best 14 day cruise deals

Best Cruise Deals

U.S. News has identified the best cruise deals by taking into account prices, cruise line ratings and cruise ship reviews. Use the list below to find your next cruise vacation.

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4 Night Private Island & Bahamas Escape

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Holland America

3 Night Ensenada

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Royal Caribbean

4 Night Bahamas

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3 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day

04/11-04/13/2025

3 Bahamas & Perfect Day

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4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day

12/02-12/05/2024

10 Night Repositioning Caribbean

04/28-05/07/2025

10 Night Western Caribbean Explorer

11/17-11/26/2024

10 Night Southern Caribbean

04/23-05/02/2025

06/03-06/05/2025

3 Night Perfect Day Getaway

12/13-12/15/2024

7 Night Florida & Bahamas

11/10-11/16/2024

12/08-12/14/2024

10 Night Western Caribbean

04/07-04/16/2025

10 Night Europe: Italy France Spain & Portugal

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4 Night Catalina & Ensenada

11/11-11/14/2024

7 Night Bahamas & Florida

11/17-11/23/2024

04/28-05/01/2025

08/11-08/14/2025

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5 Night Western Caribbean

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03/10-03/19/2025

4 Night Eastern Caribbean

12/05-12/08/2024

Imagine a vacation where you can visit multiple destinations and only unpack once; a trip where one fare covers your lodging, dining and, in some cases, as many fruity drinks as your heart desires. These are the perks of a cruise vacation – and it's a trip option that doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.

Cruises can be an excellent value proposition compared to other types of getaways. That said, sailing away to paradise as uncertainty remains around the coronavirus pandemic may make you uneasy. Be sure to check with your specific cruise line, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other organizations before booking your trip for the most up-to-date guidance on cruising in the time of the coronavirus.

To make sure you are getting a good deal on your next cruise vacation, you have to know what to look for. The easiest way to save money on a cruise is to consider a short itinerary on a budget-friendly cruise line. Still, paying less money doesn't always guarantee a great value. It's important to weigh the experience you will have with the amount paid to know whether or not you are getting a good deal.

To choose a cruise line, you should think about what matters most to you for your vacation. Consider: Do you care more about a pampering onboard experience or interesting stops and shore excursions? Would you rather purchase an inside stateroom to enjoy the benefits of a pricier cruise line (like included fine dining and butler service), or go with a budget line and stay in a more spacious balcony room overlooking the ocean?

You should also consider time of year if you're intent on scoring the best cruise deals . Though peak season varies by destination and cruise line, Christmastime, spring break season (usually during the months of March and April) and summer are typically when you'll see the highest prices for cruise fares. If you opt to travel outside of the busy season for your selected itinerary, you may be able to snag a deal on the cruise line of your dreams. For example, hurricane season in the Atlantic (June through November) brings cancellation risks, but it can be a great time to find discounts on Caribbean cruises. Additionally, many cruise lines highlight deals during "wave season" (named for the abundance of promotions that roll through like a wave) between January and March.

Some cruise lines also offer more deals than others. Typically, luxury cruise lines list their best prices up front, when the itineraries are first published. Planning ahead and jumping on these fares can save you money rather than waiting for additional deals to pop up. Meanwhile, bargain cruise lines often have consistent deals year-round, even during the busy season, to entice travelers to book a trip. In some cases, waiting until the last minute can score you a deep discount or other promotional value on one of the more affordable cruise lines.

If you'd like to take a cruise but aren't sure where to start, we are here to help. Read on for U.S. News' guide to finding the best cruise deals. (You can also browse the Best Cruise Lines rankings to learn more about specific cruise ships and lines.)

How Do You Know If You're Getting a Good Deal?

To know if you're getting a good deal on a cruise, you should consider a few different factors. First, you should determine when your preferred cruise lines are at their busiest and most expensive. Cruise lines that attract families, such as Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line, tend to see a lot of customers during the summer when school is out. As a result, prices spike during these months. In comparison, luxury lines like Seabourn Cruise Line may raise their prices around Christmas and New Year's. If you are traveling during these peak times, you may not be securing as good of a deal as you could at another time of year.

