do cruise ships sell plan b

The Difference Between Stateroom Types, Categories & Guarantees: Demystifying the Stateroom Selection

When booking a cruise you'll inevitably have to decide what type of cabin (aka stateroom) you want.  What's the difference between an inside and an ocean view?  What are all these numbers? G1, B13? Are we playing bingo or going on vacation?  It can be confusing, but it's important to really understand the differences, at least conceptually, so that you not only book the right room for you, but recognize value and see through some promotional gimmicks.  We'll look at the differences between stateroom types  and  categories  and explain other things you'll run into, like guarantee rooms.

Stateroom Types

We'll start here because well, this one is easy.  Stateroom types are the top of the chart if you're thinking about different staterooms hierarchically (a word which, pronouncing correctly may be a deciding factor in future CruiseHabit giveaways).  There are four basic stateroom types (and of course, some outliers).  

Inside Staterooms

Yes, all staterooms are indoors, but this term refers to rooms which don't have a window or balcony (at least, they don't have a window or balcony facing the ocean - more on that later).  More often than not these types of rooms are the cheapest - but don't assume, as we've seen some cases where other categories are cheaper when supply and demand dictate such.  Often inside rooms have mirrors  and extra lights to keep you from feeling too closed in.  In recent years, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Lines have introduced inside rooms with "virtual" portholes or balconies, which use large screens to display real-time views of the outside.  Several lines also have a selection of inside rooms which have port holes or windows facing interior sections of the ship.  Some inside rooms have the bed facing the door, while others have the bed sideways.

Ocean View Staterooms

These rooms (sometimes called "outside rooms") have some sort of window which looks out to the ocean.  Depending on the ship, deck, and other factors this could be a small porthole or two, a large window, or even a floor-to-ceiling window.  Similar to the different layouts of inside rooms, they may have the window(s) behind the beds or next to them - layouts vary. 

Verandah Staterooms 

Call them what you will - verandahs, verandas, or balconies - these are the most common and popular rooms on modern ships.  It wasn't long ago that, for a number of reasons (some of which you can read about here ), a cruise ship might have only a handful of balconies, all located high on the ship.  Now, on some ships, over 95% of the rooms have balconies, and you'd have to work pretty hard to find anyone complaining about this.  Having a balcony gives you the option of enjoying some private deck space at any time, along with great views even when the doors are closed.  You could even use a GoPro to capture great sail-away videos using the proper mount .  Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships have some verandah rooms that have outdoor balconies, but which don't face the ocean.  These "Neighborhood Verandahs" are unique, and if you're okay with not facing the ocean, can be a neat option.

Do you like painting with a broad brush?  Great - because the last room type we're covering is suites.  This can mean a lot of different things.  On modern ships suites pretty much always feature an ocean-facing balcony (we're sure we'll end up updating this with some exception - and RCI's Freedom Class "Sweets" don't count).  Suites can be similar to but slightly larger than verandah rooms, or they could be palatial multi-story areas with separate entranceways, multiple bedrooms, their own pianos, etc.  In addition to some extra space, suites often come with perks like exclusive lounges and restaurants, butler service, and many things which may cost other guests extra.  How do you differentiate the different types of suites?  I'm so glad you asked - keep reading to find out. 

Stateroom Categories

Discussing categories is important because many people confuse categories with types.  We mentioned above that there are four main stateroom types, but there can be dozens of categories even though so many rooms are so similar.  If you look on deck plans, or at the options when booking a cruise, categories are usually expressed as a letter-number combination, like A12, or V4 - it varies by cruise line.  There are some good reasons for this wide variety of options though, so let's review. 

Imagine you're looking to book a verandah stateroom you may find the best price on a beautiful room and then find that it's really far forward (that's the front of the ship), and as such, may be a bit of a walk to some areas.  It's quite possible that the exact same shape, size, and style of room is available down the hall but more mid-ship, though at a higher cost.  These two rooms are the same stateroom type, but different categories.  You might also find that the rooms directly above or below these rooms are different categories, as often, the higher deck on which you find a room, the higher the category.  This can be important to think about if you're worried about seasickness, as we explain here , rooms midship and on a lower deck can be helpful.  Also consider if you want to consistently walk through a long corridoor each time you come or go.

The view you have can impact the stateroom category as well.  One of the most common reasons you'll find "lower category" rooms classified as such is because of what lines refer to as "obstructed views".  An ocean view room that has an unobstructed view of the water is usually in a higher category than a similar rooms which has it's view obstructed by a lifeboat or other equipment.  Obstructions could be directly in front of a window (or balcony) or off to the side, above, or below it.

Size & Shape

Not surprisingly, the size and shape of rooms can help determine their category.  Until you get into suites, the sizes will remain somewhat similar, but even an extra 20 square feet can be nice, as can certain layouts which allow for a bit more useful area vs dead space.

Window or Verandah Type

We previously mentioned that the exact type and number of windows which an ocean view stateroom has can vary, and this is true of verandah rooms as well.  You'll find rooms with larger windows to be different categories than those with smaller portholes.  The area below railings on some verandahs are glass, providing superior views, while others may have metal horizontal sections or be completely flat metal.  On some ships, there may be rather unconventional windows or doors, like those found in Infinite Verandah staterooms on Celebrity Edge series ships.

Over the past few years some lines have created staterooms which may or may not be considered suites, may in fact be similar or identical to other verandah rooms, but which have some sort of perks.  A common example are rooms which allow free access to otherwise costly areas of the ship's spa.

"Weird Rooms"

You may have already guessed, but this is not a technical term - we'll call it a CruiseHabit term.  While many rooms on ships are nearly identical (in fact, they're modular), there are some rooms which are outliers based on engineering constraints and other factors.  Rooms all the way forward often feature angled walls with different layouts.  Verandah rooms at the aft are frequently sought after for fantastic views from their sometimes much longer balconies.  Other rooms are just plane different in the shape, such as rooms on the corner of ships.  In fact, these rooms often different because of multiple factors, such as size, shape, window type, and location, and more.

Okay, but what are guarantee rooms? 

You may or may not have the option of booking a guarantee - and generally this is a guarantee within a type.  For example, an "Ocean View Guarantee" is a booking which means you won't pick your exact stateroom, but you're guaranteed to be assigned an ocean view room or better.  Some guests hear this and book a guarantee with a hope of an upgrade - and while that can happen, it's rare and you shouldn't bet on this.  Guarantees are usually priced quite a bit lower than a stateroom which you chose yourself, and they're a way for cruise lines to ensure they fill space while still charging other guests a premium for picking the room of their choice. 

It's critical to remember that you're surrendering your choice to the cruise line - so if you book a guarantee and you're assigned a room far from where you'd like, or with an obstructed view, etc, you generally can't do anything about it (though if space is available, you  may  be able to get a random different room of the same type.  If you're okay with this risk, booking a guarantee can be a great way to save some money.  

Watch Out For This 'Upgrade' Sales Technique

Now that you understand how cruise lines establish stateroom types and categories, you should also better understand a sales technique that is used quite often by many lines: the free upgrade.  Sounds great, right?  It can be - but don't get too excited.  These upgrades are usually for a category or two within the same type.  Usually, a line will offer a deal on a sailing where, for example, they'll offer the second lowest category for the same price as the lowest category.  Other times, for certain loyalty programs, guests will receive pricing for a room that is actually the price of the category below the room being priced.

This isn't a scam - it can be a nice perk, but don't get excited when you hear you're getting an upgrade thinking you're going from an inside to an ocean view.  You're likely going from an inside to a slightly nicer inside stateroom or an inside stateroom on deck two to an inside stateroom on deck five.

Final Statement on Staterooms

Ships today have many different stateroom categories, but if your new the to cruise game, it's the stateroom types you should focus on - but no matter what you do, don't put too much importance into picking a cabin.  While it's very subjective, we find nice staterooms nice to have, but not necessary - we just don't spend that much time in out stateroom, even when we have a particularly nice one.  If we can score a better stateroom (category or type) for a small price, then great - but often we're willing to take a more humble room and keep the savings for another cruise.  At the same time, we're frequent cruisers - so if you're looking at a once in a lifetime (or maybe just every few years) trip, then treat yourself with an ocean-facing balcony or even a suite.  The choice is yours.

Have questions about cabin classification or stateroom selection?  Comment below or reach out on Twitter or Facebook .

View the discussion thread.

Cruise Availability: How to Find Sold-Out Cruises Easily

Should I book my cruise early or late in 2020? Is the Carnival Liberty cruise ship still available? When to book a cruise to Mexico? Is it already too late to book a 3-day cruise? These are common cruise questions that often stay unanswered.

To help you find the best cruise opportunities and understand when is the right time to book a cruise, we rely on data. We analyzed over 40 000 US cruises in the past years to help answer your questions and built a real-time cruise availability feature to save your time, money and energy during your cruise search. 

Our real-time cruise availability feature: What is it and how does it work?

When will your cruise be sold-out our key findings, how to profit from cruisewatch cruise vacancy feature.

Our real time cruise availability feature or cruise vacancy prediction feature is the first and only service out there that helps you check if your preferred cruise is and will remain available in the next few weeks. In other words, if you are worried about booking your cruise too late or too early, this is the perfect service for you as it gives you recommendations about the right time to book your cruise. But how does it work, you wonder? 

This added feature is based on the analysis of a massive data pool collected over the years, allowing our Artificial Intelligence to use machine and deep learning to not only process thousands of cruise deals, ships, and cabins daily, but also predict their sell-out probability very accurately and in real time. 

By combining the power of big data, AI and machine learning, we made our model predict which cruise ships, sailings and cabin types are already very likely to sell out within the next 10 weeks! So get a pen and paper, save your notes, your time and your money.

Is your cruise sold out soon?

When it comes to sailing, one thing is to find  the best cruise destination , so you can explore the most beautiful places that the world has to offer. But to find your dream cruise, you also need to take into account what  the best cruise lines and cruise ships out there have to offer. 

Once you have completed that search, it is now time to book. And wouldn't life be so much easier if you knew exactly the best time to book your cruise? To guide you, here is a ranking predicting the current top destinations, cruise lines, cruise ships and cabin types that are soon to be sold-out, based on data from the past 3 months.

Cruise destinations availability prediction

It is no surprise that the most attractive cruise destinations are booked very fast. According to our results, about 50% of all cruises that are likely to be sold out are sailing to... the Caribbean . This region is very popular, and right behind it are cruises to the Orient, to South America, and to the Mediterranean Sea. 

