Small Ship Line #1: Crystal Yacht Cruises
In early 2015, Crystal brought a yacht into its fleet for the first time, and following its success, the cruise line decided to custom-build a polar-class expedition megayacht. The ultra-luxe Crystal Endeavor, which sails to remote locations like the Arctic and the Antarctic, as well as urban ports around the world, launched in 2021, and can carry up to 200 passengers.
How To Get Last Minute Cheap Cruise Deals
Doug advises that you start with a travel agent, as they have relationships with the cruise companies and can often get better rates and last-minute deals. And my experience has me agreeing. While there are many do it yourself options, travel agents often can find much lower prices and can act as liaison to cruise companies when something goes wrong.
If you want to go with the do it yourself angle, you only need to go to these three best websites for finding a cheap cruise:
These websites do a detailed job of scouring the web for cheap cruise deals. Vacations to Go is more of a travel agent/operator and thus often has better deals since they can negotiate with the cruise lines directly, but keep in mind that they add a lot of fees. Cruise Sheet is simply a website aggregator that crawls the web and then displays cheap last-minute fares. This is my favorite cruise site, as it seems to find all the deals and makes finding a cheap cruise easy.
In terms of timing, dont book early. As Doug states, the only benefit to booking early is to secure the room you want. If you want a specific cabin, book early. Otherwise, wait until the last minute. As I said in the beginning, cruise companies dont want to sail empty ships and so do heavy last-minute discounting be sure to sign up for cruise company newsletters to stay informed!
Medium Ship Line #: Cunard
While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.
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Royal Caribbean Wedding Packages & Rates
The Royal Romance package offers three romantic venues for choosing the perfect wedding ceremony location and amenities.
Any Bonuses?
For an extra dose of adventure, the Royal Caribbean experience offers unique locations for their Shore Side ceremonies. Picture yourself tying the knot on a sandy beach in Puerto Rico or even atop an icy glacier in Alaska. For those with a real touch for the classy and exotic, you can even select your wedding to be at a traditional winery in the postcard ready Santorini, Greece!
How To Find Cheap Cruises
First and foremost to start your hunt for cheap cruises, we always recommend visiting a third-party cruise booking site like Expedia, Orbitz, or others.
When you start your search, you have tons of different options. You can go straight to a cruise lines website to find deals. However, when you do that you are limiting your search only to trips on that companys cruises. Unless youre an avid fan of one cruise line, this isnt the best way to plan your voyage, since it gives you only a small sliver of whats out there.
On the aggregator travel sites you can set up search parameters for all the cruise lines at once, then sort by price, departure port, date and more. Thats why we like to start our search on these sorts of websites. It gives you all your options instead of just one line.
Beyond that, there are a few other simple tips for cruise fans shopping for dirt-cheap fares.
While we have a full list of rules on getting the best deal on a cruise, the easiest way to find an inexpensive trip is to keep these things in mind:
- Look for shorter cruises
- Sail when school is in session
- Book an inside cabin
- Sail aboard an older ship
These four factors will have the largest impact on what you pay for a cruise.
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Best Holiday Cruise: Azamara Club Cruises
Courtesy of Azamara Club Cruises
- Duration: 15 nights
- Ship Name: Azamara Pursuit
- Itinerary: Montevideo, Uruguay Santos, Brazil Ilhabela, Brazil Paraty, Brazil Buzios, Brazil Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Copacabana Beach Brazil, Punta Del Este, Uruguay Buenos Aires, Argentina
Azamara Club Cruises operates smaller, upscale vessels that travel one-off itineraries around the globe calling in smaller, less-visited ports that others don’t stop at. The company puts an emphasis on destination immersion, and appeal to adults who want to go deeper into the local culture with shore excursions. Azamara is one of the few companies that stays in port overnight, and in doing so they bundle evening excursions in the price . The newest ship, Azamara Pursuit, debuts this year and is offering a winter holiday cruise that spends New Years Eve at Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
Princess Cruises Best Affordable Adult
Carnival is the parent company of Princess Cruises, so you can expect the same range of affordable prices here. Although the rates are similar, there is a significant difference between these two cruise lines, though.
While Carnival is a superb cruise line for families with kids, Princess focuses more on adult cruisers. Particularly on the longer voyages, youll find adult-focused dining options and activities such as history lectures and cooking classes. There are also fantastic spa treatments and romantic experiences to share with your loved one.
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Small Ship Line #1: Sea Cloud Cruises
Germany’s Sea Cloud Cruises has three elegant windjammers: Sea Cloud,Sea Cloud II, and Sea Cloud Spirit, which accommodate 64, 94, and 136 passengers, respectively. These sailing yachts primarily split their time between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, though they’ll occasionally explore the Panama Canal and Northern Europe, too. The oldest ship in the fleet is Sea Cloud, built in 1931 for an American heiressat the time, it was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the United States in World War II before ultimately returning to pleasure sailings.
