers extremely competitive prices, as well as some of the most attractive incentives, usually in the form of Costco Cash delivered to you after you get home from your cruise.

Though there’s no single point of contact if you need to call and discuss your cruise booking, Costco Travel’s call center is staffed with helpful agents from early morning until evening, seven days a week, and passengers can rest assured that Costco won’t go out of business before they set sail. Note that a Costco membership (starting at $60 per year) is required to book with Costco Travel, and that Costco doesn’t accept American Express.

Best feature: Rock-bottom prices—plus lots of cash back if you play your cards right: Costco Citi cardholders earn 3 percent cash back on cruise purchases, which can combine with the 2 percent Costco Reward for Costco Executive Members for a total of 5 percent back on Costco Travel’s already super low cruise rates.

Check out Costco Travel

Pondering which is the best site to book a cruise? Keep Cruisewatch in strong consideration—more than a typical cruise booking website, Cruisewatch bills itself as a “digital cruise advisor” that couples data power with personalization.

As an artificial intelligence cruise advisor, Crusewatch created technology that makes searching and booking a cruise more efficient—the first, it calls “Cruise Price Prediction.” In short, Cruisewatch collected and stored the daily price for each ship and cabin over a span of five years, resulting in millions of data points—and a massive database that informs exactly when cruise prices are lowest, and when the greatest saving potential exists.

Thanks to this comprehensive price history, Cruisewatch can predict cruise prices and drops with an accuracy rate of around 80 percent. Using the site’s cruise price prediction alerts, travelers can save up to 71 percent just by booking at the right time.

In addition to being able to predict prices, Cruisewatch tailors user search results to match their established preferences through customizable profiles and other similar features. This means you won’t waste time wading through cruises that may be cheap but don’t align with your vacation goals.

Best feature: Cruisewatch’s easy-to-set price alerts, based on tons of data, allow users to be notified in real time of the best new cruise deals the minute they come online.

Check out Cruisewatch

Book a Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

Need a place to stay the night before you set sail? Search SmarterTravel Hotels for great accommodations in your port of call.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Follow Avital Andrews on Twitter  @avitalb  or on  Facebook .

Editor’s note: Sarah Schlichter contributed to this story.

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How to Book a Cruise: Booking a Cruise FAQ

Booking a cruise may feel like a daunting task. In fact, there are several questions you need to ask yourself beforehand. When is the best time to book a cruise? Where should I book a cruise? What is the best cruise cabin for me? The list goes on.

We've gathered the top FAQ for booking a cruise and compiled them here to make your cruise reservation process that much smoother.

When Should I Book a Cruise?

Generally, you can book a cruise anywhere from 18 months to one week ahead of sailing. When you choose to book the cruise is up to you, but there are pros and cons for booking early or late.

Booking further ahead gives you more choice when it comes to cabin location. So, if you want a specific cabin or even a particular category that happens to be popular (certain suites and inside cabins tend to sell out first), you'll want to book as soon as possible.

The prices on most cruises tend to drop as the sail date approaches. That means that the closer to the date of sailing you book, the less choice you'll have in cabins but the more likely you are to save money.

The one exception to this is with high-demand sailings, like those during school holidays and each destination's high season.

Whether you book early or last minute, you're liable to get extra perks. Cruise lines use incentives to get people to book early (usually six months to more than a year ahead of sailing) or close to sailing day when ships haven't sold out. Perks can include extras like prepaid gratuities, drink packages, free internet or a free dinner in a specialty restaurant .

What Is the Best Way to Book a Cruise?

You can book a cruise online or via phone directly with the cruise line you've chosen. You can also use a travel agent to book cruises ( online booking sites , airline cruise deals and credit card cruise deals are all essentially travel agents).

If you're undecided on which cruise line you want, but you're prepared to make a booking for a particular date, you'll want to use a travel agent. He or she will be able to discuss which cruise line and ship are right for you, then assist you with your cruise reservation .

Keep in mind that a cruise line sales rep will help you research options, but only regarding the cruise line that employs them.

Which Are the Best Cabins on a Cruise Ship?

The cruise ship room (or cabin) you pick should be determined by what's most important to you. Is it vital to sit solo outside and soak up the tropical rays in the Caribbean? If yes, you'll likely want a cabin with a balcony.

