Time to Set Sail! How to Find the Best Cruise Deals as Prices Increase

The cruise industry took a big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, now that’s thankfully behind us, things are picking up steam in the cruise industry. Many cruise lines offered deals last fall, but now prices are increasing.

If you have dreams of cruising the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or other locations, here are some tips on how to get the best cruise deals.

Booking a cruise early is the key to getting a good deal. And by early, we mean as soon as a sailing is open for booking. New sailings are often released in November or December and in March or April, the Royal Caribbean blog reports.

Cruises usually offer their best prices six to 12 months before the ship is scheduled to set sail. If you’ve already booked a cruise and the price drops, the cruise line may be willing to reduce your fare if the price drop happens before the “final payment” window.

Procrastinators and last-minute decision-makers may be able to score a deal by booking a cruise at the last minute. Cruises lose money when they have empty cabins. So, if the sail date comes up and the ship has unsold cabins, it might offer significant discounts to fill them.

To use this strategy, you must be flexible with where you want to go and what ship you are on. Also, don’t expect to get the best cabin on the ship because you are basically getting whatever’s left.

The cheapest time to go on a cruise is during the off-season, which is in September, October, and November for the industry. This is also a good time to cruise if you don’t want many kids running around on the ship. It’s the start of the school year across the country, so most of the little ones will be in classrooms.

Depending on where you want to cruise, you may also be able to find better prices on cruises that sail after the first of the year in January and February.

There isn't a specific day of the week when booking a cruise is cheaper than other days. However, the cheapest time of the year to book a cruise is during “wave season,” which is January through March.

This is when cruise lines throughout the industry drop their prices and offer promotions and free upgrades.

You can also save money on a cruise by sailing with a group. Some cruise lines will give you a free cruise when you book a group of 10 or 16 travelers.

The number differs per cruise line. You can either share the free cruise by splitting the discount so everyone benefits from it, or you can use the freebie as your reward for organizing the trip.