Advice & Tips

If you are planning a vacation, you might be wondering what the cheapest month to book a cruise is. 

Because cruise ship prices are so dynamic, it's difficult to come up with a simple rule when to book.

The price of a cruise fluctuates based on the itinerary, time of year, ship's age, and how soon it is scheduled to set sail. In other words, the same itinerary on the same ship might be cheaper in October than it is in July. 

Plus, as availability on any given sailing deceases, cruise lines will begin to increase the prices on the remaining cabins. 

Alaska cruises are a popular choice for those wishing to explore the northernmost state in the United States, and it's time to cross the picturesque state off your bucket list and book an Alaskan itinerary! 

The beautiful glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and exciting shore excursions, like dog sledding in Skagway or a helicopter ride above Mendenhall Glacier, offer cruisers a truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime trip! 

Are you curious as to which months of the year have the cheapest cruise prices? 

The answer is a little more complicated than you may think, as it varies depending on the cruise line, ship, time of year, and itinerary! 

Usually, though, the cheapest time of the year to go on a cruise is when others are busy and unable to go on the same sailing. 

If you find yourself sailing out of New York, New York or Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey, you might be considered a pre-cruise stay in The Big Apple!

While a vacation in New York is nowhere near as convenient as a cruise, there's so much to see and do in the city! You can enjoy delicious food at some of the most famous restaurants in the country, see a Broadway musical on Broadway, enrich yourself with a visit to a museum, or even people watch in one of the parks. 

Packing for your cruise can be stressful, especially if you need to fly to your cruise port. 

Within the last few years, I’ve become more hesitant to check a bag when I cruise or travel. Images of endless lost luggage have flood the internet recently with airlines struggling to keep their airports staffed and operations running smoothly. 

If you’re looking for ways to optimize credit card travel spending to earn valuable reward points this year, listen close. 

A TikTok account, thecreditbrothers, recently shared an interesting hack for cruisers to take advantage of that involves cash draws from the onboard casino. 

As someone who personally loves to play the credit card points game, this was a hack that I’ve actually never heard of. 

I’ll never turn down the opportunity to hop on a plane. I love the airport experience, even if it can be frustrating. I’ll even go out of my way to arrive early sometimes, and you can almost always find me in an airport lounge with a cocktail in hand before my flight!

But let’s be real– flying is expensive, from airport parking, to baggage fees, and even New York City’s infamous $28 airport beer. 

You found a cruise fare that sounds almost unbelievable-- $200 per person for a 4 night cruise?! That’s about $50 per person, per night for lodging, transportation between ports, entertainment, and select food and beverages! 

From picking the right ship, researching each port of call, and making travel arrangements, there's so much to consider when it comes to planning a cruise.

Whether you're a first time cruiser or about to embark on your 10th sailing, there are some cruise tips and hacks to make sure you're getting the most out of your vacation. 

Below, we've compiled the 13 best tips that the most seasoned cruisers swear by.