Since the cruise industry returned from the covid pandemic, prices have generally been below historical norms. That may not be true at Royal Caribbean’s (RCL) – Get a free report Wonder of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) – Get a free report flagships Mardi Gras and her new sister ship Carnival Celebration, but aside from the holidays, that’s been the general trend.
In fact, on older ships, cruises have been dirt cheap with many coming in at less than $50 a night on both major cruise lines. MSC, a cruise line trying to get into the United States (mainly from Royal Caribbean and Carnival) has been even cheaper than that on many cruises.
Now, it’s worth noting that low fares don’t tell the whole story of what people spend on cruises. Royal Caribbean has shared that passengers are spending above 2019 levels on extras on board, including drink packages, internet, special meals and excursions.
That makes sense given the lower cost to get on board, as people know they’re getting good value, so they don’t have a problem spending more on extras. Unfortunately for passengers, but not for the cruise line or its shareholders, the days of ultra-low fares may be coming to an end.
Wave to the highest prices on Royal Caribbean cruises
The cruise industry is currently in “wave season,” the period between January and March when cruise ships often sell out at the best deals. This year’s surf season has been busy, but with how low prices have been, the values may not be what they were last year, but there are good reasons to book your cruise now.
Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of sales, Vicki Freed, told travel agents Jan. 18 that demand for new bookings has been strong and prices are rising, Matt Hochberg of the Royal Caribbean Blog first reported.
“In the past, when the cruise industry has had a strong wave like we’re experiencing now…prices go up and we don’t see all that dilution in current prices and we’re not seeing it now,” he said. “If anything, we are seeing prices go up.”
Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Michael Bayley backed up Freed’s remarks with some strong words of his own.
“We’ve had record booking day after record booking day,” Bayley said. “Last week was the biggest booking week in the history of our business. It was absolutely amazing and seems to be getting better and better.”
How You Can Book a Royal Caribbean Cruise Cheaper (Cheaper)
With cruises, the best time to book a cruise is usually now. Generally speaking, prices generally become more expensive on an individual cruise date closer to the ship’s sailing date. There are exceptions, of course, but if you want a specific itinerary on specific dates, booking now (or as soon as possible) is almost always the right choice.
However, even with prices rising, there are still a few tricks to getting a better deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise. First of all, you should avoid holidays and school vacations if possible. Any period where families can cruise without the kids missing school will generally cost more (and usually much more) than cruises during school periods.
Also, older boats will almost always cost less than newer ones. Even an Oasis-class ship (the largest in the fleet) a few years old will cost less than booking Wonder of the Seas, the newest member of that class. If you go for a smaller class like the Freedom or Voyager Class, which are still very impressive ships, the cost will be even lower.
Opt for a Brilliance or Radiance-Class ship (the smallest with the fewest frills) and you can still have fun, but you’ll save money. It is important to match your needs with the boat you book. For example, taking young children on a port-intensive cruise on a smaller ship might not be the right choice, but it is possible to make some sacrifices and still have a trip that meets your needs and your budget.
