Which cruise line is most affordable?

Carnival Cruise Line—known as one of the most affordable cruise lines—was founded in 1972 and now carries millions of guests every year aboard its 24 ships.



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While there is not a clear winner across all of the categories, Carnival, MSC and Royal Caribbean offer the lowest prices for those wanting to cruise. These costs were compared solely on the cruise fare, which does include complimentary dining venues as well as most of the onboard activities and entertainment.

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  • #1. Celebrity Beyond. Celebrity Cruises. ...
  • #2. Celebrity Apex. Celebrity Cruises. ...
  • #3. Odyssey of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International. ...
  • #3. Scarlet Lady. Virgin Voyages. ...
  • #5. Rotterdam. Holland America Line. ...
  • #5. Wonder of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International. ...
  • #7. Celebrity Silhouette. Celebrity Cruises. ...
  • #7. Allure of the Seas.


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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 cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

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Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises stand out as the most affordable options, while Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises offer excellent value for money with their extensive inclusions and flexible dining and entertainment options.

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Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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  • #1. Viking Ocean Cruises. #1 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines. ...
  • #2. Seabourn Cruise Line. #2 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines. ...
  • #3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises. #3 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines. ...
  • #4. Azamara. #4 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines. ...
  • #5. Silversea Cruises. #5 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines. ...
  • #6. Oceania Cruises. #6 in Best Luxury Cruise Lines.


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The best time of year to book a cruise is often January through March. During this period — also known as wave season — industry-wide sales occur and the price of that cruise you've been dreaming of may drop significantly.

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Directly with the Cruise Line If there's a problem with your reservation or you need to make a change, you don't have to worry about the booking site and the cruise line pointing fingers at each other. This may be the best approach if you know which cruise line you want to book and which cities you want to visit.

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Cruise lines often discount their prices a month or two before sailing to fill vacant cabins. However, it's worth noting that a last-minute cruise doesn't always offer the most savings to travelers. Those who plan far ahead may be able to save even more.

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There's No Best Day to Book Cruise lines generally release their lowest fares when itinerary schedules are first published, and then run sales every so often to encourage bookings. As cabins fill up, the prices go up.

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A few cruise lines feature a limited number of cabins designated for single occupancy sparing the solo cruiser from having to pay double. While cruise lines advertise these single cabins as having no supplement, the single rate is usually slightly higher than the per-person rate of comparable double occupancy cabins.

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Interior or inside staterooms are typically the least expensive category on a cruise. Those cabins are generally the smallest on board and rarely accommodate more than three people, according to Joy Hess, owner and lead travel consultant at Outside the Lines Travel.

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All-inclusive European river cruise deals land in the $350 to $450 range per person, per night as well. All-inclusive river cruises within the U.S. trend a bit higher, so anything under $600 per person, per night is a good deal.

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The base prices for cruises are typically lower than prices for resorts because the cruise lines expect you to make up the difference in onboard purchases.

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Keep these 13 tips in mind when you're planning for your next voyage.
  1. Be flexible with when and where you cruise. ...
  2. Shop around and compare. ...
  3. Book a cruise with free extras. ...
  4. Look for “kids cruise free” deals. ...
  5. Look into cruise loyalty programs. ...
  6. Pay for your cruise with credit card rewards.


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The bottom line. There is no one side of a cruise ship that is always “the best.” Whether a cruise ship's port versus starboard side is better for you on a given itinerary will be a personal calculation based on preferences, route and what you want to see.

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Final Thoughts To recap, the single best way to pay for a cruise booking is either by bank transfer or a credit card (if you can pay the balance in time). Both have fees attached but they are actually quite similar on balance.

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The total savings potential depends on how and when you book your cruise, and what deals you find. That said, it's possible to save 50% or more. We examined several last-minute deals for cruises departing within 30 days and found that some of the best deals offered savings from 60% to 70%. However, savings can vary.

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Cruise prices are usually the cheapest furthest from the sailing date when first launched or 60-90 days before the cruise sets sail. The prices of some cruises will decrease last minute – but this doesn't always happen. Booking a cruise within the last 60/90 days may not always be the best way to get a bargain.

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Ship size and capacity: Carnival operates some of the largest cruise ships in the world, which allows them to accommodate a larger number of passengers. The higher passenger capacity spreads operational costs over more people, leading to potential cost savings.

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Some of the environmental challenges that cruise lines need to address are air pollution from heavy oil, wastewater discharge issues, habitat disruption, and overtourism. The 'elephant in the room' is that cruise lines are currently using heavy oil – also known as the dirtiest of the dirty oils.

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Cruise ship balcony cabins are the most popular cabin category. So many travelers choose this type of cruise ship cabin that some ships put private verandas on all of their outside cabins.

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