{"id":301162,"date":"2023-03-30T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.www.smartertravel.com\/?p=301162"},"modified":"2023-03-30T14:36:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T18:36:00","slug":"best-sites-to-book-a-cruise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Best Sites to Book a Cruise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Booking a cruise isn\u2019t always simple. It can be a complicated, time-consuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. But knowing the best site to book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/11-things-you-should-never-do-on-a-cruise-ship\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"cruise (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cruise<\/a> can help a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And while would-be travelers are accustomed to clicking around on travel search engines to find the best deals on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/the-best-flight-booking-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flights<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/the-10-best-hotel-booking-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hotels<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-car-rental-booking-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rental cars<\/a>, many people don\u2019t realize that they can use these same types of sites to book cruises, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But is there one best site to book a cruise? That depends on what you\u2019re looking for. Sometimes the best cruise website is actually a cruise line\u2019s own site\u2014since technically, cruise booking websites aren\u2019t allowed to undercut the prices that the cruise lines set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, though, the best cruise search engines are indispensable for locating incredible deals, including ones that throw in booking incentives worth hundreds of dollars\u2014in Amazon gift cards, complimentary shore excursions, onboard freebies, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To save you the hassle, SmarterTravel investigated the glutted space of cheap cruise sites to determine which are worthy of listing as the best cruise websites; below are a few that come highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"related single cf\">\n<h3 class=\"related-title\">Related:<\/h3>\n<span class=\"related-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/cruise-packing-list-what-to-pack-for-a-cruise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Ultimate Cruise Packing List: What to Pack for a Cruise<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-the-best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\">The Best Sites to Book a Cruise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Expedia<\/a> (including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Travelocity<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Orbitz<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cruises.priceline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Priceline<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TripAdvisor<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avoyatravel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Avoya Travel <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheapcaribbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CheapCaribbean.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CruiseDirect<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisecritic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cruise Critic<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.costcotravel.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Costco Travel<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisewatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cruisewatch<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-expedia\">Expedia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-1024x692.png\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Expedia\" class=\"wp-image-448463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-1024x692.png 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-768x519.png 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-1536x1039.png 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Expedia-Cruise-Booking-image-2048x1385.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Expedia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Expedia<\/a> is an obvious first mention in a list of the best cruise booking sites, in part because it\u2019s an absolute juggernaut (Expedia also owns <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Travelocity<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Orbitz<\/a>). Its cruise-booking interface is simple and straightforward, only requiring you to enter your preferred sailing destination and date range, as well as how many passengers you\u2019ll be bringing along. Then Expedia does the heavy lifting for you, with comprehensive results that make it one of the best cruise search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Expedia, it\u2019s common to find bookable cruises for 70 percent off face value, with the ability to sort by price so the best cruise deals come up at the top of the list, saving you the scrolling. A sample search for a mid-June cruise to Alaska, for example, quickly came up with a seven-night itinerary starting at $389 per person\u2014that\u2019s less than $56 per person, per night for a mostly inclusive weeklong vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia\u2019s cruise deals tend to come paired with other enticing offers, including steep discounts on pre-departure hotels when you book both your cruise and hotel through Expedia. There\u2019s also a dedicated 800 number that lets you speak to Expedia\u2019s cruise experts and, often but not always, a generous amount of onboard credit thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> Sheer search power. Expedia\u2019s easy-to-use cruise search engine generates a useful and well-ordered list of the best cruise deals, without much effort required from the user. Also, Expedia\u2019s prices frequently match what the cruise lines themselves offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Expedia<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-priceline\">Priceline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Priceline\" class=\"wp-image-446032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/priceline-cruise-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Priceline<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cruises.priceline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Priceline<\/a> is another powerhouse among cheap cruise websites. The initial interface comes off a bit clunkier than, say, Expedia\u2019s or Kayak\u2019s, but the tradeoff is that you can quickly search by cruise line, both standard and luxury, as well as by cruise length and departure port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the seven-night Alaska example, Priceline brought up an itinerary aboard Royal Caribbean International\u2019s Radiance of the Seas that starts at just $374 for the full week\u2014roughly $53 per night. Hard-to-believe cruise deals like this show up on Priceline with regularity, which is part of what solidifies it as one of the best cruise websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also adding to the appeal: deals exclusive to Priceline, plenty of bonus amenities (examples include $50 in onboard credit, third and fourth guests sailing free, and free specialty dinners for two), no money down to book certain sailings, frequent onboard credit sales, an 800 number to call should you need assistance while booking, and a <a aria-label=\"loyalty club (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/cruises.priceline.com\/promotion\/cruise-line-loyalty-benefits.do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">loyalty club<\/a> that\u2019s ties in with every cruise line\u2019s loyalty program. Priceline also lets you click a \u201csenior discount\u201d box if that applies to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> Priceline\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/priceline.cruisehelp.