Excitedly booting up your computer or unlocking your smartphone, you smile with anticipation as you prepare to book that next cruise. Typing in iCruise.com, you begin looking through the search engine, your eyes darting back and forth in hyperspeed as you scroll down the long list of itineraries available from every major cruise line from the cheapest cruise line to the luxury vacation, all offering drastically varied rates for room type, not to mention changing prices all throughout the year. Maybe less than an hour into your search, your mind ends up boggled by all of the different prices and details. How are you supposed to find the cheapest cruise?
You want the best cheap cruise deal possible, but you also want to make sure that you're getting the most for your money. It is after all not just about changing the search filter to show you the cheapest cruise line, but instead getting the best quality but still cheap cruise deal on your vacation.
There's no need to give up your search though; that weeklong cheap all inclusive cruise for under $500 per person is out there. To find the cheapest cruises, all it takes is the right mindset going into it, the flexibility and know-how, and the help of one of our travel agents and you'll be on your way to booking the cheap cruise of your dreams.
Here are some things that you can do to find the cheapest cruises without getting a headache from crunching the numbers and details:
Cruise lines often offer the best cheap cruise deals either when you look far in advance, or within 60 days of the cruise's departure. So how do you know which one to do?
- Book cheap cruises ahead if you have a very specific idea of what you are looking for in a cruise (the type of room, itinerary destinations, etc.) or if you are looking to cruise with a particular line that doesn't offer last minute discounts. This way not only will you get what you're looking for, but you won't risk the cruise you want selling out and you may even happen upon an early-bird sale. Especially if you are looking to take a luxury cruise, these lines (such as Crystal, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas), often offer their best rates early on, and raise their prices over time, as the cruise sooner approaches.
- Book cheap cruises last minute if you are looking for a cheap cruise deal and don't care as much about the details. Cruise lines want to fill up all of their rooms not only to bring in more money from beverages, excursions and more, but also to make sure their employees receive a decent amount of gratuities, while making a positive impression on cruise guests (a ship that's a ghost town may be a tad bit eery). Therefore, within 60 to 90 days before the cruise, they'll oftentimes drop their prices to get more people onboard. Just keep in mind, a last minute flight to the port can be pricey. Click here to see our tips on finding cheap last minute cruise deals.
2. Look for cheap all inclusive cruises during the off-season
If you don't have plans to take children onto your cruise, you may benefit from even lower prices as school begins in the fall, or other parts of the year when school is in session. Other off-season options include cruises going to locations during a time when people would normally not be as inclined to go, like the Caribbean during its peak hurricane season (August-October) or Alaska when it's colder in the fall or just before the summer season begins. Naturally because less people book in this off-season, the cruise prices tend to be lower to get more people onboard.
An extra benefit? You won't have to deal with as many crowds at your itinerary destinations!
3. Consider sailing on older ships
Before you write off older ships, they actually aren't bad. They're just as well maintained as newer models; they just usually don't offer all of the same "fun" things like waterslides, roller coasters, ice rinks and tattoo parlors you'll often find on new ships. If you're just looking for a relaxing vacation at a low price, an older ship may be the perfect accommodation for you.
4. Leave monitoring cheap cruise deals to the experts
So you know how far (or soon) in advance to your cruise you'd like to book, when you plan on taking your vacation, and whether or not you're looking for an exciting theme park on the sea (in which case, you'll have a blast!) or simple relaxing ocean views. There's still the issue that cruise prices can range from the low hundreds to the thousands and the numbers just don't make any sense.
To find the cheapest cruises and get an idea of how much you'd be spending on the type of cruise you're looking for is to give us a call and speak with one of our talented travel agents; if you have a specific price point in mind, just let us know and we'll help you find a cheap cruise that best matches your criteria. Along with our team of experts, we also offer cruise packages for certain cruises because we know the expense doesn't just stop at the cruise itself - there's the flight to the port, hotels to stay in and more; we even have excursion options so you can explore your itinerary destinations without overspending.
If you're looking for a cheap all inclusive cruise vacation, the easiest way to book cheap cruises is to contact us today!
About Sarah Pruzansky, Cruise & Travel Writer
Sarah Pruzansky is passionate about everything related to travel, hospitality, environmental science, self-care, and writing. She joined the iCruise team in February 2019 and assists the company in developing blog and web content that shows the benefits of cruising, information on different ports of call and destinations, and other industry tips for those looking to cruise.