The popularity of certain destinations themselves also varies depending on the time of year, which can affect cruise prices. For example, travelers often opt to take Caribbean cruises during the winter and early spring to escape the cold weather where they live. Because of this, Caribbean cruise rates at this time may be higher than at other times of year. On the other hand, Mediterranean cruises are typically less expensive during late fall and early spring months and more expensive once the weather starts to warm up and conditions in Europe are more favorable.

Another factor to consider when looking for a good cruise deal is the ship. Newer ships with all the bells and whistles often mean higher fares than older ships that have been in service for longer. If new, exciting features and modern staterooms are important to you, you must be willing to accept potentially higher costs. If not, search for a similar itinerary on an older ship to find a better deal.

How to Get Last-Minute Cruise Deals

If your schedule allows, another great way to get a deal on a cruise is to wait until the last minute to book your trip. As cruise ships fill up approaching their embarkation dates, cruise lines typically discount cabin rates in an attempt to fill any remaining staterooms. Rates usually start dropping about 60 to 90 days prior to the sail date, when many penalty-free passenger cancellation policies expire. Prices often continue to decrease as the date of departure gets closer, so the most daring of travelers may decide to wait until a couple of weeks out to book. Just remember that cabins can sell out – as can flights, for those who need to hop on a plane to get to their embarkation destination. You'll need to keep a close eye on all the moving parts of your trip if you plan to pull the trigger at the last minute. 

To stay in the loop about last-minute cruise deals, sign up for email price drop alerts or consistently check fares on cruise line websites or third-party booking sites like Priceline, Cruise Critic and Cruiseline.com. Even a last-minute discount on an alcohol package or shore excursions will save you some money over the base cost. Still, travelers should keep in mind that luxury cruise lines are usually an exception to this rule. You will often get the best deal on a premium cruise by booking early – sometimes as far as a year out.

How to Find Cheap Cruise Deals

When considering what constitutes a cheap cruise deal, you should think about what you're getting for the price you are paying. For example, if the prices for a five-night itinerary aboard a new ship on a ritzier line and a seven-day cruise on an older ship with a more budget-centered line are in a similar ballpark, you may opt for the shorter vacation to get a more luxurious experience.

Still, if saving money is a bigger concern than getting more value or a higher-end experience, opt for less expensive cruise lines – like Carnival Cruise Line or Norwegian Cruise Line – with short itineraries to score the cheapest deals. Depending on the cruise line you choose and the time of year you book, you may be able to find rates for less than $200 per person. To save extra money, look for cruise promotions and discounts, and also consider bundling any flights and necessary hotel stays together if the cruise line offers that as a package.

Cruises Under $200

Having a small vacation budget doesn't mean you have to miss out on taking a cruise. In fact, some cruise deals can dip below $200 per person. When you see a deal this cheap, you should keep in mind that it will likely be for an inside cabin (no windows) on a short, two- or three-night cruise.

If you're looking for cruise rates under $200, check lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International since these cruise lines often advertise sailings at that price point. Keep in mind, these low prices tend to apply to itineraries in the Bahamas and other areas of the Caribbean. If you're within driving distance of a port, you also won't need to worry about paying for airfare on top of what you're spending on your cruise.

Best Cruise Deals by Region:

See the Best Caribbean Cruise Deals » See the Best Bahamas Cruise Deals » See the Best Alaska Cruise Deals » See the Best Hawaii Cruise Deals » See the Best Mexico Cruise Deals » See the Best Europe Cruise Deals »

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Past guest loyalty offers.

Our loyalty program, the Captain’s Circle, offers great perks for those who have previously traveled with us.

Military Cruise Benefits

Princess offers up to $250 free onboard spending money as a way to thank the brave men and women of the American and Canadian militaries for their service.

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Book early and check out the cruise deals page for the latest deals. The earlier you book, the better availability, and fares you will get!

Book early for our best cruise fares and have a great selection of sail date, itinerary and stateroom selection. Last-minute deals are great for the guests that live close to the departure port and are able to leave on short notice. Last minute deals have limited availability so make sure you book early for the best cruise deal and selection.

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How to Find the Best Cruise Deals, According to Travel Experts

Snagging a great cruise deal is easier than you think — so as long as you follow these expert tips.

