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The 17 Best Websites To Book Cruises at the Cheapest Prices [2024]

Katie Seemann

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Senior Editor & Content Contributor

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Keri Stooksbury

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1. Cruise Line’s Website

2. cheapcaribbean.com, 3. cruise critic, 4. cruisedirect, 5. priceline, 6. tripadvisor, 7. cruisesonly, 10. cruises.com, 11. american airlines cruises, 12. delta skymiles cruises, bonuses for united premier members, use united mileageplus miles to pay for your cruise, use marriott bonvoy points to pay for your cruise, 15. costco travel, 16. cruise.com, 17. travelocity, price comparisons, final thoughts.

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So, you’ve decided you want to go on a cruise. Great news! But, do you know where to book it to get the best price?

There’s no shortage of websites out there that can help you book a cruise. There may even be more options to book cruises than hotels or flights. In addition to the traditional online travel agencies, there are a bunch of cruise-only sites that you can choose from, too.

So how do you know which site offers the best price? That’s where we come in. We combed through the most popular websites used to book cruises to look at their pros and cons and to do some head-to-head price comparisons.

If you’re only concerned about finding the cheapest price, scroll down to the price comparison section at the bottom of this post to see how all of these sites stack up against each other.

Your first instinct when booking a cruise may be to go directly to the cruise line’s website, especially if you have elite status with a specific cruise line. There are definitely some benefits to this — it’s simple and there are fewer hassles if you have to make any changes .

If you’re sure of the cruise line you want to take, it makes your search a little easier because you’re just looking at one specific line.

The big drawback when booking directly on a cruise line’s website is that you can miss out on extra deals that online travel agencies (OTAs) may offer.

Pros and Cons of Booking Directly with the Cruise Line

• Simpler search functions make it easier to locate specific cruises.
• There’s no middleman (another website) to deal with if there is a problem.
• You might miss out on extra deals offered by other sites.

Bottom Line: No matter where you choose to book your cruise, be sure to use the right credit card — refer to our list of best credit cards for cruises to get you started.

CheapCaribbean.com is an OTA that specializes in travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. It was founded in 2000 and prides itself on offering the best prices and great U.S.-based customer service . The site’s sales agents are available 7 days a week to help you plan your ultimate Caribbean vacation.

Despite the name, you can book cruises to destinations other than the Caribbean through CheapCaribbean.com, including Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska.

CheapCaribbean.com sometimes offers extra bonuses, like extra onboard spending credit. Plus it offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise for a cheaper price (available to the general public) on another website, CheapCaribbean.com will refund 110% of the price difference.

The not-so-great thing about CheapCaribbean.com is that it charges a $24.99 processing fee on each booking. It’s lumped into the taxes and fees, so you may not realize it unless you read the fine print.

Pros and Cons of CheapCaribbean.com

• Occasional special deals like extra onboard credit may be offered.
• 110% best price guarantee.
• There’s a $24.99 processing fee on each booking.
• You need to sign up for emails or call in to book a cruise if you want to access exclusive deals.

Hot Tip: Want to save more? CheapCaribbean.com offers exclusive deals to email subscribers and offers unpublished fares and exclusive offers if you call in to book your cruise. 

Cruise Critic is a cruise-focused website that features reviews, tips, and advice for a huge community of cruisers. The Cruise Critic forums provide a place to ask questions, give advice, and get help booking your next cruise.

The site also acts as a metasearch engine for cruises, allowing you to compare prices from lots of other websites . You can search for your perfect cruise and when it’s time to book, Cruise Critic will transfer you to another site to complete your booking.

Pros and Cons of Cruise Critic

• The site offers lots of cruise reviews, plus cruise tips and a travel forum to help you plan your trip.
• You can sign up for email alerts so you’re notified when the price of a cruise drops.
• The prices you see are not guaranteed and may be subject to other fees or restrictions depending on what website they are from.

CruiseDirect is a website that specializes only in cruises. The site allows you to quickly search cruises by destination, cruise line, departure port, or last-minute deals . You’ll find lots of different types of cruises, from budget to luxury and from mega-ships to riverboats.

With each cruise listing, you’ll see bonus details next to each sailing date — just click on each icon for details. Some of these are already reflected in the price and some are extras like onboard ship credit or discounts on shore excursions.

Pros and Cons of CruiseDirect

• Bonuses are offered with each cruise ranging from discounts, shipboard credit, or discounts on shore excursions.
• The bonuses offered are often from the cruise line and not exclusive to CruiseDirect, so you can get them regardless of where you book.
• The site is a bit cluttered and can be hard to navigate.

Kayak is a popular online travel agency but the site doesn’t support cruise searches anymore.

Priceline gained fame from its “Name Your Own Price” feature but has since transformed into a more traditional OTA. In addition to hotels, flights, and rental cars, you can use this site to book cruises, too.

Priceline often offers deals above and beyond what’s being offered through the cruise line. At the time of writing, a few different deals offered perks like $1,000 in onboard credit or 30% off every guest .

Plus, Priceline offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find a lower, publicly available price for the exact same cruise within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Extra deals like onboard credit or room upgrades are sometimes offered.
• The site offers a 110% best-price guarantee.
• Some offers, including the one for up to $1,000 in shipboard credit can be confusing. Once you read the fine print, you’ll realize you need to spend $20,000 to get the full $1,000 credit.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide on booking travel with Priceline .

While you might think of Tripadvisor as just a place to get reviews and photos of hotels, restaurants, and activities, it’s actually much more than that. In addition to reviews and traveler forums, Tripadvisor acts as a metasearch engine , comparing prices on lots of other websites.

When you’re searching for a cruise, just click on the drop-down arrow that tells you how many deals there are — then you’ll be able to see that cruise’s price on many sites.

Pros and Cons of Tripadvisor

• It offers lots of great ship reviews and travel forums.
• It’s a great site to quickly compare prices on many sites at once.
• You may not be able to see all the deals being offered on each site.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed guide to booking travel on Tripadvisor .

CruisesOnly claims to be “the best” because each of its call center agents has an average of 5+ years of experience plus professional training.

While that might be helpful if you’re new to cruising or need some advice about which cruise line, ship, or destination you should choose, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best price (scroll down to the Price Comparison section to see how CruisesOnly stacks up against other websites).

CruisesOnly also has its own loyalty program. The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club is free, and you’re signed up automatically if you have booked with CruisesOnly at least once before. Benefits include things like shore excursion credits and onboard spending credits.

The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club only applies to cruises on these cruise lines:

• Holland America
• Royal Caribbean

CruisesOnly’s best price guarantee is similar to other sites — a refund of 110% of the price difference if you find a lower price on an identical cruise within 48 hours of booking.

Pros and Cons of CruisesOnly

• The V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club is free and offers plenty of benefits.
• The site offers a 110% best price guarantee.
• The site, like many other OTAs, can be very busy, making it hard to narrow down the cruise you really want to take.
• The loyalty program only applies to 6 cruise lines.

When booking a cruise through an OTA, be sure to use a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases, such as the  Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  which earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on cruises purchased from any website or travel agency.

Expedia might be one of the first websites you visit to search for flights or hotels (and it’s probably a site you have used for a long time), but did you know that you can book a cruise through Expedia as well?

The site is straightforward, easy to use, and offers cruises from all the major cruise lines . While Expedia doesn’t charge any booking fees, it also doesn’t offer any price guarantees. However, you can sometimes find additional bonuses for booking your cruise through Expedia.

It also does a nice job of showing exactly what’s included and what might cost extra.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• The site sometimes offers extra bonuses like onboard credit.
• It’s easy to use and is very clear about what’s included in the price.
• No price guarantee is offered

Hot Tip: For more information check out our complete guide to using Expedia .

Orbitz is a typical OTA that offers flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises. There are no booking fees on cruises and a price guarantee is offered . However, the price guarantee isn’t as strong as some of the other sites — you’ll need to find a lower price within 24 hours to receive the difference in price as a refund.

Like Expedia, Orbitz does a good job at displaying prices clearly so there’s no confusion.

One of the nice things about Orbitz is that it offers a rewards program, but, unfortunately, cruises are not eligible for Orbitz Rewards.

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• It offers a best price guarantee.
• There are no booking, change, or cancellation fees.
• Cruises aren’t eligible for Orbitz Rewards

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our complete guide to using Orbitz to book travel .

Cruises.com is another site that claims to be the best place to book your cruise. It can offer some impressive deals, but once you read the fine print, well, you realize there’s a lot of fine print.

For example, a deal was offered for up to $2,000 cashback, $1,500 to spend onboard, or a Visa gift card. However, after reading the fine print you’ll notice that in order to get the full bonus you’d have to spend $20,000+ on a cruise. To top it off, the bonus is only available for select cruise lines.

So while the deals offered could be lucrative, they aren’t necessarily a slam dunk.

Cruises.com also has its own loyalty program. It’s free and you’re signed up automatically if you have booked with Cruises.com at least once before. Benefits include things like shore excursion credits, onboard spending credits, or deposit waivers. Benefits are identical to those offered through the CruisesOnly loyalty program.

Pros and Cons of Cruises.com

• A loyalty program is offered for past guests.
• There are sometimes extra bonuses beyond what’s offered by the cruise line.
• There is a lot of fine print with its offers.

Hot Tip: Cruises.com and CruisesOnly are both owned by World Travel Holdings, along with other websites, including Cruise411.com. These sites offer the same loyalty program and similar perks, however, their prices can be different.

Did you know that you can book a cruise through American Airlines ? The best part is that when you do, you’ll earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles for your purchase (in addition to any points or miles you will earn from your credit card).

• Earn 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on cruises booked through American Airlines (up to 10,000 miles)
• American Airlines credit cardholders will earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on cruises booked through American Airlines (up to 20,000 miles)
• Occasionally, additional bonus points will be offered for select cruises

Hot Tip: Base miles earned by booking a cruise through American Airlines will also count as Loyalty Points that help you earn American Airlines elite status .

American Airlines Cruises also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

The bad news is that you’re charged a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

Pros and Cons of American Airlines Cruises

• AAdvantage members have the ability to earn lots of American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points.
• There is a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

Bottom Line: While you can book a cruise through American Airlines, you can’t use AAdvantage miles to pay for it.

In addition to flights, you can book cruises through Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles Cruises and earn Delta SkyMiles at the same time.

Currently, you’ll earn 2 SkyMiles per $1 spent on a cruise , excluding the taxes, fees, and port charges.

SkyMiles Cruises also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Pros and Cons of Delta SkyMiles Cruises

• Earn extra Delta SkyMiles.

Bottom Line: While you can book a cruise through SkyMiles Cruises, you can’t pay for your cruise with Delta SkyMiles.

13. United Cruises

When you book a cruise with United Cruises you can choose to either earn United MileagePlus miles for your purchase or you can use MileagePlus miles to pay for your cruise !

United Cruises offers different ways to earn miles on your next cruise:

• Earn 2 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on an interior or oceanview stateroom
• Earn 4 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on a balcony stateroom or suite
• Any United MileagePlus credit cardholder will earn 4 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on an interior or oceanview stateroom
• Any United MileagePlus credit cardholder will earn 7 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on a balcony or suite stateroom

Additionally, there are sometimes opportunities to earn even more miles.

United Cruises offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Unfortunately, United Cruises charges a $24.99 processing fee on every booking.

If you have any Premier status with United Airlines you’ll also receive onboard extras with select cruise lines:

• A bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries in your stateroom
• $100 spa credit
• $200 onboard credit
• $250 onboard credit

Paying for your cruise with miles is a great option to have. Unfortunately, you’ll lose out on some value if you do so .

When you book a cruise using United Miles, you’ll get about 0.7 to 0.8 cents per mile in value. United miles are generally worth around 1.3 cents per mile (or more if you’re booking business or first class flights), so you’re getting less value than you could get if you used your miles for a flight.

However, if you have a bundle of United miles and prefer cruising to flying, it might be a good redemption for you.

Pros and Cons of United Cruises

• MileagePlus members have the ability to earn lots of extra miles.
• United Premier members receive extra perks with Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines.

Bottom Line: When you choose to book your cruise through United Cruises, you can either earn United MileagePlus miles on your purchase, or you can pay for your cruise using your United MileagePlus miles.

14. Marriott Bonvoy Cruises

Marriott Bonvoy Cruises allows you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your cruise or you can choose to pay for your cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points !

When you book a cruise through Marriott , you’ll earn up to 3 points per $1 spent . Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cardholders will earn an extra 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on a cruise booked through Marriott Bonvoy Cruises.

Marriott Bonvoy also offers a 110% best price guarantee — if you find the exact same cruise priced lower within 48 hours of booking, you’ll be refunded 110% of the price difference.

Hot Tip: If you book a cruise through Marriott Bonvoy, know that you’ll be charged a non-refundable processing fee of $24.99. That’s a pretty hefty fee considering many other sites don’t charge any fees.

It’s a great option to be able to pay for your cruise with points , and Marriott Bonvoy makes that possible. However, it’s not the best way to use your Marriott Bonvoy points.

When booking a cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll only get 0.4 cents per point in value. Since Marriott Bonvoy points are generally worth about 0.7 cents each, you’ll be missing out on some value, so you might want to look into other ways to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy for hotels or flights .

Pros and Cons of Marriott Bonvoy Cruises

• Members can earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points.
• You can pay for your cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points.
• The site offers a 110% best price guarantee
• You’ll be charged a non-refundable processing fee of $24.99 per reservation.
• Marriott cruises can only be booked with Marriott Bonvoy points over the phone.

Bottom Line: When you book a cruise through Marriott Bonvoy, you can pay for your cruise with points or you can choose to pay cash (I mean, credit card!) and earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your purchase.

Costco Travel is an in-house travel agency that’s only available to Costco members . Costco offers 2 levels of membership: Gold Star for $60 per year and Executive for $120 per year. Executive membership comes with a valuable extra perk for travelers — 2% back on your purchases through Costco Travel (up to $1,000)!

Another great thing about Costco Travel is that you’ll sometimes find deals that offer extra shipboard credit or a Costco shop card as a bonus.

Costco Travel is easy to use and offers all of the search and filter functions found on any other website.

Pros and Cons of Costco Travel

• Executive members receive 2% back on purchases through Costco Travel.
• Costco shop cards or onboard credit are sometimes offered as a bonus.
• Costco Travel is for members only.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our detailed post on using Costco Travel .

Cruise.com  is a cluttered website and can be overwhelming when you’re searching for a cruise (especially if you’re a first-time cruiser and not quite sure how everything works). It offers lots of deals and discounts, but many of those are actually offered through the cruise line, so it can be hard to tell which bonuses are actually coming from Cruise.com.

Pros and Cons of Cruise.com

• Lots of deals for a variety of cruise lines are offered.
• The website is very busy and cluttered.
• No price guarantee is offered.
• You may be contacted by cruise.com after searching for a cruise on the site.

Hot Tip: Don’t be confused — Cruise.com and Cruises.com are 2 separate websites!

Travelocity is a website that many travelers use to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises. The simple interface and the fact that there are no booking fees will make this a good choice for many travelers.

While Travelocity doesn’t advertise as many deals and savings as other sites, the price still manages to come out about the same as other websites.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• There are no booking fees.
• It’s simple to use.
• No rewards program or extra bonus points.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our complete guide to booking travel with Travelocity .

Let’s get to the important part — price comparisons! We priced out a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Prices are for 2 adults in an Infinite Central Park View Balcony room.

As you can see, most websites offer the same price . The difference comes in the extras like onboard credit, free specialty dinners, free gratuities, or bonus miles.

The exception in this example was Cruise.com, which offered a savings of $50 on the price of the cruise. However, some of the extras offered by other sites could be worth more than that, so it’s always a good idea to price your cruise on multiple websites before booking.

Bottom Line: The base cost of a cruise is generally the same across most websites. The big difference comes in the extras — onboard credit, specialty dinners, cash-back, or bonus miles. 

No matter where you book your cruise, you’ll be paying the same base price 9 times out of 10. Even though a website might be offering “the best prices” or a “50% discount,” when you actually look at the numbers they’ll usually be the same as every other website.

To get a great deal, you’ll need to look for bonuses that a particular website is offering, such as onboard credit, free specialty dinners, cash-back, or bonus airline miles.

The higher the room category you’re booking, the more bonuses you’ll be able to get. Keep in mind that lots of the bonuses you may see advertised won’t kick in unless you book a balcony stateroom or a suite. Cashback and onboard spending bonuses are generally tied to your stateroom level as well which means you’re not going to get anywhere near the amount advertised if you’re booking an interior or ocean-view cabin.

No matter where you book your cruise, be sure to check out our post with cruise tips and a downloadable packing guide !

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get the best deals on cruises.

To get the best deals on a cruise, it’s important to know which website is offering the most bonuses. The base price of your cruise will be the same from website to website 9 times out of 10, so you’ll need to find the website that’s offering the best bonuses like onboard credit or free specialty dinners.

Is it better to book directly with the cruise line?

Surprisingly, you’ll usually get a better deal when you book your cruise through an OTA (think Cruise.com, Expedia, or United Cruises). When you book through these types of sites you’ll get any deals that are being offered directly by the cruise line plus any extras offered by the OTA.

Is it better to book cruises last minute?

While you can find some great deals on last-minute cruises, it’s not a guarantee. If you have any preference about your cabin type or location, you’ll want to book as early as possible to make sure you get exactly what you want. If you’re traveling with a group and want to book cabins that are next door to each other, you’ll also want to book ahead of time. However, if you’re super flexible and don’t care what type of cabin you’re in, where it’s located, or even what cruise you’re on, you can often find some good deals at the last minute.

What is the best website for booking cruises?

Unfortunately, there’s no one site that always offers the best cruise deals. Most of the OTAs like CheapCaribbean.com, Cruises.com, or Priceline offer the same prices. The difference usually comes when you factor in extras like onboard credit or free gratuities.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Plan the ultimate cruise vacation, how can i book a cheap cruise.

If you're looking for cheap cruise deals, booking with Expedia.ca allows you to customize your search with filters that will put the best value at the top of your search results. Filters are available for various factors, including cabin experience, cruise line, destination and more. In most cases, the simpler your cruise is, the cheaper it will be. Even so, you may still find discounts on luxury cruise experiences, so don't hesitate to filter for some more high-end amenities and sort by price to see the cheapest cruises available.

Which month is the cheapest for cruises?

There is no consistent answer for the cheapest month for cruises unless you specify a destination first. With a cruise to the Caribbean , for example, the cheapest month will be around August since that's when the region undergoes hurricane season.

What happens if a cruise gets cancelled?

Every cruise operates differently, but you'll generally get a choice between a rescheduled date, a refund or cruise credits. Check the policy on your cruise before booking to learn more.

How affordable are cruise trips?

Cruise trips can be surprisingly affordable given all the features you can enjoy on them. Booking with Expedia.ca lets you filter for features like cabin experience, cruise length, cruise line and cruise ship while also sorting the results by price to ensure that you're getting the cheapest options at the top of your search results page while still meeting your search filter specifications.

What are some of the top cruise lines?

Top cruise lines include Viking cruises and Disney cruise lines. While Viking excels at luxury, Disney is among the best when it comes to family-friendly experiences. Some of the other best cruise lines include Royal Caribbean International cruises , Carnival cruises , Princess cruises and Celebrity cruises . What really qualifies as the best is more up to what you're looking to get out of your experience. For example, travelling with kids typically means a Disney cruise or something similar is the best, while budget travellers may prefer Carnival.

How much are cruise ship tickets?

Cruise prices largely depend on the kind of cruise you opt for. Cruise ship costs can be fairly affordable, with cheap cruises only charging $50 a night per person or so for some of their trips, while luxury cruises can run you upwards of $1,000 per night per person or more.

How far ahead should I book a cruise?

Cruise tickets should be bought 6 to 12 months before your cruise departure in most cases. Tickets are technically available further in advance and closer to your cruise departure date. Still, the 6- to 12-month range is generally the best way to get the best deals without missing any opportunities.

What are cruises like?