Would you just like the cheapest cabin so you can spend more money elsewhere? Then the windowless inside rooms will likely be your best bet.

In addition to selecting your cabin type, you'll also want to look at the cabin's position on the ship. Do you or someone in your room have trouble walking? Then you might want to be located near the elevator. Light sleeper? Make sure you're not over or under a high-traffic area like a restaurant or the theater.

For more detailed information on cabin selection, check out How to Choose a Cruise Ship Cabin or read our list of Best Cruise Ship Cabins .

Cruise Critic Message Boards are another place to get detailed reviews of specific cabins from members who have the inside scoop on the cabins you may be considering.

Do I Need to Pay for My Cruise Reservation All at Once?

No, you don't. You will be required to put down a cabin deposit, which can range anywhere from $50 (during a special lowered-deposit promotion) to a few thousand dollars for a round-the-world cruise .

The rest of the payment is typically due one to three months before the sailing date, again depending on the length of the cruise and the cabin type. Check with your cruise line or travel agent for specifics, as some cruise lines have stricter rules.

In most cases deposits are refundable if you cancel your booked cruise before the final payment date. Carnival offers several special fare deals with nonrefundable deposits, however, so be sure to read the fine print before you put down any deposit.

Alternatively, if you book a cruise (on any line) after the final payment date is due, you'll need to pay the full price of the cruise up front.

Some cruise lines and many travel agents allow you to pay off the cruise in installments before the final due date. Keep in mind, with virtually all cruise lines, the final payment date is a hard deadline. If payment is not received, the booking is usually canceled within 24 hours.

Pay close attention to your final payment as most cruise lines do not send payment reminders. Most cruise lines do offer automatic payments for convenience, however.

Can I Cancel or Change a Booked Cruise?

In most cases, passenger names, ship and sailing date changes to cruise bookings are allowed by cruise lines, though they're sometimes subject to a per-person service fee. This is generally allowed only if changes are made well in advance of the cruising date (how much in advance varies by cruise line).

Keep in mind that any perks that came with the original booking almost never transfer to the new ship or sailing date, as the new reservation is considered an entirely new booking.

Changes made after the final payment date are almost always subject to a cruise line's standard cancellation policies because changes are technically considered cancellations.

Cancellation policies vary by cruise line but there is always a schedule of penalties that get steeper as the sail date approaches. Penalties often vary by the length of the cruise being canceled, as well as by cabin type canceled.

Most cruise lines follow cancellations schedules, keeping a percentage of the deposit or fare you already paid depending on when you cancel. A good rule of thumb is the closer to the sailing you cancel your cruise booking, the more of your money the cruise line will keep.

Again, these cancellation schedules vary by cruise line, with some lines being more generous with cancellations and others stricter.

Do I Need Travel Insurance When Booking a Cruise?

Travel insurance is never a requirement while on a cruise, but it is always highly recommended. Travel insurance is your best protection against the financial loss that can accompany various travails, like personal illness, unforeseen cancellations, weather delays and lost baggage.

How Do I Know if My Cruise Quote Is a Good One?

Cruise pricing can be complicated because, much like airfares, cruise fares fluctuate constantly. Fares vary based on itinerary, the time of year, the cabin category, the ship's age, the type of cruise line and even how much time is left before the sail date.

When comparing cruise quotes and fares, you'll find that cruise prices between sellers tend to be similar. What you're really looking to see is if the price the cruise line is selling at right now is a good one. For that, you need to be monitoring prices prior to booking to see how rates are rising and falling on a daily basis.

Once you have a baseline, you have two choices: Book the cruise now, knowing you're paying the same price most people are paying, or wait for a possible sale or price drop. The risk of waiting is that, if the cruise is selling well, prices could increase and your choices of available cabins narrow the longer you wait.

Don't forget to factor in promotional perks when you're assessing if a cruise fare is worth booking or not. While a cruise fare might be the same across sellers, a booking that comes with prepaid gratuities or onboard spending money will ultimately be a better deal than one that doesn't have freebies attached.

And remember, when comparing fares, make sure you're including all taxes and fees.

How Do I Find out More About Booking My Cruise?

