How Do
Inclusive Caribbean Cruise Tickets Work?

Ah, Caribbean cruise tickets!

This can be frightening to consider, especially when you have a family - a big one.

We thought the same, until we booked our first cruise.

Personal Experience With 
Caribbean Cruise Tickets

We were amazed that all four of us could enjoy such a great, all-inclusive fun Caribbean cruise for just about $2,000.

Our first cruise was a 5-day Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

Since then, we have discovered that Caribbean cruise tickets vary in price from cruise line to cruise line and are determined by several other factors.

These factors include: the time of year you cruise, your cabin selection and whether you reside in a certain state.

In 2009, we decided to take a 7-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Great idea!

We had sailed with Carnival Cruise Line twice before, so naturally we checked with them first.

Well, even as returning guests the all inclusive cruise ticket price for five (5) of us (our daughter was born then) was $3,700 plus. By the way, we were cruising during the winter break (Presidents' Day week). We thought the price was too high, so we looked around.

Interestingly, we found a similar 7-day cruise out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Line for $400 less.

Can you guess which cruise we took that year? Norwegian, of course!

When you have a 5-member family, you must plan your Caribbean cruise ship vacation carefully to minimize the cruise cost.

It is wise to compare Caribbean cruise tickets offered by the major Caribbean cruise lines and to carefully choose the time of year when to travel.

Time Of Year Impact On
Caribbean Cruise Tickets

You will find the best Caribbean cruise ticket prices during the latter end of the Atlantic Hurricane Season (mid August through November - before Thanksgiving). That's right!

The fact is, many people stay away from the Caribbean Sea during the months of August through November (height of the hurricane season), because many powerful storms have crossed those waters.

Consequently, Caribbean cruise lines fiercely compete to get the brave-hearted passengers who will book a cruise for that time of year.

Hence, Caribbean cruise ticket prices are noticeably reduced as demand falls off, but supply remains intact during the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

If you can muster up enough courage and your kids are out of school at anytime during those months, book your cruise for some time from the middle of August to the middle of November.

Do you remember that I mentioned earlier about paying close to $3,500 for our 7-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in February? Well, a friend of mine booked a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise last year in September for his family of five (5) and paid a whopping $2,700.

Now that's a $600 dollar saving!

Generally, if you choose to sail during winter, near a holiday (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.) or during a major school break (spring break, winter break, etc.), you will pay more for your Caribbean cruise ticket.

Sampled Look At
Caribbean Cruise Tickets

Let us take a look at some prices...

Below, is a snapshot of a cruise sailing in June 2025 (summer sailing) and the same sailing in October (hurricane season).

Notice the difference in the prices.

6 Night Bahamas Cruise
Carnival Cruise Lines - Carnival Sunshine
Destination: The Bahamas
Departing from: Norfolk Cruise Port, Virginia

June 22nd Sailing

$939 USD (Inside);

$1059 USD (Oceanview);

$1399 USD (Balcony); and,

$1,839 USD (Suite).

October 26th Sailing

$784 USD (Inside);

$874 USD (Oceanview);

$1074 USD (Balcony); and,

$1,769 USD (Suite).

The two price listings above are for the same 6-night Bahamas Cruise on Carnival Sunshine, but one is for June 2025, while the other is for October 2025.

The price difference is real, especially for the balcony cabin.

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy.

Cruise Ship Cabin Selection Impacts Caribbean
Cruise Tickets

Using the same examples above, you will notice too that the type of cabin you choose on your all inclusive Caribbean cruise will directly affect your price.

Please note that when you see a posted base price for a Caribbean cruise (or any cruise), the cruise price listed is generally based on two people per stateroom.

What does that mean?

Let us take the price for the inside cabin on the 6-night Bahamas cruise sailing on June 22nd. The starting price of $939 would be paid by each person, if there are two of them in that cabin.

However, since we are talking about Caribbean family cruises, let us add two children to the mix.

Generally, the first two people in the cabin would each pay the $939 base price, and then the third and fourth people (your beloved children), would get a break on their cruise tickets (as if they are paying for it).

The third and fourth people in the cabin would pay about $50 or more less. Therefore, you would pay less than someone booking four guests in two separate cabins.

As you can tell, the inside cabin will cost less and the suite the most. You pay for what you get.

Would you rather pay the higher Caribbean cruise ticket price? That is your choice. Personally, I love to see outside and therefore prefer an oceanview cabin.

However, with a five member family, my contention is - the cabin is just for sleeping. We spend most of time outside, so why pay so much extra just to sleep anyway?

You may feel differently about this. 

Price Comparison
Among Major Cruise Lines

As with everything in life, the prices charged by major cruise lines vary. The cruise prices vary for several reasons: name recognition, the quality of the cruise, the size of the cruise ships, etc.

When you think of Caribbean cruises, certain cruise lines readily come to mind: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruises, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

We have sailed on all five cruise lines mentioned above.

In terms of prices, Disney and Royal Caribbean are the most expensive and Carnival is the least.

Of all five cruise lines, a Disney cruise vacation will cost you the most. We learned that on our own Disney cruise in 2022 and I know that from selling cruises every year. 

Disney Cruise Line is the highest in prices, Princess and Royal Caribbean compete for second and third places, while Carnival and Norwegian take the fourth and fight spots - not in that order.

Carnival will offer the lowest cruise prices more often than any other cruise line - except for MSC Cruises. 

The bottom line is, if you (like us with a "big family") are looking to maximize your cruise dollars, choose a less expensive Caribbean cruise ticket price.

However, if you are dreaming of a particular all inclusive Caribbean cruise, get the cruise tickets for the ones you love. 

Click here to find cruise tickets. 

Plan smartly to get the best cruise prices to the Caribbean. Remember to reach out to your Travel Professional, who will work tirelessly to get you the best cruise rates.

Leave the worrying about cruise tickets to your travel agent and you simply go have lots of fun and make unforgettable memories with your precious family.

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