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

It’s no secret that cruising has become increasingly popular in recent years. According to data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), nearly 36 million passengers  (35.7 million, to be exact) will set sail in 2024, up 4.2 million from 2023. And, despite the industry’s increasing popularity, finding the best cruise deals may not be as difficult as you think — that is, as long as you know when to book (and what to look for). 

What’s more, wave season, which takes place from January to March, is when dozens of cruise lines release their best, most value-packed offers, which means it’s arguably the best time to book your sailing. During these months, cruisers can choose from hundreds of different promotions, which, while exciting, can be overwhelming. However, according to Rob Clabbers, T+L A-list travel advisor and founder of Q Cruise + Travel , a Virtuoso agency in Chicago, “the lowest fare is only a deal if it is the right cruise for you.” In other words, he explains that if you “pick the wrong line or itinerary, that deal just turns into a waste of vacation time and money.” 

With all this in mind, we tapped Clabbers, along with a few other T+L A-list travel advisors, to share their expert insight on how to find the best cruise deals.

Meet the Expert

Rob Clabbers is a Travel + Leisure A-list travel advisor who specializes in cruises. He also founded Q Cruise + Travel, a Chicago-based travel agency. 

Mary Curry is a  T+L A-list travel advisor and small ship specialist.

Ashton Palmer is also a T+L A-list travel advisor who specializes in expedition sailings. 

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Take advantage of wave season. 

As previously mentioned, wave season runs from January through March. During this months-long stretch, sometimes referred to as the Black Friday of cruise deals, many cruise lines — from budget lines to small-ship luxury ones and beyond — offer some of the most competitive deals of the year. It’s well worth booking your cruise during these months.  

Use a travel advisor.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or veteran sailor, the slew of deals, promotions, and special offers can seem daunting: How do you know which ones are worth booking? Which offers the most value? Clabbers explains, “All these options and special offers can be confusing, and a qualified travel advisor who knows their way around cruises may help you find the best deal.” Oftentimes, these folks can “offer extra benefits that are not available when booking directly with a cruise line.” Ultimately, says Clabbers, the best travel advisors are those who can “help customize your trip with hotels, tours, and other services that may be a better value or fit for your style of travel.”

Consider shoulder or low season travel.

Per Clabbers, many cruise lines offer lower fares before or after the peak seasons. “While the weather may not be at its peak, neither are the crowds. If your main interest is visiting cultural attractions and museums or exploring cities, rather than baking on a beach, fewer fellow travelers make for a much more enjoyable experience. Bonus: airfares may be lower, too.” A few examples include an Alaska sailing in May or September (as opposed to peak season, July and August) and a European river cruise in March or October/November (instead of May or September, which, per Clabbers, is considered high season).  

Mary Curry, another T+L A-list travel advisor and small ship specialist, echoes these sentiments. “I can't tell you how many travelers are hoping for a 'waived single supplement' or 'two for one' offer and then restrict themselves to only the peak dates for that region.” With that in mind, she says,  “It's so much more likely that these specials will be offered for dates where demand is not as high since small ships don't take long to fill for peak dates and rarely need to offer these” on sale or as part of a larger promotion. 

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Be flexible. 

Put simply, explains Clabbers, “The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find a lower rate for your cruise.” For example, if you are “very flexible and are looking for a standard room on a large ship on an itinerary that repeats week after week, you are more likely to find a promotional fare.” However, if you’re only open to traveling during a specific timeframe or itinerary (including ones that operate infrequently, such as a world cruise ) in “a category that contains only a few rooms or suites, etc.,” explains Clabbers, “the limited supply will likely result in higher pricing.” Additionally, in some cases, “you may come across a ‘guarantee’ special offer.” In other words, this means that “in return for a lower fare, the cruise line gets to assign your specific room anywhere on the ship, in the category you selected.” 

Ironically enough, being flexible sometimes may mean giving up some of your flexibility. For example, says Clabbers, “Some lines, like Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean, offer slightly lower fares if you’re willing to give up some of your flexibility by choosing to pay a nonrefundable deposit instead of a refundable one.”  

Book early. 

When it comes to snagging the best cruise deals, booking early is ultimately your best bet — “especially if you’re looking to travel on a luxury cruise line , or for unique, popular itineraries,” says Clabbers. “Lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Explora Journeys, and others aim to offer their lowest fares and best promotions when reservations are first accepted for a new itinerary and will raise fares as the departure date comes closer.” 

