When it comes to affordable vacations, it can be hard to beat cruising. Yes, you can spend as much as you want (including tens of thousands of dollars on the fanciest rooms, if you feel so inclined). But on the other end of the spectrum you can spend very little to get a great vacation.
Case in point: Our list of cruises under $300.
Taking a cruise doesn’t have to break the bank. There are sailings available that run less money than you think, even with taxes and fees included.
In that list you’ll find a dozen trips that can take you to some of the world’s nicest beaches for less than three bills per person. However, while those cruises are popular, you usually can only cruise for a few days to meet that sort of budget.
That’s why we expanded our search with this list of cruises under $550. With just a couple of hundred dollars extra per person, your list of options expands dramatically. Perhaps best of all, many week-long cruises are now within your budget.
What follows below are not necessarily the cheapest cruises you can take. Instead, we’ve highlighted a number of vacations that are under $550 and unique or good deals for varied reasons. This includes a trip aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and some of the cheapest trips aboard a newer ship that we’ve seen.
The fares shown below are at the time of writing and subject to change. All fares are on a per-person basis for interior cabins, and included taxes and fees.
6 Night Mexico Cruise From Los Angeles on Carnival
Date: January 6, 2025
Ship: Carnival Radiance | Ports: Cabo San Lucas (Two Days), Ensenada
Price: $439
For years it seems like Miami has been the king of cheap cruises. However, Los Angeles is seeing fares that are even lower, giving you a chance to vacation for less. Case in point is this six-night cruise from LA to Mexico. For under $450, you get a two-day stay in Cabo San Lucas, along with two days at sea and a stop in Ensenada.
At this price, it’s almost cheaper to go on vacation than it is to stay at home. Learn more about this trip.
5 Night Bahamas Cruise From Tampa on Carnival
Date: February 7, 2026
Ship: Carnival Paradise | Ports: Celebration Key, Nassau
Price: $509
Following a change in cruise pricing that saw taxes and fees now included in cruise prices, the price you actually pay hasn’t changed, but the headline fares advertised have risen significantly. That’s why a cruise priced around $100 per day used to be commonplace, but it now a great deal.
This cruise comes in at that level, but there’s another reason to be excited. It departs Tampa and heads to Celebration Key, Carnival’s new private island set to open in 2025. After that it’s a port stop in Nassau before returning to Florida. All that for about $500 per person is a great deal. Learn more about this trip.
7 Night Caribbean Cruise From Miami on MSC
Date: November 30, 2025
Ship: MSC Divina | Ports: Ocean Cay, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios
Price: $529
It’s hard to beat MSC when it comes to inexpensive fares. This cruise comes in at just over $75 per person, per day even with the taxes and fees included. That’s outstanding. For those that like port-heavy itineraries, the news gets better.
This sailing features four ports of call over the trip, each in a different country. Depart Miami and you’ll head to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay (one of our favorites). Then it’s on to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and a stop in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, before returning home. That’s visiting a total of five countries in seven days, for under $550 per person. Learn more about this trip.
3 Night Bahamas Cruise From Miami on Royal Caribbean
Date: January 23, 2026
Ship: Wonder of the Seas | Ports: CocoCay, Nassau
Price: $501
We would be the first to admit that $500 for a three-day cruise isn’t greatest deal. So why include this trip?
First, Royal Caribbean is historically a little pricier than its main rival Carnival and other lines like MSC. But this trip is also aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world and goes to the cruise line’s extremely popular private island.
This cruise aboard Wonder of the Seas sails from Miami for $501 per person, all in. Along the way you will make stops in CocoCay and in Nassau.
Wonder of the Seas is part of the Oasis-class ships, which rank as the biggest in the world. Due to the size, they are able to offer an experience that’s unlike any other class of ships on the planet. Learn more about this trip.
3 Night Bahamas Cruise From Port Canaveral on NCL
Date: February 3, 2026
Ship: Norwegian Breakaway| Ports: Great Stirrup Cay, Nassau
Price: $468
Another cruise that sees a charge of nearly $500 for a three-day cruise may not get you too excited. But what’s unique about this one is that it includes Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” offer that bundles a number of perks into the cruise fare.
First, this cruise takes you from the Orlando area over to NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. This spot is your own tropical paradise to relax and enjoy a day on the beach. Then it’s on to Nassau.
With this fare, you get the cruise, but also get the “Free at Sea perks, including drink package (gratuities apply), specialty restaurants, wi-fi, and more. Learn more about this trip.
4 Night Bahamas Cruise From Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity
Date: February 17, 2026
Ship: Celebrity Summit | Ports: Key West, Nassau
Price: $364
Celebrity is a luxury cruise line that’s a step above mass-market lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. In other words, you usually have to pay a bit extra to sail the line. This trip, however, is a real find. It departs Fort Lauderdale for Key West and then Nassau in The Bahamas. At just $364 — for four nights — it’s an inexpensive way to get a taste of a higher-end cruise to see if it’s right for you. Learn more about this trip.
7 Night Caribbean Cruise From Tampa on Celebrity
Date: November 30, 2025
Ship: Celebrity Constellation | Ports: Cozumel, Belize City, Costa Maya
Price: $590
Ok, this cruise doesn’t meet the $550 threshold, but in our search, a quirk in pricing meant that an interior room was $773 per person but an oceanview room was priced at $590. We simply had to include it.
The cruise is also aboard Celebrity, which is known for luxury rather than cheap cruises. For less than $600 (remember, taxes and fees are included!) per person, you’re getting a week-long cruise from Tampa to Cozumel, Belize City, and Costa Maya, along with a couple of days at sea to work on that tan. Learn more about this trip.
4 Night Mexico Cruise From Los Angeles on Royal Caribbean
Date: March 3, 2025
Ship: Navigator of the Seas | Ports: Catalina, Ensenada
Price: $346
The first cruise on our list is a trip from Los Angeles to the west coast of Mexico. You can often find some great deals sailing out of this area. This cruise is shorter — four nights — but also cheaper at less than $350 per person for an interior cabin.
With this trip you get to visit Catalina Island, which we consider one of the most beautiful ports of call we’ve visited. In addition, you stop in Ensenada and have a day at sea to relax on the ship. Learn more about this trip.
7 Night Caribbean Cruise From Tampa on Royal Caribbean
Date: November 29, 2025
Ship: Rhapsody of the Seas | Ports: Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya
Price: $546
One key to finding cheaper cruises is to look into sailings aboard older ships. These might not have all the latest and greatest waterslides, roller coasters, and other amenities but many people actually prefer the slower pace and more manageable size of older vessels.
Case in point: This cruise aboard Rhapsody of the Seas is only $546 for a week-long sailing. Along the way from Tampa, you’ll have stops all along the western Caribbean with four ports, including Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, and Costa Maya. Learn more about this trip.
7 Night Caribbean Cruise From New York on MSC
Date: November 16, 2025
Ship: MSC Meraviglia | Ports: Port Canaveral, Ocean Cay (overnight)
Price: $469
The final cruise on our list is aboard the MSC Meraviglia, a relatively new ship that is one of the most beautiful cruise liners at sea. This cruise will take you from New York — right before Thanksgiving — for a week with stops in sunny Florida, as well as Ocean Cay — MSC’s private island. What’s unique is that you get an overnight stay at the island, which is a rarity in cruising. And getting away for a week doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We found rates starting at $469 per person to escape the brutal winter. Learn more about this trip.The post 10 Cheap Cruises Under $550 Per Person (Taxes & Fees Included!) first appeared on Cruzely.com.
Source: Cruzely.com
