If you’ve always wanted to hop on a ship for some leisure time, now’s good.
Cruise prices are at “all-time lows,” according to MarketWatch and DealNews. The cheapest cruise the latter found this year was 43 percent cheaper than the cheapest one in 2009, and cheaper than any cruise since.
Right now Carnival and Royal Caribbean have some cruises for less than $40 per person per night. When you factor in meals, many cruises are less expensive than staying at Motel 6, Rich Tucker, business development manager for CruiseDeals.com, told MarketWatch. (A quick online quote from a Miami Motel 6 showed me $60 a night.) Here’s why prices are so low now, according to MarketWatch:
- Prices always drop around this time of year as ships relocate from other locations to the Caribbean.
- Cruise lines have been expanding their fleets. The number of ships has increased 7 percent in the past two years.
- The cruise industry has been having some image trouble.
But there are a lot of things to learn before you book that cheap cruise. Taxes and fees inflate the price, and shore excursions — optional off-boat activities — can explode it. You can learn more about taking a cruise in the video below.
Are you thinking about taking a cruise in the near future? Let us know where you’re going — and get some advice from our more seasoned seafaring readers — on Facebook.
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