If you are worried about missing out, you can check out the best cruise deals to the Caribbean , the Orient, South America  and the Mediterranean Sea that are still available for booking.

Cruise lines and cruise ships availability prediction

World brands like MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines or Royal Caribbean are among the cruise lines that will sell out in the upcoming weeks. 

Accordingly, MSC Grandiosa, Carnival Imagination or Pride of America are in the top ten of ships with sailings at cabin level that will likely sell out within the next weeks. As a consequence, not only are these cruise lines and ships popular, many of them come out with their best deals when itineraries first go on sale, and then raise their prices as the ships sell out. Make sure to check their terms and conditions before booking too.

But you don't have to endure that when trying to aboard your preferred ship. Check out MSC Cruises , Carnival Cruise Lines , Norwegian Cruise Lines or Princess Cruises and ships that are still available for booking.

Cabin type availability prediction

Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not always the suites that sell out in advance: Interior cabins have the highest probability of being sold out, followed closely by suites and finally with less probability, ocean view, and balcony.

Spot soon to be sold-out cruises easily

We built this feature to help you optimize your cruise search. Combined with our AI-based price prediction service, use it to gain more control in making informed decisions and find the perfect sailing for your next cruise vacation. Here is how to use it in a few simple steps :

Start your cruise search in the “find a cruise” tab 

Set up a price alert to get the best cruise deals on your preferred cruise by touching the alert bell.  

When opening the details of your cruise, scroll down to see the price details. This gives you information about price fluctuation history, allowing you to determine when to book at the best price. Below the price details you can find the vacancy prediction feature which automatically gives you real-time recommendations about your booking. 

You are now prepared to set sail, cruiser! Share this tip with other cruise enthusiasts by clicking the social media buttons at the top of the page. For more tips about planning your next cruise check out the below recommendations.

                                                                                                                                                    Published on February 18, 2020.

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A Cruise Lingo Glossary to Make You Sound Like a Pro

Do you know your roll from your wake ? Just like every other industry on the planet, the cruise business uses a few words and terms that may, at first glance, leave you scratching your head. For first-timers, here’s a quick reference cheat sheet that lists the most important lingo to know before your book your first cruise. We’ll talk about booking and cabin terms as well as crew and ship-specific lingo. Let’s dig in:

BOOKING TERMS

Cabin category: Every cruise ship offers accommodations in different categories, ranging from inside staterooms (no windows) to ocean view (with a porthole or panoramic windows) to balcony/veranda rooms to full-blown, multi-room suites. The higher the cabin category, the more you can expect to pay for those accommodations.

Charter: Any group of individuals—a company, church group, or family members—can charter all or part of a cruise ship. It’s a good idea to ask if there are any partial charters booked on any sailing you’re interested in taking. Sometimes large partial-ship charters book entire restaurants for certain nights of the cruise or can be disruptive to other passengers.

Crossing: If you book a “crossing,” that means your itinerary crosses the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.

Cruise contract: The cruise ticket contract lists the terms and conditions passengers agree to when they book a sailing. It lists all types of things, like what you can expect if your cruise is canceled or what happens if you miss embarkation due to travel delays. This document is filled with legalese but you should try to read through it before booking your voyage since you will be signing away some of your rights as soon as you make a payment.

Cruise fare: The cruise fare outlines how much each person will pay for the voyage and stipulates exactly what is included in that fare.

Deck plan: You can’t easily learn your way around a ship without first reviewing the deck plan. These illustrations show what type of staterooms are located on each deck along with the location of elevators, laundry rooms, restaurants, theaters, and shops.

Double occupancy: Most cruise fares are based on double occupancy. That means two people sharing one cabin.

Guarantee: Also known as “run of ship,” a guarantee is a type of cruise fare. You book a particular cabin category but are not assigned a cabin number. Instead, the cruise ship keeps selling that cabin category. If it sells out, you might be bumped up to a better stateroom category. If you’re not, you’re guaranteed a spot in the category you originally booked.

Itinerary: The itinerary lists the voyage’s schedule day by day, noting both ports of call and sea days.

Port expenses: Wherever you sail, each port of call will levy a charge based on local taxes and fees. That fee is charged to the cruise company, which then in turn charges it back to you. Cruise fares generally don’t include port expenses and other taxes and fees.

Repositioning cruise: This is a one-way itinerary that effectively moves a cruise ship from one part of the world to another. Look for repositioning cruises as the seasons change, as these itineraries are often well priced.

Sea day: A day in which the cruise ship does not visit a port of call and stays on the open water.

Shorex: This is the abbreviation for “shore excursion.” You can book a shorex through your cruise line or independently.

Single supplement: Cruise fares are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will likely be charged a single supplement. Some cruise ships charge 150 to 200 percent of the cruise fare while other ships offer a small number of single cabins that don’t cost extra. Most river cruise lines are moving away from the idea of the single supplement and offer sailings that won’t cost extra for solo travelers.

Transfer: A transfer can be the bus ride from the airport to your docked cruise ship or from the cruise ship to a hotel you’ve booked through the cruise line for a post-cruise stay. If you buy your airfare directly from the cruise line, it will usually include transfers to and from the ship. If you are traveling independent, you can inquire about paying extra for the ship-sponsored transfers.

CABIN TERMS

Butler: A butler assists cruisers with everyday tasks like unpacking and packing laundry and making restaurant and spa reservations. The butler also serves meals en-suite and can provide afternoon teatime snacks or cocktails before dinner.

Cabin: Your room aboard a cruise ship may be called a cabin or stateroom or, if you’ve upgraded to a higher category, a suite.

Cabin attendants: Cruise ship cabins are cleaned and serviced by cabin attendants, also known as stewards and stewardesses. Some cabin categories also come with butler service.

Cruise director: This person is the “face” of the cruise ship and acts as the emcee at events like the captain’s reception and deck parties.

Purser: The ship’s purser handles all monetary transactions onboard. You can find him or her at the reception desk.

Bridge: The navigational control center of the ship is called the bridge. This area is usually off limits to passengers although smaller lines—like Windstar Cruises and Un-Cruise Adventures—do invite their guests to visit the bridge at certain times throughout the voyage.

Dock vs. tender: When you read your cruise brochure, the itinerary will list the ports of call and a note next to them will indicate either “dock” or “tender.” Dock means that the ship will actually pull up to the pier and deploy the gangway. You’ll simply walk off the ship into port. A tender port indicates that the ship will anchor in the bay near the port. You will board a smaller vessel that will ferry you between the cruise ship and port.

Embarkation/disembarkation: When you first board your cruise ship, you are embarking. You disembark the ship at the end of the cruise.

First seating/second seating: In the old days, almost all cruise ships had set dining times. You sat with the same people every night and ate your evening meal at the same time. First seating refers to the early dinnertime while second, or late, seating happens thereafter. But this sort of fixed seating arrangement has become less popular, as cruisers now tend to prefer open seating.

Galley: A ship’s kitchen is called the galley. Sometimes larger cruise ships offer fun galley tours.

Gangway: The gangway is the ramp or staircase you use to embark or disembark from the ship.

Muster/muster station: Every cruise passenger is assigned to a “muster station.” This is where you are instructed to gather—with your life jacket—in case of emergency. You will be called to your muster station at the beginning of your cruise so the crew can explain what to do in case of emergency.

Open seating: Many of today’s cruise ships have segued from fixed dining times to open seating, which means you can dine whenever you want and with whomever you want.

Roll: In rougher seas you might feel a little “roll,” the side-to-side movement of the ship.

Ship locations: Specific words are used to describe locations aboard watercraft. The stern is at the very back of the ship (aft is the back portion of the entire ship). The bow is the very front. Forward is near the front of the ship while midship is—you guessed it—the midpoint of the boat. Portside is the left side of the ship (as you face forward) while the starboard side is on the right. If you’re looking for the pool, head to the “lido” deck.

Specialty restaurant: A specialty, or alternative, restaurant requires a nightly per person fee in addition to your cruise fare.

Wake: The wake is the pretty trail of waves at the stern that’s created as the ship moves forward.

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What Does the Price of my Cruise Include?

The price of your cruise includes: 

• A well deserved vacation!
• Your stateroom, featuring the Carnival Home™ Bedding Collection... additional stateroom features include a flat-screen TV, in-stateroom safe, individual climate control, full bathroom and ample storage space.
• Spectacular production shows and entertainment, including hysterical comedians
• Numerous lounges featuring live music and entertainment
• Fitness center
• Pools, hot tub spas and waterslides
• Year round youth programs for kids 2-17 years of age
• A variety of dining options for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late night in the Main Dining Room and/or Lido Restaurant.
• A variety of dining options for breakfast, lunch and snacking at specialty food spots (featured on select ships), such as but not limited to: Guy's Burger Joint, Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, BlueIguana Cantina, Street Eats, Big Chicken, Mongolian Wok and Ol' Fashioned BBQ.
• Pizzeria (9:00am-4:00am)
• Soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt
• The following beverages served in the Main Dining Room and 24/7 in the Lido Restaurant: non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea

The following services are not included in the cruise price:

• Dining in specialty restaurants and snacking at cafes and lounges (featured on select ships), such as but not limited to: The Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Seafood Shack, Cucina del Capitano, Chibang!, Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse, The Chef's Table, Emeril's Bistro, Rudi's Seagrill, Il Viaggio, Masula Tiger and Mad Sizzle (on Carnival Splendor), Javablue Cafe, Promenade Cafe, Lido Coffee Bar, Ocean Plaza Cafe, Havana Bar (on Carnival Sunshine) and other lounges that may serve light bites.
• 'Steakhouse Selections' served in the Main Dining Room  
• "Pizza Anywhere" delivery
• Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast
• 24-hour room service (charges apply; Continental breakfast is complimentary) 
• Carnival Kitchen (featured on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras) 
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic bar beverages (excluding beverages served in the Main Dining Room and Lido Restaurant such as non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, select juices, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea) 
• Gift Shop purchases
• Purchases at Cherry on Top and Special Occasions (featured on select ships)
• IMAX® Theatre (featured on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista)
• Spa treatments, Salon services and select fitness classes  
• Gambling in the casino
• Playing Bingo and Deal or No Deal™
• Video Arcade games
• Sky Zone Trampoline Park at Sea (featured on Carnival Panorama)
• BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster (featured on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras)
• Loft 19 rental for guests not occupyng a Carnival Excel-level suite (featured on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras)
• Art Auction Program (featured on select ships)
• Carnival Adventures Shore Excursions
• Internet access and 'chat' option on the HUB app 
• Use of your smartphone
• Ship-to-Shore telephone calls 
• Medical services
• Laundry services (valet or self-service)
• Service gratuities and tips

When purchasing your cruise vacation, the following are optional:  

• Ground transportation (transfers) to/and or from the airport to the cruise terminal
• Fly2Fun air transportation
• Hotel packages (on select itineraries)

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How to Choose a Room: Ultimate Guide to Carnival Staterooms

By Carnival Cruise Line

Before you book your cruise , you will want to know which stateroom you should call your own. Getting familiar with the types of staterooms helps you choose the sleeping space that offers you the most comfort based on your personal preferences and personality. It could also depend on whether you’re cruising solo, plus-one, with the family or as a group.

