Why Cruises Are Pricey- And How To Get The Best Deal
If you have looked into booking a cruise in recent months, you very likely experienced some jaw-dropping sticker shock. All across the industry, cruise lines have raised fares sharply, started charging for perks that used to be included, and have found innovative ways to access your pocketbook through fees packages and surcharges.
Moreover, every major cruise line has private island ports as destinations with revenue grabbing features like water parks, private clubs, bars, dining, private cabanas, and pools that all cost additional money (on top of your cruise fare) to enjoy.
The reasons for these rising costs are simple. Demand for cruising is off the charts- new ships are being added to the industry and are being booked out completely as soon as they set sail. Cruise lines are raising the bar on ship features, amenities, passenger load, entertainment and technology. Cruise lines have positioned their voyages as “Vacation Experiences” and travelers can’t get enough!
Royal Caribbean, the industry leader, recently announced double digit % revenue growth and has some of their best financial performance in years. As I write this in early February, Royal has already sold two-thirds of its 2026 capacity at record prices. The 2026 Wave Season (Jan-March) (see the bottom of this blog for more on that) saw the highest 7 week period of booking in the company’s history.
And the good times are being enjoyed throughout the cruise industry. Carnival, Norwegian, and Viking Cruise lines have all seen stock price gains and Carnival recently announced they are reinstating dividends to investors. Holland America and Princess (both Carnival brands) are adding hundreds of itineraries around the world with heavy focus on Europe.
As the pricing power currently lies with the cruise lines, how can you make sure you are getting the best pricing you can?
Here are 5 tips:
Book your cruise 18-24 months out. Sounds crazy right? I don’t know what I am eating for breakfast tomorrow how can I plan a cruise 2 years from now? But this is where the demand for cruise capacity has gotten. When cruise lines announce their next seasons of itineraries the capacity sells quickly. A savvy Travel Advisor can help you secure your spots early.
Book during WAVE season (Jan-March). The months right after the new year are when every cruise line announces their incentives and best pricing. But be careful- in times of heavy demand cruise line “deals” are often marked down from heavily inflated pricing (looking at YOU, Norwegian). Again- a savvy advisor can help you navigate the deals to separate the wheat from chaff.
Sail when kids are in school. January through March and October to holidays are times you will get best prices.
Just Get On The Boat. Put another way- book the total ship experience, not the cabin. The most in demand Cruise cabins are Balconies and Suites. As such, these cabins will carry the highest prices. Don’t be afraid to grab interior or Oceanview cabins to save money, understanding that you will be spending the majority of your sailing enjoying all the cool features, food, and entertainment options on your cruise.
Be wary of “Packages”. Cruise lines often gain about 60% of their revenue from Fares, and the remaining 40% or so from “post-booking revenue”. These include things like prepaid gratuities, premium dining add-ons, Wi-Fi and Drink Packages. These packages rarely work to the advantage of the traveler (as I have blogged previously) so make sure you crunch the numbers and only pay for the add on’s that provide legitimate value for your desired voyage.
Happy Sailing and I will See you on the Seas!
See this post about Wave Season on my facebook page >
