Planning a cruise is exciting, but figuring out whether you're actually getting a good price shouldn’t be a full time job. Cruise fares can vary based on the ship, itinerary, travel dates, cabin type, number of guests and available promotions.
If you’re asking yourself, “How do I get the best price on a cruise?” you aren’t alone. You don't have to book the first fare you see.
If you're wondering how to get the best price on a cruise, this guide breaks down the strategies that can help you save. We talk about choosing the right time to sail and booking early, comparing cabin types and looking for secret deals beyond the advertised cruise fare (spoiler alert: the secrets are laid out in clear savings on our cruise portal).
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: The best cruise price isn't always the lowest advertised fare. Compare the total cost, cabin category, sailing date, promotions and what's included before you book.
Compare Cruise Prices Before You Book
Cruise prices can vary depending on the ship, sailing date, cabin category and current promotions. That's why one of the best ways to find a good deal is to compare multiple sailings before you book.
With Get Away Today, it’s easy to browse cruise options online and compare available sailings, dates and prices in one place. Instead of guessing whether you've found a good deal, you can see what's available and choose the option that best fits your budget and vacation plans.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Use our filters to further narrow down your search and make comparing prices super easy.
2. Book Early for the Best Selection
It can be tempting to want to wait for a better deal, but the days of amazing last-minute cruise deals are dwindling. As cruising has become more popular, cruise lines are finding it less difficult to fill their itineraries.
This means it’s now a rare thing to find those insanely discounted cabins just a week or so before sailing. And, if you do happen to find one, the cost of booking airfare so close to your travel date usually cancels out those savings.
Booking early isn't always about getting the absolute lowest fare. It's about getting the best combination of price, cabin choice and itinerary. You can even make payments when you book a cruise with Get Away Today, which is a huge benefit to booking in advance. With itineraries available for up to two years out, that gives you plenty of time to save.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: It’s especially important to book Disney Cruise Line sailings in advance. Here you can find the latest on all things Disney Cruise Line.
3. Know When Cruise Prices Drop
We’re going to let you in on a few more secrets that frequent-cruisers use to their advantage:
- Wave Season
- National Cruise Vacation Month
- Limited-Time Offers
Wave Season
Wave season does not mean traveling during big waves. It’s “cruise speak” for creating a “big wave” or sales at the beginning of each year to create momentum in the industry.
What is wave season? It’s like the Black Friday of cruising, running in January, February and March. You’ll see a lot of bundled deals, onboard perks and plenty of low prices. This is the predictable time of year you can be on the lookout for big savings.
National Cruise Vacation Month
Another great time to book a cruise? October! It’s National Cruise Month and many cruise lines share their best prices in October! And if you’re looking for an adults only escape, our team particularly enjoys Virgin Atlantic Cruise Line.
A lot of people also wonder about cruising during Hurricane season, we’ve got all the details here.
Limited-Time Offers
Booking early means a year or more in advance of the sailing date. Frequent cruise-goers often book cruises early to lock in early bird offers and deals. Since Get Away Today offers a no-fee payment plan on select cruises, you may be able to hold your sailing with a deposit.
Limited-time deals also pop up from time to time, and you’ll see the prices reflected automatically on our pricing portal.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Don't wait for one specific "best day" to book. Cruise promotions can change throughout the year, so comparing current prices and promotions is often more useful than waiting indefinitely for a sale.
4. Be Flexible with Travel Dates
This savings tip may seem obvious, but being flexible on travel dates can be the difference in saving hundreds on your cruise.
For example, cruises that take place over holidays or a peak season are going to cost more. But, if these dates are your best option try to sail the very first week or very last week of the peak season.
And of course, booking early comes in handy for the most desirable dates too. A holiday cruise for next year is going to cost less than a holiday cruise for this year, simply because many of the cabin choices have sold out.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Search by month first before you narrow down a specific date to see how much you can save by being flexible on travel dates.
5. Compare Cruise Cabin Categories
Interior staterooms are the least expensive option on cruises. This is because inside rooms don’t have a window or balcony to the outside. If you are only traveling with 2-4 people, these can be a great option to get the best price on a cruise.
With so many things to see and do on the cruise ship, you’ll only be in your room to sleep. Plus, since the inside staterooms get very dark, they work perfectly for those who are light sleepers. Just make sure to set an alarm so you don’t miss anything!
If you’re worried about seasickness, it may be worth the money to upgrade to an ocean view stateroom. Keep in mind this will be more expensive than an inside cabin, but still less expensive than a stateroom with a balcony. There are so many cabin types, you might be surprised where you could save some money.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Our Cruise pricing clearly shows cabin category prices so you can compare prices at a glance.
6. Traveling with 5+? Try Two Cabins Instead of a Suite
This tip will help families with five or more members get the best price on a cruise. Now, if you have five family members, you can often find larger suite staterooms that will fit your family. However, these tend to be much more expensive. These large suites are more than an upgrade in space, they are also usually balcony rooms and on the highest deck levels.
We can price out getting two inside or even two ocean view cabins and help you compare that with a suite. Plus, not many cruise lines have just one suite that fits more than five people.
Our cruise experts can even help book cabins that are right next to each other or connecting. Another popular choice for families with older children is booking one ocean view cabin and an inside cabin straight across the hall. That way, Mom and Dad get the extra perk of an ocean view while the kids are still nearby.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Our team knows how to navigate these type of tricks inside and out, give us a call so we can break down the prices right over the phone at 877-510-2929.
7. Consider a Cruise Port Closer to Home
Cruises don’t just leave from Florida. In fact, there are cruise ports all around the country. Port Canaveral, New York, San Diego, Long Beach, Galveston and New Orleans are just a few of the most popular.
By finding a cruise port near you, you can save on travel to the start point. Whether you find a killer deal on airfare or decide to drive, it’s going to save you versus traveling to a cruise port on the other side of the country. All those extra savings can then be spent on experiences like spa treatments or excursions.
Get Away Today Cruise Savings Tip: Want to see what’s included and what’s not? We cover just that for Disney Cruise Line right here.
8. Look Beyond the Advertised Cruise Fare
Speaking of excursions and spa treatments, you’ll want to start budgeting as soon as you start looking at a cruise. While so much is included in your cruise (see what’s included on Norwegian Cruise Line here), there are other things like excursions, souvenirs, spa treatments and specialty dining experiences to consider.
By budgeting for them in the beginning, you won’t be surprised or feel like you missed out on anything during the cruise. Plus, some cruise lines even offer discounts if you purchase certain things (like spa treatments or drink packages) in advance.
There you have it—our top tips for finding the best price on a cruise. And the good news is, you don’t have to spend hours searching dozens of websites to compare your options.
With Get Away Today, you can easily browse current cruise prices, compare sailings and find the cruise that fits your vacation and budget—all online. Take a look for yourself and see just how easy it is to compare cruise options and find your best fit.
Join the Conversation!
Leave A CommentGet Away TodayJuly 29 2019
Anonymous- European cruises are often on smaller ships, which typically results in lower costs. Be sure to check out our latest cruise sales! https://www.getawaytoday.com/destination/cruises
AnonymousJuly 24 2019
Why European prices lower at most cruise lines?