Additionally, according to Curry, this is especially true on small-ship sailings . “Most small ships are counting on filling all their cabins, so they offer the best deals for travelers who plan early.” She goes on to explain that many small-ship lines have even “formalized this system by offering 'capacity-controlled pricing' that offers the best rates furthest in advance with the rate steadily increasing for the same category cabin as you get closer and the ship fills.” 

Finally, keep in mind that some cruises can be booked up to three years in advance, which means it’s never too early to start planning.

Or book a last-minute cruise.

Sometimes, it pays to book late — so as long as “you’re very flexible with dates, itinerary, type of room, or location on a ship,” explains Clabbers. 

Ashton Palmer, another T+L A-list travel advisor who specializes in expedition sailings , shares similar insight. “If you are flexible and can travel 90 days or less before departure, cruise lines will sometimes extend discounts.” 

Related:   The Best Time to Book a Cruise

Stick with one line.

Just as airlines and hotels offer travel rewards programs and perks to loyal customers, most cruise lines do the same, too. Put simply, says Clabbers, “loyalty can pay off.” In fact, “Many cruise lines offer some discounts or credits to spend onboard or other benefits for their returning passengers.” Plus, these programs are free to join, so you have nothing to lose by signing up.

Mark Katzman/Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Cruise with friends or family.

Cruise with your nearest and dearest — and get rewarded for it, too. According to Palmer, cruise lines are often willing to extend a discount “for groups of six or more.” For example, Royal Caribbean , Virgin Voyages , and Princess offer group discounts. 

Consider repositioning cruises. 

Budget-conscious travelers should certainly consider a repositioning cruise. These unique one-way sailings generally occur at the beginning or end of a cruising season (typically in the spring or fall) when ships need to return to their home ports. Two real-life examples of these itineraries include Celebrity’s Mediterranean Passage Transatlantic sailing (which cruises from Tampa to Barcelona) and Windstar’s Greenland: North Atlantic Odyssey itinerary (which sails from Reykjavik to Montreal).

Keep in mind that these value-packed cruises, which hover around two weeks, feature far more sea days than typical itineraries to account for the travel time between the embarkation and disembarkation ports. As such, you’ll be spending the bulk of your vacation on board.

Bundle up. 

Nowadays, many cruise lines offer additional perks and discounts that go far beyond the basics (think: free specialty dining, onboard credits, an open bar, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and, in some cases, pre- and post-cruise hotels and/or airfare). Oceania’s Simply More offer, for example, includes shore excursions, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, and Champagne and wine. Norwegian Cruise Line’s beloved Free at Sea promotion offers similar savings, while select sailings on lines like Ponant and Celebrity include flights .

Guests sailing with luxury all-inclusive line Silversea also have the option to add flights by booking the Door-to-Door All-Inclusive package . You may also be able to find — and book — reduced-cost flights directly through the cruise lines. For example, per its website,  the Holland America Flight Ease program offers passengers the opportunity “to book air travel featuring flight inventory from most airlines, our specially negotiated low prices, the freedom to change your flights with no change fees, and late-arrival protection with 24-hour assistance. In addition, you can earn frequent flier miles with participating airlines,” according to the Holland America website. Similarly, some lines, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises , offer free two- or three-night land programs and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay for some guests. 

Do your research to see if you’re eligible for additional discounts or benefits.  

According to Clabbers, select lines, including Cunard and Princess , offer “extra benefits for certain types of passengers,” including added perks and, in some cases, discounted or free fares. Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines offer special military perks and discounts. 

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The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free

These days, if you book a cruise and don't get drinks, tips or other perks thrown in for free, you're leaving money on the table.

In order to incentivize travelers to book a cruise in advance and to choose them over a competitor, many cruise lines run promotions that allow you to pick a perk — or sometimes get a whole host of included freebies. Especially during " wave season ," the booking-heavy period between January and March, you want to maximize the free stuff you get when you reserve a cabin.