The cruise you book will have plenty to see and do before you even reach the first destination stop. The ship can be just as exciting as the destinations on your route. Cruise vacations offer food and drinks along with pools, shops and live performances in some circumstances. You may even find a cruise with a water park and a cruise with a roller coaster among particularly luxurious options.

Are cruises a useful way to travel?

Cruise travel ensures that every step of the journey is fun, with activities available between destinations, starting from your cruise terminal. While cruises may only have a single destination, some will travel to multiple spots throughout their entire duration, allowing you to enjoy locales that are just as varied as the attractions on the ship.

Which cruise line is the most affordable in 2024 / 2025?

Deals are often available for just about every cruise line, but Carnival cruises tend to be the most affordable with their Mardi Gras ship . You can also usually find cheap cruises with Royal Caribbean . When searching for a cruise, remember to sort by price to put the most affordable options at the top of your search results page.

How do I get the top cruise deals?

Start your cruise search with Expedia.ca to get the best cruise deals by using our comprehensive filters to sort through our vast collection of offerings. Expedia.ca Rewards members may even find discount cruises through their membership perks, so don't hesitate to take advantage of the free membership.

What cruise would work best for me?

If you're looking for the absolute best cruise in the world, the answer depends on what you're personally interested in experiencing. A laid-back cruise is notably different from a family-friendly cruise with its own amusement park. Take advantage of search filters to narrow down your results to cruises that work for you.

What should I keep in mind when booking a cruise?

Finding a cruise you'll be satisfied with means considering the type of cruise you want and the budget you have to work with. See what's included in the price of a ticket and what you'll have to pay extra for. If aspects like food aren't included, for example, you'll need additional funds in your budget to cover that cost.

What are some of the best cruise destinations in 2024 / 2025?

Cruises can take travellers all over the world, whether you're looking for a cruise to Alaska , a cruise to Mexico or even Antarctic cruises . Cruises to the Middle East and cruises to Australia are popular as well. Think about the kind of cruise experience you want to determine which is the best destination. If you want plenty of time on the cruise, picking a faraway destination can be useful. You also need to consider the attractions available in the destination itself.

What countries should I visit on a cruise?

The Bahamas cruises are among the most iconic cruise destinations, but the cruises to Cuba can also be lovely. Of course, countries all over the world are available. Remember that cruises may not necessarily stop in a country for all that long, so keep in mind how long your visit will actually be when considering what you want to do during your stop.

Are last-minute cruise deals available?

Last-minute cruise deals are often available, and you can check what's available by inputting your travel dates into the cruise finder on Expedia.ca. If you sort by price, the cheapest options will be listed first, including opportunities with special deals applied.

Are there all-inclusive cruises?

Yes, all-inclusive cruises are available and quite popular, and you can find them by using the search filter for all-inclusive. Celebrity cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises , for example, both offer all-inclusive packages.

Is food included with a cruise ticket?

Whether or not food is included in your cruise depends on your booking details. You can check to see what exactly is included with the ticket by checking the ‘What's included’ section of the cruise summary page after clicking it from your search results.

Are there adults-only cruise lines?

Some lines are adults only, including Viking cruises , though Carnival cruises and Princess cruises have options for adults-only cruises as well. With an adults-only cruise, you can immerse yourself in a peaceful and tranquil environment designed to make it easy to sit back and relax.

What kind of luxury cruise lines are there?

Luxury cruise lines include ships like the Caribbean Princess from Princess cruises , along with pretty much anything that Viking cruises have available. With luxury cruises, you can expect high-end amenities and a variety of things to see and do on the ship, such as shopping, dining, live performances, pools and even theme parks.

What family cruises are best suited for kids?

Disney cruises go above and beyond to offer fun cruises for kids and adults alike, but some cruises, like MSC cruises , have special promotions that allow children to get booked for free. Think of Disney cruises as having a Disney theme park on a ship with rides, shows and attractions for the whole family to enjoy.

Which lines offer the best cruises for couples?

Romantic experiences are easy to enjoy with Viking Cruises and Holland America Line cruises . The latter's Koningsdam Cruise is complemented by truly stunning views among breathtaking natural features. River cruises tend to be some of the most romantic, with more stops in historic romantic cities for you and your partner to enjoy.

Why should I go on a cruise for my honeymoon?

A cruise is one of the best ways to spend your honeymoon, as you and your partner can enjoy pampering at spa facilities with fine dining too. You can check what special features are available on every cruise on Expedia.ca in the ‘What's included’ section of their summary page.

Do cruises run around Christmas?

Yes, several cruises operate during Christmas, and you can find them by entering travel dates around Christmas to see what's available for a 2024 cruise to finish out the year. Carnival and Disney both offer special Christmas cruises with special activities and features centred around the holiday theme.

Is it worth going on a river cruise?

River cruises offer a bit of a different experience from ocean cruises, as they tend to have more stops and more varied sights to see. Viking river cruises are among the best available, as they got their start doing river cruises, making them have extensive experience with river journeys.

Are passports required for cruises?

You will need a passport if the cruise travels outside of Canada, even if you're leaving from a Canadian port like cruises from Vancouver . Cruises to the US require a passport valid for at least 6 months after your return. Cruises to other international locations require the same in addition to any potential necessary visas.

What are the benefits of booking a cruise with Expedia.ca?

When you book with Expedia.ca, you'll have access to an expansive catalogue of cruise options and search filters that allow you to narrow down those results as you see fit based on the destination, length, itinerary, cruise line and more. Additionally, Expedia.ca Rewards members accrue points on eligible purchases and other perks that can be put towards subsequent trips. Membership is free, so feel free to join and reap the benefits.

Other vacations you might like

• Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Top Cruise Destinations

• Cruises to Alaska
• Cruises to Bahamas
• Cruises to Caribbean
• Cruises to Europe
• Cruises to Hawaii
• Cruises to Mexico

Top Cruise Departure Ports

• Cruises from Boston
• Cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• Cruises from Galveston
• Cruises from Honolulu
• Cruises from Los Angeles
• Cruises from Miami
• Cruises from New Orleans
• Cruises from New York
• Cruises from Port Canaveral
• Cruises from San Diego
• Cruises from San Juan
• Cruises from San Francisco
• Cruises from Seattle
• Cruises from Tampa

Top Cruise Lines

• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International

13 Tips for Finding Cheap Cruise Deals

The best cruise deals aren’t as hard to find as you might think. But digging for cheap cruises can mean the difference between unearthing that low fare or compromising on price and itinerary, so you need to know where to look -- even if you use your own trusted cruise travel agent .

Let us share some of our favorite tips on how to get cheap cruises. While some may sound trite, others may catch you by surprise.

1. Don’t Wait for Last-Minute Cruise Deals on High-Season Sailings

Last-minute cheap cruise deals are a tough find in the most popular seasons and routes, especially if you want your pick of cabins. Summer travel and school holiday periods book up early, particularly for cabins that sleep three or more and are in demand by families traveling together.

If you have a very specific cruise itinerary and ship in mind, we recommend booking early. The choicest digs on popular new ships will sell quickly, pushing fares higher the longer you wait. New ship sailings are also incredibly popular well in advance.

Interested in an exotic cruise? For some lines and sailings, you can forget it unless you book months -- or a year -- in advance. This is particularly true for bucket-list voyages to places like Antarctica , the Galapagos Islands and world cruises -- some of which can sell out in a single day. The same rules apply for theme cruises .

Luxury cruises also offer their best prices early. Oceania and Regent Seven Seas usually increase cruise areas every three months. In other words, the lowest rates will disappear if you wait.

It's also best to book river cruises early. Not only are choice itineraries likely to sell out as the sail date draws closer, but the price is also likely to jump, not drop.

2. Hunt Down Shoulder Season and Repositioning Cruise Deals

Repositioning cruise deals, whether transatlantic or something less dramatic like ships moving into and out of Alaska, are some of the lowest cost per night/per person deals available.

The second best deals are often those sailing on dates just outside the peak seasons of popular destinations. This might mean picking April or late September as the month to visit Alaska, March as your best bet to sail the Mediterranean and October for your Caribbean cruise -- before or after the summer swell of family vacations. In addition to low prices, you'll encounter fewer crowds.

On the flip side, the weather might not be as ideal for sightseeing.

3. Use Cruise Critic's Deal Score to Know When a Deal is Really a Deal

Don't have the time to obsessively watch cruise pricing? Cruise Critic rounds up deals across tons of major cruise lines and popular destinations, as well as last-minute cruise deals. These are accompanied by a Deal Score, which uses pricing data along with onboard credits, flight discounts, food and drink package deals and more.

It's easy to use: The higher the Deal Score , the better the deal.

But if you'd prefer to go your own way on finding a deal, do some research on typical rates for the cruise you have in mind, and check back frequently (we mean daily, at least) to see if the fare has dropped.

See what promotions each cruise line is offering and contact your preferred travel agent to see what pricing and promotional specials they're running.

4. Bundle Up for the Best Cruise Deals

Some of the best cruise deals aren’t only about getting the bottom dollar cruise fare. A number of cruise lines offer booking promotions that include your choice of perks, such as free specialty dining, tips, Wi-Fi and drink packages.

Nearly every mainstream cruise line offers special deals that let you save on the total cost of your cruise vacation.

In addition, bundling multiple vacation elements together can help you save on individual costs. Luxury and river lines sometimes offer promotions that will include economy-class airfare, or a pre-cruise hotel stay at the price of your upscale cruise.

5. Ask for a Price Drop Credit When Cruise Fares Change

If the cruise fare changes after you've booked but before you've made your final payment, it's possible to take advantage of the lower rate. Enlist the help of a travel agent who can monitor pricing after you've booked, and who can request a re-fare to the lower rate.

When the fare plummets, you can request a rate change, cancel, and rebook at the lower rate or request the difference in onboard credit. What you're entitled to varies by cruise line, but it all leads to more money in your pocket.

Note that some lines may have non-refundable deposit policies; always read the fine print before deciding to pull the trigger and cancel and rebook.

6. Look at Last-Minute Cruise Deals (Yes, We Saw #1 Above)

While waiting until the last minute to book a cruise won't always pay off for your wallet, that's not always the case. For starters, check out Cruise Critic’s last-minute cruise deals , which feature bargains on a variety of sailings leaving within 90 days.