So how do you select the best stateroom to ensure you’ll have a relaxing, comfortable cruise? We’ll help you put it all together with the following suggestions.

Know the Stateroom Styles

When you’re on a Carnival cruise, you have your choice of stateroom styles and locations designated as Interior, Ocean View, Balcony or Suite.

• Interior staterooms : The most affordable cruise ship rooms ideal for sensitive sleepers who prefer quieter rooms away from activities, making it the perfect spot to curl up after a long day of fun
• Ocean View staterooms : Designed for gazing out at vistas and ocean views. It’s the best place on board to be the first to spot ports of call
• Balcony staterooms : Ideal for enjoying sea breezes and stunning views on a patio with private seating all day
• Suite staterooms: The best rooms on a cruise ship for stretching out and putting up your feet in a space with all the comforts of home, and then some
• Specialty staterooms : Thematic settings that revolve around family, couples and more and are available as interior, ocean view, balcony or suite staterooms

If You’re Cruising Solo

When you’re solo, there’s no having to answer to anyone about where to go or what to do. You can cruise to Belize and explore the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins to fully release your enthusiasm for ancient history. Learn to cook like a chef onboard while meeting new friends. Another perk: having a stateroom all to yourself. Consider these ideas when booking a stateroom of your own.

• Havana: Solo cruisers who also want to be social may like Havana staterooms with private access to the tropical Havana pool and bar area .
• Cloud 9 Spa : If you’re cruising for more of a pampering experience for one, consider a specialty Cloud 9 Spa stateroom. You’ll be right next to the most relaxing place onboard, the Cloud 9 Spa ™ .
• Interior and Ocean View : Choose an interior stateroom for the most quiet or an ocean view stateroom for contemplative views to complement your meditative state of mind.
• Aft: Consider staying in the aft part of the ship where you’ll be nearest to casual dining.
• Lower deck: The lower deck is the best deck on a cruise ship if you want to be one of the first off the ship, exploring all the fun at each port of call .

If You’re Cruising as a Couple

Couples who cruise together stay together, especially when choosing the perfect style stateroom. The perfect getaway means you’ll sail to dreamy ports. What couple wouldn’t enjoy a cruise to Mexico for a VIP Wine Tasting or to Aruba for a Jeep Safari ?

On board, dine in a romantic, floating Italian trattoria . Afterward, slip away to an enchanting stateroom reserved for just the two of you.

• Cloud 9 Spa: Whisk away to the Cloud 9 Spa adjacent to specialty Cloud 9 Spa staterooms with relaxing decor. You’ll get priority spa reservations along with complimentary spa-inspired gifts to use throughout the cruise.
• Balcony: Balcony staterooms are designed with couples in mind. You’ll be able to step onto your own little outdoor oasis at sunset for cocktails or sunrise for coffee in your robes.
• Forward: If you’re seeking relaxation, consider a stateroom in the forward section of the ship. You’ll be close to the fitness center, spa and the show lounge for performances.

If You’re Cruising With Family

Whether you’re cruising as a single parent or times two with kids in tow, you’ll effortlessly pack in more fun activities and bonding time than you ever thought possible on vacation. No matter what age your kids, there’s plenty of onboard entertainment that lets your family interact with favorite childhood characters and games.

Shore excursions with no minimum age limits let you customize experiences for the entire family to enjoy, such as cruising to Alaska and going on a Dog Sled Discovery and Mushing Camp adventure. After a day, and night of fun and kid-friendly dining, head back to a comfy stateroom that suits your family .

• Family Harbor: Family Harbor specialty staterooms with whimsical nautical decor have exclusive access to the Family Harbor lounge featuring breakfast, snacks, board games, family movies, video games and more. Kids eat free at Family Harbor restaurants. Plus, kids and parents will love the experience because they have one free evening of Night Owls ® babysitting service at Camp Ocean ™ .
• Family-Friendly: Designed with families in mind, these staterooms accommodate up to five people and thankfully come with an extra bathroom. Great for groups too, thanks to connecting doors.
• Upper deck: Consider a stateroom on the upper deck of your ship. You’ll be closest to the entertainment, fun and outdoor deck areas.
• Midship : You’ll be right near the pool or waterslide areas, a kid’s dream.

If You’re Cruising With a Group

From an old college friend gathering to a ladies-only birthday bash or golfing buddy getaway, cruise ships are the perfect place for group vacations. Whether you have 10 or 20 people in your group, there’s something to do and see even if everyone differs in age, abilities and interests.

Cruise to Bermuda for an extended family reunion and reserve differing shore excursions ranging from the Famous Homes and Hideaway Cruise tour for architecture buffs to Segway Adventures for teens and a Glass Bottom Boat tour for little kids. Book staterooms extra early for groups, ask for connecting rooms and consider these stateroom styles.

If you have health or mobility challenges, Carnival proudly welcomes you on board. You’ll find plenty of accessible staterooms from which to choose, whether you are traveling with a wheelchair, scooter or another device. Consider staying in the midship section where you’ll find extra elevators.

Every stateroom has amenities (including your dedicated room steward) that rival land-locked five-star hotels. Expect soft, cozy linens, in-room safes, plenty of storage space, television, climate control and even bathrobes upon request.

Keep in mind that some staterooms and features are exclusive to specific ships, so be sure to check out the amenities on board the ship you choose. You’ll sleep well knowing you’ve chosen the right spot for snoozing while cruising.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by  ship  and destination.

Related articles

Plan for fun.

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-from.aspx

• Carnival Cruise Lines

What is a good Plan B??

By gratefulcruiser , September 7, 2008 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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gratefulcruiser

We (hubby, myself and two friends) are booked to sail the Holiday out of Mobile on 9/13. We purchased the insurance offered by Carnival. Many "what ifs" are going through my mind. What if they turn the roads around for an evacuation and we can't get there? Do we get our money back? What is a good Plan B for this situation? Anyone that has had this situation have any good ideas? :( Thanks for all your help.

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poochierebelbear

That's a good question. I'd contact Carnival and ask them directly. It would be my quess that surely they'd give you credit for another cruise.

Carnival will not be going out of a port if the roads are turned back. The ship will be moved to a safe port. When our port was shut down the cruise was delayed a day. We were offered a full refund or a $200 OBC for the first missed day/port.

Carnival is great in their dealing in these situations. And if you have the insurance you are well off.

You need to check with the company that you used for insurance. I know that there are some that will protect you in this instance, but not all of them (usually the cheaper your insurance, the longer the list of "disclaimers" or "uncovered" reasons).

If for some reason your sailing will be affected because of a hurricane (altered or shortened cruise, change of port of embarkation, etc), Carnival will give you the option of cancelling the cruise, or sailing at a pro-rated rate. For these instances, you DON'T even need to have insurance.

Your information has been so helpful. I hope we are not affected by Ike, but we are going to plan to drive down on Friday evening just the same.

Every insurance company is a little different.

We have never used Carnival's insurance.

However, our cruise was just delayed by 2 days (we were on the Ecstasy 3 day cruise to nowhere) and an independent travel insurance company paid $150.00 per person per day for trip interruption. So for a couple, this would be $300.00 a day to cover hotel cost and meals.

This was suppose to be a 5 day cruise. It ended up being a 3 day cruise and Carnival is giving us a 50% refund on the cruise PLUS another 50% off a future 3-5 day cruise.

Our experience is that Carnival has been fair.

Also, you need to remember that a well worded letter (if there are issues that are not resolved immediately) can usually get fair results as well.

Over the years, what few issues we have had have always been resolved quickly and fairly.

Keep watching Carnival's website. All information will be there concerning your upcoming cruise.

Yes, Carnival will notify you, as best they can, when changes are made due to weather. I'd definitely keep checking the website for any updates.

I hope you and your husband have a fabulous cruise.

I know sometimes they shut down I-65 S due to evacuations for Hurricanes in the gulf. My husband and I were at the beach (gulf shores area) during the time of Hurricane Gustav when they evacuated NO and other places along the gulf. We also heard they were going to shut down I-65 S at some point so the evacuees could travel both sides. We left out on Sunday with our camper and Boat, but we knew it would be bumper to bumper traffic on the Interstate, so we knew of a back way to get us home. So there are ways to get there besides the Interstate. The only bad thing is the not knowing when and What day you will actually sail out. Sometimes it is a day or so before you get to leave or if it's that bad they will refund you so you could reschedule for another time. they will not give you a refund if you cancel and they have not rerouted, cancelled or shortened your cruise. they will give a credit if your cruise is not as many days as planned. We will also be on the Holiday, but we're going 10/2. Good luck!!

good luck!!!

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5 Sales Tips for Cruise Selling Success

VANCOUVER, BC_May 2_2022_TMP Conference May 2, afternoon sessions and trade show. Photo by Kim Stallknecht

While there’s no magic elixir to guarantee success selling cruises (or any travel product), there are a number of proven tactics that can propel travel advisors in the right direction.

Client qualification, planning for the future, and staying engaged with clients were some of the tips and tricks that cruise executives shared with attendees at Travel Market Report’s Travel Market Place West conference, held in Vancouver earlier this month.

(Toronto-area advisors, Travel Market Place East is just around the corner, June 22-23. Get your ticket now .)

Qualify Your Clients for the Win One of the main requirements for being a successful seller of cruises is to match the right product to the right client, panelists emphasized.  

“Every cruise line that you sell has the right customer,” Derek Lloyd, vice president of sales for Norwegian Cruise Line, said. “You need to make sure that you’re putting the right customer on the right cruise. And that starts with knowing the differences between the products themselves. Every single one of us delivers a slightly different experience.”

