Do you like to cruise cheap? We’re talking real cheap… in some cases less than $200 all-in (taxes and fees included!) for a cruise that can get you out of the ordinary. Because sometimes you just need to get away but you don’t have a fortune to spend.
There’s little arguing that in recent years cruise prices have risen, but it can still be one of the most affordable vacations 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 all of 2025, sailing from the United States.
The Keys to Finding Cheap Cruises
Before we dive into the cruises, you should know a few things about these trips and why they are so inexpensive. These details can also help you find other cheap cruises of your own.
First, you’ll notice that these cruises are all short, with most being around three days. That’s just the simple economics of cruising. The shorter the cruise, the less you will have to pay. Now, technically a longer cruise can be a better value as you are paying less per day. But if you’re just worried about the total price, then shorter is better.
Second, these cruises won’t sail during the summer or big holidays like Christmas or Spring Break. Just like flights or hotel rooms, the prices for cruises fluctuate with seasons. The best rule of thumb is that you’ll sail for less when school is in session. When school is out, it’s easier for families to sail, meaning more demand and higher prices.
Finally, while we’ve pinpointed specific cruise dates, keep in mind that cruises are running regularly. It may be that we’ve found the cheapest date, but there are several other times that can cost the same or just a little more. So if these dates don’t work for you, they could be a starting point for seeing if the same cruise on a different date might also be in your budget.
The Cheapest Cruises for 2025
With these thoughts in mind, we scoured across thousands of listings from all the cruise lines to come up with what are the least expensive cruises from the United States we could find. The listings below can get you sailing for as little as $176 per person in some cases.
Note that prices can change. These fares include taxes and fees and are per person for a interior cabin.
Two-Night Bahamas Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $176 pp
- September 15, 2025
Margaritaville at Sea is by no means as big a player in cruising as major names like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, but when it comes to cheap cruise fares, it won’t be beaten.
Case in point — this two-night cruise from the Port of Palm Beach to Freeport is the absolute cheapest trip we found. It starts at just $176 per person for an interior cabin with taxes and fees included.
The Jimmy Buffett-themed cruise line sails this trip regularly throughout the year, with lots of dates for this price and even more for just slightly more. If you want to get out of town without spending much, it doesn’t get any cheaper. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
Two-Night Bahamas Cruise on MSC | $179 pp
- November 2, 2025
MSC is known for having insanely cheap cruises and this trip takes the crown for having the cheapest price for the cruise line we could find for all of 2025 from the United States.
This trip is just two nights aboard MSC Seascape, taking you from Miami to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay. This spot is the ultimate when it comes to a beach paradise. White sand, electric blue water, and lots of space for everyone.
The idea that you can get a cruise for two nights to a tropical paradise for less than the cost of a single night stay at a hotel is hard to beat. Find this cruise on MSCCruisesUSA.com.
Three-Night Bahamas Cruise on MSC | $249 pp
- December 4, 2025
Another entry from MSC, this trip aboard MSC Seashore takes you from Port Canaveral (near Orlando) to Nassau and Ocean Cay.
It’s a day longer than the two-night trip shown above, and it does come in at a higher price of $249. Still, considering that’s all taxes and fees included for three days, that’s a pretty low price.
The good news with this cruise is that it sails regularly, so there are other dates where you can sail for the same amount or slightly more if an early December departure doesn’t work for you. Find this cruise on MSCCruisesUSA.com.
Three-Night Bahamas Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $261 pp
- February 21, 2025
Is a two-night cruise not long enough? This three-night trip may be just the thing. It’s short, but not too short that it doesn’t feel like an actual vacation.
Like the trip above, this cruise is aboard Margaritaville at Sea, departing Palm Beach. And it also has a single stop in Freeport. But with three nights you’ll have more time to unwind. It sails weekly throughout the year and the lowest price we found was just $261 per person. In other words, two people can sail for right around $500.
Perhaps best of all is that the trip sails Friday-Monday meaning you get to take advantage of a weekend days instead of having to take the entire time off work. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
Three-Night Bahamas Cruise on Carnival | $299 pp
- January 31, 2025
Are you a Carnival fan? This is the least expensive cruise we could find aboard Carnival for all of 2025.
This three-night trip aboard Carnival Glory takes you from Port Canaveral to Nassau. As far as itineraries go, it’s fairly bare-bones as Nassau is the only stop and one of the busiest cruise ports on the planet. But if you’re going to enjoy the ship, maybe grab a Guy’s burger and have a few mai tais, then you can’t beat this price.
This cruise sails weekly over the course of the year, departing on a Friday and returning first thing Monday morning. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Four-Night Mexico Cruise on Carnival | $314 pp
- January 26, 2025
This is one inexpensive cruise that we’ve personally taken, and frankly, it was a favorite. It’s a four-night trip aboard Carnival Radiance that departs the Port of Long Beach in California. Not only is Southern California worthy of exploring on its own, but the cruise makes a port of call at Catalina Island.
If you’ve never visited, Catalina is breathtaking, and we think it’s a must-see. It’s an island just off the coast that feels a world away.
From there, it’s a stop in Ensenada and a day at sea before heading back to the real world. At just $314 (there are lots of other dates for only a little more), this is one of the best deals you’ll find. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Five-Night Mexico Cruise on Carnival | $334 pp
- January 28, 2025
When it comes to cheap cruises, the Los Angeles area might be one of the best spots to find deals. This cruise from Long Beach is five nights for just $334 per person for an interior cabin.
With that fare, you’ll be aboard Carnival Firenze, sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada in Baja California. In addition, you have two days at sea to work on the tan, enjoy the ship, watch shows, and generally enjoy yourself.
Frankly, less than $350 for any vacation is a good deal. For a five-day cruise? That’s a steal. Find this cruise on Carnival.com.
Four-Night Mexico Cruise on Royal Caribbean | $340 pp
- February 24, 2025
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 sail on this trip and get all that Royal Caribbean has to offer for way less than you normally pay.
This four-day cruise aboard Navigator of the Seas includes a stop at Catalina Island, a stop in Ensenada, and a day at sea in between. You’ll want that day at sea to explore the ship, which isn’t Royal Caribbean’s largest, but offers tons to do in a more manageable package than its biggest vessels. Find this cruise on RoyalCaribbean.com.
Four-Night Mexico Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea | $373 pp
- January 28, 2025
How much cheaper is it to sail when school is in session? We found this four-night cruise for $373 in late January, but it costs nearly twice as much during the peak of summer.
This trip is aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander. Islander is the cruise line’s second ship, sailing out of Tampa, which might be easier for some passengers to reach than Palm Beach. This cruise departs Florida and heads to Cozumel, where you can do everything from just hang out on the beach to snorkel in some of the most beautiful water on the planet.
In addition, there are two days at sea where you can just relax and unwind. At four nights, it’s long enough to truly disconnect without taking up all your vacation. This cruise also sails Friday through Tuesday, making it ideal for those that can’t take much time off work. Find this cruise on MargaritavilleAtSea.com.
More Cruise Deals:
- 10 Cheap Cruises Under $550 Per Person (Taxes & Fees Included!)
- 12 Cruises Under $300 Per Person (Updated)
