Five Ways to Cruise on the Cheap (or Free)

Like many sectors of the travel industry, cruising took a massive hit during the COVID pandemic, costing the industry an estimated $77 billion in lost economic activity globally in 2020 alone, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). As the industry slowly resumed operations in 2021-22, it wasn’t uncommon for cruisers to run across unprecedentedly low cruise fares, as the lines offered deep discounts in an attempt to woo back nervous cruisers and fill empty ships. (click here to see my video about this topic if you prefer to learn with audio/visual).

But oh, how the pendulum has swung, with most cruise ships now sailing not just at or near capacity, but selling out months in advance. As demand has increased, so has pricing, with CLIA reporting an increase of nearly 4% in cruise fares in 2023. With a 19% forecast in growth in global cruise capacity, it only stands to reason that as cruise demand continues to climb, so will prices. So the question now becomes — how does one find a cheap cruise? Here are five approaches to finding cheap and even free cruises:

1. Book Early or Last Minute

Booking well in advance can earn cruisers decent discounts, with cruise lines still regularly offering various incentives to entice early bookings. Not only is early booking beneficial from a pricing standpoint, but it also assures you can actually get the sailing you want. Booking at the last minute can also yield significant savings. Holland America Line, for instance, recently rolled out its Standby Program, where adventurous cruisers willing to book last minute can enjoy fares as low as $49 per person per day. You can also find some great deals on last-minute cruises here.

2. Sail on Casino Offers

I aim to cruise monthly, and people often ask me how I can afford this. My answer is that I sail on free casino offers, where cruise line casino departments comp my cruise fare (I just pay port fees and taxes), but with the expectation that I gamble in the casino. In my opinion, gambling is a waste of money and should be done with caution and discipline, but savvy cruisers can maximize the benefits of these offers while spending less in the casino than they would on the cruise fares.

3. Book in the Off-Season

What is considered peak season can vary depending on the itinerary, but for Caribbean and warm climate cruises, peak season generally runs from June to August and during the winter holidays, particularly around December and January. Booking cruises in the off-season can yield savings of 20-50% — and as an extra bonus, the ships are almost always less full and, therefore, more enjoyable during these periods.

4. Book Through a Cruise Aggregator

Booking through a cruise aggregator can get you better pricing because these companies absorb most or all of a traditional booking commission. My recommended choice for this is Cruise Direct. They often have the most competitive pricing, a low price guarantee, and no booking fees. While this route will likely get you the best price on your cruise fare, however, it’s an option usually best left for more experienced cruisers who know what they want and do not need service beyond the booking, because these services offer the bare minimum in service. This one of four main ways to book a cruise, each of these having their own pros and cons.

5. Be Flexible

Being willing to accept a guaranteed (GTY) stateroom, where the cruise line chooses and assigns the specific stateroom in the selected category rather than the cruiser making this choice, is one way being open and flexible can result in savings (although cruisers may end up in a less-than-desirable room location). Repositioning cruises, which occur when ships relocate from one region to another, can also be a path to cheap cruise fares. Booking an interior stateroom is another method to saving on your next cruise.

Ways to Save on a Cruise