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February 8, 2023

11 mistakes to AVOID when looking for cheap cruise deals

Who doesn’t love getting a great deal? Below are common mistakes (that I’ve made, too! Oops!!) when trying to find a cruise deal.

There are a few things that are common sense, but there are a couple that caught me by surprise and have me (during certain times of the year) looking extra hard for a great deal.

Cruise ships at Nassau Port shot on Mavic Air 2S by Christine Lozada
Cruise ships at Nassau Port shot on Mavic Air 2S by Christine Lozada

Table of Contents
  • 11. Don't cruise when EVERYONE is trying to cruise
  • 10. Don't hard set your cruise vacation dates
  • 9. Don't price compare cruises on the total price, compare by PRICE PER DAY
  • 8. Don't ignore booking a cruise while ON a cruise
  • 7. Don't miss out on booking during THE WAVE
  • 6. Don't ignore the extra expenses and add-ons
  • 5. Don't forget your BYO options if you choose to opt OUT of the extra cruise add-ons
  • 4. Don't just focus on the new cruise ships
  • 3. Don't go far to sail on your cruise
  • 2. Don't jump to the upgraded room… yet
  • 1. Don't skip asking for additional discounts and rewards
  • What causes to cruises to be cheap in the first place?
  • Bottom Line

11. Don’t cruise when EVERYONE is trying to cruise

The simplest way to think about this is try to book a cruise when kids are IN SCHOOL. When school is out, families are traveling and prices tend to be higher.

To find a great cruise deal, consider going during off or shoulder seasons. Namely:

  • Fall season for the Caribbean (Sept, October)
  • April, May or September for Alaskan cruises

10. Don’t hard set your cruise vacation dates

If it’s possible to be flexible with your travel dates, this is one the TOP ways to find a deal. Often times, the same cruise with a few weeks change in date will result in SIGNIFICANT savings.

Consider looking at cruise prices by date first, THEN setting your vacation dates.

Want to see the video version of this blog post? The video below talks you through how to score a deal on a cruise..

9. Don’t price compare cruises on the total price, compare by PRICE PER DAY

Sometimes a 7 day cruise is the same as a 3 day cruise. Do price comparisons by day for the most accurate way of choosing a deal.

Still feel confusing? I love using Cruise Critic because they SCORE each cruise deal to help you understand if you’re getting a deal or not!

See cruise critic

8. Don’t ignore booking a cruise while ON a cruise

Sometimes (not always!) deals you can’t find anywhere else can be booked ON the cruise.

This is how I booked a cruise on Virgin Voyages. Curious about sailing with them? It’s different. Learn more in this blog post.

read more about virgin voyages

7. Don’t miss out on booking during THE WAVE

During the months of December, January and March MORE cruise deals tend to come out by cruise operators and travel agents. If there is a time to keep a lookout, it’s during these specific months.

Also, don’t forget about Black Friday deals! We’re often caught up buying electronics that we don’t think about travel deals.

It’s how I scored the $25 per person per night cruise I went on with Bahamas Paradise cruise.

6. Don’t ignore the extra expenses and add-ons

In fact, price out your cruise with ALL the extras you’re considering before you even book it in the first place.

Namely: specialty dining, drink packages, internet, etc.

This will help you to avoid making a mistake like I did in which the cruise I thought I was getting a deal on ended up being 303% more than I expected.

You can see that mistake in the video below…

5. Don’t forget your BYO options if you choose to opt OUT of the extra cruise add-ons

Most cruise ships allow 2 bottles of wine per cabin and some allow you to bring on water as well. If you’re opting out of a drink package, don’t for get to take advantage of these options!

4. Don’t just focus on the new cruise ships

Choosing to sail on older ships can often land you the biggest deal.

3. Don’t go far to sail on your cruise

Try to sail as close to home as possible. Often times, the added flight, hotel and more can significantly change your total price.

Don’t have a port nearby? Consider a repositioning cruise. These one way cruises might have a lot of sea days, but they also offer rock bottom prices and great deals.

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A post shared by Travel Drones Badassery🤘🏽 (@christinelozada)

2. Don’t jump to the upgraded room… yet

If your cruise is really short (a few nights) upgrading to the nicest room may .. or MAY NOT be worth it

1. Don’t skip asking for additional discounts and rewards

Even if you scored a great deal, don’t forget to ask if there are additional discounts you might be missing out on. Additional on board credit? A state resident discount? etc.

Also don’t forget to sign up for the cruise rewards program and get points for your trip!


What causes to cruises to be cheap in the first place?

There are LOTS of reasons one cruise can be cheaper vs. another, but here are a few common reasons why:

  1. The cruse ship is older and less luxurious than it’s newly launched ships
  2. The itinerary is less popular or visits less desirable destinations
  3. The time of year is off-peak, leading to lower demand and lower prices
  4. The cabin type is less expensive, such as an interior or ocean-view room vs. balcony or mid-ship

Ultimately, the price of a cruise will depend on a variety of factors, including the cruise line, the ship, the itinerary, and the time of year, among others.

Bottom Line

Cruises can vary wildly in pricing even for the same trip within a few weeks of sailing. Consider avoiding some of the common mistakes to get the best deal possible for your next cruise!

Posted In: Travel · Tagged: Cruise

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