When in the initial stages of the cruise planning process, you may feel overwhelmed with all the options available. You can find itineraries ranging from short weekend getaways to two-week-long transatlantic voyages! Of course, not everyone is in the market for those longer cruises, whether because of budget restraints, schedules, or available time off.
Many cruise lines offer short weekend cruises, and while they have their pros and cons, a cruise is a cruise! You will embark knowing that you have a few nights to escape your day-to-day life and enjoy three-course meals, handcrafted cocktails, fun shore excursions, and all the activities onboard the ship.
Here is what you need to know when considering booking a 3-night cruise.
Where do weekend cruises sail to?
Most 3-night cruises sail to The Bahamas from various ports in Florida, including Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. And for the most part, they depart on Friday afternoon, returning to the same port on Monday morning. Sometimes, though, you can find 3-night sailings that leave on a Thursday and return on Sunday.
The most common ports for these sailings are Nassau and the respective cruise line's private islands, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay, Half Moon Cay, MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Ocean Reserve, and Castaway Cay. Some may visit Key West, Florida; Freeport, Bahamas; and Bimini, Bahamas, too.
A few cruise lines also offer weekend cruises out of Los Angeles to Mexico, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act, all foreign-flagged ships that depart from ports in the United States must include an itinerary stop in a country other than the United States, which limits options for these short cruises. If you take a weekend cruise from Los Angeles, it is pretty much guaranteed that you will visit Ensenada, Mexico as your only port of call.
Read more: What to do in Nassau, Bahamas cruise port
The Passenger Vessel Services Act is why you are unlikely to find 3-night cruises to Canada. Even if you depart from New York or Boston, you often need a minimum of four days for these itineraries to satisfy the act and dock in a foreign country.
Finally, MSC Cruises offers some 3-night cruises throughout Europe, such as the cruise on MSC Magnifica on Dec. 12, 2025, from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Genoa (Portofino), Italy.
More often than not, your embarkation and disembarkation ports of call will not be the same, as is the case with the example above. This is something to consider when factoring in pre- and post-cruise plans. Plus, they are not going to be offered consistently, meaning that if you have a specific date in mind, you may not find exactly what you are looking for.
Do 3-night cruises include sea days?
While it is possible to find a short cruise to The Bahamas that includes a sea day, these itineraries tend to be port-intensive. You will likely depart from Florida and wake up both mornings in a new port of call, leaving less time to enjoy the ship's amenities like you would on a sea day.
If, however, this is important to you, it does not hurt to browse multiple cruise lines and ships to see what options are available. Just be aware that you may have fewer choices when it comes to the dates.
Since those to Mexico from Los Angeles, however, typically only visit one port, they often include a sea day.
How much does a weekend cruise cost?
The cost of a cruise depends on many factors, including when you choose to sail, what stateroom you book, and the age of the ship. Plus, you also have to consider travel-related expenses, such as airfare and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays. If driving, you should know that parking at the port will not be free.
It is no surprise that cruising during the shoulder season is more affordable than during the peak season or holidays, such as spring break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. In January 2026, for instance, you can find a 3-night cruise onboard MSC Seaside from Miami for as little as $264 per person for an interior cabin. This same cruise costs over $350 per person in March 2026.
When comparing prices for weekend cruises on Carnival ships, a 3-night cruise from Miami to Celebration Key onboard Carnival Conquest starts at $344 per person for an interior cabin in September 2026. Earlier that year in July, you can expect to see prices that are over $490 per person for the same cruise!
One tip from veteran cruisers is to book your vacation as far in advance as possible. As cabins start to fill up and there is less availability, you will see an increase in pricing.
How much are cruise add-ons?
Like with any cruise vacation, how much you spend on cruise add-ons is completely dependent on your travel style. You can pay for your base fare and enjoy all the complimentary drink and dining options without feeling the need to spend more.
On the other hand, some people prefer to splurge on specialty experiences like onboard steakhouses, drink packages, and shore excursions. And like the initial fare of the cruise, the price of add-ons varies from cruise line to cruise line.
Likewise, excursions vary in pricing, too. You can enjoy all the complimentary amenities on a cruise line's private island, or pay a premium for a private cabana experience. Even tours on Nassau range in pricing. If you visit Atlantis, this will cost you at least $200 per person, while taking a cab to a nearby beach will be significantly less.
