Are you dreaming of your next Royal Caribbean cruise vacation but want to make sure you get the best deal possible? I bet you haven't noticed that, in my opinion, there is a weekly pattern of price fluctuations for Royal Caribbean Cruises that are very predictable and once you know, you can be empowered to book the best price for your cruise!
Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveller, these insights will help you plan your trip smartly and cost-effectively.
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I hang out on CruisePlum daily.
It's not your typical middle-aged lady hangout spot, but it's a great website to watch cruise prices including displaying historical price changes of a specific cruise.
Royal Caribbean Cruises appear to have a pattern of raising and lowering their prices weekly.
I noticed on the CruisePlum graphs that Royal Caribean cruise prices seem to go up and down weekly. Not only that, but each cruise had a fairly consistent day on which the price increased and the price decreased. For example, this December 2025 Royan Caribean cruise.
Every Thursday the price of all stateroom classes would increase.
And every Saturday the price would go back to the price it was prior to the Thursday price increase.
As you can see from this graph, this pattern did end over time. However, when I started looking at more cruises and more dates, there was an obvious and consistent pattern that prices would go up on a specific cruise on a specific day, and then drop 1-2 days later, usually back to the original price before the increase, but sometimes higher and lower.
You can see from the price history this November 2024 Royal Caribean Cruise, the weekly fluctuations happen throughout the sale of the cruise, not just in the short term.
I wanted to put some numbers to the data and see what was happening.
I gathered info from multiple cruises.
Collected price history data on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises each month for 2024, 2025, and 2026- as far out as I could get info on cruises.
I acknowledge that this is a very small sampling and is a personal opinion, but at this point, I make no income from travel content, so I did what I could with the time I had! It's a great starting point for thinking about your personal choices of booking your next cruise (or building on this thought!)
After putting in all those numbers I found out the following:
Price Increase Days:
Most cruises see price increases on Thursday.
Some cruises have price increases on Tuesday.
These increases happened most frequently on Tuesdays and Thursdays but some Wednesdays and Fridays we observed.
Price Decrease Days:
Most cruises see prices decrease on Saturday.
Some cruises have price decreases on Thursday.
The increased price is never held through the weekend.
Regions:
Cruises in Florida and the Northeast generally have moderate to high percentage increases.
Cruises in Asia tend to have higher percentage increases, especially in Mini and Balcony room types.
Room Types:
Suite: Generally has higher base prices and moderate percentage increases. [Average increase of 4.08%]
Mini: Shows some of the highest percentage increases, particularly in Asia and Northeast regions. [Average increase of 10.42%]
Balcony: Consistently has moderate percentage increases. [Average increase of 7.41%]
Oceanview: Shows lower percentage increases compared to other room types. [Average increase of 4.88%]
Inside: Often has varied percentage increases, some very high, particularly in longer trips or specific regions like Transatlantic. [Average increase of 5.77%]
Trip Length:
Shorter trips (4-7 days) tend to have consistent percentage increases across all room types.
Longer trips (8-15 days) show higher absolute price differences but percentage increases vary widely.
Percentage Increases:
The highest percentage increases are seen in Mini-Suite room types.
Inside rooms have varied increases but show significant hikes on longer trips.
Oceanview rooms tend to have the lowest percentage increases. When the price increased, all room types of fare went up.
When the price increased, all stateroom types of fare went up.
The price often had the same $ increase for both the interior and oceanview rooms in dollars. For example, If the Oceanview room increased by $72 (3.52%), the Interior room also increased by $72 (1.68%).
Booking a cruise can be a significant investment, but with the right strategy, you can enjoy a luxurious vacation without breaking the bank. By understanding monthly trends, comparing last-minute deals with early bird savings, and following our data-driven tips, you'll be well-equipped to secure the best cruise deals.
Don’t miss out on the secrets to booking the perfect cruise at the perfect price! Stay tuned for more travel tips and insights. Wondering how to tip on a cruise? Check that out here!
If this is too overwhelming, here are some general tips for booking your next cruise on any line, not just Royal Caribbean!
Monthly Trends: When to Find the Lowest Prices
One of the key findings from our analysis is the clear trend in monthly cruise prices. By examining booking data over several years, we've identified that certain months consistently offer lower prices.
Best Months to Book
January and February: Post-holiday travel slumps lead to significant discounts.
September and October: Fall offers excellent deals as it's the shoulder season for many cruise destinations.
Booking during these months can help you save substantially, as cruise lines often reduce prices to fill cabins.
Deal Insights: Last-Minute vs. Early Bird Savings
Another crucial aspect of our analysis focused on the timing of your booking relative to your travel date. Here's what we found:
Last-Minute Deals
Within 90 Days: If you have a flexible schedule, booking within 90 days of departure can yield significant savings. Cruise lines drop prices to fill remaining cabins.
Early Bird Savings
6-12 Months in Advance: Booking well in advance can also be beneficial. Early bird discounts are common, and you get the best choice of cabins and itineraries.
Deciding between last-minute deals and early bird savings depends on your flexibility and willingness to risk availability for lower prices.
Data-Driven Tips: Save More on Your Next Cruise
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, here are some actionable tips to help you save on your next cruise:
Travel Off-Peak: Avoid peak seasons like summer and major holidays. Instead, opt for shoulder seasons when prices are lower.
Monitor Prices: Use price tracking tools and set alerts to catch sudden drops in fares.
Book Group Rates: If you're travelling with a group, inquire about group rates, which can offer substantial discounts.
Leverage Loyalty Programs: Frequent cruisers should take advantage of loyalty programs for additional savings and perks.
Booking a Royal Caribbean cruise can be a significant investment, but with the right strategy, you can enjoy a luxurious vacation without breaking the bank. By understanding monthly trends, comparing last-minute deals with early bird savings, and following our data-driven tips, you'll be well-equipped to secure the best cruise deals.
Don’t miss out on the secrets to booking the perfect cruise at the perfect price! Stay tuned for more travel tips and insights.
Let me know your questions!
Disclosure: I am not a travel agent and this is all my personal opinion based on what I have experienced.
If you value the information I share and want to support a Canadian in her travels and help others, feel free to buy me a coffee here
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