It pays to book with certain cruise lines.
That’s the conclusion of a survey released Tuesday from U.S. News and World Report, which ranked cruise lines according to which lines offered riders the most value for their money. The survey looked at everything from prices (budget cruises typically had average daily rates of between $100 - $299 or less), to expert and traveler’s ratings, to cleanliness.
The No. 1 cruise line for your money: Celebrity Cruises. Surprised? While Celebrity isn’t the overall cheapest cruise line around, U.S. News and World Report travel editor Nicola Wood notes that it offers the best bang for your buck because it “has exceptional cuisine, great service and amenities, a 2-to-1 crew to passenger ratio,” among other perks.
So what specific Celebrity Cruises are particularly appealing right now for the budget conscious? The ones sailing through the Caribbean, explains Aubrey Dunn, a spokesperson for cruise deals site CruiseCritic.com. On Nov. 12, she found two cruises that cost just $50 per person per night -- one going to the Bahamas for four nights and another going through the Western Caribbean for five nights. She found a handful of other Caribbean cruises for under $100 a night. (Of course, it’s important to note that rates are for double occupancy and you will pay additional taxes and fees.)
Rounding out the top three bang-for-your-buck cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Should your budget not be of concern, U.S. News and World Report also ranked the best cruise lines for luxury. No. 1 on the list is Seabourn Cruise Line, followed by Viking Ocean Cruises and Crystal Cruises. Luxury cruises were those that typically cost $300 or more per night.
Whatever type of cruise you’re looking for, experts agree that fall can be a great time to book if you’re looking for a deal. And aim to do it on Cyber Monday, when cruise lines are likely to unleash a slew of deals. Indeed, last year cruise lines including Holland America, Crystal Cruises, Windstar and Carnival offered deals that ranged from prepaid gratuities to $1,000 on-board credits to the chance to win a free ride.
Not ready to set sail? Wood says that no matter when you book, you can get great deals by booking about three months before cruising.“That’s the time when cruise lines try to fill empty cabins, and you can get great rates,” she says.
