Discount Cruise Sites, Explained
Different kinds of sites for different jobs.
Get Discount Cruise QuotesSearch for discount cruise sites and you will find hundreds, from household names to one-page deal blogs. They are not all the same kind of business, and frequent cruisers use different kinds for different jobs. We do not rank individual websites; instead, here is what each type is good for and what to watch.
| Type of site | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line websites | Seeing every sailing, cabin category and current promotion for that line | One line at a time; promotions shown may not be the only ones you qualify for |
| Online travel agencies | Comparing many lines and dates quickly | Whether the total includes taxes, fees and gratuities; how changes are handled |
| Membership travel programs | Members-only extras, such as the travel arms of warehouse clubs | Membership requirements and how they compare on the same cabin |
| Deal newsletters and sale trackers | Spotting sales and flash offers you would otherwise miss | Expiry dates and fine print |
| Cruise specialists and advisors | Applying every rate you qualify for, watching the price and handling problems | Choose one who specializes in cruises and explains their service clearly |
How Discount Cruisers Use Them Together
- Scan. Use a fast search site or a line’s own site to see which weeks are priced lowest.
- Alert. Subscribe to one or two deal newsletters, so sales come to you.
- Compare like with like. Same ship, same date, same cabin category, total price with taxes and fees.
- Book with a specialist. An advisor can apply loyalty, eligibility and group rates and keep watching the fare.
Be wary of sites that show prices without taxes and fees until the last screen, ask for payment by bank transfer, or cannot tell you which cruise line and ship you are buying. Legitimate discount cruises always name the ship. To browse established cruise businesses, see the Official Cruise Directory; for travel more broadly, Best of the USA lists trusted options. The network’s own deals pages, Wave Season and Cruising for Less, follow the current sales.
Reading a Price on Any Site
Per person
Cruise fares are usually shown per person, based on two guests sharing a cabin. Double it for a couple.
Taxes and fees
Government taxes, fees and port expenses are often added separately. Compare totals, not headline fares.
Gratuities
Daily service charges may be extra or prepaid. Check which, for each guest.
Deposit type
Refundable and non-refundable deposits can carry different fares. Know which you are choosing.
Onboard credit
Credit to spend aboard is not the same as a lower fare. Value it at what you would really spend.
Cabin category
Two sites can quote different categories with similar names. Match the category code.
Once you compare like with like, the differences between discount cruise sites usually come down to perks, service and how problems are handled, which is where an experienced advisor earns their place.
Compare Our Quote With Any Site
Send our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise the sailing you found online. We will quote the same cabin and add any perks you qualify for.
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