The 19 Best Websites To Book Cruises At The Cheapest Prices [2022]
Now let’s say you’ve made up your mind that you want to go on a cruise. Fantastic news! However, are you aware of where you may reserve it in order to receive the greatest deal?
There is no dearth of websites on the internet that may assist you in making reservations for a cruise. It’s possible that booking a cruise will provide you with more possibilities than hotels or airfares will. In addition to the standard internet travel firms, there are also a number of websites that are dedicated solely to cruising from which you can select. The question now is, how can you determine which website provides the best deal? This is when we come into the picture.
We searched through the most prominent websites that are used to book cruises in order to examine their benefits and drawbacks and to make some side-by-side comparisons of their prices.
If obtaining the lowest price is your primary priority, scroll down to the price comparison section at the bottom of this piece to see how each of these websites compares to the others in that regard.
1. Cruise Line‘s Website
If you have elite status with a particular cruise line, your first inclination when booking a cruise could be to go directly to the cruise line’s website. This is especially true if you have elite status with more than one cruise line. This presents a number of advantages, including the fact that it is uncomplicated and presents less obstacles in the event that any modifications are required.
If you are certain about the cruise line that you would like to take, it will make your search somewhat simpler because you will only be looking at that one particular line.
When you book your trip directly through a cruise line’s website, you run the risk of missing out on additional discounts and bargains that may be made available by online travel agents (OTAs).
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Making Your Reservations Directly with the Cruise Line
Pros:
• Improved search capabilities make it less difficult to zero in on particular voyages.
Cons:
• You run the risk of missing out on additional bargains that may be offered by other websites.
2. CheapCaribbean.com
CheapCaribbean.com is an online travel agency that specialises in providing vacations to destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The website, which began operations in the year 2000, takes great satisfaction in the excellent customer service it provides to customers located in the United States. Their customer service representatives, who they refer to as “Beachologists,” are accessible around the clock to assist you in making arrangements for the Caribbean trip of a lifetime.
Despite the fact that their website is named after the Caribbean, CheapCaribbean.com allows customers to book cruises to locations all over the world, including Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska.
When you make a reservation through CheapCaribbean.com, you may be eligible for additional perks, such as additional onboard spending credit. In addition to this, CheapCaribbean.com offers a 110% best price guarantee. This means that if you find the exact same trip advertised on another website for a lower price within 48 hours of booking, CheapCaribbean.com will reimburse 110% of the price difference.
The fact that CheapCaribbean.com applies a processing fee of $24.99 to each and every booking is one of the website’s less appealing features. Because it is bundled in with the taxes and fees, you might not see it until you read the fine language of the agreement.
CheapCaribbean.com: the Good and the Bad of It
Pros:
• From time to time, unique offers such as additional onboard credit may be made available.
• A price-matching promise of 110%
Cons:
• A processing fee of $24.99 will be added to each reservation.
• If you wish to access exclusive bargains, you will need to sign up for emails or call in to book a cruise in order to do so.
3. Cruise Critic
The website Cruise Critic is devoted to cruising and provides a large community of people that enjoy cruising with evaluations, suggestions, and advice. The Cruise Critic forums are a site where users can go to receive help planning their next cruise, ask questions, and give advice to other users.
The website also functions as a metasearch engine for cruises, enabling users to compare prices offered by a variety of other online travel agencies. You are able to perform a search for the ideal trip, then when it comes time to book, Cruise Critic will direct you to another website where you may finish making your reservation.
Cruise Critic’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Pros:
• The website can assist you in organising your vacation by providing a wide variety of cruise evaluations, as well as cruise advice and a travel forum.
• You have the option of signing up for email alerts, which will inform you whenever the cost of a cruise goes down.
Cons:
• The prices that you see are not guaranteed and may be subject to additional costs or restrictions depending on what website they are from. These fees and restrictions vary from site to site.
4. CruiseDirect
CruiseDirect is an online travel agency that focuses exclusively on cruise vacations. You are able to conduct a speedy search for cruises on this website according to your preferred location, cruise line, port of departure, or last-minute offers. You can choose from a wide variety of cruises, ranging from those that are affordable to those that are luxurious and from mega-ships to riverboats.
You will find extra information underneath the pricing for each cruise that is listed on this page. Some of these, such as onboard ship credit or savings on shore excursions, are already factored into the ticket, while others, such as these, are additional extras.
CruiseDirect: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Pros:
• A variety of bonuses, such as discounts, onboard credit, and discounts on shore excursions, are included with each cruise vacation.
Cons:
• The extras that are offered are frequently provided by the cruise line and are not unique to CruiseDirect; therefore, you are eligible for them regardless of where you make your reservation.
5. Priceline
Priceline rose to prominence due to its “Name Your Own Price” feature; however, the company has subsequently transitioned into a more conventional online travel agency. You are able to book cruises through this website, in addition to hotels, airfare, and rental vehicles.
Priceline frequently provides deals that are more advantageous than those made available by the cruise line. At the time that this article was written, there were a few other promotions that offered bonuses such as an onboard credit of $1,000 or an upgrading of two room categories (to get some of these deals, you needed to phone 800-735-8000).
In addition to this, it has a best price guarantee of 110%, which states that if you find a lower price for the exact same trip within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
Priceline’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Pros:
• Supplemental offers, like as onboard credit or hotel upgrades, are occasionally made available.
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
Cons:
• Priceline promises secret deals and lower pricing if you phone, which can be a downside if you’re seeking for a straightforward way to book your cruise. If you’re looking for a simple way to book your cruise, you should search elsewhere.
6. Tripadvisor
Although you may think of Tripadvisor as being a website where you can read reviews and browse images of hotels, restaurants, and activities, the website actually offers a great deal more than that. Tripadvisor is a metasearch engine, which means that in addition to reviews and traveller forums, it also compares costs across a wide variety of other websites.
When you are looking for a cruise, simply click on the arrow that points downward and informs you how many different bargains there are. After doing so, you will be able to view the cost of that trip on a number of different websites.
The Good and Bad of Using TripAdvisor
Pros:
• It provides a plethora of excellent travel forums and evaluations of ships
• It’s a fantastic website for easily comparing the pricing of a number of different sites all at once.
Cons:
• It’s possible that you won’t be able to view all of the discounts that are being made available on each site.
7. Cruisewatch
Another online travel agency (OTA) and metasearch engine that concentrates entirely on cruises is called Cruisewatch. It keeps track of more than 25,000 different cruises and combines that data with price history and customer ratings in order to assist you in selecting the ideal trip at the most affordable cost. You are able to view pricing projections for the itinerary you have chosen, as well as set up alerts that will send you an email whenever the price of the cruise you have chosen reduces.
If you are able to be flexible with your travel plans, you should look through their collection of price reductions, offers available at the last minute, and the greatest cruise prices. In addition, there is a wealth of information that facilitates the speedy comparison of different cruise lines, cruise ships, and places of call.
Post-purchase price rises was one of the major red flags that we identified when investigating this website. It was buried deep inside the terms and conditions. According to this policy, Cruisewatch reserves the right to bill your credit card for any price adjustments that may become necessary after you have already purchased your cruise.
In addition to this, the charges for taxes and fees are not itemised, which means that you are unable to view the specific taxes and fees that are being applied to your purchase.
Cruisewatch’s Positives and Negatives
Pros:
• You have the option to set up price notifications, which will notify you as soon as the cost of your trip goes down.
• Estimates of Future Prices
Cons:
• Price increases following the initial purchase
• There is no breakdown of the taxes and fees.
8. CruisesOnly
CruisesOnly asserts that its call centre agents are “the best” in the industry since they have all obtained relevant industry certifications and participated in a variety of in-depth training and accreditation programmes.
Even though this might be beneficial if you are new to travelling or need some advise about which cruise company, ship, or destination you should choose, it does not necessarily indicate that you are getting the best pricing possible (scroll down to the Price Comparison section to see how CruisesOnly stacks up against other websites).
In addition, CruisesOnly has its own customer loyalty programme. If you have made at least one reservation with CruisesOnly in the past, you are immediately enrolled in the V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club and there is no cost to join. The benefits may include reimbursements for ashore excursion costs, onboard spending credits, or even the elimination of deposits.
The best price guarantee offered by CruisesOnly is comparable to those offered by other websites; it entails a return of 110% of the price difference in the event that you discover a lower price on an identical voyage within forty-eight hours of booking.
CruisesOnly: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Pros:
• Membership in the V.I.P. Customer Loyalty Club is completely free, and it comes with a plethora of benefits.
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
Cons:
• The website, similar to many other OTAs, may often be highly busy, making it difficult to zero down on the specific cruise that most appeals to you to take.
9. Expedia
Did you know that you can book a cruise through Expedia as well? It’s possible that Expedia is one of the first websites you visit when you search for flights or hotels (and it’s probably a site that you have used for a long time), but did you know that you can book a cruise via Expedia as well?
The website is uncomplicated, intuitive, and user-friendly, and it features cruises from all of the main cruise lines. Expedia does not impose any booking fees; nonetheless, the prices listed on the website are not guaranteed in any way. However, if you book your vacation through Expedia, there is a chance that you will be eligible for additional benefits.
The Good and the Bad of Expedia
Pros:
• The website may on occasion provide additional bonuses, such as onboard credit
Cons:
• There is not a price guarantee available.
10. Kayak
Kayak is a well-known metasearch engine that will go through other websites to determine which one offers the greatest deal on flights, hotels, and other travel-related services. When you conduct a cruise search on Kayak, you will first be taken to Cruise Critic to input your search criteria, and then you will return to Kayak. Be sure to make advantage of the Fare Insights option once you’ve arrived at the Cruise Critic site in order to get a sense of whether or not you’re getting a decent deal.
The Good and the Bad of Kayaking
Pros:
• This is an excellent website for quickly comparing costs offered by a large number of competing websites all at once.
Cons:
• It’s possible that you won’t be able to view all of the discounts that are being made available on each site.
11. Orbitz
Orbitz is a standard online travel agency (OTA) that provides a variety of travel options including flights, hotels, auto rentals, vacation packages, and cruises. Cruises do not have any additional fees associated with the booking process, and the prices are guaranteed. However, the price guarantee is not as robust as it is on some of the other websites; in order to claim a refund for the price difference, you must locate a lower price within twenty-four hours of placing your order.
Orbitz is a great option for booking travel because it provides its customers with a rewards programme. However, we are unable to credit you with Orbitz Rewards for any cruise purchases.
Orbitz’s Positives and Negatives
Pros:
• It guarantees to provide the lowest prices available.
Cons:
• Orbitz Rewards cannot be redeemed for travel on cruises.
12. Cruises.com
Another website that asserts to be the finest place to book your cruise is cruises.com. It is possible that it will provide you with some alluring bargains; nevertheless, after you read the fine print, you will see that there is an excessive amount of it.
For instance, a deal was given that would give passengers up to $1,500 to spend while they were onboard. However, if you read the terms and conditions carefully, you will see that in order to receive the entire $1,500, you will need to spend more than $20,000 on a cruise. To add salt to the wound, the incentive is not calculated off of the overall cost of your voyage but rather only the basic rate for one passenger.
Therefore, the transactions that are being offered might be lucrative, but that does not mean that they are a sure thing.
You can find the 110% best price guarantee on many different cruise sites, and Cruises.com is one of such sites. This promise states that if you find a lower price for an identical vacation within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
Additionally, Cruises.com maintains its own customer loyalty programme. If you have used Cruises.com at least once previously, you are automatically enrolled in the programme, and it does not cost anything. The benefits may include reimbursements for ashore excursion costs, onboard spending credits, or even the elimination of deposits. All of the benefits are precisely the same as those provided by the CruisesOnly loyalty programme.
The Good and the Bad About Cruises.com
Pros:
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
• A loyalty programme is available for returning customers to participate in.
Cons:
• There is a significant amount of legalese associated with its offers.
13. Cruises offered by American Airlines
Did you know that American Airlines allows passengers to book trips on cruise ships? The best part is that if you do so, you will receive miles with American Airlines AAdvantage for your transaction (in addition to any points or miles that you will get from using your credit card!).
• Customers who book their vacations through American Airlines are eligible to earn one AAdvantage mile for every dollar they spend (up to 10,000 miles)
• Customers who pay for their cruises using an American Airlines credit card will earn two AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on cruises booked through American Airlines (up to 20,000 miles)
• On select cruises, get bonus AAdvantage points ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 per person:
A 110% best price guarantee is also provided by American Airlines Cruises. This promise states that if you find the exact same cruise offered at a lower price within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
The unfortunate news is that a processing fee of $24.99 will be applied to each and every booking.
Both Pros and Cons of Cruising with American Airlines
Pros:
• AAdvantage members have the opportunity to rack up a significant number of American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points by flying with the airline.
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
Cons:
• Every booking is subject to a processing fee of 24.99 dollars.
• You won’t get any benefit from the miles unless you fly with American Airlines.
14. Delta SkyMiles Cruises
You can earn Delta SkyMiles when you book a cruise through Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles Cruises programme in addition to earning them when you fly with Delta Air Lines.