Norwegian Cruise Line's long-running " Free at Sea " promotion, MSC Cruises' "Drinks & Wi-Fi Included" and Royal Caribbean 's "Kids Sail Free" deals are among the perks-promising promotions you're likely to see. Before you choose your favorite freebie or happily take them all, you will want to read the fine print and make sure your "free" bonus is actually worth what you'll be paying for it.

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You read that right — some supposedly free cruise booking perks come with associated fees. Other times, what you get for free isn't exactly what you were led to expect by the promotional copy on a cruise line's homepage. By accepting the offer, you might actually be out more money than you intended.

Don't have time — or strong enough reading glasses — to search through all that fine print? Below, we list the most common "free" cruise booking perks you'll encounter and alert you to what you are actually getting and paying when you take that bonus offer.

Open-bar packages

Open bar on a cruise ship is not like your college friend's debauched wedding. You don't get all the drinks for free; instead, you're gifted a beverage package . For heavy drinkers, that's still a huge perk, but be aware of what you're actually getting.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers an Unlimited Open Bar Package as a free cruise booking perk (with a soda package subbed in for the second guest on the reservation if they are under 21). The package only covers select spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass, beer, soda and juice valued at up to $15 per drink. Exclusions include Starbucks drinks, room service, bottled water, minibar drinks, energy drinks and "super premium brands."

And here's the kicker: Passengers who say yes to Norwegian's "free" bar package are required to pay gratuities of 20% of the package's retail value, which comes to $21.80 per person, per day. For a weeklong cruise, your "free" beverage package will cost $152.60 per person. For most vacationers, that's far less than their normal bar bill and still a good deal. For occasional drinkers, however, it may be more than you want to spend on alcohol.

Related: Are cruise line drinks packages worth the price? What to know before you buy

Free cruise Wi-Fi

Free onboard internet access is another cruiser favorite because cruise Wi-Fi can be amazingly expensive. Lines such as Norwegian and MSC Cruises have been known to lure cruisers with the option of free Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with family, flaunt your vacation photos on social media and even check your stocks without worrying about paying sky-high satellite connectivity rates.

The good news is that free Wi-Fi is actually free. The less stellar news is that access may be limited. MSC Cruises offers free Wi-Fi on one device per passenger (on up to two devices per cabin); Norwegian limits its bonus to one device at a time for the first two passengers in a cabin.

Norwegian only gives a limited number of free minutes (150 minutes per person on weeklong cruises, for example), and streaming is blocked. MSC also blocks streaming and won't let you switch your plan from one device to another even if you will only be online on one at a time.

And if a mountain is blocking your ship's line of sight with the satellite, no one is getting any Wi-Fi — no matter what they paid.

Related: How can I get Wi-Fi on a cruise for free?

Onboard credit

Onboard credit is essentially a cruise ship gift certificate that you can spend in multiple ways on board: visiting the spa, booking tours, buying drinks, shopping for souvenirs, and so on. It's truly free — no taxes or tips involved. You can hit the shops worry-free.

That doesn't mean there aren't caveats you should consider. MSC Cruises is currently offering up to $400 in onboard credit, which is a generous offer. However, the fine print indicates that only passengers booked in suites or the pricey Yacht Club on 10-night or longer sailings get the full amount. A balcony cabin on a weeklong cruise only receives $100 onboard credit per cabin — which might buy one person in your cabin a cheap tour or spa treatment.

If you fail to spend the credit, you will not get it back in cash. And let's be honest: You are unlikely to spend exactly the amount given. More likely, you'll be tempted into buying something more expensive on board and using the credit as a discount. (Such as the time I used a $50 credit to book a $129 spa treatment that I wasn't planning to treat myself to … until I got the credit. This means that the cruise line's $50 offer convinced me to spend $79 I didn't intend to give it.)

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren't)

Free specialty dining

You can spend a ton of dough checking out all the cool specialty restaurants on modern cruise ships, so it's a great booking bonus when cruise lines offer a couple of meals on the house. Choose the priciest restaurant you can to get the most value from this perk.

Norwegian cruisers should be aware that, as with its "free" beverage packages, Norwegian charges passengers a 20% gratuity on their complimentary dining perk. A weeklong cruise comes with one or two free meals (based on cabin category and only applicable to the first two passengers in a cabin) and a charge of $11.80 to $19.80 per person in tips for wait staff.

