Cruising for Newbies: Fall is the Best Time to Book Cheap Cruises

by  Fran Golden | Aug 31, 2016
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Escape

Labor Day is fast approaching, and kids are either back in school or heading there soon. In the cruise world that means cruise deals for grownups are on the horizon.

Come fall, cruise lines know the family market has pulled up stakes and won't be back in any significant numbers until Thanksgiving, so they sweeten the pot with super low prices to entice adults sans kids. You can find select weeklong cruises for less than $450 per person, sometimes way less.

From Miami, we spotted cruises on the newest Norwegian Cruise Line ships -- the Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape -- from $449. The Italian-style MSC Divina is offering rates in September for as little as $399, and a fun-filled week on the Carnival Dream, departing from New Orleans, is priced from $429.

Harder-to-sell cruises are priced even lower. Sail to the Dominican Republic on the social impact line Fathom, and you can book a one-week cruise for just $199. Or, hop on Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas on October 1 for a five-day western Caribbean sailing for as low as $168. Both cruises involve older ships, still many cruisers find the rates to be worth it.

In addition to the bargain fare, another benefit of fall cruising is that it comes with more opportunity to stake out your own turf. You won't have to wait in line at the waterslide or dodge kids in the pool, and the buffet line won't be clogged with parents trying to appease fussy eaters.

After all, with mostly adult travelers onboard there's a more, well, grownup atmosphere.

 

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