Best Transatlantic Crossing: Cunard
- Ship Name: Queen Mary 2
- Itinerary: New York, NY
Cunard specializes in luxury cruises across the Atlantic on the regal ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, a bucket list voyage for every cruise enthusiast. The 2,691-passenger ship has lovely single staterooms with large picture windows, a desk and vanity, and tasteful, modern décor. Like single cabins on other vessels, these rooms sell out quickly so book early. Queen Mary 2 has some unique activities like the planetarium at sea, lavish gala nights where guests don their finest evening attire, and the companys signature white-glove afternoon tea. The vessel is also known for outstanding cuisine both in the Britannia main dining room and in specialty restaurants like the Verandah steakhouse or the King’s Court which features a different type of cuisine every evening.
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Small Ship Line #: Metropolitan Touring
Operating three expedition vessels in the Galápagos, Metropolitan Touring is the ideal cruise line for those seeking a casual experience in the wildlife hotspot. The tiny ships, which only accommodate between 40 and 78 passengers, have a laid-back atmosphere where the focus is very much on wildlife spotting. The company also offers land-based tours in mainland Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia that can be combined with a Galápagos expedition.
Large Ship Line #: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises currently sails around the world with a fleet of 14 ships, ranging in size from its petite Xpedition-class vessels, which carry 16 to 100 passengers, to its large 2,800- to 3,100-passenger Solstice class and 2,900-passenger Edge class, which debuted in late 2018 with Celebrity Edge. This edgy ship was designed to appeal to a non-cruising clientele with innovations like Eden, a three-story hybrid experiential restaurant, craft cocktail lounge, and performance venue and Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro, a dinner restaurant that features a 4D animation projected on your plate throughout your meal. Celebrity Edge was later joined by its sister ship Celebrity Apex in 2020, with Celebrity Beyond to follow in 2022 .
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Oasis Luxury Class: Allure Of The Seas & Oasis Of The Seas
Allure of the Seas is one of the two most expensive cruise ships in operation around the world. The second ship in the Royal Caribbean Internationals Oasis-class cruise ships, Allure of the Seas was the worlds largest passenger ship when it launched in November 2009.
Reportedly, around $1.4bn was incurred in the construction of this world-class cruise ship at the STX Europe Turku shipyard in Finland.
This 1,187 feet long vessel measures 215 feet in width with a gross registered tonnage of 225,282t. With 18 total decks, the vessel can accommodate a total of 6,780 guests and 2,200 crew members.
The main features of the ship include a two-deck dance hall, an ice skating rink, 25 dining options and a theatre with 1,380 seating capacity etc.
The first in Oasis-class luxury ships, Oasis of the Seas is another $1.4bn cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean Internationals fleet. This 225,282 GRT vessel was the worlds largest cruise ship when it launched in 2008.
While all other features of the Oasis of the Seas match with its sister vessel, the length of the vessel is reportedly 50 millimetres shorter than Allure of the Seas.
However, it has been stated that the classified length of these vessels was the same and the changes were unintentional as it happened due to the small changes in the temperature of the steel used for construction.
River Ship Line #: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld’s 21 ships cruise around the globe in Europe, Egypt, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Peru. Their excursions offer passengers the opportunity to get a little closer to their destinations of choice, with visits to local homes, farms, and artisans, and every excursion is rated by ability level. In 2018, two of its ships were overhauled for a new venture, U by Uniworld Cruises, with itineraries, dining, and activities that appeal to younger prospective passengersthink silent discos, mixology classes, and rooftop camping.
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These Are The Most Affordable Cruises Ranked By Cost
Cruising doesn’t need to be expensive, and these itineraries are serving up serious ~vacation~ vibes without the massive price tag attached.
This article will be looking at some of the cheapest cruises in 2021 that are 4 days long, from anywhere in the world. The prices will be recorded in USD and will reflect the average starting price per person . This article will not be looking at promotional deals just the regular price of the cruise line and without the added cost of the amenities. Travelers looking to book their next perfect cruise should always read the fine print during booking and be aware of any add-on costs . Use this article as a guide when doing research!
Best Overall: P& o Cruise
Courtesy of P& O Cruise
- Ship Name: Aurora
- Itinerary: Andalsnes, Norway Romsdalsfjord, Norway Tromso, Norway Alta, Norway Stavanger, Norway Southampton, UK
After undergoing a refurbishment in early 2019, the 1,874-passenger Aurora is now one of three adults-only vessels that sail under P& O cruises . Aurora is ideal for cruisers who enjoy ocean cruising on a mid-sized ship, with an array of dining options and several cabin choices ranging from interior to spacious suites. Dance classes, a full-service spa, a theater, movie cinema, casino, and a number of bars and lounges including the bustling, four-story central atrium are all available onboard the vessel. For a chance to see the northern lights, Aurora sails round-trip on a breathtaking voyage through Norwegian fjords and dramatic scenery.
