ruby princess cruise ship san francisco schedule

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San Francisco (California)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region West Coast USA and Canada

Local Time 2024-06-08 08:05

Port San Francisco cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from San Francisco, California. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

San Francisco cruise port handles over 70 cruise ships with around 200,000 passengers annually. The city has population over 870,000 (metro around 4,7 million) and is known as ”Everybody’s Favorite City” because of its diverse communities and cultural attractions.

Port San Francisco CA

Port San Francisco is managed by San Francisco Harbor Commission (appointed by the city's Mayor). The seaport itself manages the waterfront area (length approx 8 ml / 13 km) from Golden Gate Bridge anchorage, along Marina district, all the way around the city's northern and eastern shores (includes Fisherman's Wharf and Embarcadero) and southward beyond Candlestick Point.

Port of San Francisco (port authority company) is a state-owned revenue-generating agency. It manages the seaport's wide range of commercial and maritime facilities, plus approx 7,5 ml (12 km) long waterfront. The port is located on San Francisco Bay's western edge, near the Golden Gate Bridge. It is ranked as one of the world's 3 largest natural harbors.

The port area, besides the waterfront lands, also includes commercial real estate and docking piers - between Hyde Str (north) and India Basin (southeast). Among the landmarks under the Port Authority control is Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Ferry Building, AT&T Park (next to China Basin), Pier 70 (Potrero Point). Huge piers jut out into the bay along much of the city's waterfront, which is bordered by the roadway Embarcadero (port's eastern waterfront).

• Port's cargo ship handling facilities were built in the city's southeastern corner - at Piers 80, 92, 94, 96. The seaport also provides full ship repair services at its drydock yard (managed by BAE Systems Ship Repair) at Pier 70.
• Fisherman's Wharf serves as a base for the city's commercial fishing fleet. This is also one of the Pacific Coast USA's best-known and well-developed tourist attractions. Here are located Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, The Cannery (shopping center), Ghirardelli Square, Ripley's Believe It or Not (odditorium), Musee Mecanique (world's largest privately-owned museum), Wax Museum, Forbes Island (floating restaurant). Numerous restaurants and street stands serve fresh-caught seafood. Among the most popular dishes are Dungeness crab and clam chowder (both served in a bread bowl).
• Pier 39 is a major shopping center and among the city's best-known tourist attractions. The list of facilities and activities includes restaurants, shops, a 2-story carousel, video arcade, aquarium, virtual 3D rides, yacht marina, live street performances. At the marina is also the floating restaurant "Forbes Island".
• Pier 70 is a former (19th-century) industrial area with iron and steel mills, shipbuilding yards and manufacturing facilities (Union Iron Works, Bethlehem Shipbuilding, US Navy). Currently, Pier 70 is used by BAE Systems Ship Repair (a subsidiary of the British corporation BAE Systems Inc) and by Sims Group (Sims Metal Management company/metals and electronics recycling). In 2015, San Francisco Port Commission extended the seaport's lease agreement with BAE Systems (ship repair yard plus 2 floating drydocks) through 2045. The agreement sustains San Francisco's 150-year tradition of shipbuilding and ship repair services. BAE's shipyard employs around 250 skilled workers on a year-round basis, plus additional (up to 1000) local workers during peak periods. Both floating drydocks and the port's location make them ideal for cruise vessels. Here are also refurbished and repaired US Navy and cargo ships.
• AT&T Park (fka SBC Park, and Pacific Bell Park) is a large stadium used for Major League Baseball. The park is rented from the seaport by San Francisco Giants (professional baseball team) since the year 2000.

San Francisco Ferry Building used to serve steamship ferries to  Los Angeles CA , Portland OR , Seattle WA , Alaska and Canada's British Columbia. In 2003, this historic building was restored and reopened. Today it houses a premium gourmet marketplace (lower floors) and office spaces (on upper floors). The building also serves San Francisco Bay Ferry (also operating from Pier 39) to ports in Oakland, Alameda, Bay Farm Island, Vallejo . The other ferry operator using this terminal is Golden Gate Ferry (between San Francisco and Marin County CA / San Francisco Bay Area).