Pros of weekend cruises
Great short getaways that require minimal planning
If you think about taking a weekend trip to New York City, you will be flooded with things that you have to check off your list.
Did you get tickets to the Broadway show that you want to see? What about setting a reminder to book that coveted reservation thirty days prior? How are you going to navigate the city while there? Where is the best place to stay that meets your needs?
While there are still things you have to do before you embark on your cruise, many of the logistics are already taken care of, meaning that you are set up for a relaxing quick getaway. Even if you do not book any specialty reservations, all of your dining arrangements are already taken care of.
Less vacation time is needed
Since these cruises primarily take place over the weekend, you will not have to request as many days off of work. With 7-night cruises, you can almost guarantee that you will need at least five days off.
With 3-night cruises, though, you could take an evening flight on Thursday after you are off, meaning that you will only need two days off: Friday and Monday.
If you happen to live close to a departure port, you can hop in your car and make the short drive on the morning of embarkation, rather than having to worry about flights. This means your overall cost would be less, too!
Read more: Why you should plan a cruise within driving distance
Ability to splurge on cruise add-ons
Sometimes, the thought of spending $60+ per day for 7 nights for a drink package can be overwhelming. In fact, there are times when the drink package can cost more than the cruise fare, depending on what stateroom you booked and when.
Spending the same amount for 3 nights is less of a burden on your wallet, especially since your cruise fare will be less than a weeklong sailing, too.
Moreover, since you'll visit fewer ports of call, you may be able to spend more on the one or two excursions that you really want to do, rather than budgeting for three or four ports of call.
Cons of weekend cruises
Fewer ship and itinerary options
To comply with the Passenger Vessel Services Act, there are only so many destinations that can be reached during a short cruise, so you will find that there are limited itinerary options. In comparison, with a 7-night cruise, you can sail to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, etc. If you are someone who has visited Nassau before, you may want to experience something new, rather than return to the same port time and time again.
Likewise, there are fewer ship options, especially if you are loyal to one cruise line. And often, they are not the newest ship in the cruise line's fleet. Thankfully, many cruise lines have invested in revitalizing their older ships to update them with newer amenities.
Norwegian Cruise Line, for instance, implemented the Norwegian Edge program in 2015, with Norwegian Epic being the first ship to be refreshed. Over the next two years, the cruise line spent about $400 million on updating their older vessels to ensure a greater guest experience.
Higher cost per day
The cost per night on a 3-night cruise is often much higher than the cost per night on longer sailings.
A 3-night cruise to The Bahamas onboard Carnival Freedom in October 2026, for instance, costs around $830 for two adults in an ocean-view stateroom. A 5-night cruise to The Bahamas during the same month on Carnival Sunrise comes in at $1,150 for two in the same category of cabin. Note that both prices include taxes and port fees, though gratuities are extra.
This makes the price per night per passenger on the 3-night cruise about $140, while the cost decreases to $115 for the 5-night voyage.
You do not have time to fully experience everything onboard the ship
Spending only three nights in any place is not enough to get the full experience, whether it is a cruise or a land-based vacation. With a cruise, though, you also have to keep in mind that you will not be onboard the ship the entire time. The majority of your days will be spent ashore. Unless, that is, you opt to stay onboard.
Depending on what you do during the day, you may not have the energy to stay up late for the ship's entertainment. If you have been in the sun all day on the beach, perhaps the last thing that sounds appealing is getting dressed up to attend a show.
And less time to venture around the ship means that you will not be able to get the lay of the land until the vacation has almost ended. This is especially true if you are taking a cruise on one of the larger ships operating shorter voyages, such as Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas.
Shorter cruises often have more of a party atmosphere
Do not be surprised if you find large groups on your weekend cruise, as they are appealing to those looking for a short getaway to celebrate, whether that is a birthday, bachelorette party, graduation, etc. Depending on your reason for cruising, this may or may not appeal to you.
Expect to find a lively atmosphere onboard, whether that is at the pool deck during the day or late night at the bars. For example, Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's brand-new ship geared toward offering the "World’s Biggest Weekend" has many themed events that might draw a rowdier crowd, including a frat-inspired party, Vegas-inspired pool party, toga silent disco, and more.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