In general, there are always plenty of Caribbean cruise deals, as well as some for the Mediterranean. For those who can be spontaneous, flexibility can pay off.

Of course, booking last-minute airfare might wipe out any savings. Plus, you'll have a limited selection of cabin locations and dinner seatings. But if you're flexible and can drive to a cruise port -- or have plenty of frequent flier airline points to burn -- it's a great way to take a cruise without breaking the bank.

7. Explore the Benefits of Booking a Group Cruise

Booking a cruise for a group might get you the ultimate cruise deal: free berths.

For instance, book seven or more double-occupancy cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line , and for every 10 passengers booked, one passenger can cruise for free.

Keep in mind that each cruise line has its own threshold for groups. Some lines consider 10 guests (five cabins) to be a group, while others require 16 guests (eight cabins).

Group leaders can choose to spread the savings across the group or keep it all for themselves. Groups can get other perks, as well. Norwegian offers group members a choice of complimentary amenities beyond its Free at Sea promotion, such as extra onboard credit or a cocktail party for the group.

Though not as exciting as sailing for free when you book a large group cruise, small group perks are out there too.

Throughout the year, many cruise lines offer promotions that include free cruise fares for third and fourth passengers booked in the same cabin. Watch for the deals that also include those passengers in bonus offerings like drink packages or prepaid gratuities.

8. Send Cruise Deals to Your Inbox

All the cruise deals you dream about will appear in your inbox if you ask for them. You never have to miss another cheap Caribbean cruise again. Major cruise lines, such as Celebrity, Norwegian, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean offer deals emails with ongoing promotions in addition to last-minute deals and short sales.

For the hardcore deal-seekers who don't want e-deals cluttering up their personal inboxes, we suggest setting up separate accounts for cruise bargain mailings. With a little extra effort, you can even sort them into folders for your favorite shopping categories like “cheap Carnival cruises” or “cheap cruises from Galveston.”

9. Always Book Using Military, Senior or Residency Deals

Military cruise deals for active and retired members of the armed services are only one means of double dipping your deals. A number of cruise lines have special programs for seniors , military personnel and even teachers that apply even to the lowest advertised fares.

For example, MSC Cruises provides discounts of up to 10 percent to active and retired military families on almost all sailings. AARP members can find exclusive senior discounts on multiple lines when booking through the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia .

Many lines also offer residential discounts. Here's how it works: A line's revenue stream is based on a formula that requires a certain number of bookings from various cities, states and regions.

So, if it's not getting enough bookings from one place, it'll drop the price slightly -- say, in Florida -- to entice more Floridians to book.

There's no guarantee you'll get a residential discount, but it can't hurt to mention your home city and state during the booking process, just in case. Look for options for requesting these deals about halfway through the booking process when you use the cruise lines’ websites. Even if it only saves you $50, it's still $50 in your pocket.

10. Tweet Your Way to Cheap Cruises

Just about every agent and agency -- including Cruise.com ( @cruisecom and Best Travel Deals ( @cruisedealsbtd -- is tweeting its best cruise deals.

Take it a step further by customizing a list of deal tweeters using Twitter's list function, in essence creating your own deals aggregator. For more variety, assuming you don’t mind wading through a few tweets, you can always just search for the hashtag #cruisedeals.

11. Go for Lower-Priced Guarantee Cabins on Your Cruise

Are " guarantee cabins " on cruises really deals? A cabin guarantee, which basically means you're assured to get a cabin in the category specified -- or better -- means you can't choose your exact stateroom.

And for giving up that privilege, many lines discount guaranteed cabin bookings about $50 to $100 per person off the advertised fares.

If you're prone to seasickness or sensitive to noise, you might want to reconsider the value of choosing your own cabin location so as to not end up near the elevators or riding the wave near the bow.

The biggest caveat though, is that not all guarantee cabin fares are eligible for those booking perks we told you to bundle, so ensure the value tradeoff is worth it before you commit.

12. Make the Most of Your Loyalty Points for Deals on Cruises

Frequent cruisers , like frequent fliers, can benefit from brand loyalty. Sticking with one line means earning perks like nightly cocktails in private lounges, free laundry, complimentary dinners in alternative restaurants, cabin upgrades and even free cruises once you've earned enough "credits."

Past passengers can also take advantage of special discount cruises throughout the year or be entitled to book new itineraries before the public can, often turning your cruise dreams into affordable cruise deals.

13. Leave the Cruise Deals Search to the Experts

If you don't have time for Twitter, online cruise research or gathering up a group of 20 friends, nothing beats a good travel agent to help you score deals on cruises.

Because agents often book in bulk and work directly with the lines, they have access to deals that normal cruisers don't. Cruise lines will offer their top agencies special discounts that the agents can't promote on their websites, so even if you see a good deal online, it's best to talk to a real person and ask for the best fare.

Even if savings aren't necessarily there for every sailing, agencies often offer deals with value-added perks like onboard credit or prepaid gratuities, which can amount to nearly $100 per person on a weeklong sailing.

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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.

Redeem miles as a statement credit to cover spending on cruises.

Book with your card to get automatic travel insurance coverage for your cruise.

Earn 2x points on travel spending, including cruises and some ship excursions.

Book with your card to get trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and other travel assistance services.

Get American Express Cruise Privileges Program benefits when you book at least five nights with eligible cruise lines. Terms apply.

Cruise program benefits include $300 credit redeemable toward dining and spa services plus amenities like wine, chocolates and champagne. Terms apply.

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.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 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℠.

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 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.

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20 of the Best Websites for Booking Cheap Cruises in 2024

Think that the only place to go for booking a cruise is directly via the cruise line’s website? Or through a travel agent? Think again. You can also find cheap cruises through a bevy of affordable travel booking websites. Here are 20 of our favorites, as well as the pros and cons of each option, so you can book your next cruise for the best price possible.

Table of Contents

Cruise-Specific Booking Websites

While you could go to an online travel agency that offers flights, hotels, and cruises, why not try a cruise-specific booking website first? After all, these are the pros that specialize in cruising, so they know what you’re looking for and how to give it.

1. CruiseDirect

Screenshot: cruisedirect.com

Yeah, CruiseDirect’s website looks a little outdated, but that’s only because this cruise booking provider has been around for about two decades. You know they know their stuff. 

One of the coolest features on this website? As you’re searching around for a cruise, you can “heart” the cruises you like, so you can go back later and reconsider them. Additionally, the website doesn’t require you to pay the full cost of your cruise at the time of booking — just a deposit.

• Booking incentives such as free dining experiences and travel insurance
• No need to pay up-front

Cons: 

• Price matching is only available for the first 24 hours after you book
• Clunky website

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at CruiseDirect

2. Cruise Critic

Screenshot: cruisecritic.com

Cruise Critic is a great little corner of the internet for those who love all things cruising. Here, you can find tons of information about your favorite cruise lines, cruise ships, routes, and more. Get in-depth reviews, cruising tips — it’s all there. But, beyond providing all of this extra info, Cruise Critic also allows you to book cruises. Unfortunately, it’s not Cruise Critic offering those cruises for sale. Cruise Critic just aggregates all of the pricing info and then presents it to you. You have to go to another website to book your cruise.

• Tons of information about any and every cruise
• Robust forum community of cruisers
• You’ll have to go to another website to purchase your cruise fare

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Cruise Critic

3. Cruisewatch

Screenshot: cruisewatch.com

If you love the power of data, though, Cruisewatch might be the perfect cruise-booking platform for you. The website uses a compilation of data points to predict the best time for you to book your cruise based on price — allowing you to get the best deal, not just the best deal that the website decides to push that day. Additionally, it uses a handy algorithm to better suit the website’s recommendations to your tastes. As you “like” or “dislike” certain cruise features, the website learns your preferences and makes its recommendations accordingly.

• Tech-savvy search capabilities and personalization
• Real-time price drop alerts
• Search functions don’t go as in-depth as some of the others on our list
• Doesn’t show all the prices for all of the cruises available unless you hand over your personal info

4. CruisesOnly

Screenshot: cruisesonly.com

CruisesOnly offers … you guessed it: only cruises. What makes it a little different from other cruise-booking platforms on this list is its unparalleled level of customer service, with on-demand agents available to answer any of your cruising or cruise booking questions. The website also has a loyalty program, allowing you to earn extra bonuses and perks the more you book. For example, after just two bookings, you can get vouchers for shore excursions, cash back, and/or an Amazon gift card.

• Free loyalty program
• On-call booking agents
• Doesn’t always offer the lowest prices

5. Cruise.com

Screenshot: cruise.com

Cruise.com is just about as specific and simple as you can get. It’s a website, named after exactly what you want to book — a cruise! Unfortunately, while the name is simple, the website isn’t always as simple as it could be. This is a site that’s a little more catered toward the seasoned cruiser. It gives you a lot of information and a lot of options, meaning newbie cruisers could feel a little overwhelmed. One great thing, though, that this site offers that some of the other cruise-specific booking websites don’t? The ability to bundle your cruise fare with airfare.

• Book your airfare and cruise fare in one place, for one price
• Find a lot of extra offers, packages, and rates, all in one spot
• Lots of information in what can be a confusing interface
• This site is not newbie-friendly.

6. Cruises.com

Screenshot: cruises.com

So what about Cruises.com? Yes, cruise.com and cruises.com are two separate things. While the former is known primarily as a site that offers deals you won’t necessarily find elsewhere and gives you a lot of extra info, cruises.com is known for potentially lucrative deals. The only downside to these deals is that you have to be careful to read the fine print. If not, you could feel like you didn’t get your money’s worth or you could find yourself, unfortunately, scammed. That’s not to say it happens every time, though, so just do your due diligence.

• Find lucrative cruise deals
• Sometimes those deals aren’t as good as they seem

7. Vacations To Go

Screenshot: vacationstogo.com

Okay, so Vacations To Go sounds like it would give you the option to book everything you might need for an entire vacation. But, one quick look at the website’s homepage shows that it bills itself as an online cruise agency. It boasts that it’s the largest cruise agency in the world. It also says it can save you over 80% on cruise fares, but that’s not proven. 