Justin French, regional vice president, Canada/Western US, for Carnival Cruise Line, echoed Lloyd but added that advisors need to keep their assumptions to themselves. “The most important thing is making sure that you are selling the product through their eyes and not through yours,” said French. “It’s what they’re looking for and what they’re asking to do… mate the right person to the right product and you cannot lose. It’s a guaranteed win/win/win for you for many years to come.”

Qualifying clients is as important for the luxury cruise lines as it is for the mainstream lines. You can’t assume that just because someone has money they want a small luxury cruise, said Beverley Vickers, director of sales and marketing, Canada for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

“You can have the wealthiest guy in Canada who happens to love Go-Karts and going on roller coasters.” He’d be better off on Norwegian or Carnival than Regent Seven Seas.

“It’s really important that you ask the questions and understand the customer’s desires and wants, and where they see themselves,” she added.

Create a Long-Term Vacation Plan Panelists also talked about the importance of creating long-term vacation plans with their clients, as a means of ensuring future business.

“Don’t only know what the customer’s next trip is,” said Alan Brooks, director of market sales for Canada at Celebrity Cruises. “Know what their next trip is and the trip after that and the trip after that… have a five year plan at a minimum for your client.”

Creating these longer-term plans requires getting to know your clients on a deeper level, the panelists said.

The easiest path to creating long term plans is built around milestones.

“It’s the perfect place to start because you know people tend to spend a little more money,” Vickers said.

Ask thoughtful questions, Lloyd added. Where do you dream of going? If you could go one place in the world, where would you go? As a kid, where did you picture yourself traveling to?

Then layer in questions about their interests. Do they love history or culinary experiences?

With those answers you can tailor your suggestions for next year’s travel or the year after. For instance, if they like history, you can suggest a European river cruise, which is full of history and castles, Lloyd said.  

“Maybe there’s a big anniversary coming up and that might be the year they splurge,” Brooks said, perhaps on something like a bucket list trip to the Galapagos.

“Know what is on the horizon,” he added, “because that way, you’re in a position of picking up the phone and saying ‘I know you just traveled three months ago and you’re not ready to go quite yet, but I wanted to let you know I saw this good deal on this thing that you’ve been talking about, maybe for 2024.’”

It’s this personal level of service, Brooks said, that separates travel advisors form OTAs or DIY booking tools. “That’s your value.”

Engagement Is Key Related to the above is the need to stay engaged with your clients. You can’t know what your clients dream about if you’re not having conversations with them.

“The ones that are reaping the rewards [of the travel resurgence] are the ones that stayed engaged and present,” said French.

If that also means being active on social media or starting a podcast, so be it, he said.

Carla Brake, director of business development at the Globus family of brands, which includes Avalon Waterways, and NCL’s Lloyd both agreed that being present on social media is important, especially in terms of sharing your own travel. 

“Now is the time to get out there, showcase that travel is back. Showcase that you’re willing to travel and share it on social media,” Brake said.

Lloyd echoed the sentiment. “You need to start traveling yourself. You need to be posting. You need to be showing people that travel is back and it’s back with a vengeance. You need to be inspiring them with destinations, not just what’s the next deal on the table.”

Be Proactive… Engagement takes proactivity. You can’t wait for clients to reach out to you.

“You cannot wait for the customer to call you,” Brooks told attendees. “People tend to buy from the last person they spoke to. And, while you are very aware that you sell travel, they sometimes forget. Pick up the phone, call them, email them.”

“One of the big things is just suggesting a river cruise to someone,” said Brake. “They only know what they know… I think your client will go anywhere that you tell them to go. They really rely on your expertise. Sometimes it’s just opening that conversation.”

… And Strategic Who you choose to focus your attention on also matters, Vickers said, speaking of advisors she’s seen having the most success.

“They realize they have to be more strategic about who they sell and they’re trying to narrow down the sales funnel. They’re not trying to be everything to everybody… they’re deciding that they consciously want to move their clients up.”

While she agreed that it’s tempting to grab whatever business you can when the going gets tough, she said staying intentional is better in the long run.

“Turn away business, fire clients that aren’t going to get you where you want to be.”

That also means putting the suppliers you want to work with in front of your clients, even if they’re not quite ready for it yet.

“Whether the client knows it or not, they [the advisors] have decided that Regent should be on their radar and they’re going to keep it in front of them until they realize it themselves.”

Multi-Gen Groups Carnival’s French also recommended advisors focus on multi-gen travel for the moment.

“People have been locked in their homes looking at their grandparents on Zoom for the last two years. Now they’re all coming together. It’s a great opportunity to plant the seed of a multi-gen [cruise] where there’s something for everybody on board.”

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Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Picking a cabin on a Carnival Cruise Line ship isn't nearly as complicated as picking a cabin on, say, a Royal Caribbean or a Celebrity Cruises ship.

Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels.

That means that when you're trying to find the best Carnival cruise ship cabin for you, you'll have an easier time than you will when booking with some other lines.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Carnival ships fall into one of three broad buckets: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins.

You'll find relatively few suites on Carnival ships. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

This is in part due to Carnival's focus on offering an affordable product. The typical Carnival customer isn't in the market for a super fancy, high-priced suite.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line

That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The line's two newest ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration , each have 180 suites — more than twice the number found on the vessels Carnival was unveiling a few years ago.

Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, they have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing Fantasy-class ships out of its fleet in recent years.

A Carnival Cruise Line cabin primer

As is typical for many cruise ships, Carnival vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean.

About 44% of the 2,004 cabins on Carnival's Carnival Panorama (launched in 2019) are balcony cabins, for instance. Compare that to the 65% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas (launched in 2018) that are balcony cabins.

As noted above, Carnival ships also have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships of some of its rival lines. By contrast, the line's newer ships have a higher percentage of inside cabins than you'll find on the newer ships of some rival lines.

Here's a breakdown of the broad cabin categories on Carnival Panorama, which is typical of the line's newer ships:

Inside cabins: 789 (39%) Oceanview cabins: 254 (13%) Balcony cabins: 891 (44%) Suites: 70 (3%)

On older Carnival ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are far fewer balcony cabins. Fewer than 10% of cabins on the line's two oldest vessels, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, are balcony cabins. The two ships date to 1998.

On both Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, inside cabins and ocean-view cabins make up the majority (nearly 90%) of accommodations, and suites account for fewer than 10% of rooms. Here is the breakdown for Carnival Paradise:

Inside cabins: 420 (40%) Oceanview cabins: 466 (44%) Balcony cabins: 98 (9%) Suites: 78 (7%)

The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one.

You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship. An old saw in the cruise industry is that "ships sell from the top and the bottom." That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. The "middle" sells last.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels mostly have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood. Cabin bathrooms are neutral.

One exception is the new Carnival Venezia , which has a darker (faux) wood finish to furniture in cabins that ties into the ship's Italy theme.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival ship

Inside cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Inside cabins are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. On any Carnival ship, they almost always are the least-expensive option when you're booking a cabin, and you often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What you'll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world.

On many cruise ships, inside cabins are smaller than oceanview and balcony cabins. But on Carnival ships, that's not always the case. On Carnival Panorama, for instance, most inside cabins measure 185 square feet. That's the same size as the interior area of some oceanview and most balcony cabins on the ship (not including the extra square footage from the balcony).

Related: Why inside cabins aren't as bad as you think

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean's new Wonder of the Seas , by contrast, measure just 149 square feet — quite a bit less than the inside cabins on Carnival Panorama.

Note that, in a quirk of the cabin categorization system at Carnival, there are a few inside cabins on some Carnival ships that do, indeed, have a view to the outside world. These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. For that reason, the line classifies them as inside cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

With an oceanview cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Carnival's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outwards now are built with balconies. But older Carnival ships are loaded with oceanview cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships can sometimes be bigger than inside cabins and even bigger than balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space). On Carnival Panorama, some oceanview cabins measure 185 square feet — the same as inside cabins. But there also are bigger "standard" oceanview cabins that measure 220 square feet and "deluxe" oceanview cabins that measure 230 square feet.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Balcony cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Carnival is building its newest ships with far more of them than in the past. As noted above, about 44% of the cabins Carnival Panorama are balcony cabins. But that percentage jumped to 56% on the newer Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. It will be the same on Carnival Jubilee, a sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration coming out in December 2023.

The typical Carnival balcony cabin has a contemporary look, with clean lines and relatively minimalist furniture. It typically features twin beds that can be converted into a king bed, a built-in desk area and a sofa that often pulls out into an additional bed. Some rooms have pull-down bunks to create more sleeping spaces. Balcony cabins typically measure around 185 square feet, not including the veranda area, which often measures 35 square feet.

Note that on some Carnival ships, specific categories of balcony cabins have larger balconies than most. These are wonderful for sitting out and watching the waves. Often these rooms are at the back of the ships overlooking the wake.

Related: 6 reasons to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

For instance, Carnival Panorama has "Family Harbor" and "Havana" balcony cabins with 60-square-foot balconies overlooking the wake. That's 71% more balcony space than the typical balcony cabin on the ship.

Carnival Panorama also has "Havana Cabana" balcony cabins with even bigger, 100-square-foot balconies.

Suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

As noted above, Carnival ships generally don't offer a lot of suites. For the most part, the suites they have are relatively modest in size and amenities compared to the suites at some of the line's rivals.

The biggest suites on Carnival Panorama, the ship's eight Grand Suites, have 345 square feet of interior space, plus an 85-square-foot balcony. Contrast that to the biggest suites on Royal Caribbean ships, which can measure more than 1,500 square feet.

Suites on Carnival ships also haven't traditionally come with butlers and access to private concierge lounges like the suites on many other vessels.

Related: This amazing new cruise ship suite measures more than 4,000 square feet

Still, some of that has begun to change with the debut of Carnival's new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Carnival went big with the suites on the groundbreaking, 5,282-passenger vessels — the biggest Carnival ships ever.

Unveiled in 2021 and 2022, respectively, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each feature two sprawling Presidential Suites that measure 1,120 square feet — bigger than any other accommodations in the line's fleet.

Located at the top of each ship on Deck 17, the complexes have separate living and sleeping areas and the most expansive balconies in the Carnival fleet — all unusual-for-Carnival features. Measuring more than 600 square feet, the balconies also offer a lounging area with a large sunbed and a private outdoor hot tub and shower.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise ship

The Presidential Suites are among 180 suites you will find on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the most ever for a Carnival ship.