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Caribbean Bahamas And Mexico In Fall
Autumn is a bargain time for cruising in almost any region, but the lowest prices are for getaways to the Caribbean and Bahamas. If you’re looking for last-minute, seven-night cruises under $500 per person, you’ll find them during this shoulder season.
These low prices are partly caused by the general lack of travel between Labor Day and Christmas but also are a result of hurricane season in the Atlantic/Caribbean. If you choose to take advantage of these cut-rate prices, it’s worth paying for travel insurance to protect yourself against canceled cruises or delayed sailings because of stormy weather.
Night Transpacific Repositioning Cruise Fromtokyo To Vancouver
$64 Per Day
$828 TOTAL Trip
The Celebrity Millennium, departing May 20th, 2020 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to sail with Celebrity at this price! The ship just completed a 100 million dollar renovation with all brand new staterooms! It also get top honors on the list for BEST VALUE. The price is so good on this crossing, we have already sailed this route twice on the Millennium!
Enjoy 13 days of breathtaking cruising all the way from Tokyo to Vancouver. The itinerary includes: 11 days of sailing at sea and 2 port days with stops in Japan and Russia.
The highly rated Millennium holds 2500 passengers and offers some of the best service in the cruise industry. The Millennium delights guests with three pools, a spa, a casino, outdoor movie theater, gym, and a jacuzzis.
$57 Per Day
$709 TOTAL Trip
Departing on Royal Caribbeans Vision of the Seas will depart on an transatlantic voyage from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Barcelona, Spain!
This low priced cruise has port days in: St. Maarten, Canary Islands and Spain.
The Vision of the seas hold 2400 passengers and features an outdoor movie theater, basketball court, gym, spa, casino, a solarium, six jacuzzis, and three pools. This is a great chance to cross the Atlantic ocean at a cheap price.
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Medium Ship Line #1: Royal Caribbean International
While it’s true that Royal Caribbean is better known for its large and mega-ships, the cruise line also has a fair number of medium-size ships whose maximum capacities are just shy of 2,500 guests. Each of these ships belongs to the Vision class or Radiance class, two families of older vessels whose smaller sizes allow them to explore more adventurous destinations, such as Alaska and Cyprus. But they also sail the Caribbean, offering Royal Caribbean loyalists a more intimate experience than the fleet’s larger ships.
Solo On The High Seas Here Are The Best Cruise Lines For Singles
When it comes to cruising, many people have come to believe that the most important ship is kinship. People usually like to bring their companions, co-workers, family members and the like along on cruises. But what if youre a solo traveler?
A J.D. Power cruise industry report says that, Cruises are best when experienced in groups. From organized groups to friends, family, children, partners and spouses, cruises are just more fun in groups than when traveling alone. But depending on your circumstances, traveling with another person may not be an option.
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Is Carnival Cruises Worth It
Carnival cruises are definitely worth it for people in need of a quick and affordable getaway that isn’t too far from home.
Families on a budget or groups of friends looking to have a good time are likely to have a blast on a Carnival cruise. With tons of activities and amenities for travelers of every age, Carnival can be highly appealing. However, if you’re looking for a higher-end cruising experience, you may be better suited to cruise lines like Norwegian, Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean.
Mexico Cruises Travel Tips
- Don’t worry so much about drug cartels and missing individuals. These things do happen, but usually not in the tourist areas you will be visiting.
- Check out cenotes, which are natural swimming holes nestled in little caves.
- Bring pesos with you, not dollars because this will make buying things easier overall.
- The weather can change considerably from region to region, so keep this in mind when planning when to go to Mexico.
- Always try the unique Mexican food, because this is the one time you have the chance! Street is by far one of the best.
- Mexican bathrooms have an M on the door for women, not for men. There may also be baskets next to the toilets in some of the areas. This is for your toilet paper, so it does not cause clogs in the system.
- Learn basic Spanish and connect with the locals to learn something new.
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Celebrity Cruises Best Cruise Line For The Money Overall
Last but absolutely not least, Celebrity Cruises wins the award for overall best cruise line for the money. This is one of the worlds leading luxury cruise lines, renowned for its excellent dining options, outstanding service, modern interiors and amenities, and exciting destinations.
With its fleet of 14 state-of-the-art cruise ships, Celebrity sails on most major oceans and seas, offering cruises in destinations as varied as the Mediterranean, Galapagos, Hawaii, New Zealand, India, Alaska and the Caribbean. And even though this is a luxury cruise line, its fares can be surprisingly low if you book in advance.
So, if youre looking for an affordable cruise on a modern ship sailing to the worlds most amazing destinations, these are the best cruise lines for the money.
Get a price on a cruise in this post