Many cruisers love to sail in September and early fall, when ports are less crowded with tourists and cruise lines often offer slightly lower prices during the shoulder season. As long as there is no increased storm activity from hurricane season, you can usually enjoy wonderful weather on an early fall Caribbean cruise.
If you're planning on cruising with your family, you'll find plenty of value-packed, family-friendly activities included in the cruise fares of nearly every cruise line. Most cruises even feature kids' clubs that offer fun, supervised spaces for kids to play at no extra charge while parents enjoy some alone time during their vacation.
Related: Disney vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Price Comparison
Even if school and work commitments don't allow your family to sail in the fall, you can still get a deal by booking your family cruise vacation during the month of September. Right now, several cruise lines are offering limited-time Kids Sail Free deals for new bookings made in September.
While taxes, fees and port charges are not included in these Kids Sail Free and 3rd and 4th Guest Free offers, they still provide significant savings on family-friendly cruises.
Image source: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean brings back popular Kids Sail Free offer
Kids Sail Free is a popular promotion that Royal Caribbean typically runs several times a year, and the cruise line has brought it back for September 2024.
Now through September 30, families can take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s Kids Sail Free offer for new bookings at current fares made on select sailings of three nights or more that depart at least 30 days from the booking date.
The promotion offers a $0 cruise fare for additional guests ages 12 and under from the sailing date, as long as they are booked in the same stateroom as the first full-fare paying guest and the second guest. Some blackout dates apply.
In addition to the Kids Sail Free offer, the cruise line is also offering 60% off the cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as the first full-fare guest.
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Even teenagers travel for free on MSC Cruises
Family-friendly cruise line MSC Cruises regularly offers Kids Sail Free promotions that offer significant savings, especially for families with older children. Unlike some cruise lines' offers, MSC Cruises' Kids Sail Free discount even applies to teenagers.
On MSC Cruises, children 17 and under cruise for free on select cruises when they travel as the third and fourth guest. Government taxes and fees still apply.
The current “Kids Sail Free” offer listed on the cruise line's website expires Sept. 22, but you may see another one posted soon.
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Margaritaville at Sea is offering Kids Sail Free promotion through October 8
Now through October 8, Margaritaville at Sea is offering a free sailing offer for kids for new reservations made for sailings through April 30, 2026, aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander, and through December 31, 2025, aboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
The Kids Sail Free discount offers a complimentary cruise fare for the third and fourth guests when they are between the ages of three and 12 at the time of sailing and traveling in a stateroom with a minimum of two paying guests.
Margaritaville at Sea's Kids Sail Free offer is limited, subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply. Offer may be combined with other special offers, such as the cruise line's onboard credit offer.
Read also: Margaritaville at Sea will 'sail the dark seas' for Halloween
Norwegian and Celebrity cruise deals allow additional guests to sail for free on select cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises also offer promotions that allow families to receive free cruise fare for children on select sailings.
As part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion, where guests can select up to five offers, families can choose a free offer for the third and fourth guests. On select sailings, the third and fourth guests can sail on $0 or $99 cruise fares when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare guests.
Now through November 7, Celebrity Cruises is also offering a $0 cruise fare promotion that allows the third, fourth and fifth guests to sail free in eligible stateroom categories on select Bahamas and Caribbean cruises departing now through December 14, 2024. The offer can be combined with an additional promotion offering up to 75% off for the second guest on select cruises.
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