SkyMiles Cruises also has a best price guarantee of 110%, which states that if you find the exact same trip offered at a lower price within 48 hours of making your reservation, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
Comparison of the Good and Bad Features of Delta SkyMiles Cruises
Pros:
• Earn additional Delta SkyMiles
• A price-matching promise of 110%
Cons:
• Every booking is subject to a processing fee of 24.99 dollars.
• The SkyMiles are useless for anyone who does not fly with Delta.
• There is not much of an opportunity to earn bonus miles unless you schedule an extremely extended voyage.
15. The United Cruises brand
When you make a reservation for a cruise with United Cruises, you have the option of either earning United MileagePlus points for your purchase or paying for your vacation with MileagePlus miles instead of traditional currency.
When you sail with United Cruises, you have the opportunity to earn miles in a variety of methods, including the following:
• If you stay in an interior or oceanview cabin, you can earn two MileagePlus miles for every dollar you spend.
Earn four times as many MileagePlus miles for every dollar spent on a suite or balcony stateroom.
• Any United MileagePlus credit cardholder can earn up to 7 miles for every dollar spent on qualifying cruises using the United MileagePlus credit card (up to 45,000 points)
• Book certain cruises and earn extra miles ranging from 20,000 to 100,000, including:
A 110% best price guarantee is provided by United Cruises. This promise states that if you find the exact same trip offered at a lower price within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
Unfortunately, a processing fee of $24.99 is added to each and every booking made through United Cruises.
Extras for those who are members of United Premier.
If you have any level of Premier status with United Airlines, you are eligible for additional perks onboard with certain cruise lines, including the following:
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• A bottle of wine and strawberries coated in chocolate waiting for you in your stateroom.
• $100 spa credit
• Oceania Cruises
• A boarding credit of $200
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• A boarding credit of $250
You Can Pay for Your Cruise Using Your United MileagePlus Miles.
Having the ability to pay for your cruise with miles is a wonderful perk to have. If you do so, you will, unfortunately, be giving up some of the value that you may have gained.
You may expect to receive a value of between 0.7 and 0.8 cents per mile when you buy a cruise using United Miles. You are getting less value out of your United miles than you could get if you used them to book a flight because United miles are generally worth around 1.3 cents per mile (or more if you’re booking flights in business or first class), so you could get more value out of using your miles to book a flight.
On the other hand, if you have a large number of United points and would rather go on a cruise than fly, this could be a decent redemption for you.
United Cruises: The Good and the Bad of the Line
Pros:
• Members of MileagePlus have the opportunity to earn a significant number of bonus miles.
• Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines are offering additional advantages for passengers who are United Premier members.
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
Cons:
• Every booking is subject to a processing fee of 24.99 dollars.
• MileagePlus miles are not redeemable for anything other than United flights.
16. Cruises operated by Marriott Bonvoy
You have the option to either pay for your vacation using your Marriott Bonvoy points or earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your purchase when you book through Cruise With Points because of the partnership between the two companies.
You can earn up to three points for every dollar spent on a cruise if you book it through Marriott’s website. When a cruise is purchased through Marriott Bonvoy Cruises using a Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit card, the cardholder will earn an additional 2 Marriott Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on the voyage.
A 110% best price guarantee is also provided by Marriott Bonvoy. This means that if you find the exact same cruise offered at a lower price within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a refund equal to 110% of the price difference.
You Can Pay for Your Cruise Using Your Marriott Bonvoy Points.
The ability to pay for your cruise using points is made possible through Marriott Bonvoy, which is a fantastic alternative that gives you more flexibility. Having said that, this is not the most efficient use of your Marriott Bonvoy points.
You will only receive 0.4 cents per point in value when you use your Marriott Bonvoy points to buy a cruise reservation. You will be passing up some potential value due to the fact that individual Marriott Bonvoy points are typically worth roughly 0.7 cents each. You may wish to investigate alternative ways to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays or airline tickets.
Marriott Bonvoy Cruises: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Pros:
• Members have the opportunity to earn additional Marriott Bonvoy points
• You are able to use your Marriott Bonvoy points to pay for your cruise.
• The website promises to deliver the best pricing by 110% of the time
Cons:
• A processing fee of $24.99 per reservation will be applied to your credit card, which is non-refundable.
Why You won’t get any value out of your Marriott Bonvoy points if you don’t stay at Marriott hotels.
