If your travel plans for 2024 are still up in the air, let’s talk about how right now is the best time all year to book that cruise you’ve been dreaming of.
Cruising is becoming an increasingly popular way to travel, and there are cruises out there for every type of traveler.
Whether you dream of island-hopping in the Caribbean, exploring adventurous destinations like the Galapagos Islands or Alaska, or hitting up bucket list-worthy places in Europe, a cruise is the perfect way to accomplish it.
Here’s why right now is the best time to book a cruise, and why you should go cruising in 2024.
It’s “Wave Season” For Cruises
It’s wave season in the cruise industry right now, which means it’s the best time to book a cruise.
Wave season lasts from January through March, and it’s when you’ll find the best deals and steepest discounts on cruises. This is because cruise lines are trying to fill up the upcoming year with bookings, especially those outside of peak holiday travel dates, according to USA Today.
If you want to book a cruise for any time in 2024, now is going to be the best time to do it.
Cruising Can Be Surprisingly Affordable
When you take advantage of wave season deals, a cruise vacation can be shockingly affordable.
Cruises are priced based on double occupancy (two people sharing a cabin) although there are some cruise lines that do not charge extra for solo travelers.
The per-person cost of a cruise can be as little as $100 per day, and this includes your accommodation, unlimited food and some drinks, and transportation between all destinations. Of course, it’s easy to rack up a higher bill (purchasing a beverage package, paying for onboard Wi-Fi, booking excursions in the ports you’re visiting) but a cruise is still typically much cheaper than traveling on your own.
Here are the top ways to get the most bang for your buck with a cruise in 2024:
See Trending Destinations In Europe
One of the top cruises to take this year is a European cruise. There are two main types of European cruises: large-ship cruises and small-ship cruises.
Large-ship cruises go all over Europe, but small-ship cruises typically stick to places the large ships can’t go (like down one of Europe’s many scenic rivers.)
A European cruise is a great way to visit multiple destinations in Europe without having to worry about the logistics yourself. For example, a one-week Adriatic cruise might include stops in Venice, Italy, Dubrovnik, Croatia, and several islands in Greece.
This can also be a lot cheaper than trying to visit each place on your own!
Pro tip: Take a European cruise in late May or early September. This is “shoulder season” and there won’t be as many crowds.
Island-Hop In The Caribbean
If you’re dreaming of a tropical getaway, why not take a Caribbean cruise in 2024?
Caribbean cruises are an easy and hassle-free vacation, and they are often some of the most affordable cruises for American travelers. Most Caribbean cruises leave from ports in Florida or Texas and visit destinations all around the Caribbean.
This is the perfect way to island-hop in the Caribbean and experience multiple destinations in one journey. Traveling between Caribbean islands can be prohibitively expensive, so a cruise is a great way to get a taste of several destinations at an affordable price.
Experience A Bucket List Adventure
Finally, one of the best types of cruises to book in 2024 is an expedition cruise.
Expedition cruises are trending because more travelers are seeking out epic bucket list experiences than ever before. Rather than just wanting to spend their vacation tanning on the lido deck of a cruise ship and lying on various beaches, expedition cruises are eager for active adventures.
Some popular destinations for expedition cruises are Alaska, Iceland, the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, and even Antarctica.
If you’ve been dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this, now is the best time to save money on expedition cruises (which can be pricier than your standard cruise.)
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