Get Away On A Cheap Cruise This Fall
Dreaming of escaping on a low-cost fall getaway? Booking an affordable last-minute cruise may be the answer. Select cruise lines are offering rock-bottom rates for fall sailings. These cheap cruises depart from many U.S. ports, which can eliminate the costs and hassles of expensive flights.
Travel shoppers can find cheap vacation deals on fall sailings with cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. Base cruise fares on some sailings are less than $300 per person for a four-night cruise, which is an excellent vacation value. Daily meals, activities, and entertainment are included as well.
Fall cruises visit appealing ports in destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda and the Bahamas. Canada and New England sailings are also available during this time. Travelers will quickly see the value of these cruise vacations when comparing the rates to the cost of a land-based resort or hotel getaway. Resort costs have increased substantially over the last two years, and food prices quickly add up as well.
If you have a tight budget and limited free time for your fall getaways, consider a short cruise. These three- to five-night cruise vacations are often very affordable and provide accommodations, food, and entertainment at a reasonable price. To compare your vacation options accurately, research what's included on a short fall cruise versus a land-based vacation and price out similar trips.
Fall is an excellent time to find cheap cruises. If you're looking for an affordable last-minute cruise, here are a few tips to consider:
Be Flexible With Your Cruise Choices And Sailing Dates
Being willing to try something new or different can result in a great cruise deal. Instead of being fixated on a specific cruise line or itinerary, consider all available cruise options within your budget. Then, decide whether the savings are worth the trade-offs. Flexibility with your sailing dates can make a big difference as well.
Keep Hurricane Season In Mind
Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico officially lasts until November 30. These hurricanes can impact sailings to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, the Caribbean, and even cruises in Canada and New England. While most fall sailings do not encounter tropical storms, it’s important to keep their potential impacts in mind when considering a cruise vacation during this time. These can include cruise port cancellations, unscheduled days at sea, and itinerary changes. For many travelers, the cheap cruise prices and other benefits available during this fall period outweigh the risks. It's key to be aware, however, and plan accordingly.
Use A Good Cruise Travel Agent
Great cruise travel advisors have access to deals and promotions that may not be available to the public and can save you time and money. Travel agents can also be outstanding sources of information when comparing cruise lines and ships. Look for a top-notch travel advisor with membership in the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and/or Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In addition, if you are set on a specific cruise line, seek out a travel agent who has preferred status with that line. You might receive special discounts and added perks. Make sure to ask about special rates for military members, residents of certain states, and other offers.
Online cruise travel agencies like VacationsToGo.com can also be good resources. An additional site to check out is CruiseCompete.com. This free service allows vacationers to request competitive cruise quotes anonymously from leading travel advisors. All customer account information remains private, and there’s no obligation to purchase. It's up to you to contact agents if you are interested in their bid.
Consider Driving To Your Cruise
Transportation costs can account for a large percentage of your vacation budget when flights are necessary. If possible, consider driving to your cruise and focus your search on ships departing from convenient embarkation ports. Cruise lines offer sailings from a wide variety of U.S. ports, including Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Bayonne, NJ; Norfolk, VA; Charleston, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Port Canaveral, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Miami, FL; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Galveston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; San Diego, CA and other areas. Parking is generally available near the cruise terminals.
Low-priced voyages can sell out fast, so be prepared to make decisions quickly. Some of the many great fall cruise vacation deals include:
Bahamas Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers four-night cruises on Carnival Conquest, departing from Miami and visiting Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay and Nassau Bahamas. Advertised rates for a four-night sailing on select departure dates have been advertised as low as $279 per person.
Celebrity Cruises sails three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries on Celebrity Reflection, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Four-night sailings visit Bimini and CoCoCay, Bahamas. Base cruise fares have been advertised as low as $330 per person for a four-night sailing on certain departure dates. Discounts for Third & Fourth Guests Sail Free deals are periodically available.