The following articles can be helpful to check out prior to booking as well:

What to Expect on a Cruise: Booking a Cruise With a Travel Agent

What to Expect on a Cruise: Booking With a Cruise Line

How to Pick a Cruise Line

The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Ship Cabins

Score the Best Cruise Price Every Time

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

When is the best time to book a cruise?

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

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

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What is the best day to book a cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

What is the best month to book a cruise?

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

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

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

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

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

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

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

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

How far in advance should I book a cruise?

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

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

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

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on ships

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

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

Can I book a cruise at the last minute?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• 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
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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

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Your vacation, elevated

Take luxury to a whole new level with Sanctuary Collection SM . When you book a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite or Sanctuary Balcony, you’ll access an entirely new world of bespoke amenities, private spaces and premium service – the very best of all we have to offer. The all-new Sanctuary Collection debuts this October when Sun Princess® begins sailing from Fort Lauderdale and opens on Star Princess® in the fall of 2025.

Welcome to a world of luxury

Exclusive access to the sanctuary club.

This tranquil top-deck space is reserved exclusively for adults (ages 16+). Spend the day in total bliss as you relax poolside with a craft cocktail. Order some bites and beverages from a custom menu, even find your flow with wellness classes. Here, it’s Zen time any time. Especially when you reserve a private cabana.

Your own private restaurant

Reserved exclusively for Sanctuary Collection SM guests. Enjoy a custom chef’s menu and dedicated waitstaff and dining room. No reservations needed and no waiting — elevated dining is ready whenever you are.

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Princess Premier®

Sanctuary Collection guests enjoy our highest-level all-inclusive package with multi-device Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, premium spirits and an expertly curated wine list that pairs perfectly with any occasion. Premier also includes specialty dining, unlimited casual dining, even reserved theater seating for production shows

Premium amenities & service

Personalized service, bespoke amenities, exclusive wellness activities and special events. Enjoy it all. And if you’re a Sanctuary Suite guest, you’ll have exclusive access to the Suite Lounge, perfect for sipping your morning coffee, a daytime retreat or even kickstarting your night.

Sanctuary Accommodations

Sanctuary suites.

Our suites offer some of the most luxurious accommodations at sea, with spacious staterooms, large balconies, and spectacular views. Additionally, guests can enjoy a variety of amenities such as priority services, specialty dining, in-room Lavazza coffee maker, mini-bar set-up, access to the Suite Lounge, and more. You’ll also enjoy our highest-level all-inclusive package, Princess Premier.

Sanctuary Mini-Suites

Experience Sanctuary Collection luxury with premium-location mini-suites.  Enjoy elevated service, a complimentary bottle of bubbly upon embarkation, upgraded amenities, private restaurant, access to the Sanctuary Club, and more. You’ll also enjoy our highest-level all-inclusive package, Princess Premier.

Sanctuary Balconies

Enjoy stunning views from your premium balcony stateroom, complete with larger balcony, upgraded amenities, access to a private restaurant and the Sanctuary Club top deck as well our Princess Premier® package included.

Experience Sanctuary on board

Sun princess.

What were we thinking of when we designed the new Sun Princess? You. We pondered everything, so you can feel the love on the cruise vacation of your dreams.

Because here, the sun revolves around you.

Star Princess

There's no sibling rivalry here. Sun Princess can't wait to welcome her sister ship, Star Princess, to the fleet - the third ship with this celestial name. She'll feature the new Dome, out-of-this-world views in the Piazza, Signature Collection Suites and more.

Featured Cruises

Transatlantic, book now on sun princess® or star princess®, and look forward to the exclusive world that awaits you., sanctuary collection frequently asked questions (faq).

What is Sanctuary Collection SM  on Princess?

Princess’ new Sanctuary Collection is designed as an oceangoing oasis that elevates the art of relaxation and serenity with exclusive, next-level accommodations and benefits.  Sanctuary Collection staterooms and experience will debut in October of 2024 on Sun Princess (R) and on her sister ship, Star Princess (R) when she enters service in 2025.

Sanctuary Collection staterooms replace the former Signature Collection and Reserve Collection Staterooms on Sun and Star Princess and offer an entirely new world of bespoke amenities, private spaces and premium service – the very best of all we have to offer. Whether our guests are new to cruising or longtime Princess enthusiasts, the Sanctuary Collection offers a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Sanctuary Collection guests receive exclusive benefits and services such as a private restaurant, access to the Sanctuary Club top deck, the perks of Princess Premier®*, and a luxurious stateroom experience.