On January 10, 2019, was inaugurated the ferry service from Richmond CA to downtown San Francisco. Ferryboats depart from Richmond's new (USD 20 million) ferry terminal adjacent to The Craneway Pavilion. The new terminal also offers free parking (362 lots). The crossing ends at San Francisco Ferry Building, with crossing time 35 min. San Francisco Bay Ferry Service operates the new route with 4 crossings from Richmond (morning commute hours) and 4 return crossings from San Francisco (evening commute hours). Ferry tickets price is $9. Discounts are offered to Clipper Card users ($6,75) and to disabled/seniors/kids ($4,50).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Port's cruise shipping operations were paused for 19 months (March 2020 thru October 2021).

San Francisco cruise port

San Francisco is a turnaround (home) port for major cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, NCL-Norwegian. The port is often visited as part of repositioning itineraries (transits through Panama Canal ) between Florida and Alaska. In recent years, also offered are roundtrips from San Francisco to Alaska and Hawaii.

The port's largest cruise liner so far is NCL 's Alaskan ship  Norwegian Bliss  (LOA length 326 m / 1070 ft, max capacity 4900 passengers plus 1730 crew). The maiden call was scheduled for October 3, 2018. San Francisco was the only call port on the 4-day Alaska repositioning cruise (itinerary Oct 1-5) from Vancouver BC to Los Angeles CA . NCL Bliss arrived at 9 am and left port at 7 pm.

In 2017, the port handled a total of 286,352 cruise passengers. For 2018 were scheduled a total of 82 ship calls and estimated ~300,000 passengers.

Port San Francisco provides shore-to-ship power capabilities. The technology (by Nidec Corporation, Japan) enables docked vessels to receive electricity from the city's power grid. From the berth, vessels can plugin directly to the grid which allows full onboard operations without using the diesel engines (being shut down right after docking). The Japanese company has installed such shore-power systems in ports Los Angeles CA ,  Juneau AK , Goteborg ,  Travemunde , Livorno , Genoa .

San Francisco cruise terminal

San Francisco cruise port terminal is located at the western end of San Francisco Bay in the midway between the Fisherman’s Wharf and the Bay Bridge. It is along San Francisco City's waterfront (Embarcadero) at Pier 35.

Most of the city's highlights are within walking distance from the terminal. Easily reachable are popular restaurants, hotels, theaters, museums. The cruise port is also at 1/2 hours drive distance from San Francisco International Airport.

San Francisco Pier 27 cruise terminal

The terminal has a new shore power technology which allows equipped cruise liners (like Princess’ or Carnival's vessels) to use the city's grid power system instead of their diesel engines to supply onboard services while berthed/docked. This innovation reduces the ships’ emissions at the cruise terminal.

The biggest ship ever docked at Pier 35 is RMS Queen Mary 2 . The new San Francisco cruise terminal (officially "James R. Herman Cruise Terminal") was inaugurated in August 2014. It was built at Pier 27 (at the corner of The Embarcadero and Lombard Street) and replaced the old Pier 35 terminal facility.

The new Pier 27 cruise terminal is operational since August 2014. It features a new modern building, electric shore-to-ship power, large holding areas, customs screening. Currently, the cruise port handles up to 80 ship calls and around 200,000 passengers. In 2013, the  Princess Cruises  ship  Grand Princess became the first-ever liner home-ported in San Francisco for year-round turnaround operations. The round-trip itineraries (operated between March 2013 and April 2014) visited ports in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico Riviera.

The Golden Gate Bridge: the world’s most famous bridge and top photograph attraction on the Earth. It has 1.7 moles span and 120,000 automobiles get across it each day. On the western side are allowed bikes, you can also cross it on food at the pedestrian walkway.

Cable cars: date from the end of the 19th century. They are driven by an underground cable and run on defined tracks. The ticket costs $5. you can purchase it at the turnaround of the car.

Alcatraz: well-known prison, no one could escape it. Alcatraz is closed since the 1960′s. It is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, on Alcatraz Island. You can take a ferry from Pier 43.

Fisherman’s Wharf: interesting marketplace, at Pier 39.

Union Square: shopping center. You can find top designer boutiques like Geary, Post, Stockton, Sutter, Powell, and Grant.