Vacations To Go’s website may seem a little outdated, but it does have some nice features. It allows you to search for cruises with certain port stops. You can also search for cruises with particular themes, such as a singles cruise or cruises for emergency personnel. There’s also a 90-day ticker feature that shows you last-minute available cruises. 

The big downside to this website, though, is that you have to call the brand’s number to book. The only thing you can do online is ask for a quote. You’ll have to speak with someone to reserve your cruise.

• The website offers a robust search function
• You can find last-minute cruise deals, for cruises departing in 90 days or sooner
• You can’t book your cruise directly on the website
• You have to call a Vacations to Go representative to book

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

But if you’re a frequent traveler, you’re probably already pretty familiar with the very popular online travel agencies out there. Priceline , Expedia — it’s incredibly common that you’ll find your best hotel and flight deals with one of these websites. But many of these online travel agencies likewise offer deals on cruises.

8. CheapCaribbean.com

Screenshot: cheapcaribbean.com

CheapCaribbean.com is technically a Caribbean-specific travel booking platform, but don’t let the name fool you. Rather, you can find cruises for all around the world here, not just Caribbean cruises. The nice thing about this booking platform is that it allows you to search via a few extra categories (like cruise themes) that you won’t find on the other platforms above. Additionally, CheapCaribbean gives you plenty of incentives to book on the platform, with discounts, credits, and even a loyalty club.

• Free, 24-hour cancellations
• Lots of booking perks, from spa credits to cash back
• Lots of search functionality
• Not 100% focused on cruises
• Reviewers report poor customer service
• Not as cheap as the name would suggest

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at CheapCaribbean.com

Screenshot: expedia.com

Comparatively, Expedia is one of the larger travel booking platforms out there. From vacation rentals to flights, rental cars to cruises, Expedia offers a little bit of it all. The site is easy to use, making it a top pick for those who want a hassle-free cruise-booking experience. The only downside, though, is that the cruise-booking experience is so simple on Expedia that you don’t have the chance to get down into the nitty-gritty of what you want from your cruise when searching. That could be either a pro or a con, depending on what you’re looking for.

• Some of the best cruise-booking deals available 
• Large, reputable platform
• Simple-to-use interface
• Conversely, the site could be considered too simple, and it doesn’t include all the search features an avid cruiser might want

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Expedia

10. Priceline

Screenshot: hopper.com

Similarly, Priceline is another well-known travel booking platform, with just as much clout as Expedia. However, where Expedia fails in allowing for in-depth searches, Priceline shines. You can search for a range of cruising experiences, whether you want a balcony cabin, a luxury cruise, or even a cruise with a certain theme. You can also search for cruises with particular discounts, such as a senior discount. This makes Priceline quite competitive with CheapCaribbean when it comes to search features.

• Lots of ways to search for your perfect cruise 
• Bonus incentives for booking through Priceline, such as credits and shore excursion savings
• Priceline’s famed “name your own price” feature doesn’t apply to cruises

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Priceline

Screenshot: kayak.com

Kayak is more of a travel deal aggregator than a legitimate online travel agency, but that’s precisely why Kayak aficionados prefer the site. It brings together travel deals from around the web and then even compares them to the deals you’ll find with competitors like Expedia and Priceline, so there are fewer websites you’ll need to scroll through, to find your best cruise deal. Further reading: see our complete guide to using Kayak to book cheap travel .

• Find more prices in one place
• Great user experience via the Kayak app 
• Unfortunately, Kayak pushes “suggested,” higher-cost cruises over the legitimately cheaper fares

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Kayak

12. TripAdvisor

Screenshot: tripadvisor.com

Like Cruise Critic, TripAdvisor is a great place to go to find reviews and cruising information, but did you know that you can also book cruises via this website? You can find cruise deals from a wide array of sources, for cruises all over the world. However, also like Cruise Critic, TripAdvisor won’t allow you to actively book your cruise on the site. Instead, it’ll send you elsewhere to do that. But, it’s a nice feature if you’re already frequently on the site, reading up ahead of your next cruise.

• Real reviews and info plus booking and deal recommendations all in one spot
• You’ll be redirected to a different website for booking

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at TripAdvisor

13. Avoya Travel

Screenshot: avoyatravel.com

Next up, Avoya Travel is a unique option, as it combines online search features and travel agent know-how to give you what it calls a superior cruise-booking experience. You enter some info about what kind of cruise you want, and then a planner uses your information to show you the best cruises for you. Better yet, a website membership gets you access to unpublished deals, as well as free cruise booking changes and cancellations.

• Personalized service and cruise recommendations 
• Free membership comes with exclusive deals and perks
• The low-price guarantee is only available for 24 hours after booking 
• Not ideal for those who want a hands-off, DIY booking experience

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Avoya Travel

Screenshot: orbitz.com

Another online travel agency where you might frequently book your other travel, Orbitz also offers cruises — and there are a lot of reasons why you might want to book with Orbitz. The site offers a loyalty program for frequent travel bookers (and it’s very possible to frequently book with Orbitz since the site offers entire vacation packages, rental cars, activities, etc.). It also offers deals and savings you might not find elsewhere. And, if you do find a better price on your cruise on another site, within 24 hours, you can take advantage of Orbitz’s best price guarantee.

• If you prefer to streamline your travel booking and do it all in one place, Orbitz will allow you to do that, with its wealth of options
• You only have 24 hours to take advantage of the best price guarantee
• Cruise bookings don’t qualify for the Orbitz loyalty program rewards

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Orbitz

15. Travelocity

Screenshot: travelocity.com

Much like Orbitz, Travelocity is another online travel agency where you’re most likely to book a cruise only if you use the site for all of your other travel bookings. If you already book your flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals on Travelocity, it’s worth checking out their cruise deals. 

However, you might find the cruise booking portion of the agency’s website a bit clunky. For this reason, some users just use the website to browse their cruise options and then they call Travelocity directly to book their chosen option.

• Cruises offered in the same spot you potentially book all your other travel, for a streamlined experience
• Users find a poor website design (at least for the cruising portion)
• It’s sometimes easier to book over the phone

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Travelocity

Airline, Hotel, and Other Brands

But sometimes, you can also purchase cruises through providers who aren’t online travel agents, or cruise lines, or even anything close. Airlines, hotels, and other brands also offer deals on cruises for their most loyal customers.

16. Costco Travel

Screenshot: costcotravel.com

Costco members can purchase cruises, hotels, airfare, and car rental packages all online. While the cruise fares aren’t necessarily cheaper through Costco than what you might get with some of the other providers on our list, the incentives are what make booking through Costco worth it for some. The favorite incentive? Hefty Costco gift cards.

• Incentives include Costco gift cards that can really add up
• The prices aren’t always cheaper than what you’ll find elsewhere
• A Costco membership is necessary to book

Click Here to See Cheap Cruise Deals at Costco Travel

17. American Airlines Cruises

Screenshot: bookaacruises.com

If you’re an American Airlines AAdvantage member, you may want to book your cruise through your existing American Airlines loyalty membership. Doing so allows you to earn airline miles, while also taking advantage of savings. Just like many of the above booking platforms, American Airlines Cruises promises a 110% best price guarantee, meaning they’ll refund you 110% of the difference if you find your cruise offered at a lower price within 48 hours of your initial booking.

• Earn up to 10,000 AAdvantage miles per cruise 
• Earn even more miles if you have an American Airlines credit card
• You’ll be charged an extra processing fee for your booking

18. Delta SkyMiles Cruises

Screenshot: skymilescruises.com

Very similarly, if you’re a SkyMiles member versus an AAdvantage member, you can earn miles for your cruising when you book with Delta SkyMiles Cruises. Rather than receiving a certain number of miles for which cruise line you cruise with, you’ll receive miles based on how long you cruise, up to 10,000 SkyMiles. You also get extra perks if you book more luxurious rooms.

• Earn up to 10,000 SkyMiles per cruise
• Receive extra cruise amenities based on your Delta Medallion status

19. United Cruises

Screenshot: cruises.united.com

Likewise, you can earn United MileagePlus miles if you book your cruise through United Cruises. Rather than base the number of miles you earn on nights cruised or cruise line, though, United Cruises bases your miles earning on the type of stateroom you book. You can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles on select cruises.

• Earn up to 100,000 MileagePlus miles per cruise
• Receive extra cruise amenities if you have Premier status

20. Marriott Cruises

Screenshot: cruise-with-points.marriott.com

But what if you’re not a member of any frequent flyer program? You can still earn points for an existing loyalty program if you’re a member of Marriott Bonvoy . Earn points based on how much money you spend for a cruise booking, via Marriott Cruises. 

You can earn up to 8 points per $1 spent on a cruise, putting you that much closer to a free night at your favorite Marriott-owned hotel. You can also use Marriott points to pay for your cruise if you so wish.

• Earn up to 8 points per $1 spent on a cruise
• Pay for your cruise using Marriott Bonvoy points

Booking Direct

Read all of the above and still tempted to book direct? We don’t blame you. There are reasons why you might. It’s easy. You know exactly what you’re getting. All the information about the line, its routes, and the individual ships is right there at your fingertips. However, despite this, you could still be missing out on some great deals. 

So what’s your best course of action? Before booking any cruise, look around at the various prices offered in a range of places. After all, you never know where an awesome deal could be lurking!

Further Reading: Can You Bring Food, Alcohol, Water, & Snacks on a Cruise Ship? , the Best All-Inclusive Cruise Lines , and the Best Credit Cards for Booking Cruises .

It all depends on what you’re after. If you want the most affordable cruise fare possible, you can usually find great deals the closer you get to a cruise date, as the cruise line tries to fill up cabins. However, waiting until the last minute could mean you end up with fewer choices in terms of cabin and amenities.

If you’re looking at a specific cruise across a swathe of websites, you’ll usually find that the base price is the same across a handful of sites. From there, you’ll have to look at the various “extras” the site is offering — drink packages, shore excursions, room upgrades, etcetera — to see which is providing the most value for that lowest price.