Also included with a Sanctuary Collection booking are all offerings available within the Princess Premier® bundle, such as:  

• Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 each) 
• MedallionNet Wi-Fi for four devices 
• Unlimited Juice Bar 
• Unlimited Fitness Classes 
• Two Specialty Dining Experiences 
• Unlimited Casual Dining Meals and Premium Desserts 
• OceanNow Delivery 
• Room Service Delivery 

Is Sanctuary Collection only on Sun and Star Princess or fleetwide?

Sanctuary Collection staterooms are only available on Sun and Star Princess.

Guests who as of April 23rd, 2024, have already reserved staterooms in the Sanctuary Collection eligible section of either Sun or Star Princess will receive the additional benefits outlined at no additional cost, except the Princess Premier (R) package. If your current booking does not include Premier, you may upgrade to Premier to receive all these benefits.

Sanctuary Collection guests are provided with private access to the Sanctuary Club top pool area, accessible via their Princess Medallion.

All guests can book an available Sanctuary Collection stateroom. However, guests must be aged 16+ to gain access to the exclusive Sanctuary Club on the top deck.

The Sanctuary Collection staterooms include all Suites, select Mini-Suites and select balconies and are in various areas throughout Decks 10-17, along with access to the Sanctuary Club on Deck 18.

Sanctuary Collection staterooms on Sun Princess and Star Princess go on sale April 23 for sailings after October 14, 2024 beginning in the Caribbean season on Sun Princess and at launch on Star Princess in Fall of 2025.

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10 Best Boat Tours In NYC To Book Right Now

Checking out New York City via the water is the best way to see skyline views, and here's the best tours to book!

With spring officially here and summer looming soon, it’s almost time to get out on NYC waters and explore the city! New York’s two main rivers, the Hudson River and East River are chalk full of incredible boat tours that are simply amazing. The cruises allow you to check out the skyline from every angle, and some even have live entertainment, special meals, and one-of-a-kind events.

If you’re looking for your next adventure to explore NYC the best way—via boat—here’s the best NYC boat tours to book right now.

1. Circle Line’s “Best of NYC” Cruise

This Circle Line boat tour separates itself in a class of it’s own…and there’s a reason it’s number 1 on our list! The 2 hour and 30 minute cruise goes completely around   the island of Manhattan , offering unobstructed views of over 130 of the city’s most iconic landmarks including the  Manhattan skyline ,  Little Island ,  Hudson Yards ,  One World Trade Center ,  Brooklyn Bridge ,  Yankee Stadium , and more! Their boats are state-of-the-art and climate controlled, and they have some of the most knowledgable tour guides in the whole city!

🛥️ Book your tickets to this boat tour here!

2. City Cruises’ Bateaux New York Premier Brunch Cruise

How about a cruise of NYC and a delicious brunch ?! This 2.5 hour cruise (brought to you by City Cruises) includes a chef-prepared 3-course plated brunch on the water with bottomless mimosas , panoramic views of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty , a live DJ , and so much more! It’s truly an experience that will impress a date, your family, or even your work crew!

3. Liberty Cruise’s Statue of Liberty Tour

The Statue of Liberty is undoubtedly one of our favorite attractions in NYC, and this boat tour will bring you up close and personal with Lady Liberty! With both standard and premium tour options, the 75 minute adventure departs from Pier 36 multiple times per day. If you’re looking for a boat tour with the best view of the Statue of Liberty , go for this option.

4. Manhattan by Sail’s Clipper City Ride

Fancy riding on a boat cruise around NYC in… a sailboat ?! The Clipper City is the largest tall ship in New York City at 158 feet long and has the capacity to bring 134 passengers on a ride! The nostalgic-feeling ride departs from Pier 17 downtown, and takes passengers all around the New York Harbor. They also have special cruises too like sunset jazz cruises, golden hour cocktail sails, wine tasting cruises, and more .