North Beach: don’t mistake it with a beach! It is a romantic European-style neighborhood. It is located along Grant avenues and Columbus, near Washington Square. Landmark is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

Chinatown: enter through the “Dragon’s Gate” at Grant Avenue and Bush Street and find exotic shops, temples, museums, food markets, herb shops, and restaurants.

Dining in San Francisco: try Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Greek, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Malaysian, French, Moroccan, Mexican or a tasteful combination of all those.

Nightlife in San Francisco: visit the “hottest” night clubs and enjoy different music styles.

Museums: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, the de Young Museum, the Asian Art Museum, the California Academy of Sciences

San Francisco tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Hometown Cruise Ship Ruby Princess Debuts at Port of San Francisco for Series of Cruises to California Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Panama Canal & Alaska

Guests enjoy an array of entertainment and dining options, plus the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising with medallionclass.

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San Francisco’s hometown cruise ship, Ruby Princess, became Princess Cruises’ sixth MedallionClass ship back in service yesterday, setting sail from the Port of San Francisco. The ship welcomed the first guests back onboard with a special ceremony before sailing underneath the iconic Golden Gate Bridge on a seven-day California Coast cruise, returning on Nov. 7.

The cruise ship will be sailing out of the Port of San Francisco to various sought-after destinations including Mexico, Hawaii, the California Coast, Alaska and the Panama Canal on five- to 15-day cruises available for booking through 2023.

"Princess is proud to have our sixth MedallionClass ship back to provide sought-after cruise vacations," said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. "It's inspiring to see guests enjoying real vacations again, and to watch our teammates deliver such meaningful and memorable Princess vacations."

Ruby Princess offers nearly 900 balconies from which to view the world, an array of entertainment options including Movies Under the Stars and original musical productions, sumptuous dining options from Crown Grill to Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and exciting new top-deck dining venues including Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones. Guests can also relax and renew with rejuvenating spa treatments, the tranquility of The Sanctuary, a top-deck retreat reserved just for adults and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Earlier this month another Princess cruise ship, Majestic Princess, arrived in San Francisco for an overnight port call, marking the first cruise to bring guests to San Francisco since the industry pause. Long-time partners from the Port of San Francisco welcomed the cruise line back, recognizing the financial impact to local businesses. Now, with Ruby Princess’ arrival as the city’s hometown cruise ship, small and family-owned waterfront establishments will continue to benefit.

“The Port of San Francisco is proud to be the home port of Ruby Princess,” said Elaine Forbes, Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “For over fifty years Princess Cruises has sailed from the Port of San Francisco connecting our local merchants, Fisherman’s Wharf, PIER 39 and our iconic City to communities all-around the world.”

Princess MedallionClass vacations deliver the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising. It begins with the Medallion™, a quarter-sized, wearable device that enables everything from touch-free boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship.

In addition, guests can share their favorite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best WiFi at sea, and also stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favorite movies and shows.

Princess Cruises sailings onboard Ruby Princess are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. All fully vaccinated guests must also produce a negative, medically observed COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within two days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.

For the latest Princess COVID-19 health protocols, please visit https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/ .

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/ .

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Ruby Princess - Current Position

$106 / day #70 of 170 ships

$119 / day #50 of 249 ships

$163 / day #73 of 238 ships

$204 / day #31 of 290 ships

1 : 0.4 #137 of ships

1 : 36.8 #199 of 261 ships

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• Current Position

We are tracking and are calculationg it's position based on its itinerary. Check the following map to see current location. We have also highlighted all ports that is sailing to with markers..

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Ruby Princess passengers stuck until Sunday after cruise ship smacks into Pier 27

Ruby princess passengers stuck until sunday.

Passengers aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship will stick around San Francisco a while longer as repair work on the damaged vessel is still underway.

SAN FRANCISCO - A cruise ship that has been docked in  San Francisco  after it  smacked into Pier 27 , will stick around through the weekend pending clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard.

A spokesperson with Princess Cruises told KTVU late Friday afternoon that the Ruby Princess cruise ship won't set sail until Sunday at 4 p.m. The cruise line had initially hoped to get authorization to depart Friday.

"Following today’s inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard, Princess Cruises has been advised that Ruby Princess will be cleared to sail once the area damaged in yesterday’s incident in San Francisco has been fully repaired," the cruise line said in a statement.

