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Cruise deals galore: Why this could be the year to spend the winter holidays on a ship

Nov. 16, 2022
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4 min read
Sun Loungers on a Cruise Ship
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As cruise lines continue to discount fares to drive bookings, the holidays could be a terrific time to sail, with deals on upcoming 2022 voyages everywhere you look — some as little as $50 per person per night.

Travel demand is swelling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that airfares have skyrocketed, as have prices for land-based hotels, resorts and all-inclusives. What this means is that, with cruise prices remaining low, a vacation at sea just might offer some of the best value if you're looking to hit the road for the holidays.

Whether you're planning to spend them with your significant other, a group of friends or your entire extended family, you'd be remiss not to check out some of these amazing last-minute cruise deals we've spotted for sailings over Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's.

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Sample cruises

A Royal Caribbean ship docked at the line's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Here are some examples of fares I'm seeing in three popular cruise destinations over the holidays.

Bahamas

  • Thanksgiving: Five-night Carnival Sunrise sailing, round-trip from Miami on Nov. 23, from $479 per person ($96 per night).
  • Christmas/Hanukkah: Three-night Norwegian Sky sailing, round-trip from Miami on Dec. 23, from $279 per person ($93 per night).
  • New Year's: Eight-night Norwegian Getaway sailing, round-trip from New York on Dec. 31, from $629 per person ($79 per night).
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Caribbean

  • Thanksgiving: Nine-night Celebrity Infinity sailing, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 19, from $599 per person ($67 per night).
  • Christmas/Hanukkah: Sixteen-night Zaandam (Holland America) sailing, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 20, from $1,049 per person ($66 per night).
  • New Year's: Seven-night Radiance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) sailing, round-trip from New Orleans on Dec. 31, from $571 per person ($82 per night).

Mediterranean

  • Thanksgiving: Fifteen-night Regal Princess sailing, from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 17, from $857 per person ($57 per night).
  • Christmas/Hanukkah: Five-night MSC Magnifica sailing, round-trip from Marseille, France, on Dec. 22, from $299 per person ($60 per night).
  • New Year's: Four-night MSC Poesia sailing, from Genoa, Italy, to Rome (Civitavecchia) on Dec. 31, from $243 per person ($61 per night).

The fine print

Norwegian Joy cruise ship at sea
Norwegian Joy. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

There are some caveats, however. The prices listed are for the most basic windowless cabins, as advertised at VacationsToGo.com. They're also double occupancy rates, which means they're per person, not per sailing. Cruisers traveling solo are expected to pay for both fares if they're staying alone in accommodations intended for two people. (Some cruise lines do offer solo cabins.)

Additionally, port taxes and fees generally aren't included in the fares you initially see. Airfare and pre-cruise hotels can add to the overall cost of your trip, too. Look for sailings departing from a port you can drive to if you're cruising on a budget.

Bottom line

Although cruise prices for holiday weeks aren't as low as what we've been seeing for non-holiday weeks this fall — think $26-per-day Carnival fares and Royal Caribbean sailings for less than $100 — they're still affordable, providing a much more economical choice than land-based vacations. (Although the prices above are super-low, anything less than $1,000 per person per voyage, is still a steal for cruises during the holidays.) Plus, you can see multiple places in one trip.

Not quite ready to sail yet? There are other great bargains to be had for sailings in 2023 and beyond with this year's Black Friday cruise deals. Check out early offers from major cruise lines featuring fare discounts and added perks like complimentary airfare, Wi-Fi, alcohol packages and more.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by HUTCHYB/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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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.