What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise? What to know about finding deals

USA Today

3 days ago

What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise? What to know about finding deals
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How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise
Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips.
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If you're looking for cruise deals, it pays to pick your sailing dates carefully. Prices can vary based on your cruise line, destination and more – but certain times of year tend to be cheaper than others.
Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, said it's 'all based on the demand.'
'And when you're talking about holidays and when schools are out, when families want to travel together, it's always going to be more expensive,' she told USA TODAY.
However, there are bargains out there if you know when to look for them. Here's what to know.
What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
For deals on European and Caribbean cruises, Kuther recommended travelers sail in September or October.
Kids are generally back in school, and that coincides with the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which reaches its height between mid-August and mid-October. Cruise ships can usually sail around storms and amend itineraries to steer clear of their path.
'So usually it really, really dies down in September,' Kuther said.
Consider off-peak times for Alaska, too, where ships typically operate from roughly April to October. 'A lot of people want to go like in the dead of the summer, like June, July, August,' she said. 'So if you do late April, early May, and then September, beginning of October, you'll definitely get a better price.'
Repositioning cruises in the spring and fall, when cruise lines move their inventory from one region to another, can also be cost-effective.
'If you jump on say in Miami, you're going to do transatlantic to Europe and then the ship will reposition itself into its European season,' Kuther said. 'So if you can get on that one-way cruise, they usually tend to be less expensive and obviously much longer, too. So you get a really, really good value for your money.'
When is the cheapest time to book a cruise?
If you have a specific cruise in mind – especially in a seasonal destination like Alaska – Kuther recommended booking a year in advance. In addition to discounts, travelers will find more stateroom options.
'The prime rooms go early, believe it or not,' she noted. 'Suites (or) if you have a family of five and need connecting cabins, those are all of the rooms that go first.'
On the other hand, if you're flexible about when and where you sail, you can still find cheap rates on a tighter turnaround.
'Sometimes I have people say, like, 'I'm good to leave out of Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale – I don't care. I want to do the Caribbean and I want to leave in three weeks,' and it's September or August. You'll find a deal, as long as they're not picky.'
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [e-mail].