Cruise pricing, like hotels on land, changes based on demand. All the major cruise lines use some form of demand-based pricing where different people on the same ship can pay very different prices for the exact same accommodations.
Sometimes it makes sense to book early. That's usually the best chance to pay a lower price, but waiting can also save you money. There are times when a particular sailing does not sell well and prices will drop.
It's an inexact science that has become even more complicated as demand has increased. Deals have become more rare, at least on newer ships. but that does not mean they don't exist.
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In most cases, when booking a cruise, it's best to work with a travel agent because the initial price you pay does not have to be the final price. Until final payment is due (usually about 90 days out) you can usually get onboard credit if the price drops.
That's difficult to track as an individual, but it's part of the job for a good travel agent.
Until recently all the major cruise lines also used a pricing practice that's popular with hotels. They often advertised prices that did not include port fees and taxes. That lets them show a lower, more enticing price, but it's not what guests will actually pay.
That's a policy that Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) have changed nationally based on a new California law. MSC Cruises plans to follow its two larger rivals and make the same pricing transparency change.
Image source: MSC Cruises
MSC will also show the final price
While California is the only state that has made showing the true price including any fees, the law, President Joe Biden has targeted hidden fees and spoke about them in an October speech.
"The Federal Trade Commission is proposing a new rule that would ban hidden fees across the economy and require companies to show consumers the all-in pricing upfront — upfront. (Applause.) That includes what these fees are for, how much they amount to in full, and whether they are refundable," he said.
So far, efforts to pass that law have failed, but some hotels and travel booking sites have moved to advertise the full price upfront.
Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) and Royal Caribbean had to make the change in California and opted to do the same nationwide.
The cruise lines, it should be noted, were not adding on fees in the way that hotels charged resort fees for WiFi, pool access, and parking that consumers had no option to opt out of. Instead, they generally did not advertise taxes and port fees upfront which led to surprises at checkout.
People generally expect that taxes will be added on, but new or infrequent cruisers likely did not know that port fees, which can be significant depending on your itinerary would be added. This pricing change brings pricing clarity to customers as they book.
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MSC Cruises will also show the final price
MSC Cruises has been expanding its presence in the United States and plans to adopt the same upfront pricing transparency as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The change will go into effect June 26.
"This change does not impact the overall price paid by our guests or the commissionable portion of the cruise fare earned by our trusted travel partners," the company said in a media statement.
Related: Royal Caribbean makes major onboard beverage changes
The cruise line has been steadily growing its presence in the US and that will continue.
"MSC Cruises unveiled an expanded slate of itineraries today, aimed at offering a wider variety of vacation options for guests departing from the line’s four U.S. homeports. The company’s Winter 2025/2026 season includes seven ships with sailings from Miami, Port Canaveral, New York City, and Galveston, all of which are available for immediate booking," the cruise line shared on its website.
The expansion includes the cruise line bringing MSC Seascape to Galveston, Texas, marking its first time having a ship homeport there. MSC will also welcome a new flagship, MSC World America, which will debut in Miami in April 2025.
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