12 Cheap Summer Cruises For 2023
Going to the beach to soak up some rays and enjoy the ocean and the sunshine is one of the quintessential summer activities. And during the summer months, there’s no better way to travel to the coast than by going on a cruise.
Not only can you travel in style to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world when you take a cruise, but you can also visit a number of different locations all while having your accommodation, board, and entertainment taken care of on the ship. This is only one of the many benefits of taking a cruise.
The most positive piece of information is that the price of a cruise can be far lower than the total cost of travel and lodging at a Caribbean resort. Booking a cruise, on the other hand, is significantly less of a hassle than having to look for and put together a trip on your own.
Having said that, it is common knowledge that one of the costlier seasons to go sailing is during the summer months. Higher demand causes prices to rise, especially now that school is out and everyone is thinking about taking vacations. The good news is that there are still deals to be had, and among them are several cruises with prices that are less than $300 per person.
A selection of the most affordable summer cruises for 2023 may be seen further down in this article. But before I list those cruises, here are some ideas to help you find affordable getaways during this time of year on your own.
Where to Look for Discounted Summer Cruises
Are you looking for a different deal on a cruise, in addition to the ones that we’ve listed below? The following are some considerations to keep in mind:
When it comes to pricing, late summer sailing is your best bet.
As you’ll see in the following section, the most affordable times to take a cruise throughout the summer are around August, and more especially, late August. In general, the price of your cruise will be lower if you can book it for a date that is closer to September. And if you can hold off on taking your summer vacation until the beginning of September, you’ll be rewarded with the best of all worlds: lower pricing while still being able to enjoy warm weather and water in nearly every location across North America.
Why are cruises taking place later in the month of August priced so much lower? The later part of the summer shows a reduction in demand for family vacations because many people have already completed their travel plans for the summer and are preparing for the beginning of the back-to-school season.
Reduce your travel time to save money on fares.
You might have noticed that we haven’t focused much attention on cruises that are longer than five days in the list that follows. Do not conclude that this means there are no deals to be had on vacations of a longer duration. In point of fact, just like with shorter trips, there are some fantastic prices available, particularly at the end of the summer season.
However, if you want to pay the very lowest cost for a cruise, it is prudent to stick with shorter excursions. This will allow you to save the most money. There are cruises that last between three and five days that cost less than $300 per person, and there are even more possibilities that cost less than $500. It should come as no surprise that the overall cost of a vacation that is longer and so requires more nights, meals, and activities would be more.
Being Flexible Is a Helpful Trait When Dealing With Ports
As you’ll see in the following section, there are discounts available on summer cruises departing from ports all over the country. However, if you live in a location that is relatively close to Florida, you will have the distinct advantage of being able to embark from a variety of ports, such as Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, and Miami.
You’re not in this region of the country, are you? The majority of people are within a few hours’ driving distance, if not closer, to a port. If, on the other hand, you are able to travel to other ports in search of better offers, then you will have the highest chance of obtaining a low-cost summer cruise.
In most cases, older ships result in lower ticket prices.
Even though it’s not set in stone, in most cases, the cruises with the lowest prices are going to be on the older ships. It is possible for cruise lines to charge a premium for vacations aboard their newest vessels because such trips are typically in higher demand.
If you are looking for a good deal, an older ship will nonetheless provide you with a similar experience (although it won’t be exactly the same) at a price that is likely to be far less expensive.
Perform a Search Across Several Websites at the Same Time
If you go to the website of the cruise line, you will be able to find the costs… for that cruise line. Instead, we prefer to use websites such as Orbitz and AvoyaTravel.com in order to search for the greatest deals. Because these websites check all of the cruise lines at the same time, they provide you the opportunity to locate offers that you might not find on the website of a specific cruise line.
Discounted Summer Cruises for 2023
Please note that the prices shown are per person and include only the cruise fee for an inside stateroom. Prices for double occupancy on cruise ships often include taxes and port fees in addition to the base fare. When you read this article, keep in mind that the prices will likely change and that they may not be the same as those that are given here.
Cruise to the Bahamas for 4 Nights Departing from Miami (MSC)
Date: August 28, 2023
Price: $159 per person
MSC is not as well-known as some of the other lines because it only departs from a limited number of ports, including Miami and Port Canaveral. On the other hand, it has some of the most affordable ticket prices that you can discover. As an illustration, this particular excursion begins in Miami in August and travels to Nassau, Key West, and MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay. The total works out to just $159 per person, which is approximately $40 per night before taxes and other costs are added in.
Cruise to Mexico for 4 Nights Departing from Long Beach (Carnival)
Date: August 28, 2023
Price: $274 per person
You can consider yourself to have scored a decent deal on a vacation if you can find a place to stay during the summer that costs less than one hundred dollars per night. If you go on this vacation during the last week of August, each night will only cost you $70. This excursion is a four-night voyage on the Carnival Radiance that departs from Long Beach and takes passengers to Mexico. This is the most affordable date we could find during the summer, but there are other days available earlier in the season that still come in at less than $100 per night.
Cruise to the Bahamas for 4 Nights Departing from Miami (Carnival)
Date: August 28, 2023
Price: $204 per person
As was noted earlier, travelling in the late summer is the best time to discover deals on airfare. Sailing from Miami is particularly beneficial because there are so many ships departing from that port, making it simpler to locate good prices. This vacation departs from Miami in the late summer, and the total cost for four nights is only $204 dollars. That is ridiculously low-priced. The trip will depart on the Carnival Conquest and make stops in Key West and Cozumel before heading back to its starting point. This is one of the more affordable options available to you if you are hoping to have one final hurrah before the fall season begins.
Cruise to the Caribbean for 4 Nights Departing from Miami (Carnival)
Date: August 21, 2023
Price: $254 per person
How plentiful are the opportunities for savings in Miami during the month of August? The Carnival Conquest will once again serve as our mode of transportation for our excursion. The only significant differences are that it is a few dollars more expensive (but still just $254), it departs a few days earlier, and it travels to Half Moon Cay (the island where Carnival is located) and Nassau. The good news is that if this trip does not work with your schedule, you have a number of other options accessible to you, albeit they will all cost a little bit more money.
Night Cruise to the Bahamas Departing from Tampa (Royal Caribbean)
Date: August 12, 2023
Price: $410 per person
There is no other location in The Bahamas quite like CocoCay, which is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. There isn’t another private island that can actually match to this one given that it comes fully equipped with beach clubs, a water park, an enormous pool, and loads of open beaches. You will get a lot of bang for your buck with this vacation option.
After setting sail from Tampa on the Serenade of the Seas, the cruise will take you first to Key West (which is usually a popular port), and then it will transport you to CocoCay, where you will spend the day. You will have a day at sea on either side of your visit there, so you may make the most of your time aboard the ship.
All of this is included in the low price of $410 for a cruise that lasts for five days, which comes out to roughly $80 per day.
Night Cruise to the Caribbean Departing from Port Canaveral in Florida (Carnival)
Date: August 28, 2023
Price: $304 per person
This price of slightly over $300 per person for a trip comes out to approximately $60 in cruise fee per day for a five-night vacation. If you are able to sail in the late summer, then it is an attractive offer. The Carnival Freedom will set sail from Port Canaveral in the direction of Amber Cove and then Grand Turk, two destinations that are much sought after by cruisegoers.
How much of a bargain is it? When taken in July, the same cruise costs $574, which is roughly twice as much as when taken in any other month.
Cruise to the Caribbean for 5 Nights Departing from New Orleans (Carnival)
Date: August 21, 2023
Price: $309 per person
To this point, the vast majority of the cruises that we have reviewed have been three- or four-night itineraries. This cruise is a five-night excursion on the Carnival Valor that departs from New Orleans at a cost of only $309 per night. A visit to Cozumel and Progreso are on the itinerary for you before you make your way back to New Orleans. If you are unable to go on the voyage on August 21, it will continue on a regular basis throughout the rest of the summer. However, you should be prepared to pay a little higher price for your cruise if you choose to go at the height of the summer season.
Cruise to the Caribbean for 4 Nights Departing from Galveston (Royal Caribbean)
Date: August 17, 2023
Price: $290 per person
It is not necessary to depart from Florida in order to locate reasonably priced summer cruises. The Voyager of the Seas cruise offered by Royal Caribbean departs in the middle of August, and the cost of this vacation is less than $300 per person. For that amount, you embark on a voyage that lasts for four nights and heads in the direction of Cozumel. You will have a day at sea on either side of the port day, giving you the opportunity to lounge by the pool and take advantage of the pleasant weather. If you are unable to go on this excursion, there will be many more during the season; however, you should be aware that the prices will increase.
Cruise to the Caribbean for 4 Nights Departing from Port Canaveral (Carnival)
Date: August 21, 2023
Price: $284 per person
Port Canaveral, which is only about half an hour’s drive from Orlando, has steadily evolved into one of the busiest cruise ports in the United States. This cruise will cost you less than $300 per person if you book it for late August and set sail from that port. The voyage will take place on the Carnival Liberty and will last for a total of four nights. Ports of call include Nassau and the Princess Cays, as well as some time spent at sea. The best part is that the fare for travel in the middle of August is only $284, and you can sail for an even lower price later in the month.
Night Cruise to the Caribbean Departing from Tampa (Royal Caribbean)
Date: August 19, 2023
Price: $381 per person
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the majority of the positions on our list are taken up by shorter trips. This is due to the fact that the average cost decreases in proportion to the duration of the voyage. Despite this, we were able to locate this offer for a cruise that will take place in the middle of August and would cost less than $400 for each passenger.
For only $381, passengers can sail away from Tampa on the Grandeur of the Seas. During the course of the journey, you will spend the night in Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, and Costa Maya (Mexico), and each of these locations will cost you less than $55 per person.
7-Night Cruise to the Bahamas Departing from New York (MSC)
The date will be July 2nd, 2023.
Price: $449 per person
Our list of affordable summer cruises comes to a close with a 7-night voyage onboard the MSC Meraviglia as one of the available options. This itinerary begins in New York City in the beginning of July, which is the height of the cruise season in North America. It then travels to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Ocean Cay after stopping there. The price per person for this seven-day cruise is only $449, making it one of the most affordable options available.
Night Cruise through Alaska Departing from Vancouver (Holland America)
Date: June 7, 2023
Price: $429 per person
When you think of taking a cruise during the summer, the Caribbean is probably the first place that comes to mind. However, the cruise season in Alaska runs from May through August. Although the finest sales are during the beginning (in May) or end (in September) of the season, we were able to find one throughout the middle (in June).
This voyage leaves from Vancouver and travels to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan over the course of 7 days. While travelling to one of the most distant corners of the world, you will have access to a fantastic selection of ports that will provide you with lots of things to do and see, all at an unbeatable price.