The two ships have 11 different categories of suites in all, four of which are part of a new premium "Excel" category of suites with extra amenities and access to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave at the top of the ships called Loft 19.

In addition to the two Presidential Suites, the Excel suites include a dozen 861-square-foot Excel Aft Suites that overlook the back of each ship and boast separate living rooms and bedrooms and large wraparound balconies with hot tubs.

Slightly smaller are a dozen 710-square-foot Excel Corner Suites offering separate sleeping and lounging areas and wraparound balconies. A step down are six smaller Excel Suites that measure 614 square feet.

Every one of the suites in those categories is bigger than any suite found on Carnival Panorama.

Passengers staying in all four categories of Excel suites on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have access to a dedicated concierge phone line and guaranteed dining times at the extra-charge specialty restaurants found on the ships (except for Japanese eatery Bonsai Teppanyaki and the Chef's Table). Other upgraded amenities for Excel suite passengers include complimentary Bottomless Bubbles soda packages, room service and laundry service, sparkling wine upon arrival and upgraded bathroom toiletries.

The new Loft 19 enclave found on both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration offers full bar service, a private pool surrounded by sun loungers and cabanas available for rent.

Related: A guide to Carnival's VIFP loyalty program

Bottom Line

Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points. If you're looking for an inexpensive vacation option, the inside cabins on Carnival ships are more spacious than the inside cabins you'll find on the ships of some rival lines. Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships also can be larger than normal for the category. Balcony cabins on Carnival ships hold their own in size against most competitors. Just don't expect a huge number of suites when sailing with Carnival.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

What is the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights? A Clear Explanation

Doug Parker

• October 11, 2023

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights is a set of guidelines designed to protect the rights of passengers on cruise ships. 

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the lobbying organization of the North American cruise industry, introduced guidelines in 2013.

This followed high-profile incidents, such as the Costa Concordia sinking and the Carnival Triumph incident, which emphasized the necessity for enhanced protection of cruise passengers.

Understanding the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights encompasses a list of requirements to ensure that passengers are treated fairly and that their safety and well-being are the cruise line’s top priority, offering peace of mind in various scenarios.

These include the right to safe and sanitary shipboard conditions, medical care for illness or injury, and timely and accurate information about the ship’s itinerary and any changes that may affect passengers.

It also includes provisions for compensation in the event of a shipboard accident or other incident that results in injury or loss of property.

The Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights outlines several key provisions designed to protect passengers’ safety, health, and comfort while on board a cruise ship.

Specifically, these provisions include :

• The right to disembark a docked ship if basic necessities such as food, water, restroom facilities, and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided on board.
• The right to a full refund for a trip canceled due to mechanical failures or a partial refund for voyages terminated early due to such failures.
• The right to have onboard emergency medical attention.
• The right to timely information updates as to any modifications to the ship’s itinerary in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of any efforts to address mechanical failures.
• The right to transportation and lodging to the scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger’s home city if a voyage terminated early due to mechanical failures.

The Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights is based on the International Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights, developed in 2013 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping.

Rights Regarding Safety and Security

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights provides passengers with a wide range of rights regarding safety and security. 

These rights ensure that passengers are safe and secure while onboard the ship and include the following:

• Emergency Power Source: The ship must have an emergency power source that can provide power to essential services such as lighting, communication systems, and life-saving equipment during a power outage.
• Emergency Medical Attention: Passengers have the right to receive emergency medical attention if they require it. The ship must have trained medical personnel and necessary medical equipment to provide medical care to passengers.
• Evacuation Procedures: The ship must have evacuation procedures in place in case of an emergency. Passengers must be informed of these procedures and instructed on evacuating the ship safely.
• Security: The ship must have adequate security measures in place to ensure the safety of passengers. This includes preventing crimes such as theft, assault, and sexual harassment.
• Equipment and Training: The ship must have safety equipment such as life jackets, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. Crew members must be trained to use this equipment and must be able to respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently.
• Reporting Crimes: Passengers have the right to report crimes on the ship. The ship must have procedures to ensure that these reports are taken seriously and that appropriate action is taken.
• Law Enforcement: The ship must cooperate with law enforcement agencies if a crime occurs onboard the ship. This includes providing access to the ship for law enforcement officials and providing them with any necessary information.
• Health: The ship must comply with all health regulations and must have procedures in place to prevent the spread of illnesses onboard the ship.

Ultimately, the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights sets a standard of specific safety and sanitation guidelines, utilizing federal law to protect passengers.

Rights Regarding Itinerary and Disembarkation

Under the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights, passengers can expect the cruise ship to follow the advertised itinerary. If the itinerary changes, the cruise line must provide advance notice of the issue and a revised itinerary when possible and make every effort to provide reasonable alternatives.

In the event of an unscheduled port of call, the cruise line must inform passengers of the reason for the change and provide updates on the situation.

This is also why purchasing travel insurance for each cruise is important, as if a port of call is changed or last-minute itinerary modification insurance typically covers passengers’ travel expenses. 

Passengers also have the right to disembark the ship at any scheduled port of call and the scheduled port of disembarkation at the end of the cruise.

An instance such as this would include a passenger needing to leave the ship early due to an emergency or illness. In this case, the cruise line must take every reasonable accommodation to assist the passenger with disembarkation and provide necessary medical attention.

In an evacuation, passengers can expect the ship crew to provide clear instructions and assistance promptly. The cruise line must also ensure all passengers can access lifeboats and other necessary safety equipment, so passengers must attend a safety briefing before the cruise departs, another provision of the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights.

Before disembarking the ship, passengers must go through standard customs and immigration processing required of all passengers.

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The cruise line must provide passengers with all necessary information and assistance to ensure compliance with these requirements.

For example, if the cruise is terminated early due to unforeseen circumstances, such as mechanical issues or inclement weather. In that case, the cruise line must make reasonable efforts to assist passengers with travel arrangements and provide compensation for any missed ports of call or other inconveniences.

The cruise line typically offers future cruise credits, full or partial refunds, or a combination. 

Rights in Case of Mechanical Failures

In the unfortunate event of a mechanical failure, cruise passengers are entitled to certain rights under the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights to ensure that passengers are taken care of and kept safe when unexpected issues arise.

If a mechanical failure occurs, the ship’s crew must try to repair the problem as quickly as possible. Typically, the ship’s command will give timely updates on the status of efforts.

FACT CHECK: Do Cruise Lines Pay U.S. Taxes

If the repair cannot be completed within a reasonable time, passengers must be provided with alternate accommodations until the issue is resolved. The ship’s crew must provide passengers with alternate accommodations until the issue is resolved.

While on board, passengers can expect all equipment and machinery to be in good working order and that the ship is safely operated.

If a mechanical failure occurs during shipboard operations, the ship’s crew must take immediate action to address the issue and ensure the safety of all passengers on board.

Rights to Essential Provisions

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights also states that passengers on a cruise ship have the right to certain basic necessities, including water, food, and restroom facilities. 

Water is an essential provision that must be available to passengers on a cruise ship, and the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights requires that cruise lines provide passengers with potable water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. This means the water must be safe to drink and free from harmful contaminants.

Food is another essential provision that must be available to passengers on a cruise ship.

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights requires that cruise lines provide passengers with adequate and nutritious food that should be prepared and stored under safe and sanitary conditions.

Restroom facilities are also basic necessities that must be available to passengers on a cruise ship. The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights requires that cruise lines provide passengers with clean and accessible restroom facilities that are well-maintained and easily accessible to all passengers.

READ: Cruising is Safer Than Flying, Says Federal Maritime Commission

In addition to these essential provisions, the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights requires that cruise lines provide passengers with other necessary provisions, including medical care, emergency equipment, and communication services. Passengers should be informed of these provisions and how to access them in an emergency.

Rights to Information and Communication

Under the Cruise Line Bill of Rights, passengers can receive accurate and timely information about their cruise, including itinerary changes, port cancellations, and other vital updates.

The cruise line must provide this information through various channels, such as its website, toll-free phone line, contact centers, and other communication methods.

RELATED: Can a cruise ship tip over? Exploring the risks

Some cruise lines post updates on their social media sites and allow passengers to opt-in to text messages that regularly provide updates on a particular situation.

Passengers should also have easy access to up-to-date information about the cruise, including the ship’s itinerary, port schedules, and any changes or cancellations available on a cruise line’s website.

The website should also include details on the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights and specific cruise line policies.

In addition to the website, the cruise line must provide a toll-free phone line for passengers and their family members to call with questions or concerns. Passengers can communicate with their families and friends during an event.

The phone line should be staffed by knowledgeable representatives who can provide accurate information and help passengers with any issues. In the event of a serious event, cruise lines will often set up stand-alone toll-free numbers exclusively for this situation.

Passengers should also receive regular updates about the cruise through various communication methods, such as email, text message, or onboard announcements. These updates should be clear and concise and provide all necessary information about the cruise.

Rights Regarding Refunds and Compensation

Passengers have certain rights regarding refunds and compensation under the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights. If passengers cannot take the cruise due to illness, injury, or death, they may be entitled to a refund or partial refund of the fare paid.

The refund will depend on the circumstances and the cruise line’s policies. Read your cruise line ticket contract and website regarding specific cancellation policies.

Keep all relevant documentation and records in case you need to file a claim for a refund or compensation.

If a passenger is dissatisfied with the cruise experience or encounters problems during the trip, they may be entitled to compensation.

Compensation may include a partial or full refund of the fare paid and other forms of compensation, such as onboard credits or future cruise vouchers.

Passengers should be aware that there are certain circumstances in which they may not be entitled to a refund or compensation.

Remember that cruise lines have established policies regarding when passengers can cancel their cruise; penalties increase as the cruise approaches departure. 

Should a cruise line not provide certain services or amenities due to circumstances beyond their control, such as inclement weather? In that case, passengers may not be entitled to compensation.

Implications for Cruise Lines

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights has significant implications for cruise lines. The bill aims to protect passengers’ rights, so cruise lines must comply with the provisions outlined in the bill.

Failure to comply with the bill could result in significant fines and damage to the company’s reputation.

