Want to cruise on a budget? We mean really on a budget… in some cases less than $200 all inclusive (taxes and fees included!) for a cruise that can take you away from the daily grind. Because sometimes you just need to get away but don’t have a fortune to spend.
There’s no denying that cruise prices have gone up in recent years, but it can still be one of the most affordable vacation spots you can find. That is, if you know where to look.
That’s why we’ve scoured the cruise lines to bring you the cheapest cruises for the entire year 2025 departing from the USA.
The key to finding cheap cruises
Before we get into the cruises, there are a few things you should know about these trips and why they are so cheap. These details can also help you find other cheap cruises for you.
First, you will notice that These cruises are all shortwith most lasting around three days. This is simply the economics of a cruise. The shorter the cruise, the less you have to pay. Technically, a longer cruise may be cheaper because you pay less per day. But if you’re only concerned about the total price, a shorter cruise is better.
Second, These cruises do not operate in summer or on holidays. like Christmas or spring break. Just like flights or hotel rooms, cruise prices fluctuate depending on the season. The best rule of thumb is to sail cheaper during school season. When there is no school, families can sail more easily, which means more demand and higher prices.
And finally, although we have set specific cruise dates, remember that cruises are a regular occurrence. It may be that we have found the most convenient date, but There are several other times that may cost the same or just a little moreSo if these dates don’t work for you, they could be a starting point to see if the same cruise on a different date fits your budget.
The cheapest cruises for 2025
With these thoughts in mind, we combed through thousands of deals from every cruise line to find the cheapest cruises from the US that we could find. The deals below will get you a cruise for as little as $176 per person in some cases.
Please note that prices are subject to change. These prices include taxes and fees and are per person for an inside cabin.
Two-Day Bahamas Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $176 pp
Margaritaville at Sea is nowhere near as big a player in the cruise business as big names like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, but when it comes to cheap cruise fares, it can’t be beat.
Case in point: This two-day cruise from the Port of Palm Beach to Freeport is the absolute cheapest trip we found, starting at just $176 per person for an inside cabin, taxes and fees included.
The Jimmy Buffett-themed cruise line offers this trip regularly throughout the year, with many dates at this price and even more for just a little more. If you want to get out of town without spending a lot, it doesn’t get cheaper. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
Two-day Bahamas cruise with MSC | 179 USD per person
MSC is known for its insanely cheap cruises, and this voyage takes home the best price we could find for the cruise line in all of 2025 from the United States.
This trip lasts just two nights aboard MSC Seascape and takes you from Miami to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay. This place is the ultimate beach paradise. White sand, bright blue water and plenty of space for everyone.
It’s hard to beat the idea that you can get a two-day cruise to a tropical paradise for less than a single night in a hotel. Find this cruise on MSCCruisesUSA.com.
Three-day Bahamas cruise with MSC | 249 USD per person
Another entry from MSC, this voyage aboard MSC Seashore takes you from Port Canaveral (near Orlando) to Nassau and Ocean Cay.
It takes a day longer than the two-night trip shown above and costs more at $249, but considering that all taxes and fees are included for three days, that’s a pretty low price.
The good news about this cruise is that it is a regular cruise, so there are other dates you can sail for the same or slightly higher price if an early December departure is not an option for you. Find this cruise on MSCCruisesUSA.com.
Three-day Bahamas cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $261 pp
Is a two-night cruise not long enough? Then this three-night trip might be just what you need. It’s short, but not so short that it doesn’t feel like a real vacation.
Like the voyage above, this cruise is aboard the Margaritaville at Sea and departs from Palm Beach. It too has a single stop in Freeport, but with three nights, you’ll have more time to relax. It sails weekly year-round, and the lowest price we found was just $261 per person. In other words, two people can sail for around $500.
Perhaps the best part is that the trip takes place Friday to Monday, so you can take advantage of the weekends and not have to take the whole time off from work. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
Three-day Bahamas cruise with Carnival | $299 pp
Are you a Carnival fan? This is the cheapest cruise we could find for the entire year of 2025 on board Carnival.
This three-day voyage aboard the Carnival Glory takes you from Port Canaveral to Nassau. As far as itineraries go, it’s pretty spartan, as Nassau is the only stop and one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. But if you want to enjoy the ship and maybe have a Guy’s Burger and a few Mai Tais, you can’t beat that price.
This cruise operates weekly year-round, departing on Fridays and returning first thing on Mondays. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Four-day Mexico cruise with Carnival | $314 pp
This is a budget cruise we have personally taken and honestly, it was a favorite. It is a four-day voyage aboard the Carnival Radiance departing from the port of Long Beach, California. Not only is Southern California worth exploring on your own, but the cruise also makes a stop in Catalina Island.
If you’ve never been, Catalina is stunning and, in our opinion, a must-see. It’s an island just off the coast that feels like another world.
From there, we’ll stop in Ensenada and spend a day at sea before heading back to the real world. For only $314 (there are plenty of other dates for just a little more), this is one of the best deals you’ll find. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Five-day Mexico cruise with Carnival | $334 pp
When it comes to cheap cruises, the Los Angeles area is probably one of the best places to find bargains. This cruise from Long Beach costs five nights and just $334 per person in an inside cabin.
This fare takes you aboard Carnival Firenze and sails to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada in Baja California. Plus, you’ll have two days at sea to work on your tan, enjoy the ship, watch shows, and just have fun.
Honestly, less than $350 is a good deal for any vacation. For a five-day cruise? That’s a steal. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Four-day Mexico cruise with Royal Caribbean | 340 USD per person
We mentioned cheap cruises from Los Angeles. If you’re a Royal Caribbean fan, this is your ticket from California. For just $340 per person, you can join this voyage and get everything Royal Caribbean has to offer for much less than you’d normally pay.
This four-day cruise aboard Navigator of the Seas includes a stop in Catalina Island, one in Ensenada, and a day at sea in between. You’ll want to use this day at sea to explore the ship, which, while not Royal Caribbean’s largest, offers plenty to do while being more manageable than the largest ships. Find this cruise on RoyalCaribbean.com.
Four-day Mexico cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $373 per person
How much cheaper is sailing during school term? We found this four-day cruise for $373 in late January, but it costs nearly double in the height of summer.
This voyage takes place aboard Margaritaville on the Sea Islander. The Islander is the cruise line’s second ship and departs from Tampa, which may be easier for some passengers to get to than Palm Beach. This cruise departs from Florida and heads to Cozumel, where you can do everything from relaxing on the beach to snorkeling in some of the most beautiful waters in the world.
In addition, there are two days at sea where you can simply relax and unwind. At four nights, it’s long enough to really unwind without taking up your entire vacation. This cruise also runs Friday to Tuesday, so it’s ideal for those who can’t take much time off from work. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
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