Cruises are more expensive than ever. But a deal isn't impossible — if you have restraint

31.07.2024 - 11:15 / insider.com / Royal Caribbean

In the next few years, you could turn to the youth and say, "When I was your age, budget cruises were still a thing."

Cruise giants Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean Group are having a windfall year, with both companies reporting sky-high onboard spending, prices, and demand in their second-quarter 2024 earnings report.

It's a sign that the vacation-at-sea industry is doing better than ever. But this news might not be so welcome if you're a fan of cheap cruises.

Cheap cruise aggregator Cruise Sheet shows fewer than 630 itineraries listed at $100 or less a day from July through December.

Not bad, right? Well, let's go back in time.

The year was 2022. Cruise lines were just beginning to reactivate their fleets after a tumultuous pause in operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic (remember that?).

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To entice travelers back, these companies started releasing a flurry of heavily discounted itineraries.

From July 2022 through the end of that year, there were about 2,000 sailings for under $100 a day, Tynan Smith, the founder of Cruise Sheet, told Business Insider at the time — a stark contrast to today's limited options.

A handful of 2024 itineraries from more premium cruise lines like Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America are still being sold at an inexpensive rate of $80 a day or less. You can also try smaller companies like Margaritaville at Sea, the cheapest of which runs at $25 a night (although it won't be of the aforementioned companies' quality or caliber).

For the most part, if you want to pay that little but don't want to hunt for a deal, you're better off sticking with Carnival Cruise Line.

The popular company has about 155 sailings for under $80 a day through 2024, mostly on older ships, according to Cruise Sheet's website. That's more than Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, and Holland America combined.

Success — looks like you just found yourself some pretty affordable itineraries!

Just be sure to temper your spending once onboard. Otherwise, your $80-a-day vacation could quickly become $160 a day.

Cruises are often lauded as an economical vacation choice compared to hotels and flights.

But budget accordingly if you want drinks, excursions, fancier restaurants, WiFi, or even some onboard attractions — they'll all have fees on mass-market cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships.

Take Carnival Conquest, for example. The 22-year-old vessel is scheduled for many of the cruise line's cheapest-per-day itineraries this year.

The ship has seven complimentary dining venues and five with fees — the latter not including upcharges for lobsters and steaks at the otherwise free dining room.

And while its mini-golf course, shows, and waterslide are free, you'll have