A cruise holiday is glamorous, action-packed, fascinating, and exhilarating. Offering all kinds of luxuries, amenities, and activities, these floating hotels have become a popular holiday style for people all over the world in recent years. While there are several advantages of going on a cruise holiday, it cannot be denied that they can be expensive. But did you know that cruises are not priced the same throughout the year? Like a regular holiday, cruises also have peak season and off-season. If you want to go on a cruise without emptying your bank balance, it is important to know the cheapest time of the year to cruise.
Factors Determining the Rates of Cruise Holidays
The prices of cruises rise and fall based on demand and supply. These are some of the factors that determine the price.
- Cruises prices are extremely high during holiday seasons like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
- Moreover, as cruises are quite popular among families, there is a high demand for them during school holidays, thus raising cruise rates again.
- Weather also plays a role in determining the rates for cruises. Most people prefer to holiday in summer, and hence, summer cruise packages are generally higher than the rest of the year.
- Old cruises are less in demand than the latest ones. As more people prefer the modern amenities and facilities of a newer cruise, you will easily find deals and discounts on the older ships.
What is the Cheapest Month to Go on a Cruise?
It is rather difficult to pinpoint the exact month when you would find cheap cruise packages. Generally, cruises with great deals and discounts are scattered throughout the year, depending on the factors mentioned above. Let us check out the different times of the year when you can get hold of cheap cruise holidays.
Second Week of January to First Week of February: When life returns to normal after Christmas and New Year celebrations, you will find cruise packages at half the rate. This usually continues till the first week of February, after which the prices increase again during Valentine’s week.
Late February: Once the Valentine’s Day fever dies down, the cruise rates go down again. This discounted rate lasts till Spring break, which is between mid-March and mid-April. You can not only book a cruise at a low rate but also pick premium cabins at lesser prices.
Early May: The month of May again brings down the rates on cruises. Once the spring break is over, the demand for cruise holidays goes down, requiring cruises to lower their prices. The rates are likely to increase during Memorial Day, which falls on May 26.
September (After Labor Day): June till August is peak season for cruising, as summer holidays are during these months. Once schools reopen in September, you are likely to see a dip in these prices. Most cruises lower their rates after Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday of September.
Early December (First Two Weeks): The first two weeks of December, just after thanksgiving and before Christmas and New Year is again off-season for cruises. You will find great deals and discounts on cruises during these weeks due to low demand.
Cheapest Time of the Year to Cruise by Destination
The cheapest time of the year to cruise also changes as per destination. Here you will find information on the cheapest time to cruise at some of the most popular cruise destinations.
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Cruises are quite popular, as it includes all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, including France, Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Morocco, and more. The peak season for the Mediterranean Cruise is between June and August. The weather is great during these months, but the prices are at an all-time high. The winter months, between November and February (except the last week of December) are great for budget-conscious cruisers. If you want to enjoy some warm weather without spending too much money, April and October (off-shoulder seasons) are the best months.
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Caribbean
The Caribbean is another favorite amongst cruisers. The islands of Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, etc., are quite popular cruise destinations. If you want to save money on a Caribbean cruise, the best time to book a cruise is between September to early December. The main problem with these months is that it is hurricane season, which means there are weather risks. The best thing to do here would be to book a cruise that offers flexible cancellation policies. This way you would not lose money if there were cancellations due to bad weather. Most modern cruise lines offer such policies.
Alaska
The raw beauty, the dense forests, the icy glaciers, and the abundant wildlife make Alaska one of the most popular cruise destinations. But due to its extreme weather, Alaska has a really small cruise window, i.e., between May and September. The months of July and August are considered to be peak cruise season. Due to its location and short cruise window, Alaskan cruises are quite expensive. However, if you want to enjoy this destination at a lesser price, you must choose either May or September, the starting and the ending months of the cruise season. The weather is chillier during these months, but you will still be able to enjoy the beauty of this American state. An important thing to remember is that there is no guarantee that you would have wildlife sightings during these months.
Northern Europe and Baltic
Northern Europe and Baltic area comprising Nordic countries like Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc., and the Baltic states like Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are also a well-liked by cruisegoers. Just like Alaska, this area also has a short cruising timeline, due to short summer months. April to October is cruise season in Northern Europe and Baltic Area. Those who are looking for a pocket-friendly cruise holiday in this region, end of April, May, and September-October would be ideal. But be ready for extreme cold during these months. The advantage is that there would be less crowd on the cruise, and you are likely to get a good discount.
Middle East Asia
With cruises becoming popular in the UAE and other Middle East countries, several international cruise lines have introduced their fleet to these shores. Among all the countries, Dubai has become a hotspot for cruise goers. The peak cruise season in this part of the world is October to April, which includes the winter and shoulder seasons. If you want to avoid crowds and high rates, the months between May and September would be the best for cruises from Dubai and other Middle Eastern ports. Generally, people avoid these months, due to the extreme heat of summer, as the temperature here goes beyond 40-degree C. However, some cruise lines also offer special summer discounts during these months, making these cruises extremely budget friendly.
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Australia and New Zealand
When it comes to the Southern Hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand are quite in-demand. The rugged landscapes, the modern cities, and the extreme adventures attract people to visit these countries. Ideally, the spring and summer seasons are the best for cruise holidays. But those who want to save money should visit during the winter months. Unlike the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere has winter between May to September, during which you will have to endure rain and cool weather. But the prices are slashed considerably, and booking during this season is one of the best tips to avoid crowds on cruises.
Additional Tips for Choosing a Cheap Cruise
- If you book your cruise well in advance, you may get some early bird discounts, which will save money.
- If your holiday plans are fluid, you may wait till the last minute to book your cruise package, as several cruises offer last-minute discounts to fill up their ships.
- One of the ways to ensure that you do not spend too much on a cruise holiday is to book an inside cabin. These cabins have all the basic amenities and facilities, including a comfortable bed and an ensuite bathroom, although they do not have any window or balcony. Still, these cabins are budget friendly.
- Cruises that depart mid-week are often cheaper than the ones that depart during the weekend. Booking these cruises would help you to save money.
A cruise holiday is quite different from a regular holiday and lack of budget should not be the reason to miss it. If you are ready to compromise on weather and such other things, you will be able to enjoy a luxury cruise without burning all your savings.