• The bill requires cruise lines to provide passengers with certain rights, including the right to safe and sanitary shipboard conditions, medical care, and timely and accurate information.
• Cruise lines must also provide passengers with a full refund or alternative transportation if a cruise is canceled due to mechanical failure.
• Cruise lines must also ensure their crew members are adequately trained to handle emergencies and assist distressed passengers.
• The bill requires cruise lines to have detailed plans for handling emergencies, including medical emergencies, fires, and other incidents that may occur at sea.

The cruise industry has embraced the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights , with most major cruise lines, including Carnival, Costa, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America, pledging to comply with the provisions outlined in the bill.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has endorsed the bill and worked with its member cruise lines to ensure compliance.

Notable Incidents and Their Impact

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights was created in response to several notable incidents in the cruise industry.

Carnival Triumph Incident in 2013

One of the most famous incidents was the Carnival Triumph incident in 2013 , where the ship was adrift in the Gulf of Mexico for five days following an engine room fire, leaving the ship without power and passengers without functioning toilets and air conditioning, and limited food supplies.

This incident highlighted the need for better safety measures and passenger protection on cruise ships.

Costa Concordia Accident in 2012

Another incident that had a major impact on the cruise industry was the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012. The ship, operated by Costa Cruises, ran aground off the coast of Italy and capsized , resulting in the deaths of 32 people. This incident highlighted the need for better crew training, bridge procedures, and emergency protocols on cruise ships.

Weather-related incidents have also had an impact on the cruise industry. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused several cruise lines to cancel or alter their itineraries, leaving passengers stranded on vacation.

This incident led to calls for better communication and contingency plans from cruise lines in the event of severe weather.

Recourse for Passenger Bill of Rights violations

When faced with incidents or issues on a cruise, the first thing to do is to document everything. This is extremely important. Begin by carefully documenting each incident or issue, including taking photographs, writing down accounts, and keeping communication records with cruise staff.

Begin by meticulously documenting incidents or issues, including photographs, written accounts, and communication with cruise staff.

Directly address your concerns with the cruise line through their designated channels, ensuring you provide comprehensive details and express your expectations for resolution.

If the cruise line’s response doesn’t anchor satisfaction, consider escalating your concerns to consumer protection entities or exploring legal avenues.

Engage with online cruise forums and communities, as sharing your experience can provide additional advice and support and alert other passengers to potential issues. Remember, these rights were created and designed with you in mind.

The Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights is an important document that outlines the rights, comfort, and care of all passengers on cruise ships. When you’re headed on your next cruise, it will also allow you to have peace of mind knowing that you are protected if something goes awry, as well as penalties for non-compliance.

Like any vacation, it’s important to know your rights in the event of changes in itinerary, health concerns, or unpredictable weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the rights of cruise passengers.

Cruise passengers have the right to a safe and secure journey and access to medical care and basic necessities under the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights instituted by North American cruise operators in 2013. Under these guidelines, passengers also have the right to be informed of any changes to their itinerary and to receive a refund or compensation if their trip is canceled or interrupted.

What is the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act?

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) is a U.S. law requiring cruise lines to report all crimes on their ships, provide a list of incidents on their websites, and implement specific safety and security measures. These measures include the installation of peepholes on cabin doors, the provision of anti-retroviral medication to victims of sexual assault, and the maintenance of a log of all crimes reported on board.

What happens if there is a medical emergency on a cruise?

If a medical emergency occurs on a cruise, the Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights stipulates that the ship’s medical staff will provide care to the best of their abilities. If necessary, the passenger may be evacuated to a hospital on land. Passengers should know that cruise ship medical facilities are not hospitals designed to stabilize patients to get them to a shoreside hospital.

It’s important to note that most shipboard doctors are independent contractors and medical care on a cruise ship is typically more expensive than on land. Just to speak to the doctor can cost $125 .

What is the process for filing a complaint about a cruise?

Passengers who wish to file a complaint about a cruise should first bring the issue to the attention of the ship’s staff while on board.  In recent years, cruise lines have significantly improved their handling of complaints, often empowering employees to resolve issues on the spot versus waiting for the passenger to return home.

If the problem needs to be resolved satisfactorily, they can contact the cruise line’s customer service department. They can file a complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission or the Better Business Bureau if the issue is still unresolved.

What are the rules and regulations for Carnival Cruise Line?

Carnival Cruise Line is subject to the same rules and regulations as all other cruise lines operating in the United States. In addition, Carnival has implemented its own policies and procedures to ensure the safety and satisfaction of its passengers. These policies include a zero-tolerance policy for drug use, a dress code for certain shipboard areas, and expectations for guest behavior on board. 

What is the process for payment on a Princess Cruise?

Passengers on a Princess Cruise can pay for their trip using a credit card, debit card, or personal check. They can also pay in installments, with the final payment due several weeks before the cruise departs. Passengers should know that some services on board the ship, such as spa treatments and shore excursions, may require additional payment.

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Carnival Cruise Line Fleet

Carnival cruise line ship fleet information. Cruisedeckplans.com shows the different classes of ships in the Carnival fleet. On this page you can also compare features and dining options for each Carnival ship. You will find daily service charge information, number of cabins, and gross tons for each ship. You can CLICK ON any ship to go to the ship page for that ship. Check out our unique stateroom capacity trend chart showing the changes in the size of the Carnival cruise line ship fleet over the past few years. Check out our Master Ship List . You can filter and sort by cruise line or ship.

CLICK on a ship below to go to the ship decks and cabins page. Carnival Cruise Line has 27 ships in the fleet. You can filter the Carnival fleet by ship class using the box below. Typically Carnival Cruise Line will build or buy several ships sharing similar features. They define the different types of ships as classes. Ships of the same class may be almost identical to each other.

Carnival Breeze

CLASS: Dream Tons 130k Built 2012 Cabins 1845

Carnival Celebration

CLASS: Excel Tons 183k Built 2022 Cabins 2687

Carnival Conquest

CLASS: Conquest Tons 110k Built 2002 Cabins 1492

Carnival Dream

CLASS: Dream Tons 130k Built 2009 Cabins 1823

Carnival Elation

CLASS: Fantasy Tons 70k Built 1998 Cabins 1094

Carnival Firenze

CLASS: Venice Tons 136k Built 2021 Cabins 2116

Carnival Freedom

CLASS: Conquest Tons 110k Built 2007 Cabins 1492

Carnival Glory

CLASS: Conquest Tons 110k Built 2003 Cabins 1492

Carnival Horizon

CLASS: Vista Tons 134k Built 2018 Cabins 1965

Carnival Jubilee

CLASS: Excel Tons 183k Built 2023 Cabins 2687

Carnival Legend

CLASS: Spirit Tons 86k Built 2002 Cabins 1062

Carnival Liberty

CLASS: Conquest Tons 110k Built 2005 Cabins 1489

Carnival Luminosa

CLASS: Spirit Tons 93k Built 2009 Cabins 1130

Carnival Magic

CLASS: Dream Tons 130k Built 2011 Cabins 1845

Carnival Mardi Gras

CLASS: Excel Tons 181k Built 2020 Cabins 2641

Carnival Miracle

CLASS: Spirit Tons 86k Built 2004 Cabins 1062

Carnival Panorama

CLASS: Vista Tons 134k Built 2019 Cabins 1982

Carnival Paradise

CLASS: Fantasy Tons 70k Built 1998 Cabins 1061

Carnival Pride

CLASS: Spirit Tons 86k Built 2001 Cabins 1067

Carnival Radiance

CLASS: Sunshine Tons 102k Built 2000 Cabins 1448

Carnival Spirit

CLASS: Spirit Tons 86k Built 2000 Cabins 1062

Carnival Splendor

CLASS: Splendor Tons 113k Built 2008 Cabins 1508

Carnival Sunrise

CLASS: Sunshine Tons 102k Built 1999 Cabins 1492

Carnival Sunshine

CLASS: Sunshine Tons 103k Built 1996 Cabins 1501

Carnival Valor

CLASS: Conquest Tons 110k Built 2004 Cabins 1492

Carnival Venezia

CLASS: Venice Tons 136k Built 2019 Cabins 2071

Carnival Vista

CLASS: Vista Tons 134k Built 2016 Cabins 1965

About Carnival Cruise Line

By offering great vacation values and an incredible selection of vacation destinations, we've earned our reputation as the 'Fun Ships'. New itineraries, new features, new special voyages. Bright lights, lavish shows, sumptuous gourmet dining and glamorous casinos. Huge pools, lively clubs, shopping malls, and the only 214 foot waterslide afloat. Those are just a few of the things you'll find aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' fabulous floating resorts. We offer a wide array of quality cruises, and pride ourselves on delivering memorable vacations to our guests. A Carnival cruise offers not only outstanding value for the money, but most importantly, fun! A "Fun Ship" cruise features day and nighttime entertainment like stage shows, musical performances, casinos and more. We make our guests feel right at home, too -- think comfy stateroom accommodations, attentive service, delicious food and drink -- and they enjoy the experience against the backdrop of some of the world's most beautiful ports.

SELLING POINTS: Carnival Cruise Line normally offers a much more affortable experience. Carnival Cruise Ships are filled with features and unique styling. You will normally find lots to do on a Carnival Cruise ship. They offer one of the best programs for children at sea. Carnival keeps its ships upgraded with the latest features. You will find adult only outside lounging areas, water park and slides, bars and food places. Carnival Cruise line offers great shows in multi-level theaters, dance clubs, live music venues, sport and wine bars, and comedians. If you like crowds and having lots of fun then a Carnival Cruise is right for you.

Stateroom Capacity Trend Chart

Watch growth and decline rates. Rapid growth may lead to quality and service issues.

Carnival Cruise Line Ship Features

The following is a listing of some of the features that Carnival Cruise Line offers. You can use the search box to filter the ships. You can also click on the columns to sort the table.

Carnival Cruise Line Specialty Dining

Blue iguana cantina, bonsai sushi, cucina del capitano, fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, guys burger joint, guys pig & anchor, ji ji asian kitchen, pizzeria del capitano, seafood shack.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

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10 Rules to Getting the Best Deal on a Cruise

Tell us if this process sounds familiar.

You want to book a cruise, so you start searching around. A web search takes you from one site to another. Before you know it, you’ve looked at a dozen different sites to try and find the best deal.

What’s more, you’ve tried searching multiple dates, itineraries, cruise lines, and room types, searching for that best combination of price, time and route.

It’s enough to make your head spin… and that’s before you actually purchase your fare .

