Luxury tours range in price from expensive to expensive. But the value of high-end ships is clear: For the money you pay, you’ll get more fares, nicer accommodations, fine dining, and space-to-passenger ratios. Passengers are higher than those of large, mass-market ships.
However, sometimes you want less luxury.
You will never find a cheap luxury cruise, but you can find ones that are less expensive than others (when sorted by total cost or price per night). You may have to compromise on sailing dates or take risks with the weather, but you can get great value by choosing a less traveled cruise.
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Here are five of the most affordable luxury cruises we could find, so you can save a bit when traveling in style.
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Cruises in the Caribbean Autumn
Caribbean cruises may be the bread and butter of mass-market cruise lines, but they don’t share the same prominence among luxury lines’ itineraries. Tropical excursions on luxury routes tend to be shorter, take place in the fall and winter (rather than year-round), and are often aimed at younger professionals who may not have the time to spend. go on vacation for two weeks.
Combine those elements with a day of travel in the fall (between September and a week before Christmas) and you’ve got yourself a more affordable luxury trip.
For example, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ The 2023–24 Caribbean season runs from November to March. The least expensive boat trip of the season takes place in late November during the travel lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fares start at $3,799/person for a week-long round trip from Miami. A similar seven-night boat trip costs $4,699 (over $900) in February.
Seasonal Alaska excursion
Regardless of which cruise line you take, it’s a recognized fact that the first and last Alaska cruises of the season are the most affordable. Why? Time and weather.
The Alaska cruise season begins in late April or May and runs through September and sometimes October. These travel days are often holidays for families, who are waiting for the summer break. to go on vacation. Even visitors who are not bound by school schedules sometimes shy away from these tours because of imperfect weather conditions.
In May, temperatures could still be cold in Alaska, waterways in glacial areas could freeze, Alaska’s famed salmon hasn’t started yet, and bus service at Denali National Park is floating. The language of Alaska has not yet begun. In September and October, temperatures start to drop – and the rain continues to drop – and attractions like Denali begin to close.
All that said, if you’re willing to take the weather risks and aren’t planning a land excursion to Denali, you can snag a deal on a premium Alaskan cruise in these days. this off-peak time. In 2023, a mid-May Alaska cruise on Silversea starting at $4,700 per person on Silver Muse. The same cruise in July starts at $5,700, making seasonal cruises $1,000 less. Even better, May doesn’t rain as much as July, so you can experience better sunny days on a more affordable cruise.
Across the Atlantic
Many travelers choose their itineraries for the ports to visit. Whether they’re checking exotic ports off their bucket list or enjoying spending time on the beach, cruisers are drawn to destinations. It’s no surprise that longer-than-average journeys with little or no calls are not well received by many cruise aficionados (with the exception of devoted beachgoers).
Because many cruise lines frequently change positions between Europe (where they vacation) and the Caribbean (where they winter), transatlantic voyages are inevitable. To attract guests, cruise lines add fun onboard activities and guest instructors to their cruises, and they offer discounts. If you love relaxing beach days and binge spending day after day in the middle of the ocean, a cruise is a surefire way to get a luxury yachting experience at a lower cost.
The small, all-inclusive line SeaDream is a solid example of how affordable transatlantic trips can be. In 2023, SeaDream 1 departs its last Caribbean cruise of the season from St. Thomas to San Juan, with yacht prices starting at $3,899 for a seven-night cruise. The ship then sailed from San Juan across the Atlantic to Malaga. That 13-night ride is almost twice the length of the previous ride, but its starting price is $3,999 — a difference of just $100.
Entrance level cabins
As a luxury traveler, you are all about the upgrade. But to get a great price on a high-end cruise ship, you may want to reconsider your aversion to booking the cheapest rooms.
The immigrant suites on the prettiest ships aren’t the windowless cabinets you’ll find on some mass-market ships. They are spacious cabins, with private windows or balconies, with separate seating and sleeping areas, as well as nicely sized bathrooms, and often with large walk-in closets or no doors. compartment. You will receive the same personalized service, have access to the same gourmet restaurant and can enjoy the same onboard amenities (spa, peaceful pool deck, social lounge) like those staying in the top suites.
And you will pay less. For example, a low-end suite on the luxury line SeabourneSeabourn Encore’s is a 246 to 302 square foot patio suite with a 68 to 83 square foot private balcony. On a seven-night tour in Greece and Turkey departing late April 2023, rates for these rooms start at $4,499 per person. Choose the next unit to level up – a 450-square-foot penthouse with 93 to 103-square-foot balconies – and you’ll pay from $7,999. That’s an extra $3,500, all for a suite that won’t take you long on this multi-port cruise.
Norwegian’s The Haven or Royal Caribbean’s Star Class
Several major cruise lines are creeping into the luxury travel space, and options can match up to luxury standards. These cruises are ideal for families looking for upscale accommodation paired with a robust kids program, or luxury travelers who prefer a more idyllic feel or a wealth of entertainment options. position and activities on board.
With Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven or Royal Caribbean’s With Star-class rooms, tourists will be given VIP treatment compared to their fellow cruisers. They have access to exclusive restaurants, lounges and sundecks; priority boarding and theater seating; and get extras that cover the fare, such as drink packages, internet access, bonuses, and even butler service.
Cruise fares in these top suites aren’t cheap, but they’re relatively affordable in two ways. First, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines often take shorter itineraries than true luxury routes, so you can book a short cruise to spend less of your total holiday cost. . Second, while prices are comparable to luxury lines, you’ll get to go in the ship’s top suites for what you’d pay for the average on a luxury ship.
For example, you can book a 722-square-foot Star Loft Suite (with a 410-square-foot balcony) on a seven-night Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas for $7,235 per person on a 4-day cruise. February 2024. It comes with a Royal Genie butler, free dining at all specialty restaurants along with exclusive access to the Coastal Kitchen dining venue, free drink packages, internet access and bonuses. A week-long Regent Seven Seas cruise to the Caribbean also in early February costs $7,099 per person for a 448-square-foot Penthouse Suite (with 111-176 square-foot balconies) or $8,499 for a Seven Seas apartment 577 square foot Suite (with 237 square foot balcony).
Planning an excursion? Start with the following stories:
