Deal watch: Another major cruise line cuts fares for fall sailings below $30 a day
The last-minute deals for fall and early winter cruises just keep coming, as more cruise lines drop rates on short notice to fill unsold cabins.
The latest major cruise brand to post knock-your-socks-off offers on its website for soon-to-depart voyages is MSC Cruises, which as of Friday was offering entry-level fares on at least one of its ships for under $24 per day.
Specifically, the world's third-largest cruise brand on Friday was touting a five-night Mediterranean voyage out of Marseille, France, in December starting at just $119 — or $23.80 per day. The sailing is scheduled to begin Dec. 22, meaning it's a Christmas cruise. These tend to be the most expensive, not the cheapest, cruises of the year.
The $23.80-per-day fare is lower than what TPG was seeing at any major brand as recently as last week, when we highlighted a wide number of Carnival Cruise Line trips on sale for as little as $26 per day. Carnival has been offering unusually low fares for soon-to-depart fall voyages in recent weeks, as has rival Royal Caribbean. The latter line this week was selling some fall cruises for under $100.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises are the world's three largest cruise lines, accounting for around half of all cruises taken worldwide.
The low rates available from MSC Cruises as of Friday were widespread. In addition to the $23.80-a-day offer above, MSC Cruises also was selling five four-night Bahamas sailings in October and November on its website starting at $119 — or $29.75 per day.
Several more four-night Caribbean and Bahamas sailings on MSC Cruises ships were available starting at $129 — or $32.25 per day.
The deeply discounted cruises include:
- A three-night MSC Preziosa sailing from Le Havre, France, to Hamburg, Germany, starting at $109 — about $36 a day. The departure date is Nov. 4.
- Four-night MSC Meraviglia sailings to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral, Florida, starting at $119 — about $30 a day. Departures available at that starting price include Oct. 30, Nov. 13, Nov. 27 and Dec. 11.
- A four-night MSC Divina sailing to the Bahamas out of Miami starting at $119 — about $30 a day. The departure date is Nov. 28.
- A five-night MSC Magnifica sailing to the Mediterranean out of Marseille starting at $119 — about $24 a day. The departure date is Dec. 22.
All the super-low fares above only are available for the lowest-category cabins on each of the ships, which all are "interior" cabins that don't have a window. But MSC Cruises also is offering notably low rates on ocean-view and balcony cabins on the ships, too.
Related: Some cruise fares have dropped as low as $26 a day as lines struggle to fill ships
Ocean-view cabins (that is, cabins with a window) on the four-night Nov. 28 departure of MSC Divina were listed on MSC Cruises' website Friday for $179 — just $60 more than a windowless cabin. Balcony cabins on the sailing were listed for $239. That works out to just $59.75 a day for a balcony cabin.
All the fares are per-person base rates that include accommodations, meals and entertainment but not port taxes and fees, which range from $75 to $125. Cruise lines typically advertise their fares without port taxes and fees included but add these costs to final bills at the time of checkout.
Related: 6 ways to get a deal on a cruise
As is typical with cruise ship pricing, the per-person fares are "based on double occupancy," which means they are available only to passengers when booking at least two people in a cabin. Customers who want to have a cabin to themselves will pay more.
Passengers who book many of the lowest fares available also will pay extra for things like Wi-Fi, alcoholic drinks and gratuity charges while on the cruises. A more expensive fare category at MSC Cruises includes some of those extras. In addition, flights to the cruise, if needed, aren't included in the fares. That can be a deal-killer for Americans eyeing some of the low-priced Europe offers, in particular.
Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts — and what to do about them
Still, even with many of the above extra charges factored in, the cost of cruises for fall is notably low when compared to the rapidly rising cost of staying in a hotel or resort on land. Cruise pricing this year has fallen far behind pricing for lodging on land, with some Wall Street analysts who cover the travel industry saying the differential is now in the 30% to 50% range.
The low rates for fall cruises at MSC Cruises and other lines come as cruise companies struggle more than land resorts to return to normal occupancy levels in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking for a convenient way to see all of your points and miles in one place? Download the free TPG App!
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- 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 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. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.