After that, you end up checking the same cruise obsessively, making sure you’ve gotten the best price possible.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way . We’ve spent years studying the cruise industry and have come up with our best rules to follow to make sure you’re getting the absolute best rate with as little headache as possible.

It’s no guarantee that you’ll get the lowest rate offered for your cruise, but these rules will help you be smarter about buying your vacation.

In This Article...

Want a cheap cruise? Study this chart

Before we get into the rules, we want to walk you through some of research. First, we want to show you the most important resource when it comes to what you will pay for a cruise.

The chart below shows the historic per-person cruise fare for both an interior cabin and balcony room for a 3-day Carnival cruise over a period of two years between 2021-2023 . This particular cruise sailed from Miami, with a stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

We selected this cruise because it runs weekly, giving us a chance to compare the price of the trip over multiple years and see the trends in the fare.

First, you can see from the blue line (price for an interior room) that prices to travel last minute are consistent with the same time a year later. In other words, you don’t see that much of a discount — if any — by waiting until the last minute .

Second, notice the trends in the rise and fall of the prices. Cruise fares see large spikes during holidays and the summer. The basic rule of thumb is that if school is out, then cruise fares are high . Cruising off season can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Of course, there is so much more to learn about finding the best rate on your next cruise. We go into full detail of all the rules you should follow to find the lowest rate possible…

Rule #1: DO be flexible with your days to cruise the cheapest

As you can see in the chart , the fares for the same cruise can vary dramatically, depending on when you sail.

Holidays like Christmas and New Year’s fetch the highest prices by far. These rates can often be double what you would pay in the lower season. The highest rates found around the holidays are closely followed by peak summer rates when families with kids like to cruise:

The best times to sail with the lowest rates? The fall months when people are back at school and work, meaning that rates hit their lowest. You can also find lower rates in the time between New Year’s and Spring Break.

Rule #2: DON’T think there is a magic website with cheaper cruise fares

The cruise line’s website, Expedia, Cruises.com, Travelocity… the list of sites where you can search for trips is endless. The odd thing? They usually all have the exact same rates.

We researched the most popular sites for a Carnival cruise (although this rule applies to all cruise lines), comparing prices with the cruise line’s official website. This trip is a 7-day cruise from Miami in June 2025 aboard Carnival Magic. We’ve tabulated the prices we found below:

So which site should you use?

We generally suggest booking through the cruise line’s website. We like this because it takes out the middleman in booking your sailing. Should there be an issue, you can call the cruise line directly and everything is dealt with through their site.

However, many third-party sites can have special deals such as onboard credit that’s not available if booking through the cruise line. We’ve seen up to $750 in onboard credit just for booking through these types of sites, depending on their offers.

[Read: The Best Websites to Book a Cruise ]

As well, third-party sites take your search across multiple cruise lines. So instead of just searching for Carnival cruises or Royal Caribbean, you can search every cruise line — potentially finding a cheaper cruise with another line. Meanwhile, you typically won’t pay any more than booking directly from the cruise line.

If you know the cruise line you’d like to sail, we suggest booking directly through them. If you are open to which line you sail, then third-party websites give you the ability to search more cruise lines and itineraries to find a better price.

Rule #3: DON’T think you’ll save a ton by booking last minute

It would make sense that you would find the cheapest fares right before the ship sails. After all, if a room sails empty, the cruise line earns nothing from that cabin. They should want to get you on the ship and at least earn some cruise fare, then hope to earn more on excursions, drinks, and shopping onboard.

If that were how things actually worked, however, the cruise lines would go insane trying to plan. If rates were lowest right before the trip sailed, then every passenger would wait until the last minute. The cruise lines wouldn’t be able to plan their needs for the trip ahead of time or predict revenue, costs, or profits.

That’s why cruise lines have largely eliminated last-minute discounts.

In fact, if you look at our chart of prices for the cruise below, you can see that the price you pay for a cruise about to depart is inline with the same time a year later.

Where you can really get burned by waiting until the last minute is in your room selection.

When you book late, many of the prime rooms have been taken already. So if you had your eye on a certain type of room or location on the ship, it might not be available if booking late.

For more on buying last-minute cruises, read 9 Smart Last-Minute Cruise Buying Tips .

Rule #4: DON’T get distracted by cruise line sales

The cruise lines are like department stores — they constantly run sales and special offers. Sometimes it is 50% off the second fare. Sometimes it’s lower deposits. Sometimes it’s onboard credit.

We’ve found that there is a constant flow of deals, and they usually are all about the same. In other words, we don’t really think you should let it influence whether or not you buy… or let it affect the timing of your purchase.

Yes, it is possible that one deal might be better than another. However, they typically end up around the same price. If a cruise line really needs to fill rooms, they will simply lower the price of the specific cruise instead of offering a fleetwide discount via a sale.

Rule #5: DO sail on older ships for cheaper deals

It’s not written in stone, but you will usually pay much less to sail on an older ship compared to a newer one. Older ships are still kept up and comfy, but simply can’t offer the space or amenities as the larger, newer ships.

Over the past two decades, ships have seemingly transformed from simply seagoing vessels to floating amusement parks. From huge waterslides to promenades, robot bars, roller coasters, ice rinks, and more, it’s hard to believe what they can put on a new ship these days.

If you don’t need these sorts of things on your cruise, then look for an older ship to get a much cheaper cruise.

What can you expect to save? It’s difficult to compare apples to apples as different ships sail to different ports at different times, but we found two similar cruises to compare.

The first was a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral, departing April 2025. Wonder of the Seas is one of the cruise line’s newest ships, and it’s priced accordingly.

The cheapest price (interior cabin) we found for an April sailing on this new ship was $1,106 per person .

Compare this rate with a 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard an older Royal Caribbean ship — Adventure of the Seas. We found this cruise departing Port Canaveral during the same month (April 2024). Despite being one night longer, the trip was priced at just $955 per person for an interior cabin . That’s about $150 per person less for an additional night.

In other words, sailing the older ship in this example costs considerably less than the new ship — despite the cruise being a day longer.

(Note: There is also a 6-night cruise aboard Adventure of the Seas during that same month starting at just $666 per person — an even larger discount.)

Rule #6: DO choose your room location carefully

While not every cruise line does it, many will charge you different amounts for the same class of room in different locations of the ship. For example, a room on a higher deck will cost more than one on a lower deck. Through years and years of bookings, the cruise lines know which rooms are most desirable and charge accordingly.

Most times the premium you pay for room location won’t seem like a big deal. The cruise lines sometimes frame it by adding something like $3-5 per person, per day.

Let’s do the math, however.

A room with two people being charged an extra $5 per person, per day would rack up $10 per day — or $70 in room location charges over the course of a week-long cruise. That may not sound like much to some of you, but that comes about to about 4-6 drinks from the bar if you were to want to spend your money on alcohol instead.

The rule of thumb is that the higher up your room is on the ship, the more you will pay.

For the absolute best rate for your particular room class, let the cruise line place you automatically at their lowest rate.

Rule #7: DON’T buy the “wave season” hype

You might have heard of “wave season.” This time of year — running from January through March — is supposed to be when the cruise lines offer the best deals. That’s due to the cold weather in most of the country making people think of warmer places combined with the passing of the Christmas holiday. It is definitely true that more booking activity goes on during this period. But it may not mean better prices. 

Our take? Wave season is hyped up, similar to “Black Friday.” Sure there may be good offers — but not enough to keep us from booking a good deal when we see one a different time of year.

If everyone waited until the wave season because the deals were better, then the cruise lines wouldn’t have anyone book the other nine months of the year. You’ll find that the deals offered aren’t that much different than those found the rest of the year.

Rule #8: DON’T think booking far ahead will save much

If last-minute booking doesn’t offer much of a discount, then surely you’ll be rewarded by booking well in advance, right?

Not so much.

Rates vary the most by time of year… not by how far in advance the departure is. For example, you’ll see similar fares for a cruise in September, whether that’s three months from now or a year and three months from now.

Now, that’s not to say that the fare for a cruise well in the future won’t drop at some point. If the cruise line has trouble filling rooms, they will certainly drop the rate. But many times, there is no huge advantage to booking a year or more in advance (although you will have more cabin options).

Rule #9: DO book your cruise when you find a rate you like

We know that trying to find the best rate can be nerve-wracking. Don’t let it get to you. We think the key is to do some research first on the cruises offered and what they are selling for. Once you have a ballpark idea of what they cost, you can have a better idea if you are getting a good deal.

Once you find a rate that you think is fair (including any sales/promotions), go ahead and book it. There’s no sense in waiting and watching to see if the price will fall more, especially since it could also rise. ( Read more on the best time to book a cruise. )

And while you want to book your cruise once you’ve found a rate you’re happy with, we recommend NOT paying in full. In fact, put down the smallest deposit allowed.

This will give you some leverage for Rule #10. (Keep in mind that if you book last-minute, you often have to pay for the trip in full at the time of booking.)

Rule #10: DO monitor price drops…and call the cruise line

So what if after all this you book your cruise and then the price drops?

First, you should be monitoring the price of your cruise after you book if you want to save money. We’re not saying to check it every day, but once or twice a month is sufficient.

If you run across a price drop, then you should contact the cruise line immediately. This is where having put down only a deposit — and not paying in full — buys you some leverage.

Many times the cruise lines will work with you to compensate for the lower fare, even though they often aren’t obligated to do so. They can refund the difference or offer onboard credit to make you happy.

Some lines have price protection policies in place. Carnival, for example, has it’s Early Saver Program :

1. When you book a 3-5 day cruise three months in advance, or 6 day or longer cruise five months in advance, you are assured the lowest rate. 2. In the unlikely event that you do find a lower Carnival-advertised rate after booking your cruise, we will honor it and adjust your cruise rate accordingly. Simply fill out the Price Protection Claim form and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you only have a deposit down, and they won’t work with you on the price difference, determine the refund policy to see if it is worth it to cancel your original trip and re-book the cruise at the lower rate.

If you’ve already paid in full, it’s still worth calling the cruise line if you see a lower fare. The lines want happy customers and will sometimes work with you to compensate for the new lower price.

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, there is no crystal ball that will tell you the absolute best time of year or day of week to book your cruise. That said, the tips above can help you carve out the best deal possible — without driving yourself crazy.