It’s a good question! Many cruise booking websites, even some of those we’ve listed above, look a little sketch. But don’t let an outdated website put you off. If it’s listed above, you can trust it. Just make sure to always read the fine print before you book any sort of travel online.

It does make sense that a cruise line might drop its prices to sell out cabins right before a cruise is set to launch. However, even having empty cabins on a cruise is a lot less common than you might think. Most cruises are full when they set sail. So, if you thought you might wait around and take a last-minute cruise that’s half-off the week before sailing, you might just want to abandon that idea.

Often, cruise lines will offer sales and deals in the late winter-early spring, January through March. These months are popularly known as “wave season.”

Most cruise lines will allow you to book a cruise as much as a year and a half in advance. If you decide to book this far out, just make sure that your cruise of choice offers some sort of travel booking insurance or a cancellation policy that allows you to adjust your schedule as needed without losing the entire cost of your cruise fare.

The Vacationer’s Final Thoughts

Cruise-specific booking websites are great resources to find your next trip at sea. However, OTAs can often have cheaper prices and worthy reward programs. Also, consider booking through a specific airline or hotel brand. This can help you maintain or gain status on an airline or with a hotel brand you use regularly. Additionally, booking with a cash back credit card such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can put 1.5% or more back in your wallet. Lastly, stacking these savings with another cash back program such as BeFrugal or Rakuten will further increase your savings. See also our guides on the best websites for booking cheap flights , the best websites for booking cheap hotels , and the best websites for booking cheap car rentals .

By Holly Riddle

Holly Riddle is a freelance travel, food, and lifestyle journalist who also dabbles in ghostwriting and fiction. Her work appears in publications ranging from Global Traveler to Golf Magazine, Mashed to Forbes, and Bloomberg. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring the mountains near her home in the Adirondacks. Her favorite travel destinations include Chicago and New Orleans.

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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.

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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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The Best Ways to Book Cheap Cruises

Posted: February 19, 2024 | Last updated: February 19, 2024

Sail Away for Less

Dropping a couple thousand dollars on a cruise will never be frugal. From camping to road tripping, there are just cheaper ways to vacation. But if the high seas are calling, there are a few things you can do to keep your expenses low, according to frugal Redditors . Here are 10 ways to book the cheapest cruise possible.

Pay in Advance

Gratuities and fees abound on cruises — and not all of them are optional. One Redditor suggests pre-paying these extra charges to make budgeting for your trip easier. Don’t worry about not tipping enough. If the service is exceptional, you can still tip extra later on.

Account for Transportation Costs

Transportation to and from the port will be costly, especially if you’re traveling abroad. While it may be more boring than a cruise along the French riviera, it’s cheaper to choose an itinerary that begins and ends close to where you live.

Related:   Best Cruises for Senior Couples Under $100 a Night

Beware of Room Upgrades

Even after you’ve purchased your ticket, cruise lines will do everything they can to upcharge you. The biggest shakedown? Room upgrades. Make sure to do your research and commit to a room before getting on board. While cheap, most undesirable rooms may not be worth the savings if you cave for an upgrade once you’re on board.

Arrange Third-Party Shore Excursions

Shore excursions are also a minefield of potential upcharges. You can avoid them altogether, or organize your own excursions with more affordable third-party companies.

For more cheap travel advice, please sign up for our free newsletters .

Avoid Specialty Dining Options

Remember: Food (often a buffet) is included with your ticket. If you want to save money, don’t be enticed by expensive upgrades, especially since dinner is often quite good in the main dining room, one Redditor writes.

Book a Longer Cruise

If this is your first time cruising, then you might be tempted to test the waters with a weekend trip. But one commenter says this is a mistake. Not only are weekend trips exhausting, they’re also more expensive per day than trips that are five nights or longer.

Sign Up for a Travel Credit Card

You can offset some of your expenses with a credit card specifically geared toward travel savings. Forbes Advisor even has a list of the best credit cards for cruises .

Book With Vacations To Go

Don't let the outdated website dissuade you. Multiple Redditors recommend booking with Vacations To Go , which specializes in cheap, last-minute cruise deals. CruiseCompete , another discounter, also comes up often in Reddit threads.

Don’t Cruise With Carnival

Despite Carnival's reputation as a low-cost cruise line, Redditors say that it’s worth paying a bit extra for Norwegian, which has a better “cost-to-enjoyment” ratio. “Carnival might offer some of the best prices, but they might not offer the kind of experience or atmosphere that you're looking for,” one comment reads.

Sneak in Drinks

While we don’t condone any serious rule breaking, some Redditors suggested sneaking alcohol aboard to avoid the astronomical drink prices. The practice is so common that vendors on Amazon sell entire kits dedicated to rum running . Just keep in mind that some cruise lines will go as far as kicking you off the ship if they discover your contraband.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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Protect Your Trip »

The 13 best solo cruises for 2024 (no supplement fare).

Set sail for a solo adventure at sea.

The Best Solo Cruises

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Relax by the pool, attend shows, dine with new friends and more on your next solo cruise.

Whether you're embarking on your first cruise alone or you've been on solo cruises before, single travelers will find more options than ever when it comes to cruising solo. Many cruise lines offer single staterooms with the same amenities as other cabins, at a price similar to what you'd pay with double occupancy fares. You'll also find special promotions where the single supplement fee is reduced or waived, making it more affordable to reserve a spacious stateroom or luxurious suite with even more amenities – including personalized butler service, an added perk of booking with many luxury lines .

If you're ready for a maritime adventure, an extended vacation or simply a quick getaway from home, these top cruise lines offer some of the best options for solo travelers on waterways around the world.

Lines with solo accommodations and waived fees

Norwegian cruise line.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Launched in 2010, Norwegian Epic was the first cruise ship in the industry to feature studio accommodations for solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line offers this category on nine of the 19 ships in its fleet, including the newest ship, Norwegian Viva. These cabins, at an average size of 100 square feet, are designed and priced with the solo traveler in mind. They have no single supplements – and studio rooms on board Norwegian Bliss even boast virtual windows.

Guests of the studios get access to the private Studio Lounge. In this exclusive space, you can socialize with other solo travelers and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There are also singles meetups throughout the voyage and plenty of fun-filled onboard activities to mingle with like-minded cruisers. Solo travelers can check out all the fun for singles on Norwegian Viva this winter on a cruise to the Caribbean , or in spring 2024 as the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean .

Book a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

MSC Cruises

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers interior and balcony solo cabins for single cruisers on its Meraviglia-class ships: the MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the newest vessel in the fleet, MSC Euribia. The second-newest ship, MSC World Europa, has 28 cabins – 10 Studio Interior and 18 Studio Ocean View staterooms – designed specifically for solo travelers. MSC World America, set to debut in 2025, will also feature the solo studio staterooms.

During voyages with MSC Cruises , single cruisers are invited to a complimentary, hosted cocktail party to mix and mingle with other solo travelers. The daily program is also an excellent source to discover additional activities, entertainment and opportunities to meet other cruisers. You'll have onboard special events like the themed 70s-inspired Flower Party and the White Party, where the ship is decked out in festive white decor and guests don their best white attire. In addition, there are various sports tournaments, or you can show off your culinary expertise during a MasterChef competition.

MSC's Caribbean and Bahamas cruises departing from Miami and New York City feature an overnight visit to Ocean Cay, the line's private island and marine reserve. While there, singles can participate in fun-filled evening activities like a Champagne Sunset Cruise or a glow paddleboarding excursion in the lagoon, then attend the lively Luna Libre Party and the lighthouse show.

Find an MSC Cruises itinerary on GoToSea.

Holland America Line

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Holland America Line

Three of Holland America Line's newest ships each offer 12 solo cabins to accommodate single travelers: the Pinnacle-class Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Konigsdam. These ocean view staterooms range in size from 127 to 172 square feet and feature the same amenities as the double occupancy cabins but with a double bed. The cruise line's Single Staterooms are priced for one person. If a guest chooses to book a different stateroom, single supplements for double occupancy cabins are as much as 100% over the standard fare, depending on the voyage and the cabin category.

Long committed to solo travelers, the line offers many activities where guests can meet other singles such as wine tastings, cocktail mixers, exercise classes, daily quizzes, sports challenges and more. If you're a solo traveler and a member of AARP, Holland America is now the exclusive cruise benefit provider to AARP's members. Solo cruisers will have access to an AARP member-only onboard credit that ranges from $50 to $200, depending on the itinerary and stateroom category.

For itineraries, Holland America's Alaska cruises and cruisetours are perfect for solo travelers, offering many opportunities to connect with fellow cruisers. Another favorite for singles is the line's fall voyages sailing from Boston to Québec City or Montreal.

Explore Holland America Line deals on GoToSea.

Royal Caribbean International

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International features studio staterooms on select ships that range in size from 101 to 199 square feet. These solo accommodations include interior rooms, virtual balcony staterooms and a super studio ocean view stateroom with a balcony. The cabins do not carry the single supplement fee singles encounter when booking other types of staterooms, making them an attractive option when traveling alone.

Once on board the ship, solo cruisers will have countless options to engage and socialize with other travelers. When it comes to dining with Royal Caribbean , make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki for an entertaining meal with new friends, or join fellow foodies for the intimate Chef's Table experience (the dining venues vary by ship). Singles can also participate in onboard activities like trivia contests, drink seminars, escape rooms, dance classes and pool parties.

If you need more thrills to stay busy and to meet people, Royal Caribbean's ships feature world-class shows and entertainment alongside adrenaline-pumping rides and attractions. If you're sailing in the Caribbean, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and chat with other passengers at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Luxury line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers single cruisers 183 square feet of beautifully appointed space in solo accommodations that come without single supplement fees. These ocean view staterooms feature a queen bed, a panoramic picture window, a private spa bathroom with a rain shower and body jets, a stocked minifridge replenished daily with personal favorites, and other luxurious amenities. Single guests can also book other stateroom or suite categories with single supplements starting at 50% of the double occupancy price.

