Cruises are an excellent way to spend time with your family and friends, but they can quickly become pricey, especially when you want to go on a lengthy trip or high-end cruise. Fortunately, there are several ways to find the best cruise deals to help reduce your travel expenses. While some of these cruise deals are reserved for military personnel, seniors, and large groups, others are available to anyone.
If you want to learn how to find cheap cruises in 2024, including insider tips for securing discounts on some of the best cruise lines, continue reading through the slides below to get the inside scoop on cruise deals.
Military cruise deals are common offers from cruise lines as a way to honor the sacrifices you or your family member has made for our country. These deals are usually only available to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families.
In some cases, additional discounts and promotions may be reserved for specific branches within the military, such as the army, navy, or National Guard.
Because no two discounts are the same, it’s a good idea to check the requirements, savings, and purchase methods of any military cruise deal you come across. Additionally, you can still use generic insider tips to save even more on your vacation.
For example, Disney cruise line military rates can be lower when booking during the off-season.
Some of the most notable cruise lines that provide deep discounts to service members and veterans include the following:
- Disney military cruise promotions
- Carnival Cruise
- Celebrity ships
- MSC cruises
- Norwegian cruise line
- Princess cruises
- Royal Caribbean cruises
Seniors can qualify for cheap cruises too, including last minute cruise deals. These are age-based deals provided to seniors to help them find low-cost vacation opportunities.
In many cases, you must be at least 55 years of age to qualify for a senior discount. However, some of the best cruise deals for seniors may only require one member of a group to be a senior. This means you may be able to bring a younger spouse or potentially a child or friend with you on your vacation.
Generally speaking, you’ll need to provide a valid ID, such as a state-issued driver’s license, identification card, or a passport to receive a senior discount. Cruise lines that routinely provide senior discounts include the following:
- Carnival cruises, including carnival excursions
- Celebrity cruises
- Norwegian cruise line
- Royal Caribbean cruises
Additionally, senior AARP members may be able to access additional senior discounts, including promotions for select cruises. However, you may need to be flexible with your travel dates to receive a discount.
Are you planning to go on a cruise with a large group? You may be interested in finding the best cruise line for groups and companies that offer group discounts.
Group discounts are simple, but the rules can vary by cruise line. These promotions require you to buy a certain number of cabin tickets, and some discounts may have additional requirements. However, going on a cruise as a group can get you some of the best cruise deals. Some of these promotions may even include onboard credits, drinks, or meals.
For large groups, it may be a good idea to speak with a cruise travel agent to help with the fine details, but it’s not required. Alternatively, you can do the research yourself and contact various cruises you’re interested in to see whether or not they provide these discounts. If they do, be sure to get more information about group requirements and benefits.