More on Cruise Buying:

• The Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• The Best Time to Book a Cruise (Save Money, Better Cabins)

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Informative but I am really confused what I am missing. I looked at several Azamara cruises on both their website and VTG. There was a huge prices difference. Even if I subtract things like port fees and gratuities, it did not come close to accounting for the price difference. Can anyone explain why?

I agree that the fall months as well as early in the year are best for cheaper rates but I live on the East coast and I monitor hurricanes every year. It seems to be a very big risk booking during hurricane season. I’ve been researching cruises to Bermuda. Last time I booked was first week in June. That was my first cruise so I was a total newbie. Great cruise, however. Your article was very informative. I’ve never cruised on Carnival before, always cruised on NCL.

Hello, this is more about the cruise incentive, rather than cruise price. I booked August 31 to sail December 1 with Expedia for HAL. Expedia is now offering the drink package at a reduction of $400 each plus more onboard credit.I would be saving $625, initially I did receive free gratuities.

They are not willing to help as of my phone call, any tips on what to do? Thanks in advance. Your site is great, I have been enjoying the tips.

So you’ve called and they won’t give the better offer? What sort of cancellation fee are you looking at? It might be worth cancelling and then re-booking the better deal if you wouldn’t be out too much money.

I agree with most everything you said in this article except letting the cruise line choose your room. Yes you may save a few dollars that way but you will also most likely get an undesirable room. Undesirable rooms are those under the Lido deck, above and below the nightclubs, next to the galley, and next to the elevators. Also if you are booking an inside room (which is the cheapest), be sure you are not booking a room with an upper and lower berths if that is not what you want. If you are booking an outside room and you really want the view, be sure you are not booking one with a restricted view (life boats, structure, etc). If you elect the cruise line choosing your room be sure you are selecting the right category. This is where a travel agent can help.

Thanks for the comment. We always let the cruise line choose the room for us to save money. Never had an issue with location.

Probably the truest article I’ve read! So many other sites seem to be in some kind of alliance with the cruiselines so they halfway tell you something then backtrack. Also, I find it interesting that you mentioned the fact that the sales are constant and basically offer the same. I witnessed it first hand over the last few weeks. I kicked myself for not booking when the rates went down, however, when they increased $25 per person (2 in cabin, so $50 more), the onboard credit increased $50 with the offer. So it was essentially the same deal. I think all in all, in 2 different cruises after searching, waiting and continually checking even after booking, I’ve only missed out on a total of an extra $25 onboard credit for the entire cabin.

It’s great that you elaborated on which dates are best for finding better deals on cruises. I remember when my husband and I discussed going on a cruise sometime, we weren’t sure what dates we would want to plan ahead for. What you said about going in the falls months when people are back to work and school means lower rates, in general, was very interesting to me.

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Royal Caribbean Bans a Popular Item Onboard… Will Other Cruise Lines Follow?

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You Can Now Buy or Rent an Apartment Aboard a Cruise Ship

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Executive Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Caroline has a passion for adventure travel and has hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the bottom of the Grand Canyon in pursuit of a good story. Follow her around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

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Tired of paying the rent on a boring house that doesn’t go anywhere? Now you can buy or rent an apartment aboard a cruise ship and see the world without ever leaving your home.

Storylines , a new luxury cruise line, is launching the MV Narrative, a residential cruise ship in 2024. Unlike a regular cruise ship, where you rent a cabin for a designated length of time on a specified itinerary, cruisers on the MV Narrative permanently purchase their rooms on a trip around-the-world.

Fully furnished one-to-four bedroom residences are for sale starting at $1 million, and a limited number are also available to lease for 12 or 24 years, starting at $400,000. 

The 10 Best Cruise Deals for 2022

However, there are also mandatory all-inclusive living fees (which cover food, beverage, and amenities on the ship) that range from $65,000 to $200,000 per unit per year (based on double occupancy). 

The MV Narrative is 741 feet long, and will have 547 cabins that range in size from 237 to 1,970 square feet. 

The ship will be on a constant round-the-world tour, circumnavigating the globe every three years. The cruise will stop in ports for around 1-5 days at a time, so homeowners will have plenty of time to explore each destination. The itinerary will change every three years, and residents will be able to vote on ports of call. 

Onboard, the luxury cruise ship will have all the amenities residents could need, including a hospital, microbrewery, pet exercise area, 10,000 book library, movie theater, bowling alley, outdoor running track, golf simulators, and more. 

A spokesperson for Storylines did not disclose how many residences have already been purchased, but said “the company has seen strong sales due to more people having the freedom to work and study remotely.”

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Buying Unsold Cruise Cabins and What Happens to Them

If you have done some research on getting unsold cruise cabins a week or two before a cruise, it’s probably because you are hoping to score a ridiculous deal on your cruise stateroom.

I have read some reports of people being able to book a cruise 48 hours before the cruise date, but technically this is not supposed to happen and you should not expect to be able to book a cruise this close to the cruise date.

Related:  How to avoid spending an extra penny on board a cruise ship

So what happens to all those unsold cruise cabins?

Cruise lines try to sell them as fast as they can.  But with cruising becoming more and more popular with vacationers there are fewer instances of cruise ships having vast amounts of cruise staterooms to unload to the public.  In fact, if you wait too long to try to get a last minute deal, hoping to grab an unsold cruise cabin, you may find yourself not being able to get a room at all.

If some cabins are still unsold before a cruise, some passengers might get a call from the cruise line offering a discounted upgrade to a higher category cabin.  They do this to both cut their losses on the rooms and to also try to get you hooked on that higher category stateroom.   And often…. it works. But what a cruise line does with the unsold cruise cabins depends on a few factors.

Even if some cabins are empty a cruise line may not be able to sell them to you

A cruise ship is considered at full capacity when there are twice as many people as cabins on the ship.  Since a portion of cabins can house more than 2 passengers, many cruise ships operate at over 100% capacity. The target goal for cruise lines is around 107% capacity.

One thing a cruise ship is not allowed to do is have more passengers than their lifeboats can hold.  So that’s why some cruise ships will have empty staterooms even if they are not offering any more cabins for sale.

Why do some cabins magically become available before a cruise?

Travel agents have the ability to hold a certain amount of cabins on a cruise ship.  If some of their customers cancel or do not put down their deposit, these cabins will become available to everyone else.  The same goes for people who book a cruise online but do not pay their deposit on time.  When that date passes without the deposit being paid, those cabins show up as available inventory.  Cabins may also appear around the date of final payment due to some canceling their cruise.

Things to consider when looking for unsold cruise cabins

By waiting to see what cabins are unsold when booking a cruise you are also taking a risk here.  You could easily end up with the stateroom in a noisy area or a highly undesirable location.  Of course there is always a chance you could end up with a very nice cabin, but it’s a bit of a gamble.

Related: Check out our post on the cheapest times of year to take a cruise .

How to find those unsold rooms on a cruise ship

There are a couple of ways you can go about this.  If you are on a cruise line’s email list you may get a message about last minute deals for particular ships.  You can also visit their websites every day and multiple times a day, because yes, the prices can change that fast.  Quite a few travel agencies also offer email newsletters with some of the best deals on these unsold cabins for last minute cruisers.

A note on price-control

Some cruise lines have implemented tight price-controls in recent years.  This means that even travel agents aren’t allowed to sell the cabins for less than what the cruise line states.  Some will offer on-ship credit to still give you a good deal, but certain price-controls have made it more difficult to find those bargain basement prices. Even in this tough economy cruise ships are leaving their ports at 100% capacity.

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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Check the really cheap boat tours that offer a very low price but require a few hours of sales pitches for timeshares. Just don’t get sucked into a timeshare. They have high maintenance fees and cost a lot to get out. The boat is not luxurious, but you get free meals, a hotel stay and a chance to tour the destination–often in the Bahamas. If you don’t know how to find such a tour, then ask friends, because many receive phone or mail offers.

Hey was curious if you could elaborate how you were able to redeem the new deals if you had aleady booked? Just hoping you could explain a little more so I could get a good deal on my first cruise. Thank you

If you already made the final payment then it’s more than likely too late to score a better deal, with some exceptions. Some cruise lines, like Carnival, will offer price drop protection up to 2 weeks of the final sailing date. If you book through a cruise travel agent they can take care of this for you. Otherwise you can contact the cruise line and request an adjustment. Hope this helps.

I did the same in 2012 my Mediterranean cruise whent from $2500 to $1250, paid my air fare.

There is no “3” day requirement. Federal law requires the submission of the manifest one hour prior to sailing. That is why you must be checked in one hour prior to sailaway. Unlike the airlines, the cruiselines are not able to add someone to the manifest once it is submitted.

I have booked the day before the cruise. You have to go through the cruiseline directly to purchase it. Once at the pier, they may have to call in to Miami to verify the booking.

I guess my the biggest mystery is this…. if they have 15 cabins open for max 2 capacity, why do they shut it off for families of 3? Why not sell one and remove one if it’s really close?

The article emphasizes checking prices daily…sometimes more than once per day…because fares change that fast. It’s absolutely true. I booked a Bermuda cruise and kept watching the price. When I checked the fare in the morning it dropped $90 per person, so I took advantage of the price drop. Then I checked again after lunch and it had dropped again, this time by $40 per person. Not a huge price drop, but eighty bucks is eighty bucks. Then, about a week later, it dropped again AND a free booze package was offered fleetwide. So, just by watching often I scored price drops that brought my fare down over $250 and free booze. Watch prices and book early.

Make sure your profile with each cruise line you travel, says that you are willing to take upgrades when they are available. I was surprised when I checked my profile with one of the cruise lines we travel quite extensively, that it showed I wasn’t interested in free upgrades.

Sometimes getting an upgrade can backfire on you. I was “upgraded” from a cabin mid-ship to a higher category, 4 cabins from the front of the ship. It was very rough up in the bow of the ship. Since then, I have declined “upgrades” so that I know I am getting a cabin in a location I will be happy with.

I am trying to get a solo deal to hawaii in august or september?

keep calling

This is a great article!! I waited until the very last minute and booked my last cruise. I got a really great price; but my cabin was on the first deck right by the engines! The price I paid was so good; that I had to go. My cabin-steward bought me some ear-plugs and problem solved. I only paid $400 for a 5 night Thanksgiving cruise!!!!!!!

I forgot to state that for $400; I had a solo cabin!

Did you book it through travel agent? Or cruise line directly? I have been looking for a week and prices are still the same. Even thou the cruise ship leaves tomorrow .

Did you wind up booking?

Send me tips and information

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