The line's three intimate yacht-style cruise ships – World Navigator, World Traveller and the new World Voyager, whose inaugural season begins in Antarctica in November 2023 – are all-inclusive . Meals at all the dining venues, premium beverages and wines, gratuities, culturally immersive excursions, and more are included in the fare. With fewer than 200 guests on board, there's an atmosphere of conviviality on these ships – especially when exploring remote destinations with like-minded and adventurous travelers during expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Read: The Top Cruises on Small Ships

Celebrity Cruises

Tim Aylen | Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships offer some of the best options for solo cruisers. The line's two newest vessels, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent (set to debut in late 2023), each boast 32 single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda. In addition, Celebrity Apex has 24 solo cabins, and Celebrity Edge features 16 staterooms for individual guests. These one-person accommodations offer a minimum of 131 square feet of space and the same upscale amenities you'll find in other category staterooms on their ships. Solo guests can look for special promotions where the single supplement is waived on select Celebrity voyages throughout the year.

Once on board the vessel, check out the daily program for activities conducive to meeting others – like wine tastings, cocktail-making classes and more. You'll also enjoy thrilling top-notch entertainment around the ship in The Theatre, The Club and Eden. A few popular cruises for singles are the line's Caribbean and Mexico itineraries on Celebrity Beyond.

Book a Celebrity Cruise on GoToSea.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The hip vibe on board the adults-only Virgin Voyages ships is ideal for solo cruisers looking to meet other travelers. Its superyacht-style ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady – offer 40 interior cabins ranging in size from 105 to 177 square feet. There are also six Sea View staterooms with portholes boasting between 130 to 190 square feet of space. These Insider and Sea View cabins are designed and priced for single travelers, with amenities like high-tech mood lighting and roomy rain showers. The line also runs promotions where solo cruisers can book double occupancy staterooms without paying a single supplement.

Activities and festival-like entertainment around the ships foster fast friendships. Diners will enjoy the interactive experience at Gunbae, the lively Korean barbecue venue. The "grog walk" is a fun pub stroll where solo sailors can join fellow mates while sipping and snacking their way through all the signature bars. For even more fun, check out the evening shipwide events such as the themed Scarlet Party, which features live music and immersive experiences. The line also hosts meetups for singles throughout each voyage.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways' river and small-ship cruises traverse waterways around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The company waives the single supplement on a selection of staterooms, including its Panorama Suites, on select European and Asia departures. The company recommends booking early as the specially priced cabins do sell out. Solo travelers make up about 10% of the passengers on this river cruise line .

Avalon's fleet of Suite Ships operates in Europe and Southeast Asia and features cabins with a minimum of 172 square feet. About 80% of the staterooms are Panorama Suites, which have 200 feet of living space, beds with a view and the river cruise industry's only open-air balcony. With Avalon excursions, solo cruisers have opportunities to meet like-minded guests during immersive tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, yoga or fitness classes, biking or hiking trips, and more. Single guests can choose to dine at tables for just two people or ones that can accommodate up to eight passengers.

Read: Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Next Cruise

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AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

Two single occupancy staterooms are available on four of AmaWaterways' river cruise ships: AmaDolce, AmaDante, AmaLyra and AmaCello. These accommodations do not have single supplement fees. Solo cruisers can also book staterooms with a 20% single supplement on select sailings in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that this pricing does not apply to certain stateroom categories and suites.)

With the friendly, small-ship atmosphere, solo cruisers will find it comfortable to socialize with other passengers and the crew. Onboard activities and immersive excursions also create opportunities for fostering friendships, especially among like-minded travelers. Excellent options for solo cruises include themed sailings centered around music and wine or the magical Christmas markets itineraries along the Danube, Rhone and Rhine rivers.

Explore AmaWaterways deals on GoToSea.

Lines with discounted supplement fares

Courtesy of Azamara

Azamara's special offers for solo travelers include reduced single supplements of 25% to 50% of the double occupancy rate on select sailings. The line's four midsized sister ships – carrying no more than 700 passengers – are mostly all-inclusive. Amenities included in the cruise fare include most meals; standard spirits, wines and beers; bottled water, soft drinks, and specialty teas and coffees; shuttle service in port; gratuities; and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings ashore or Destination Celebration experiences on the ship. Dining at the two specialty restaurants is an additional cost unless guests have accommodations in the Club World Owner's Suites, Club Ocean Suite or Club Continent Suite.

Single guests on Azamara cruises will find events during the sailing and venues around the ship where you can mix and mingle with other solo travelers and chat with the friendly crew. Intimate and culturally immersive excursions also create opportunities to meet passengers with similar interests. Azamara Onward, the latest ship, boasts the new Atlas Bar, a great spot to meet other travelers.

For itineraries, Azamara's signature "Country-Intensive Voyages" are a favorite of solo cruisers, including the 10- or 11-night Greece Intensive Voyage. For an extended sailing, check out the festive 12-night Carnival in Rio Voyage, which features a stop in Rio de Janeiro during the city's famed Carnival.

Compare Azamara cruises on GoToSea.

Cunard Line

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line features dedicated solo staterooms on its three ships, priced at approximately 166% to 174% of the equivalent double occupancy cruise fare. Guests can choose between a spacious Britannia Inside or Britannia Oceanview cabin, or opt for a larger stateroom with a single supplement. For a little "me time" pampering while on board, solos will appreciate 24-hour room service, complimentary Penhaligon's toiletries and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine. Single guests will also be invited to get-togethers. You can either dine alone at venues around the ship such as the main dining room or choose to share a table with other passengers.

With an international mix of travelers, single cruisers will find many opportunities to meet and chat with others, especially during a Transatlantic Crossing. During the sailing, you'll find many enriching and relaxing activities that encourage socializing. According to Cunard , there's a sense of camaraderie and a passion around the voyage – and the unique travel experience of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Find a Cunard Line cruise on GoToSea.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Luxury line Silversea Cruises offers 25% single supplements on various voyages throughout the year, including expedition cruises to destinations like the Galápagos Islands , Antarctica and the Arctic, and Greenland. The line's all-inclusive fares include luxurious ocean view suites, gourmet dining, complimentary wines and spirits, gratuities, onboard enrichment and entertainment, shore excursions, and more. Solo travelers will even have personalized butler service to indulge their every whim.

The line's fleet of a dozen intimate ships, carrying no more than 728 guests, offers a clubby atmosphere perfect for meeting solo and like-minded travelers. Single guests will also have the opportunity to engage with other solo passengers during a welcome reception with Champagne at the beginning of each voyage. Popular itineraries for Silversea's single cruisers include its Transoceanic journeys, a bucket list trip for many cruisers .

Explore Silversea Cruises deals on GoToSea.

Courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn has special offers throughout the year where solo cruisers can take advantage of reduced pricing equal to double occupancy fares or discounts on the single supplement starting at 25% above the double occupancy fares. These rates are available on select voyages, including expedition cruises. Frequent solo cruisers and members of the luxury line's Seabourn Club Diamond Elite will also find reduced single supplements on Diamond Elite Single Supplement Sailings. In addition, club members receive invitations to exclusive events, where they can meet and mingle with fellow cruisers. Solo passengers are also invited to sit with the ship's officers, crew and entertainers at dinner – and there are hosted get-togethers for single travelers.

Solo cruisers will enjoy beautifully designed oceanfront suites and all-inclusive amenities on board Seabourn 's intimate ships. These perks include world-class dining; complimentary premium wine and spirits; a spa and wellness program in partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil; included gratuities; and the line's enrichment series, Seabourn Conversations. Single cruisers looking for an extended holiday will enjoy longer voyages on the line's newest purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Compare Seabourn cruises on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. She used extensive research and experience as a solo cruiser to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

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How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

A real score for cruise passengers is a free or cheap cabin upgrade. Just like with airline seats, you can't count on an upgrade — but it sure feels great when it happens. Several methods will help improve your chances of landing in better cruise ship accommodations.

Before I get into details, let's start with some facts: On a typical ship, the basic categories of cruise rooms are inside (no view), outside (with window or porthole), balcony, minisuite and suite. It's rare to get more than a one-category upgrade, so don't think you can book an inside cabin and wind up in a fancy suite. More common is that you might find an upgrade to a better inside cabin . Make sure you have realistic expectations.

Your best course is always to book the nicest cabin you can afford. Here are some tricks to scoring a free or discounted cruise ship cabin upgrade and landing better cruise rooms without breaking the bank.

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

Look for an upgrade sale

Cruise line sales are the easiest way to score cheap or free upgraded accommodations. Various mass-market brands will run periodic promotions, especially during the fall and winter "wave season" sale periods. You might also see discounted upgrades offered on cruises during shoulder seasons, such as immediately after children return to school in the fall.

Free or discounted promotions encourage upgrades from inside cabins to ocean views and from ocean views to balconies. One tactic during these sales is to list outside and balcony cabins at the same price. If you can't find a deal on moving up a category, you might see a free upgrade to a bigger or better-located cabin within the category you originally planned to book. (Even within categories, the sizes and prices of cabins vary.)

Book a 'guarantee' cabin

When you book a cruise, you typically choose a cabin in your desired location. With a "guarantee" cabin , you leave it up to the cruise line to assign you accommodations either in the category you booked or a better one. The bet is that your category will sell out, and the cruise line will have to move you up for free — say, from an outside to a balcony cabin.

In the worst-case scenario, you end up in the category you booked; in the best case, you get your dream cabin. There is a catch, though. Since you still can't choose your specific cabin, you could end up in a noisy or otherwise undesirable area of the ship — even if the room is technically an upgrade from what you booked. For example, that great view you think you snagged may end up being blocked by lifeboats.

Related: Why it pays to upgrade your cabin

Join a loyalty program

Cruise lines naturally give upgrade preferences to frequent cruisers who are members of their loyalty programs . It's easy to join. In fact, you might be a member without even knowing it if your name was added to a cruise line's email and mailing list after your first cruise with the brand.

As a loyalty program member, look out for promotional deals you'll receive. Targeted emails and newsletters will alert you to members-only discounts or offers or inform you about upgrades before nonmembers get word. The cruise line might also send you invitations to bid for upgrades or offer discounted upgrades on cruises you've already booked.

Additionally, you can rack up points for perks that might eventually include free or discounted upgrades. For instance, if you reach the top Diamond status with Carnival Cruise Line's Very Important Fun Person loyalty program , you get a one-time free cabin upgrade.