5. Circle Line’s The Beast Speedboat Ride

This Circle Line cruise is for the adrenaline junkies…and it’s a 30 minute speedboat ride through NYC waters like never before. Starting at Pier 83 on the Upper West Side, “The Beast” rips through NYC waters with all kinds of twists, turns, and splashes along the way . The jet-powered thrill ride can get up to 45 mph, and will take you on a whipping and winding tour all the way out to the Statue of Liberty! “The Beast” opens for the 2024 season on May 4th !

6. Circle Line’s Landmarks Cruise

Check off all the landmarks from your bucketlist with this no frills boat tour that starts and ends at Pier 83 in midtown Manhattan. The 90 minute cruise will bring you down the west side, with peeks of Hudson Yards  and  Little Island before wrapping around downtown and heading up the East River. Amenities include an incredible outdoor viewing deck, an onboard café, free Wifi, and more!

7. New York Media Boat’s Private Boat Tour

Live out your luxury dreams with a private boat tour of NYC with New York Media Boat! Their private boat charters come at a steep price, but there’s nothing quite like taking in the 360° NYC views with a hand-selected crew. Rides are typically 60 minutes long and group sizes can range upwards to 12 passengers. Prices for private boat tours range from $550-$1100/ hour based on group size.

8. New York Water Taxi Cruises

New York Water Taxi provides a “hop on, hop off”-type of service that makes it easy for you to sightsee all different parts of NYC as efficiently as possible! Their daily ferry service connects Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Jersey City all together, making it the perfect way to explore the city…and also catch some waterfront views too!

9. Staten Island Ferry

We’re going to let you on our secret little FREE boat tour of NYC …the Staten Island Ferry! The fare-less journey is operated by the New York City Department of Transportation, and runs a 5.2 mile route through the New York Harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island in about 25 minutes . Whether you’re looking to explore a different borough for a day, or want to ride for free on the water, it’s our favorite hidden gem!

10. NYC Ferry

Similarly to the Staten Island Ferry, the NYC Ferry acts almost as subway system via the water! There are 6 routes, as well as one seasonal route, connecting 25 ferry piers across all five boroughs . The fare is $4 per ride and it’s the perfect way to have a do-your-own-boat-tour, especially during the summer! They have an open air deck, a bar on deck, and ports all over the city!

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Vacation financing, stop waiting to start cruising .

Booking with our payment options and methods make it easier than ever to celebrate a milestone occasion or cruise with your crew — anytime, anywhere.

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Whether it’s beachside bliss, European wonders or anywhere in between, you can book a cruise vacation to any destination. Browse our site and select the cruise you want.  

✔ SELECT PAYMENT OPTION

Once you’ve chosen your cruise, its time to book. Upon checkout, choose from different options like gift card, credit card or pay over time with Affirm.

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Just like that you’re ready for a vacation full of adventure or relaxation. You can manage your cruise experience by downloading the Royal Caribbean App .

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Booking a cruise has never been easier with so many payment options to choose from. Whether you need a little more time to think it over with a courtesy hold or want to pay over time, we give you the flexibility you want to score the vacation of a lifetime.

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Need time to think it over? We’ll hold your reservation — including any promotions — for up to two days* while you coordinate vacation plans with your crew.

*The 2-day hold expires at 11 p.m. EST/EDT on the second day after booking.

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Book your cruise now and pay little by little. Or make a lump sum payment for the entire balance no later than the final payment date. The choice is yours.

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Pay the full balance at the time of booking and start packing! This worry-free option sets you up for instant vacation mode. All that’s left to do is enjoy your upcoming adventure.

PAYMENT METHODS

Making a payment toward your upcoming cruise is a breeze with several convenient options. From Affirm to Royal Caribbean Gift Cards, we accept a variety of payment methods to snag your best vacation ever.

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Secure your cruise today with a minimum credit card deposit. Then schedule subsequent payments to be automatically charged to your card before your sail date. Or charge the full balance up front.

Need a little more time? Select Affirm during checkout for instant financing options to cruise now and pay later — even after your vacation has ended.

A Royal Caribbean Gift Card can pay for a portion of your cruise — or someone else’s. They’re easy to purchase, send, and redeem toward cruises and onboard purchases on U.S. sailings.

WHY CHOOSE AFFIRM?