Margaritaville at Sea offers two- to four-night cruises on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, departing from Palm Beach, Florida, and visiting Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, as well as Key West on its longer sailings. Base fares for two-night itineraries have been advertised as low as $59 per person on select departure dates. Specials are often available, including discounts, onboard credit, free stateroom upgrades, Kids Sail Free, and Heroes Sail Free. Check the cruise line's website regularly for the most current deals.
MSC Cruises offers four-night cruises on MSC Magnifica, departing from Miami, Florida, and visiting Ocean Cay Marine Reserve and Nassau, Bahamas. Base cruise fares for these sailings have been advertised as low as $215 per person for select dates. Kids 17 and under often sail free on certain sailings as third and fourth guests.
Royal Caribbean offers four-night sailings on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, departing from Miami, Florida and visiting Nassau and their CocoCay private island in the Bahamas. Advertised rates have started at $307 per person for select sailings.
Caribbean Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers seven-night Caribbean cruises on one of its newest ships, Carnival Celebration. Voyages depart from Miami, Florida and visit Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Advertised rates have started as low as $640 per person.
Holland America Line features eight-day, seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises on Nieuw Statendam. The cruises depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and visit Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico. Rates have been advertised as low as $546 per person.
Mexico Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers five-night Mexico cruises on one of its newest ships, Carnival Firenze. These cruises depart from Los Angeles and visit Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. Rates for these sailings have been advertised as low as $317 per person for select departure dates.
Margaritaville at Sea offers a variety of exciting four- to seven-night cruises on their newest ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The newly renovated ship sails from Tampa, Florida, to ports in Mexico and Key West. Base fares for four-night cruises have been advertised as low as $279 per person for departures on select dates. Special offers are often available, including upgrades, discounts, onboard credit, Kids Sail Free, and Heroes Sail Free. Check the cruise line's offers page regularly for the latest deals.
MSC Cruises offers seven-night cruises on MSC Seashore, departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, and visiting the ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. Base cruise fares for these sailings have been advertised as low as $389 per person for select dates. Kids 17 and under often sail free on certain sailings as third and fourth guests.
Royal Caribbean features five-night cruises on Radiance of the Seas, departing from Tampa, Florida, and visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Advertised rates have started at $444 per person for sailings on select departure dates.
Travel shoppers can find cheap vacation deals on fall sailings with cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. Base cruise fares on some sailings are less than $300 per person for a four-night cruise, which is an excellent vacation value. Daily meals, activities, and entertainment are included as well.
Fall cruises visit appealing ports in destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda and the Bahamas. Canada and New England sailings are also available during this time. Travelers will quickly see the value of these cruise vacations when comparing the rates to the cost of a land-based resort or hotel getaway. Resort costs have increased substantially over the last two years, and food prices quickly add up as well.
If you have a tight budget and limited free time for your fall getaways, consider a short cruise. These three- to five-night cruise vacations are often very affordable and provide accommodations, food, and entertainment at a reasonable price. To compare your vacation options accurately, research what's included on a short fall cruise versus a land-based vacation and price out similar trips.
Fall is an excellent time to find cheap cruises. If you're looking for an affordable last-minute cruise, here are a few tips to consider:
Be Flexible With Your Cruise Choices And Sailing Dates
Being willing to try something new or different can result in a great cruise deal. Instead of being fixated on a specific cruise line or itinerary, consider all available cruise options within your budget. Then, decide whether the savings are worth the trade-offs. Flexibility with your sailing dates can make a big difference as well.
Keep Hurricane Season In Mind
Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico officially lasts until November 30. These hurricanes can impact sailings to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, the Caribbean, and even cruises in Canada and New England. While most fall sailings do not encounter tropical storms, it’s important to keep their potential impacts in mind when considering a cruise vacation during this time. These can include cruise port cancellations, unscheduled days at sea, and itinerary changes. For many travelers, the cheap cruise prices and other benefits available during this fall period outweigh the risks. It's key to be aware, however, and plan accordingly.