Work with an experienced cruise travel agent

Travel agents, especially those who do a lot of business with a particular cruise line, have a certain amount of pull. Your agent might be able to snag you an upgrade by contacting the cruise line and asking for a favor. You might not know you have been upgraded until you get to the ship, as it will be based on whether or not cabins are available at the last minute.

Related: 5 reasons to turn down a cruise ship cabin upgrade

Your travel adviser can also steer you toward specific cruise lines or sailings where you stand a better chance of an upgrade. Also, your agency could have access to special group rates, meaning you'll pay a discounted price for that upgraded cabin you desire.

Bid for an upgrade

A few years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean , Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises were among the cruise lines that took a page from international airlines (such as Qantas and Aer Lingus) and began offering bidding programs for upgrades. Luxury river cruise line Uniworld also offers bidding.

These online programs are basically silent auctions that only select cruisers (preference is given to loyalty club members) are invited to join. The cruise line sets a minimum bid, and you can go up in price from there.

Your chance of an upgrade might be based on luck, skill or both. The advice from successful bidders is to go up from the minimum, but how much is a personal choice. Some people snag better accommodations for less than $20, some for $100 or more. You don't pay anything unless your bid is accepted.

Ask once on board

The hotel director on any cruise ship has a certain amount of discretion in moving guests to different cabins. Being bold enough to ask for an upgrade once you are on the ship could pay off.

To try your luck, you'll want to ask about an upgrade at guest services. Since the crew there will spend embarkation day fielding many questions and complaints from grumpy, travel-weary cruisers, your best bet may be to head to your assigned cabin. Then, wait until the second day of your cruise to ask for an upgrade.

Put on a big smile, be super friendly and ask if there is any chance a better cabin is available. If they don't offer you an upgrade for free, you might suggest you are willing to pay a small fee.

Related: 6 reasons you'll want to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

Mention your special occasion

If you're celebrating a special occasion — such as a birthday, anniversary or honeymoon — on board, the cruise line or your travel agent can find ways to fete you, including by upgrading your cabin.

When you book your cruise, note in your reservation (or remind your travel agent to note) that you're celebrating a special event in your life. Whether you are a loyal customer or a first-timer that the cruise line hopes will become a repeat cruiser, you might be rewarded with an upgrade.

This sort of upgrade would typically be a "surprise" that occurs when you check in at the pier, so you can't plan for it in advance. It never hurts to remind the staff how excited you are to be celebrating on the ship and ask if there is any chance for an upgrade.

Which cruise cabin should you choose? Learn more here:

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• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly

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River cruise St Petersburg to Moscow - St. Petersburg Forum

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River cruise St Petersburg to Moscow

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We are considering the Titan river cruise "Russia's Royal Riverways" from St Petersburg to Moscow on the MS Rublev. Has anyone any experience of this and advice on what to do and not to do? When is the best time to go?

I do not have any experience and can not advise on what to do, sorry. But just something to consider: here is a link to a web site of a Russian company that owns and operates MS Rublev, where you can also see their price list for the same trip from St Petersburg to Moscow to compare.

http://booking.mosturflot.ru/rivercruises/ships/200 (use google to translate).

MS Rublev is owned and operated by a Russian company Mosturflot: http://mosturflot.com/?page_id=70

Titan must be one of many Western resellers.

As for when to go, you really don't have a huge choice as rivers in Russia are frozen most of the year. May and September are likely to be colder but you get the "fall colors" in September. The summer is statistically warmer, can even be really hot, but one can never tell with the weather.

Many thanks, we'll have a look

Thanks a lot. We'll look a bit further

all russian river cruises between moscow and st. petersburg are pretty much the same, the itinerary is similar, boats are as well with most of them built in Germany.

Besides the actual itinerary they offer optinoal tours which you can book onboard, these however tend to be quite expensive and are depentant on the number of people who would join a particular optional excursion.

Going on the Viking Cruise "Akun", on June 21 2014. Has anyone been on this ship?

St.Petersburg to Moscow.

Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation.

How's your quest for a visa coming along? We've just started that arduous maize!!

Are you going on the Rurik on Sept 4? We used the recommended visa company and sent our info in 2 weeks ago. We chose the white glove service so they pretty much handle it. We will see if we get the visa in another month or so!!

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P&O UK unveils summer 2026 cruises with early booking discount

P&O Cruises UK has unveiled its summer 2026 program, accompanied by an enticing early-bird booking promotion.

The itinerary collection encompasses 20+ seven-night Mediterranean voyages out of Southampton , featuring most of the fleet. Arvia and Iona will each undertake 4 new 7-night Mediterranean routes, with ports of call Bilbao , La Coruna , Vigo , and Cherbourg . Prices start at GBP 649 pp.

Moreover, Arvia will offer 14-night western Mediterranean itineraries, with 6 ports of call, including her inaugural voyage to Rome-Civitavecchia , starting at GBP 1,149 pp.

The 2026 program emphasizes more overnight stays and late part stays. Britannia will offer evening departures in 7 ports, while Azura and Arcadia will present overnight stops in Valletta , Quebec , Boston , and New York .

Aurora will introduce 21-night central Mediterranean and 24-night eastern Mediterranean cruises with refreshed itineraries, priced from GBP 2,549. Additionally, Aurora will revisit Istanbul for the first time since 2015, with prices starting at GBP 2,249 for the August 19, 2026 departure from Southampton.

Azura will continue her fly-cruise itineraries from Malta, featuring western, central, and eastern Mediterranean routes.

Britannia's 21-night Central Mediterranean itinerary will highlight Croatia, priced from GBP 1,999, with departures on June 5, 2026. Britannia will also offer a new 14-night Iceland itinerary, starting at GBP 1,499.

Iona will embark on 7-night Norwegian fjords itineraries throughout summer 2026, with a lead-in price of GBP 629.

The collection includes 4 special event cruises, 3 coinciding with total solar eclipses. Ventura will offer a 14-night Atlantic Coast cruise from GBP 1,499, while Arcadia will sail an Iceland and British Isles voyage from Southampton, starting at GBP 1,840, with an optional overnight stay in Greenock to witness the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Aurora will host a Northern Lights sailing departing on October 20, 2026, with prices from GBP 1,249.

Bookings made by June 4 for voyages between March 20 and October 31, 2026, qualify for a 10% discount on applicable Select Price sailings, along with a 10% deposit offer on Select Price and Early Saver bookings.

Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $507 for one-way flights and $808 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

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Cheap flights to Elektrostal ( VKO)

Get started finding a cheap flight to Elektrostal on Expedia by either choosing a deal on this page or entering into the search bar your travel dates, origin airport, and whether you want roundtrip or one-way airfare. You can filter for flexibility, number of stops, airline, and departure/arrival times to find the best flight for you.

We recommend using the ‘Flexible Dates’ calendar at the top of the page to see the price of plane tickets on the surrounding dates. This allows you to pick the cheapest days to fly if your trip allows flexibility and score cheap flight deals to Elektrostal.

Roundtrip prices range from $808 - $1,275, and one-ways to Elektrostal start as low as $507.

Be aware that choosing a non-stop flight can sometimes be more expensive while saving you time. And routes with connections may be available at a cheaper rate.

Airlines that fly to Elektrostal ( VKO)

You have several options for which airline you choose to travel with to Elektrostal. There are 10 airlines flying into VKO: Royal Air Maroc, Egyptair, Vistara, Turkish Airlines. 

Cheap plane tickets may be available from different airlines at different times and with unique terms. It’s best to understand the details of each airline’s offer before judging its value.

For example, if you plan to check a bag or bring a carry-on, check whether the cheap airfare deal includes a baggage allowance. If not, verify whether the baggage fee is higher than the difference of other airline plane ticket deals offering free checked/carry-on baggage in exchange for a slightly higher airfare. 

Additionally, your preferred frequent flyer membership programs may influence your choice of cheap airline. Expedia allows you to enter your membership numbers during checkout to earn points from your airline and Expedia Rewards—all while getting a great deal and planning all your travel in one online platform.

Find the best deals

At Expedia, we source many flight deals from multiple providers, so you can easily find the best deals that are right for you. A great strategy for getting the best deals can be to make sure you book and travel at the optimal times. Airfare to Elektrostal (VKO) varies throughout the year based on seasonal demand. You’ll see the lowest rates for roundtrips to VKO in May and in May for one-ways.

Cancellation & flexibility

To change or cancel eligible flights, go to ‘My Trips’ and navigate to your itinerary. If you booked within the last 24-hours, you might be able to cancel your flight for free. Learn more about flight changes or cancellations from our customer service portal . Some plane tickets are available with no change fees, which you can filter for during your search.

Frequently asked questions

• The trick to having an amazing flight experience is to pack ahead. So, let’s start with the essentials: passport, official ID, cash and daily medications. Next, bring items that’ll help keep you entertained, like your laptop or a good book. It’s also smart to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of earphones. And of course, be sure to toss in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean T-shirt.
• While the list of banned items can differ between airlines, the general rule to follow is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes things like screwdrivers, pocket knives, spray paint and flares. Sporting equipment like hockey sticks, and objects that could harm passengers, such as pepper spray and firearms, aren’t allowed in the cabin either.
• The answer to a comfortable flight can be as simple as your choice of clothing. Prepare for changes in temperature by bringing layers. This will keep you nice and warm if the cabin starts to cool down. Shoes like stilettos, flip flops and lace-up boots are best left in your suitcase. Even though they may be your favorites, go for flat, closed-toed footwear like slip-ons. Your feet will thank you for it.
• A condition by the name of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation. Walking up and down the aisle and doing leg and foot exercises in your seat is a great way to prevent this from happening. Wearing a good pair of compression tights or socks can also help.
• Your travel documents and ID will need to be presented to security personnel. Have them close by to avoid fumbling around for them.
• Your coat, belt, keys and other items in your pocket, like your earphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make your life easier by removing them before your turn.
• For just a few minutes, you’ll have to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic devices also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There’s a possibility that you’ll be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Airlines won’t allow any sharp objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them safely in your checked luggage.

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