As a result of the delayed departure, the company has modified the trip itinerary, from a 10-day voyage to Alaska to a 7-day trip.

Passengers have the option to cancel their cruise with a 100% refund, and they will also receive a 50% credit for a future trip. Passengers who want to continue their trip on the Ruby Princess will receive a 75% refund, and a 75% credit for a future voyage.

While the Ruby Princess is docked in San Francisco, passengers are free to come and go.

Passenger shares experience on damaged Ruby Princess cruise ship

Don Thompson gives his experience aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship that remains docked in San Francisco after it collided into Pier 27.

During a Zoom interview, Ruby Princess passenger Paige Gacayun, said that the ship is not chaotic and everything is calm.

"Everything is up and running and going, so it's like we're at sea. The only things we don't have access to are the casino and the boutique shops," she said.

She expressed confidence in the cruise line's ability to repair the damage and decided not to immediately inform the rest of her family who were traveling with her about the accident.

"As we were boarding, somebody in front of us turned around and said, ‘Hey, did you guys hear about the hole on the ship?’ And I was like ‘No, don’t tell them!’ My family was all surprised when they found out," she said.

The collision caused a large gash in the underside of the ship.

Gacayun and her husband, sister, and brother-in-law boarded the ship on Thursday around noon.

Upon arrival in San Francisco, the Ruby Princess made unexpected contact with the dock at Pier 27 while returning from a 10-day roundtrip to Alaska. No injuries occurred, and at no point were any of the 3,328 guests or 1,161 crew members on board in danger. All those passengers were let off Thursday morning.

A new round of passengers boarded the damaged cruise ship that afternoon, eager to take off for Alaska. But instead of making the 2,200-mile voyage north, they were stuck on board having to sleep overnight at the San Francisco Port.

Despite the long delay, some passengers seemed to be in an upbeat mood.

"The comedy show last night was great. Breakfast buffet was great," Lisa Barnes wrote on a Ruby Princess Facebook page. "I’m happy to be on the boat. Walked four miles around the ship yesterday, doing the exploring thing. Life is good."

Patience runs thin for cruise passengers stuck in San Francisco

Patience is running thin for Princess Cruise ship passengers stuck in San Francisco after the boat smacked into a pier causing a gash in its underside. Dave Detling reports

Passengers told KTVU the captain has been giving updates on the ship’s status. "They happen about every two hours," said passenger Tod Imperato. "I understand the captain is reading from a memo that’s been handed to him, but it would certainly be helpful to have more information to know what to expect."

Despite the situation, passenger Don Thompson maintains a positive attitude. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the limited information provided by the cruise line. Thompson mentioned that guests were not informed that there were problems with the ship until the originally scheduled departure time.

"Overall they kept it pretty quite, and I'm going to guess that 75-80% of the passengers had no idea until the first announcement came Thursday night," he said.

He added," there's a handful of frustration now about having to make a decision on whether to stay or whether to go."

Thompson has chosen to remain aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship, hoping that the ordeal will ultimately prove worthwhile.

Cruise ship that hit San Francisco dock remains in port, waits for clearance to sail

By nbc bay area staff • published july 7, 2023 • updated on july 7, 2023 at 11:16 pm.

A Princess Cruises ship that hit a dock at San Francisco's Pier 27 Thursday morning has been delayed in departing on its next voyage as it waits for clearance to set sail.

Ruby Princess was scheduled to depart for Alaska Thursday afternoon, but the ship was still docked as of late Friday morning.

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In a statement issued at 4 p.m. Friday, Princess Cruises said the ship will depart on Sunday at the earliest. The company released the following statement:

"Following today’s inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard, Princess Cruises has been advised that Ruby Princess will be cleared to sail once the area damaged in yesterday’s incident in San Francisco has been fully repaired.

Repairs are underway and our technical experts estimate that repairs are likely to take upwards of 24 hours, and the new estimated departure time from San Francisco is 1600 local time on Sunday, July 9.

As a result, the itinerary for Ruby Princess is being revised and the ship will now sail a 7-day Pacific Northwest/Alaska voyage, visiting Ketchikan on July 12 and Prince Rupert on July 13, returning to San Francisco on July 16 for disembarkation as originally scheduled. Guests will be free to come and go from the ship while alongside in San Francisco beginning this afternoon.

