Getting a really good deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise these days is harder than ever, thanks to record demand driving up prices.
Booking a cruise vacation is a great feeling, but it's even better when you can get a low price for it.
A few years ago, there were cruise fares as low as $99, but those have seemingly dried up as cruise lines have had little difficulty in filling their ships.
"Gone are the days of booking a cruise at rock bottom pricing 30 days before departure," said Jenn Greene, a travel advisor with MEI Travel who recently was awarded as the top Royal Caribbean agent in her company.
"With the surge in cruise demand, we are finding fewer and fewer deals especially close to sailing."
While it's more difficult to find cruise deals, they still exist. The key is knowing where to look, and being as open as possible to sail dates.
In November, I was able to get a 4-night cruise on Allure of the Seas that cost $834.36 with taxes and fees for two people. That came out to just about $100 per person, per day.
The trick here was it was booked just two weeks before the sail date.
I try to be flexible with my dates
If you want to find the lowest possible prices, you're going to need to be as flexible with when you cruise as you can.
For the absolute lowest cruise prices, you're probably going to need to be an advantageous cruiser that can go with little advanced notice.
I've consistently found the lowest prices on cruises for last minute offers that sail within a few weeks. Often these are "middle of the week" cruises, meaning they depart on a weekday and return before the weekend. Or they're during the shoulder seasons, such as September in Alaska.
Basically, these are unsold cruises that most other people aren't interested in sailing.
The problem is last minute deals aren't what they used to be, and this strategy isn't something I'd recommend for a family vacation. It's best for couples who don't have many obligations at home.
Royal Caribbean puts out most weeks a "Going, Going, Gone" rate sheet with advertised low rates.
These sailings usually are available on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but sell out quickly. How lucrative the deals are truly depends on your definition.
Look for shoulder season prices
If you want to find a good deal on a cruise that isn't coming up soon, then I would target sailings that take place off peak.
Every region has peak and off-peak cruising times, and the best prices are just before or after peak season hits.
As an example, it should come as no surprise the week of Christmas and New Years is one of the most popular times to go on a Caribbean cruise. But the week before Christmas is when school is still in session, and you can find some really good deals. Why? Because most people don't want to take vacation time from work and pull kids out of school a few days before they get it automatically with the holidays.
This is true for many other places, including Alaska, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Just like a last minute cruise, you're going to need to be flexible with your time to take advantage of these prices.
- Caribbean: September and October, January, May
- Alaska: May or September
- Europe: April, May, September, October
- Australia: October, November, March, and April
How to get a lower price on a cruise
You won't find a spring break cruise deal or a Christmas week special because demand is so high that inventory never dips.
If you're interested in cruising during peak times, your best bet is still to book early.
"Ships are selling out up to a year in advance. If you want the best deal on your cruise, book as far out as possible- as that is when pricing is the lowest," said Ms. Greene.
Ideally, book a cruise when Royal Caribbean puts out new deployments for sale. It may not get you a bargain basement price, but you won't overpay either.
There's another trick that her agency has, which Ms. Greene mentioned as a way to save her clients money.
"When you book with MEI Travel they have software that notifies them if the price does drop, and will proactively reprice your fare for you," she mentioned.
There are other ways to help lower your price overall, no matter what date you pick.
Older ships generally cost less than newer ships. Booking Adventure of the Seas instead of Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral will net you significant savings.
A guarantee cabin could also save a lot of money, which is when Royal Caribbean picks your cabin instead of you. Just be aware of the potential downsides of this strategy.
Travel agents can find great prices because they see them first
While I know a few good places to look for a good cruise deal, the truth is I get most of my low price alerts from my travel agent.
Travel agents price out cruises all day long, and in the course of their work, they run across lower prices. More often than not, they see it before I can. Plus, they're looking when I'm not.
The Allure of the Seas sailing I previously mentioned was a deal that my MEI Travel agent spotted and texted me about because she knew I'd be interested with a price that low.
Working with a good travel agent is one of the best cruise tips I can recommend to anyone, especially because they can save you money.
Plus, a travel agent might be able to sweeten any price with extras, like extra onboard credit, free specialty dining, and more as a bonus for working with them.
In fact, MEI Travel is offering free specialty dining experience for two when booking a balcony or suite on select new bookings made through January 31, 2025.
