How to snag cruise ship suites for less
Suite guests on mainstream cruise ships luxuriate in large, private spaces with upscale design, high-end amenities and expansive balconies. They enjoy free perks (think: butlers, stocked minibars and comped Wi-Fi) and access to exclusive, VIP-only restaurants and sun decks. And they always cut to the front of the line.
On the other hand, passengers who stay in cruise ship suites pay top dollar for the privilege.
We might dream of staying in a fancy suite on a big ship someday — after we win the lottery. However, there are ways to find cruise suite deals and book those high-end cabins at a discount.
Here are 13 ways you can book a cruise ship suite for less.
Book a shoulder-season sailing
One way to save money on a suite is to book your cruise during shoulder season when fewer folks travel.
In Alaska and the Mediterranean, check suite fares for early spring and September to October so you avoid the height of the season in summer. Taking a Mediterranean cruise in late fall or winter can save you even more.
For cruises in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, a good rule of thumb for bargain seekers is to avoid any dates families tend to travel, such as holiday and school vacation periods, including over the summer. You'll get a better deal on a suite in the fall and on sailings right before or after holidays, such as in early November or mid-January.
Related: The best time to go on a cruise
Choose a smaller suite
Minisuites or junior suites are a step down from fancier suites and therefore sell for cheaper fares.
While big suites often come with a separate living room with a dining area, smaller suites are typically one room with a sofa area plus a balcony. Still, you'll get more square footage than a standard cabin, and your accommodations might include suite perks like fluffier bathrobes and designer amenities.
Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise
Check the inclusions carefully. Some cruise lines will offer passengers in any suite access to a restaurant, lounge, sun deck or pool reserved only for suite guests. For example, Celebrity Cruises' Sky Suites start at 251 square feet and are basically oversized, upscale balcony cabins, but they come with a king-size bed, a bathtub, fancy bedding and access to an exclusive VIP-only area of the ship called The Retreat.
On the other hand, Norwegian Cruise Line's 249-square-foot Club Balcony Suites come with a few extra perks but do not have access to its VIP area, The Haven. If you simply want a larger cabin, options like this can be a way to get a suite for less. If you're looking for multiple rooms and perks, you might be better off upgrading to a nicer suite.
Pick an older, less popular ship
When a cruise line launches its latest and greatest ship, brand fans often flock to these vessels (and pay more) for bragging rights of being among the first on board. For those who want to save, suites on older ships, especially when recently upgraded, are often better deals than comparable cabins on the newest, flashiest ships.
A caveat is the older ships might not have as many suites, so finding space can be a challenge. This leads me to my next piece of advice.
Related: 5 reasons you might not want to book a brand-new cruise ship
Book early
When it comes to cruises, the nicest suites and the cheapest inside cabins tend to be booked before other rooms. With cruise fares based on supply and demand and the number of suites on any given ship limited, it pays to book your cruise as many months (or even years) ahead of your preferred sailing date as you can.
Cruise lines want you to book early, so they often throw in onboard credits for shore excursions, drinks, specialty restaurants, shopping or other onboard expenditures.
Related: The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free
Choose a shorter cruise
A short cruise is typically more affordable than a longer one, especially if you can drive to your departure port and skip the flights and hotels. If you long for the suite life but need to stick to a budget, choose a three- or four-night sailing rather than a weeklong cruise.
The nightly rate of your upscale suite might be the same, or higher, than on a longer sailing. However, your total price for the cruise will be lower because you're paying for fewer nights, both in terms of fare and automatically added daily gratuities.
Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
Be a cruise line loyalist
Being a brand loyalist has its benefits. If suites aren't selling quickly on a particular sailing, the cruise line will offer special discounted upgrades to the members of the line's frequent cruiser program, such as Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program.
On many cruise lines, your name will be automatically added to the loyalty program when you sail your first cruise; others require you to sign up to become a member. After that, keep an eye out for emails and newsletters highlighting discounts.
Bid for an upgrade
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and river cruise line Uniworld are among brands with programs where, after you book your cruise, you might be invited to bid for upgrades — just like you can for airlines like Austrian Airlines and Qantas.
In most cases, the upgrades are for one category, so your best shot at getting a suite upgrade is to book a minisuite, and your best shot at a minisuite upgrade is to book a balcony cabin. An invitation to bid is not a sure bet; it's based on supply and demand. Also, preference is given to loyalty program members.
Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade
Book cruise-only fares
Cruise lines sometimes bundle suite accommodations with air, hotel stays, limousine transfers and other add-ons, which can increase the base price considerably. Instead, only book the cruise. This will likely save you big bucks, particularly if you can use frequent traveler or credit card points for your flights and pre-cruise hotel stay.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Re-price after booking
It pays to keep track of fares for your suite accommodations even after you book because cruise prices are constantly in a state of flux. If you have not made your final payment and the price of suite accommodations drops, you can ask to have your fare updated. Call the cruise line (or your travel agent) and ask for a price adjustment.
If the price changes after you have made the final payment, do the math and see if the credit you can get (after any cancellation penalties) makes a change to the lower fare worth it or not. Cruise lines don't want you to cancel and might be willing to play ball to keep your booking — perhaps even offering the price difference in the form of an onboard credit.
Find sales that include suites
Finding a sale is the easiest way to get a deal on a suite. You can snag both discounted fares on suites and fares enhanced by value-added perks such as free gratuities, Wi-Fi and complimentary cabin upgrades, particularly during wave season, the time of year when cruise lines run some of their most competitive sales.
Traditionally, the wave season promotional period was from January through March; however, some lines are running versions of their promotions year-round. If you want to be among the first to know about such deals, consider signing up for email alerts from your preferred cruise lines.
Related: 6 ways to get a deal on a cruise
Use a travel agent
Travel agents have a lot of knowledge and a certain amount of pull, especially those who do a lot of business with a particular cruise line. They can steer you to a cruise line with lower fares for suites on certain routes and dates and help you compare products. A connected travel agent might even be able to convince a cruise line to upgrade you to a suite.
Pick a cheaper year-round itinerary
This is a similar strategy to picking an older ship. Pick cheaper destinations that are on many itineraries where cruise lines have more cabins to sell. For example, you'll pay less for a suite in the popular Bahamas or Caribbean than you will in Alaska or Europe, where cruise lines base fewer ships and only visit seasonally.
Get a deal when a ship redeploys
When a ship moves from one cruise region to another, say from the Caribbean across the Atlantic to Europe or through the Panama Canal on the way to Alaska, you can save big on the one-way ocean crossings no matter which category you book. For suite guests, these repositioning cruises provide the advantage of at least several days at sea — which means more time to enjoy your opulent environs.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- 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
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
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