Princess has considered all possible alternatives and has selected this itinerary to preserve as much of our guests’ precious vacation time as possible. We deeply regret the disappointment the delays have caused and appreciate our guests’ understanding as we manage this unexpected situation.

Guests who elect to cancel their cruise will receive a 100% refund of their cruise fare, post-cruise hotel packages and transfers booked through Princess, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items and taxes, fees and port expenses. Each guest will also receive a 50% Future Cruise Credit of the cruise fare paid on this voyage, which may be applied to any future Princess cruise that is booked by February 1, 2024 and sails by February 1, 2025. They may remain onboard until 1100 local time on Sunday, July 9 to better assist with alternative plans they may be making.

Guest who will continue with their Princess vacation will receive a 75% refund of the cruise fare paid as well as unused pre-paid shore excursions booked through Princess and the refundable portion of the taxes, fees and port expenses for the missed ports. Each guest will also receive a 75% Future Cruise Credit equal to the cruise fare paid on this voyage, which may be applied to any future Princess cruise that is booked by February 1, 2024 and sails by February 1, 2025.

Upon arrival to San Francisco on July 6, Ruby Princess made unexpected contact with the dock at Pier 27 as she was returning from a 10-day roundtrip Alaska voyage. There were no injuries and at no time were any of the guests or crew on board in danger. Ruby Princess now has 3328 guests and 1161 crew onboard."

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Cruise ship hits dock at San Francisco pier; No injuries reported

Passengers dodge flying chairs, cling to rails as storm hits cruise ship

No one was hurt Thursday morning when the ship made "unexpected contact" with the dock while docking, the company said.

The ship, filled with 3,328 guests and 1,159 crew members, was returning to San Francisco following a 10-day roundtrip cruise to Alaska, the company said.

Embarkation for the delayed voyage was completed on Thursday. There are 3,256 guests and 1,161 crew members on board, according to the company.

The company said it was working hard to maintain as much of the planned itinerary as possible and that it would provide goodwill compensation once the full effect of the necessary charges is known.

This article tagged under:

Cruise Ship   Ruby Princess

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• Sapphire Princess 3.214 passengers 28 Sep 2024 - 07:00
• ms Zaandam 1.718 passengers 28 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 29 Sep 2024 - 07:00
• Oceania Regatta 803 passengers 29 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Miracle 2.549 passengers 01 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Radiance Of The Seas 2.546 passengers 01 Oct 2024 - 12:30
• Discovery Princess 4.402 passengers 02 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam 2.527 passengers 02 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Majestic Princess 4.272 passengers 03 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam 2.527 passengers 04 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Oceania Regatta 803 passengers 05 Oct 2024 - 09:00
• Quantum Of The Seas 4.819 passengers 06 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• Discovery Princess 4.402 passengers 08 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Majestic Princess 4.272 passengers 15 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 15 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Norwegian Encore 4.903 passengers 15 Oct 2024 - 12:00
• Discovery Princess 4.402 passengers 22 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 26 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Norwegian Jewel 2.866 passengers 01 Nov 2024 - 09:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 02 Nov 2024 - 07:00
• ms Koningsdam 3.194 passengers 05 Nov 2024 - 07:00
• Discovery Princess 4.402 passengers 05 Nov 2024 - 08:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 09 Nov 2024 - 07:00
• Ruby Princess 3.672 passengers 16 Nov 2024 - 07:00

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Find the best cruise for you

Featured cruise deals, cruising guide, why take a cruise vacation.

If you have a place on your bucket list, chances are, a cruise will get you there – provided the destination is along a coastline or inland waterway. Cruises cover the world, taking millions of passengers each year to regions such as the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean and even Antarctica. Cruising offers a tremendous value, with trips that include your lodging, meals and entertainment – all rolled into one. Some luxury cruise lines even offer fully inclusive vacations, which cover drinks and tours ashore. And best of all, cruising means seeing the world conveniently after unpacking only once.

Cruises also provide a wonderful option for families, with many ships offering things like waterslides, mini-golf courses and fun clubs for kids, tweens and teens. While most are free, nursery programs can cost extra. Planning is easy: Pick your destination and the right ship (and line) for your travel style. The cruise line makes it simple, offering packages to help you save on extras like alcohol, shore tours or even airfare.

