Cruise deal alert: West Coast sailings starting at $129
Looking for a last-minute deal on a cruise? You might want to look at short sailings along the West Coast.
Some of the lowest fares right now for cruises at three major lines — Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises — are available on soon-to-depart short voyages out of such West Coast ports as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Note that, in most cases, the short sailings are one-way trips from California ports to Vancouver, British Columbia, as the lines reposition vessels to that port for summer sailings to Alaska. That means that you'll have to book at least a one-way flight to make them work.
For more cruise deals, news and guides, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.
The trips also are happening very soon. Many have departure dates just days or weeks away.
That said, they're very affordable — with starting rates under $40 a day in some cases. Most of the sailings range from three to five days and start at under $150 per person for the entire trip. That's less than the average cost of a single night in a hotel in many West Coast cities.
At both Holland America and Norwegian, soon-to-depart short cruises along the West Coast currently are the least-expensive sailings among all the routings the lines offer in the world. At Princess, short sailings along the West Coast are mixed in with short sailings in Australia among the line's least-expensive offerings.
Here are some of the best cruise deals we're seeing right now on these soon-to-depart West Coast sailings, all available as of Thursday morning:
- A four-day sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver on Norwegian Encore, departing May 1. Fares start at $149 — or about $37 a day.
- A five-day sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver on Norwegian Bliss departing April 9. Fares start at $149 — or about $30 a day.
- A three-day sailing from Vancouver to Seattle on Royal Princess departing May 3. Fares start at $129 — or about $43 a day.
- A three-day sailing from San Francisco to Vancouver on Royal Princess departing April 30. Fares start at $149 — or about $50 a day.
- A four-day round-trip sailing out of Vancouver on Holland America's Volendam departing May 6. Fares start at $149 — or about $37 a day.
Holland America is also selling several inexpensive one-night trips on the West Coast starting at $89 — not just for the coming months but later this year, as well as in 2024 and 2025.
The fine print on short-cruise deals
Note that the deeply discounted fares above are only available for windowless interior cabins, which are the lowest-category cabins on each of the ships.
However, there are notably low rates available on ocean-view and balcony cabins on some of the trips, too.
Related: 6 ways to get a deal on a cruise
Ocean-view cabins (cabins with a window) on the Norwegian Encore sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver departing May 1 were listed on Norwegian's website Thursday for $179 — just $30 more than a windowless cabin. Balcony cabins on the sailing were listed for $199 — about $50 a day.
All the fares also are per-person rates and are based on two people staying in a cabin. They're not available for solo travelers.
In addition, the rates include accommodations, meals and entertainment, but they don't include port taxes and fees, which will add another $126.10 to $245 to the cost of the trips mentioned above.
Cruise lines typically advertise their fares without port taxes and fees included but add these costs to final bills at the time of checkout.
The itineraries also are heavy with sea days. Some bring no calls at all. They're just one-way sea voyages between West Coast cities. Others include a single stop at such destinations as Victoria, British Columbia.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.