Use A Good Cruise Travel Agent
Great cruise travel advisors have access to deals and promotions that may not be available to the public and can save you time and money. Travel agents can also be outstanding sources of information when comparing cruise lines and ships. Look for a top-notch travel advisor with membership in the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and/or Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In addition, if you are set on a specific cruise line, seek out a travel agent who has preferred status with that line. You might receive special discounts and added perks. Make sure to ask about special rates for military members, residents of certain states, and other offers.
Online cruise travel agencies like VacationsToGo.com can also be good resources. An additional site to check out is CruiseCompete.com. This free service allows vacationers to request competitive cruise quotes anonymously from leading travel advisors. All customer account information remains private, and there’s no obligation to purchase. It's up to you to contact agents if you are interested in their bid.
Consider Driving To Your Cruise
Transportation costs can account for a large percentage of your vacation budget when flights are necessary. If possible, consider driving to your cruise and focus your search on ships departing from convenient embarkation ports. Cruise lines offer sailings from a wide variety of U.S. ports, including Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Bayonne, NJ; Norfolk, VA; Charleston, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Port Canaveral, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Miami, FL; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Galveston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; San Diego, CA and other areas. Parking is generally available near the cruise terminals.
Low-priced voyages can sell out fast, so be prepared to make decisions quickly. Some of the many great fall cruise vacation deals include:
Bahamas Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers four-night cruises on Carnival Conquest, departing from Miami and visiting Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay and Nassau Bahamas. Advertised rates for a four-night sailing on select departure dates have been advertised as low as $279 per person.
Celebrity Cruises sails three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries on Celebrity Reflection, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Four-night sailings visit Bimini and CoCoCay, Bahamas. Base cruise fares have been advertised as low as $330 per person for a four-night sailing on certain departure dates. Discounts for Third & Fourth Guests Sail Free deals are periodically available.
Margaritaville at Sea offers two- to four-night cruises on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, departing from Palm Beach, Florida, and visiting Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, as well as Key West on its longer sailings. Base fares for two-night itineraries have been advertised as low as $59 per person on select departure dates. Specials are often available, including discounts, onboard credit, free stateroom upgrades, Kids Sail Free, and Heroes Sail Free. Check the cruise line's website regularly for the most current deals.
MSC Cruises offers four-night cruises on MSC Magnifica, departing from Miami, Florida, and visiting Ocean Cay Marine Reserve and Nassau, Bahamas. Base cruise fares for these sailings have been advertised as low as $215 per person for select dates. Kids 17 and under often sail free on certain sailings as third and fourth guests.
Royal Caribbean offers four-night sailings on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, departing from Miami, Florida and visiting Nassau and their CocoCay private island in the Bahamas. Advertised rates have started at $307 per person for select sailings.
Caribbean Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers seven-night Caribbean cruises on one of its newest ships, Carnival Celebration. Voyages depart from Miami, Florida and visit Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Advertised rates have started as low as $640 per person.
Holland America Line features eight-day, seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises on Nieuw Statendam. The cruises depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and visit Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico. Rates have been advertised as low as $546 per person.
Mexico Cruises:
Carnival Cruise Line offers five-night Mexico cruises on one of its newest ships, Carnival Firenze. These cruises depart from Los Angeles and visit Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. Rates for these sailings have been advertised as low as $317 per person for select departure dates.
Margaritaville at Sea offers a variety of exciting four- to seven-night cruises on their newest ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The newly renovated ship sails from Tampa, Florida, to ports in Mexico and Key West. Base fares for four-night cruises have been advertised as low as $279 per person for departures on select dates. Special offers are often available, including upgrades, discounts, onboard credit, Kids Sail Free, and Heroes Sail Free. Check the cruise line's offers page regularly for the latest deals.
MSC Cruises offers seven-night cruises on MSC Seashore, departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, and visiting the ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. Base cruise fares for these sailings have been advertised as low as $389 per person for select dates. Kids 17 and under often sail free on certain sailings as third and fourth guests.
Royal Caribbean features five-night cruises on Radiance of the Seas, departing from Tampa, Florida, and visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Advertised rates have started at $444 per person for sailings on select departure dates.
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