Travelers say they choose to cruise because cruising often costs less per night when compared with land vacations at a hotel, where they'll have to book -- and pay for -- every extra.

What are Tips for Finding Cheap Cruises?

If you're a flexible traveler, you'll have a better chance of finding cheap cruises. Take a cruise that doesn't sail over the summer or holidays, when prices are highest. Book an inside cabin, or take your chances with a "guarantee cabin," ideal for passengers who aren't picky about their stateroom location but really want the lowest price available. Book cabins on lower decks, which often come with lower prices than those rooms on higher floors – that is staterooms over suites.

Cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International offer rates that might drop as low as $75 per person per night -- and sometimes even lower.

If you want a real bargain, consider a transatlantic or repositioning cruise. These cruises are one-way or open-jaw trips, that start in one port and finish at another. You can score a deal sailing from Florida to Europe, for example, or even from New York to Florida. Just be aware, you'll probably have to pay a bit more for airfare to return.

What are Tips to Finding Last-Minute Cruise Deals?

While being flexible date wise will always get you the best last-minute cruise deals, it's particularly helpful if you live near a cruise port and can quickly drive there. That way you'll probably be able to jump on those deals that might pop up just a week or two before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Or if you don't have flexibility with either departure dates or embarkation locations, be willing to compromise on exact destinations. This will allow you to find a wider range of last-minute deals traveling to locations in their off-season or so-called shoulder season.

Do plenty of research and know what your ideal cruise is and costs on average, so both are already on your radar. When you see it drop, pounce! (Many cruise lines update pricing several times per day, so preparation is crucial.)

Best cruises in 2024

There's truly a cruise style and ship for everyone, and that has never been more the case than in 2024, as vessels continue to come in an array of sizes – from riverboats and expedition vessels to the largest-ever mega ships. And it's not an exaggeration to say some are loaded with so many activities that you couldn't possibly enjoy them all in a single sailing.

Families will find plenty of options and activities onboard big ships, which have transformed cruising, making the vessels as exciting as the destinations themselves. The Caribbean is always a great option for families, offering lots of sunshine, great beaches and culture. Alaska, famous for its incredible vistas and abundant wildlife, is also a solid family cruise option. Consider cruise brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and even Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line for a great multi-generational voyage.

Or on the smaller side, by comparison, river cruising remains a hot ticket item this year, with exciting routes that send eager guests down the Danube or Rhine rivers in Europe or to lesser-frequented locations, like the Mekong River in Cambodia or Vietnam, or soon the Magdalena River in Colombia. Popular river cruises embark in timeless cities like Amsterdam, Budapest and Lisbon. River cruise lines to consider encompass Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, Tauck, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Riverside Luxury Cruises, as well as American Cruise Lines for a domestic alternative.

If you're an adventurer at heart, an expedition cruise might be best for you. These voyages, often onboard small ships (only a few hundred passengers tops), offer an intimate experience that brings passengers right up next to glaciers, whales, penguins and iguanas. Ships visit tiny spots all over the world – from pole to pole – including the Arctic, Alaska, Australia, Greenland, the Galapagos and, of course, Antarctica. Passengers will spend their time zodiacing, kayaking, hiking, biking and exploring with expert guides and knowledgeable naturalists. Expedition travelers love cruise lines such as Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, UnCruise Adventures, Silversea, HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), Ponant and Quark Expeditions, as well as an ever-expanding list that now even extends to Seabourn and Viking.

But for the most decadent form of travel, luxury cruises offer all-inclusive experiences onboard small to median-sized ships (usually under a thousand passengers) with perks like butlers, high-end amenities and personalized, intuitive service, not to mention the finest dining at sea. Ships often feature luxury touches like marble and crystal decor, intimate spaces and beautiful spas. Because luxury ships tend to be on the smaller size, they can often reach off-the-beaten-path destinations bigger ships simply cannot access -- ports like St. Tropez or Guadeloupe. If you're looking for a luxury cruise, consider Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Explora Journeys, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and upcoming Four Seasons Yachts.

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Find cruise vacation on popular cruise ships View all

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