17. Costco Travel
The services of the in-house travel agency known as Costco Travel are exclusive to Costco members alone. There are two tiers of membership available at Costco: Gold Star, which costs $50 per year, and Executive, which costs $120 per year. The Executive membership comes with a crucial additional advantage for travellers: 2% cash back on purchases made through Costco Travel, up to a maximum of $1,000!
Another advantageous aspect of using Costco Travel is the possibility of finding discounts that come with additional onboard credit or a Costco store card as an added perk.
The Costco Travel website is extremely user-friendly and provides all of the search and filtering options that are available on other websites.
Costco Membership: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Pros:
• Executive members get a 2% cash back bonus on all purchases made through the Costco Travel website
• As a bonus, Costco gift cards or onboard credit are sometimes made available.
Cons:
• Costco Travel is reserved only for Costco members.
18. Cruise.com
When looking for a cruise, the website Cruise.com can be confusing and daunting, which is especially true for first-time cruisers who are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the industry. It provides a large number of bargains and discounts; however, a large number of them are actually provided by the cruise company, and it can be difficult to determine which benefits are genuinely coming through Cruise.com.
It would appear that you are able to book your flight in conjunction with your vacation through Cruise.com. On the other hand, in actual use, the feature was not available at the time the article was written.
The Good and the Bad of Cruise.com
Pros:
• There are several discounts available for a diverse selection of cruise lines.
Cons:
• There is a lot of activity and distraction on the website.
• There is not a price guarantee available.
19. Travelocity
Many people who are going on vacation use the website Travelocity to make their hotel reservations, airline reservations, car rental reservations, and cruise reservations. Many travellers will find this to be a suitable option because it has a straightforward interface and does not charge any costs for making reservations.
Even though Travelocity does not publicise as many discounts and bargains as other websites do, the site nevertheless manages to offer prices that are comparable to those of other websites.
The Good and the Bad About Travelocity
Pros:
There is no charge for making a reservation.
• An intuitive user interface
Cons:
• There is neither a rewards programme nor any additional bonus points
A Few Parting Thoughts
You will, in nine out of ten cases, pay the same basic amount for your cruise reservation, regardless of where you book it. In spite of the fact that a website may claim to have “the lowest pricing” or a “50% discount,” when you actually look at the facts, the prices will typically be the same as those shown on every other website.
You will need to seek for extras that a certain website is offering if you want to obtain a good deal. Some examples of these perks include onboard credit, free specialty dinners, cash-back, and bonus airline miles.
The higher the accommodation category that you book, the more perks and benefits you’ll have access to during your stay. Keep in mind that in order to qualify for many of the extras you may see offered, you will need to book either a stateroom with a balcony or a suite. Cash-back and onboard spending bonuses are often related to your stateroom level as well. This means that if you book an interior or ocean view cabin, you are not going to get anywhere near the amount that is stated.
Questions that are asked repeatedly
What are some of the greatest ways to save money on cruises?
It is essential to be aware of which website provides the most number of perks in order to obtain the most advantageous pricing on a cruise. Because the base price of your cruise will, in nine out of ten cases, be the same from website to website, you will need to choose the website that offers the finest extras, such as complimentary specialty dinners or onboard credit.
Is it preferable to make reservations with the cruise line itself?
Surprisingly, booking your cruise through an online travel agency (OTA) will almost always result in a better bargain for you (think Cruise.com, Kayak, or United Cruises). When you make your reservation through one of these kinds of websites, you are entitled to any discounts that are being provided by the cruise company on its own, in addition to any perks provided by the OTA.
Is it best to wait until the last minute to book a cruise?
There is no assurance that you will get a good deal on a cruise if you wait until the last minute to book it. If you have a particular preference about the type of cabin you want to stay in or where you would want to be located, you will want to make your reservation as far in advance as possible so that you may obtain everything you want. You should also make your reservations in advance if you plan on visiting with a large party and want to reserve cabins that are located right next door to each other.
On the other hand, if you are incredibly adaptable and don’t care what kind of cabin you’re in, where it’s located, or even what cruise you’re on, you can frequently discover some good offers at the eleventh hour.
Which is the most reliable website for making reservations for cruises?
Regrettably, there is no single website that consistently provides the lowest prices on cruises. The majority of online travel agencies (OTAs), such as CheapCaribbean.com, Cruises.com, or Priceline, offer the same costs for their services. When you include in perks like onboard credit or complimentary gratuities, you’ll typically see a difference in price.
