A cruise can be an extremely expensive holiday option. Sure, there are plenty of tempting money-saving deals available, but they’re not always what they seem. Those “included drinks”, for instance, may actually mean non-branded spirits and basic table wine (even soft drinks such as Coca Cola can be classed as “premium”), and the “included excursions” are likely to just be basic outings rather than the bucket-list experience you’d been dreaming about. WiFi can also incur an extra charge.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Swat up on these expert-recommended hacks before booking your next cruise, and you can drastically cut costs without sacrificing on any element of the experience itself.
Inside info
“When choosing your cabin, think about how much time you’ll actually spend in it,” says Tony Andrews, managing director of online travel agency cruise.co.uk. “The main purpose of your cabin is to sleep in, so if a sea view isn’t important to you, choose an inside cabin or a cabin with an obstructed view. This will take a considerable amount off the price.”
Book a repositioning cruise
A cruise ship will typically stay in one area for a season – the Med in summer, say – and then sail to a different area for the next season (the Caribbean in winter, for example). “When a ship sails from one area to the next, these ‘repositioning’ cruises are still open to book,” says Andrews. “They will feature a majority of days onboard the ship rather than calling at different destinations, but they are available at a much reduced cost.” If you enjoy sea days – endless sunshine and onboard spa treatments – they’re the perfect choice.
Book two cruises with the same line
“If you’re planning a long and pricey cruise, it might be worth your while to take a little extra trip now,” advises Edwina Lonsdale, managing director of travel agents Mundy Cruises. “A quick week away on the cruise line you have chosen for a longer voyage can give you access to both past passenger savings and onboard booking savings.”
Book onboard
“We always recommend booking your next cruise before you disembark your current sailing,” says Adam Coulter from reviews site Cruise Critic. “It’s a great way to make significant savings, with often a package or a decent amount of onboard credit thrown in. Go to Future Cruise Sales and ask them what they can offer. There are always good deals to be had.”
Don’t follow the crowd
“Certain times of year in certain destinations work well if you’re looking for a bargain,” says Lonsdale. “Alaska or the Baltic in May or September, or the Mediterranean during the winter months, for example, can be significantly cheaper than in peak season. Plus there are often advantages: fewer crowds, different wildlife or brilliant displays of early-season flowers.”
Moveable feast
“If you can be flexible on which week you cruise, you can definitely save money,” says Erica Silverstein from the travel advice website The Points Guy. “Many unpredictable factors combine to make one sailing week more expensive than the identical itinerary the week before or after.”
Keep track…
Cruise YouTuber Gary Bembridge (Tips For Travellers) says: “Always track the fares of any cruise you have booked, as some lines will match prices if they go down – but only if you contact them. Not all do, but it is worth a try. The best sites to do this are cruisewatch.com and cruiseline.com.”
…and keep in touch
“The best way to be aware of any deals is to sign up for the email newsletters of any cruise line you would consider cruising on, as they will announce sales, offers and deals that way,” says Bembridge. “Also follow cruise lines on Facebook and Instagram as they often use their pages to launch deals.”
Black Friday
Leading Travel PR David Sanders, whose clients include Carnival, Holland America and Celestyal says: “Keep a look out for Black Friday [November 28 in 2025] cruise bargains, which most major cruise lines have on offer. There’s always good deals to be had, particularly if you’re sailing from the UK and your trip won’t involve a flight.”
Drink in the details
Drinks packages may sound like a good idea if you’re planning on daily cocktails, sundowners, pricey wines and speciality coffees. But if you’re not a big drinker and you only fancy the occasional celebratory glass of fizz, you’re better off putting it on your tab. The price of drinks packages varies wildly, but some cost upwards of £75 per person, per day. Using an online calculator (such as this one from Cruise Mummy) can help navigate your drinking money.
But say yes to some drinks packages…
“The onboard soda packages, which can be bought in advance, are particularly good value for children,” says Sanders. “There’s a great range of options and plenty of healthy choices available, including juices and smoothies.”
Other worthwhile packages
“Many lines offer special all-inclusive packages,” says Cruise Critic’s Coulter. “For example, Princess has the Princess Premier package, which includes unlimited WiFi, unlimited premier beverage package, unlimited juice bar, fitness classes, unlimited speciality and casual dining meals per guest, and reserved theatre seating for production shows. NCL offers the More At Sea package, which includes unlimited open bar with premium spirits, cocktails, wine, beer, juice and soda, speciality dining, shore excursion credit of $50 at each port, and free airfare for the second guest.”
Get first-day savvy
Online travel site The Points Guy suggests looking for first-day discounts from onboard spas looking to lure passengers through their doors. Speciality restaurants may also offer extras for first-day bookings, such as a free bottle of wine.
Set your own agenda
By all means book excursion trips that provide exclusive access to avoid crowds and queues, or get you to hard-to-reach places, but you might be able to organise alternatives at a fraction of the price – for example, a public ferry to a different island or a solo tour with a private company. Get online, do your homework and enjoy that smug feeling as you jump into a taxi while the coaches are loading. Just make sure you get back to the ship on time…
Third-party options
Bembridge says: “You can usually find more choice, smaller group sizes, and lower prices using third-party providers such as Venture Ashore, Shore Excursions Grou and Viator. With the first two sites you can input your cruise line, ship and travel dates and it shows all the choices for your exact itinerary.”