Cruises 2026 · 2027

Cruises — Caribbean, Alaska, Med + more

Compare cruises across the 5 major regions + 7 major cruise lines + 8 embarkation ports. Powered by CruiseDirect — their Evergreen deals section shows the best cabin-category value; Last-Minute section shows the 60-day + inventory clear-outs.

Search all cruises on CruiseDirect

Pick a cruise region

Caribbean

Year-round (peak Dec-Apr, hurricane season Jun-Nov)

Compare Caribbean cruises

The world's biggest cruise market. 3-14 day itineraries from 5 US Gulf/Atlantic ports. Cheapest departures from Miami + Port Canaveral (frequency = price). Private-island days (RCL's CocoCay, NCL's Great Stirrup, Disney Castaway) are the peak-experience anchor.

Embark ports:
Miami (MIA), Port Canaveral (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Galveston (HOU), New Orleans (MSY)
Cruise lines:
Royal Caribbean · Carnival · Norwegian · Disney · Celebrity · MSC

Alaska

May-September only (peak Jul-Aug — glaciers + long daylight)

Compare Alaska cruises

The classic seven-night Inside Passage loop is the market default — Juneau + Ketchikan + Skagway + Glacier Bay glacier day. Vancouver-departure gets you closer to the ice; Seattle-departure is easier flight logistics from the mainland US. Princess + Holland America dominate the Alaska scene with the strongest onboard naturalist programming.

Embark ports:
Seattle (SEA), Vancouver (YVR), Anchorage/Whittier (ANC)
Cruise lines:
Princess · Holland America · Norwegian · Royal Caribbean · Celebrity · Disney

Mediterranean

April-October (peak Jul-Aug — hot + crowded; May + Sep are the sweet spots)

Compare Mediterranean cruises

Barcelona is the value embarkation port (cheap European flights). Rome + Venice are the marquee starts. 7-14 day itineraries cover Western Med (BCN-Marseille-Rome-Naples), Eastern Med (Athens-Ephesus-Rhodes-Santorini), or grand tours combining both. MSC + Costa are cheapest; Celebrity + Cunard are premium.

Embark ports:
Barcelona (BCN), Rome/Civitavecchia (FCO), Venice (VCE), Athens/Piraeus (ATH)
Cruise lines:
MSC · Costa · Celebrity · Royal Caribbean · Norwegian · Princess · Cunard

Bahamas

Year-round

Compare Bahamas cruises

Short-hop cruises 3-4 days — perfect first-timer test + long-weekend break. Nassau + private-island stops (RCL CocoCay is the marquee). No passport required for US citizens on closed-loop cruises returning to same US port.

Embark ports:
Miami (MIA), Port Canaveral (MCO), Palm Beach (PBI)
Cruise lines:
Royal Caribbean · Carnival · Norwegian · Disney · Bahamas Paradise

Europe (Northern + Rivers)

April-October (Northern Europe / Baltic + River cruises)

Compare Europe cruises

Ocean-cruise Northern Europe (fjords, Baltic capitals, British Isles) is a distinct market from Med — cooler climate, longer light, more premium. Viking + AmaWaterways dominate the European river-cruise scene (Rhine, Danube, Douro). River cruises are premium-only market: $3000-8000+ per person for 7-14 nights.

Embark ports:
Southampton (UK), Copenhagen (DK), Amsterdam (NL), Hamburg (DE)
Cruise lines:
Cunard · P&O · Fred Olsen · Viking · AmaWaterways (river) · Uniworld (river)

Or pick by cruise line

Each button deep-links to that cruise line's full deals catalog on CruiseDirect.

Carnival

Value + party crowd, Caribbean anchor

Celebrity

Premium modern-luxury, food-focused

Costa

European value, Mediterranean specialist

Cunard

Traditional British luxury, Queen Mary 2 trans-Atlantic

Disney

Family-first, Castaway Cay private island

Holland America

Alaska + Mediterranean, 45+ demographic

Princess

Alaska specialist, naturalist programming

Or pick by embarkation port

8 major cruise ports — every one deep-linked to CruiseDirect's port-specific listings.

Miami

FL, USA — Caribbean + Bahamas hub

Port Canaveral

FL, USA — Caribbean, closest to Orlando

Fort Lauderdale

FL, USA — Caribbean, quieter alt to Miami

New York

NY, USA — Bermuda, New England, trans-Atlantic

Los Angeles

CA, USA — Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska

Barcelona

Spain — Mediterranean hub

Vancouver

BC, Canada — Alaska Inside Passage

Seattle

WA, USA — Alaska

Last-minute cruises — 60 days or less

CruiseDirect's Last Minute section shows inventory clear-outs — up to 60% off remaining cabins. Limited to inside + ocean-view categories on shorter itineraries. Best for flexible travelers.

See last-minute cruise deals

Cruises — FAQ

What is the cheapest way to book a cruise?

Book 12-18 months out for the widest cabin choice + guaranteed early-booking discount. OR book 60-30 days pre-sail for last-minute inventory discounts (up to 60% off — but limited cabin categories left). Avoid 3-6 months out — the dead zone with neither perk. CruiseDirect's Last Minute section surfaces the sub-60-day deals; Evergreen link shows the full inventory.

Do I need a passport for a Caribbean cruise from the US?

Not if it's a closed-loop cruise (departs + returns to the same US port). US citizens can use birth certificate + government photo ID. But — cruise lines strongly recommend a passport in case you need to fly home from a foreign port due to medical emergency. Open-loop cruises (starting + ending at different ports) DO require a passport.

Which cruise line is best for families?

Disney Cruise Line — highest-rated family cruise product globally. Castaway Cay private island, Disney characters onboard, top-tier kids' clubs. Runner-up: Royal Caribbean (Oasis-class megaships have surf simulators, ice-skating rinks, escape rooms). Norwegian is the flexible-dining option that suits multi-generational travel.

When is the cheapest time to cruise the Caribbean?

September-early November — hurricane season (Jun-Nov peaks in September). Cruise lines discount aggressively; itineraries occasionally reroute. October-early November is the sweet spot: lower prices, hurricane risk declining, still-warm weather. Avoid Christmas + New Year weeks (2× normal pricing) unless you want the family-holiday atmosphere.

How much does a 7-night Alaska cruise cost in 2026?

Inside cabin: from $700-1,200 per person. Ocean-view: $900-1,600. Balcony (recommended for glacier viewing): $1,400-2,800. Suites: $3,000+. Add ~$150-250 per person for gratuities + $200-500 for excursions (glacier flightseeing, dog-sledding, whale-watching). Book by January for the following May-September Alaska season.

Should I use a cruise agent or book direct?

A specialist cruise agent (like CruiseDirect) accesses group rates + onboard credits + cabin upgrades that direct-with-cruise-line pricing doesn't offer. Same or lower cash price + $50-500 in onboard credit. For first-timers especially, an agent's cabin-category advice matters — some 'balcony' cabins have obstructed views, some 'inside' cabins are better-placed than you'd think.