Also, note that additional main courses and select premium dishes will incur an additional fee. This isn't an all-you-can-eat-free deal.

Related: The best meals you can have at sea

Free shore excursions

If you don't sail a high-end line, such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Viking , you will pay for all your tours in port — unless you select a booking promotion that includes free tours. Many tours can top $100 per adult, so a freebie sounds like an amazing money-saver.

On a line such as Oceania Cruises , that's definitely true. Its "simply MORE" fares currently offer up to $1,600 per cabin to spend on shore excursions however you want. You can certainly find value in that offer.

However, Norwegian Cruise Line only offers the first person on a reservation $50 in shore excursion credit per port. And that person cannot use the credit to book tours for another person or purchase equipment rentals on private islands. As you won't find many tours priced under $50, you'll likely be paying extra to take advantage of this offer.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Free kids or 3rd and 4th passenger fares

Cruise fares are priced based on double occupancy (assuming two passengers in a cabin), so third and fourth passengers sharing the room and sleeping in bunk beds or pullout sofas are bonus revenue for cruise lines. Therefore, the third and fourth passenger fares are typically lower than the first two passengers and are often thrown in for free as a booking bonus. (From the cruise line's point of view, it's worth it to comp that extra person, who will then spend money on food, drinks and tours on board.)

When cruise lines offer "kids sail free" promotions , they're not offering a free adjoining cabin to house your sullen teenagers with their own bathroom. No, these promos only apply to kids sailing as third and fourth passengers in your room. It's still a fabulous deal if you were planning on sharing accommodations anyway.

Do note that whether you're cruising with kids , Grandma or your best friends as the third and fourth passengers in your room, you will likely still have to pay taxes and port fees for their "free" cruise.

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

Prepaid gratuities

Many cruisers don't realize that cruise lines put automatic gratuity charges on their final bill, which can add $100-plus to each passenger's cruise fare. You could request to have the charges removed, but as they're factored into crew paychecks, I strongly urge you not to do that. However, it's definitely a bonus when cruise lines offer free prepaid gratuities and take care of tips, so you save money.

Currently, we could not find a cruise line offering a free gratuities promotion. However, should you see one around Black Friday or wave season, know that this perk is a true freebie to you. It's a win-win if the crew gets paid but not out of your pocket.

Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise

Free cabin upgrade

Everyone dreams of paying for an inside cabin and getting bumped to a suite, gratis. Keep dreaming, folks. I've yet to see a free upgrade promotion that is so generous. However, you can get an arguably better room without paying extra when cruise lines run free-upgrade promotions.

In general, cruise cabin upgrades fall into two types: upgrades within cabin types (from a cheaper balcony cabin to a more expensive one) or from one cabin type to the next (from an ocean-view cabin to a balcony). Occasionally, you will see this presented as "book a balcony cabin for the price of an ocean view."

Azamara 's recent "Double Stateroom Upgrade" sale offered a veranda cabin for the price of an inside or a veranda-plus cabin for the price of an ocean view. Such a generous promotion is the exception, not the norm.

The fine print of Carnival's mid-December "Triple The Perks Early Saver Sale," on the other hand, clearly stated that upgrades were "in like to like categories only (interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, and balcony to balcony)."

You'll definitely need to dig into the terms and conditions to figure out what exactly a given upgrade offer will get you. If you are upgrading within a cabin class, you're essentially getting a more desirable location as decided by the cruise line (usually on a higher floor and more centrally located). You might or might not agree with the line on what constitutes a better room within the same category.

Sometimes you can pick the location of the upgraded room; other times, you book the lower-priced cabin, and the cruise line moves you where it sees fit. If you are picky about location, don't accept a free upgrade that doesn't allow you to pick your cabin number.

Also, know that upgrades are not guaranteed. If the higher-category rooms have sold out, you will forfeit that aspect of your perk package.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

Bottom line

Even if certain free cruise booking bonuses are actually just discounts, they can still represent significant savings on your final vacation price.

It's wise to time your cruise booking to coincide with a generous promotion. Just watch out for supposed freebies that result in your paying more than you would have without the perk. If the bonus offer isn't worth it to you, cruise lines will generally let you opt out of unwanted perks.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• 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
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin