Cheap Alaska Cruises and Discount Alaska Cruisetours on CruiseCheap.com (2024)

FAQs

Who offers the cheapest cruise? ›

Shoulder Seasons Offer Lower Prices

For both cruising and land-based tours, May and September are the “shoulder” seasons in Alaska, with better deals and fewer crowds. Cruise prices during those times may be lower, perhaps by a couple hundred dollars per person.

Lovell recommends booking early for the best pricing. "For many cruise lines, especially the expedition products and with some luxury lines, the best time to find deals is when they open new sailings," he says. "The cruises fill up quickly, so usually the best offer is the first offering in terms of pricing.

Fret not, it's not a scam. Preferred travel agents are sometimes given access to exclusive, non-advertised rates by cruise ships which allow them to offer discounted cabin rates to their customers.

Remember, the cost of an Alaskan cruise typically ranges from $600 to $5,000 per person, depending on the type of cruise and the chosen accommodation. Additionally, it is advisable to allocate an extra $1,000 to $1,500 per person for shore excursions to fully immerse in the Alaskan experience.

If you want to view Alaska's natural splendors, but don't have more than a week or so consider seven-day cruises that depart Seattle or Vancouver and return to the same spot. Watch silvery skyscrapers fade into the distance and say hello to fjords, rugged coastlines and blankets of lush temperate rain forests.

When considering an Alaska family small ship cruise, we suggest age 6 and older. Some ships will allow children as young as 2 years old or even babies. Most small Alaskan cruise lines do not provide babysitting services, video games or kids clubs that separate families.

Passengers can always negotiate with a booking site or cruise line, but they aren't obligated to refund the difference. Instead, they may offer you onboard credit, complimentary excursions or credit toward another cruise booking.

What if you book a cruise and the price drops? ›

Things to Keep in Mind

Flexibility is key! Cruise lines are not obligated to honor price drops. Most lines will offer some compensation, but if the cruise line won't honor the lower rate, canceling and rebooking is an option if there is no cancellation penalty.

Beyond holiday periods such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Labor Day when there may be some flash sales, January and February are particularly good times to book a cruise, as the first two months of the year are considered “wave season” in the cruising industry.

Besides the recommendation to shopping early, comparing prices online and travelling off-peak, I would also recommend booking at the last minute. One of the best holiday deals my dh and I booked was an August Alaska cruise booked through Costco travel.

An average budget for a 7-day cruise along Alaska's Inside Passage route, with several shore excursions and additional amenities, is typically between $3,000 and $5,000 per person. We'll provide more details below, as we've experienced such a cruise twice ourselves.

A typical 7-day Alaska vacation costs around $3000 per person—a little over $400 per day. Here's an average breakdown, based upon our analysis of hundreds of actual itineraries.

Additionally, the months of January through March -- also known as "wave season" -- often sees industry-wide sales, which often extend outside of the cruise fare, too. You might find a promotion that offers free upgrades, prepaid gratuities, or onboard credit for you to spend as you wish!

Normally, without a promotion, booking airfare through a cruise comes with a cost. But often this cost is cheaper than what guests can find on their own through the airlines.

There's No Best Day to Book

Cruise lines generally release their lowest fares when itinerary schedules are first published, and then run sales every so often to encourage bookings. As cabins fill up, the prices go up.