From cotton-candy sunsets in Santorini to giant glaciers in Alaska and post-card pretty beaches in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean® offers the boldest adventures on the industry’s best ships. Explore the world on your own terms with flexible payment plans through Affirm †. Book now and pay over time for as low as 0% APR with no late or hidden fees. 

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Max out the memories with a Royal Caribbean® Gift Card. Easy to purchase, send and redeem, Gift Cards let them choose the adventure that’s right for them — or splurge on onboard faves like specialty dining, beverage packages, spa services, shore excursions and more. All it takes is a few clicks to email a gift that’s customizable, convenient and flexible. And since the value never expires, family and friends can make bold new discoveries on their own time.

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There’s a sea of incredible benefits to enjoy with the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card even when you’re not sailing. From rental car coverage and roadside assistance to price protection and purchase security, cardholders enjoy these benefits with their card.

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How To Book Your Cruise And Flight Together

W hen a well-deserved vacation is in order, nearly 30 million passengers across the globe choose to cruise annually. Whether you're heading to the Caribbean or looking forward to a European tour, cruising is an appealing way to travel. A cruise provides passengers access to a variety of destinations. It's often seen as a comprehensive and convenient form of travel where onboard luxuries can be as inviting as the ports of call.

Travel logistics are typically taken care of onboard, but getting to the ship can be another story. Many travelers who book a cruise are tempted to book airline tickets to the ship's point of departure after the cruise reservation is already in place. However, you might be setting yourself up for unnecessary stress and expenses when you choose this approach to planning.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported its highest flight cancellation rate in a decade in 2022. Delays were also on the rise, giving travelers every reason to assume that modern flying comes with plenty of unexpected hurdles. When you're heading toward a cruise departure point and are faced with delays or flight cancellations, it can be an expensive and inevitably disappointing experience.

Fortunately, there are routes to booking your cruise and flights together that don't require plotting out time-sensitive connections on your own. There's no reason to tackle uncertain flight planning when you can eliminate the stress from the process altogether. A better option is to book your cruise and flight simultaneously directly through the cruise line.

Book Through The Cruise Line And Enjoy Peace Of Mind

When a flight you've booked separately from your cruise reservation is canceled or delayed, there's a good chance you'll be responsible for booking an entirely new flight to meet your cruise at its first port of call. This is expensive and means missing a significant portion of your first sailing days. Your cruise is cut short and money that could have gone toward fun is now directed to additional flight costs.

That's what makes booking flights and a cruise together through the cruise line so reassuring. Booking airfare and cruises together is also a refreshingly simple process. Passengers just need to call up a cruise line representative directly to make their cruise reservations and receive flight options that suit their plans.

In many cases, cruise reservations that are made alongside flights through a cruise line come with some great guarantees that provide peace of mind. For example, many cruise lines will fly passengers to the first port of call if the flight they've booked through the cruise line is canceled or delayed. Cruise lines will typically cover the cost of a hotel in those situations too.

Many major cruise lines try to make combining flights and sailing experiences as smooth as possible through specialized reservation programs. Carnival operates Fly2Fun while Princess offers EZair booking options to passengers. If you're cruising with Holland America or Royal Caribbean, start your cruise and flight search at Flight Ease and Air2Sea respectively.

Consider The Benefits Of Travel Agent Services

Another convenient option when you're ready to book a cruise and flight together is to go through a travel agent . Much like the cruise lines, travel agents who specialize in cruises often have access to special fares and flights. This is largely due to meticulously negotiated contracts with both cruise companies and airlines alike.

Many cruise travel agents have taken time to experience various cruise routes for themselves. This gives them first-hand experience with how flight times and cruise departures match up. That makes them a wonderful resource when you're looking for a stress-free booking experience that's well planned out too.

A travel agent is also a great choice when getting to your cruise requires multiple flight connections. Your agent will handle the reservations to ensure you get where you're going easily and successfully. They can adjust itineraries on your behalf to make sure you have plenty of time between flights to reach your next gate and are available to contact should problems arise.

If you ultimately remain completely committed to the idea of booking your cruise and flights on your own, there are still options for making the process more streamlined. In many cases, the reservation ID for the cruise you've booked can be used to search for corresponding flights online. This will likely lead you back to the cruise line's flight program and is a good route to making sure you reach your departure destination on time.

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