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360016253072-What-is-the-110-Best-Price-Guarantee-\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"110% Best Price Guarantee (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">110% Best Price Guarantee<\/a>\u201d promises that if you find your cruise listed at a lower price on another website within 48 hours of booking, then Priceline will refund you 110 percent of the cost difference, including port charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cruises.priceline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Priceline<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-tripadvisor\">Tripadvisor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Tripadvisor\" class=\"wp-image-446033\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/tripadvisor-cruise-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Tripadvisor<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people think of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tripadvisor<\/a> mainly as a travel review site, where you go to get real talk on hotels and attractions, and to see non-glamorized photos of places as seen through actual travelers\u2019 eyes. But Tripadvisor is also an excellent site for travel deals, including on cruises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Tripadvisor Cruise (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tripadvisor Cruise<\/a>, which launched in April 2019, is among the best websites for cruise deals\u2014it lets you nab the lowest price by comparing more than 70,000 ocean and river cruises from some 60 of the best cruise websites. It\u2019s got an attractive, inspiring landing page, and its newest function, \u201cExplore Ship-tinerary pages,\u201d lets you browse full ship profiles, details, photos, and itineraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Tripadvisor is technically a meta-search site for cruises, which means that it will send you elsewhere to actually book, its search engine lets users sort by destination, length, cruise line, and month of travel. The default search results are ordered by \u201cbest value\u201d, unless you specifically click that you\u2019d rather see the results organized by price, cruise length, departure date, or cruise ship. Even when you click on \u201cprice,\u201d the lowest-priced offering doesn\u2019t always come up first, though it only takes a few seconds of scanning to determine which itinerary has the lowest price\u2014that seven-night Royal Caribbean International trip to Alaska came up on Tripadvisor starting at $365.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> What makes Tripadvisor one of the best sites to book a cruise? In addition to having one of the best cruise search engines, Tripadvisor lets you read other cruisers\u2019 candid reviews of the cruise that you\u2019re considering, so that you get the non-sugarcoated truth about each sailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Tripadvisor<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"related single cf\">\n<h3 class=\"related-title\">Related:<\/h3>\n<span class=\"related-item\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/11-things-you-should-never-do-on-a-cruise-ship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Ship<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-avoya-travel\">Avoya Travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avoyatravel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Avoya Travel\" class=\"wp-image-446034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/avoya-cruise-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Avoya Travel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A rarity on the internet, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avoyatravel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Avoya Travel<\/a> is a family-owned company that has been dealing in travel for more than 55 years. Avoya is one of the best sites to book a cruise in part because of its patented technology that lets travelers search cruises by destination, date range, cruise line, and last-minute status\u2014and then get matched up, in real time, with one of Avoya\u2019s expert vacation planners, who use that algorithm to customize a cruise booking to your specific preferences. (From Avoya\u2019s website: \u201c\u2026we combine the ease of online search, with the expertise and personalized service of Independent Vacation Planners, plus secure exclusive deals and extras so you get more out of every vacation.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoya\u2019s team of staffers and wide network of independent agencies make for a cruise booking website that\u2019s a bit different from the rest. Its front page shows the \u201cBest Travel Deals,\u201d which might include half-off cruise fares, onboard credit, prepaid gratuities, and free or reduced airfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like several of the other best cruise websites, Avoya offers a low-price guarantee; if you book a cruise with Avoya and then find a lower rate on another website within 24 hours of booking, Avoya will refund the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature: <\/strong>Avoya offers free membership, and members get exclusive deals and discounts, access to unpublished fares, first dibs on promotions, the ability to save favorite searches, and the right to book, change, or cancel travel without incurring any Avoya fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avoyatravel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Avoya Travel<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-cheapcaribbean-com\">CheapCaribbean.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheapcaribbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of CheapCaribbean.com\" class=\"wp-image-446035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cheap-caribbean-cruises-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; CheapCaribbean.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When looking for the best site to book a cruise, don\u2019t be put off by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cheapcaribbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CheapCaribbean.com<\/a>\u2019s overly specific moniker. Despite the site\u2019s name, it offers cruises all over the world. The site\u2019s vibe is beach-oriented and a bit cheeky, with a front page that can overwhelm\u2014but click on the \u201cCruises\u201d tab, and a cleaner interface appears. There you can search by cruise line, ship, destination, departure date, and departure port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CheapCaribbean.com offers refunds on 24-hour cancellations (within certain parameters) and a \u201c<a aria-label=\"110 percent best price guarantee, (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/cruises.cheapcaribbean.com\/promotion\/member-benefits.do#:~:text=If%20you%20find%20a%20lower,you%20110%25%20of%20the%20difference.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">110 percent best price guarantee,<\/a>\u201d a promise that if you find a lower price on the same cruise within 48 hours of booking, the company will refund you 110 percent of the difference. The site also lists traveler reviews about each cruise ship (as supplied by Cruiseline), though the reviews often include comments about the ship\u2019s destinations other than the one you\u2019re considering, which isn\u2019t entirely helpful. There\u2019s also a live chat widget if questions come up while booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature: <\/strong>Helping to make CheapCaribbean.com one of the best cruise search engines is the fact that it lets you check boxes for additional discounts, including a senior discount, discounts by state (just enter your ZIP code), and past guest discounts if you\u2019ve previously sailed with, say, Princess, Norwegian, or Disney.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cheapcaribbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out CheapCaribbean.com<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-cruisedirect\">CruiseDirect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of CruiseDirect\" class=\"wp-image-446036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruise-direct-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; CruiseDirect<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Its front page is clunky and sort of in your face, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CruiseDirect<\/a> is still one of the best cruise sites for a variety of reasons. As a cruise-only company, CruiseDirect doesn\u2019t deal in flights, hotels, or rental cars, allowing it to focus its full capacity on helping you find the best cruise deal possible. On the site, you can search by destination, departure port, month, length of cruise, and cruise line. There\u2019s real-time online chat and a contact number for support from a cruise expert. If you aren\u2019t quite ready to buy, you can \u201cheart\u201d cruises to save them as favorites to refer back to later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CruiseDirect offers perks on most sailings, like onboard credit, free drinks, free Wi-Fi, free gratuities, free travel insurance, or a free specialty dining experience\u2014check out the \u201cBonus\u201d box on the cruise listing you\u2019re considering to see what extras it comes with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> Like some of the other cruise websites on this list, CruiseDirect offers a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com\/guarantee\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"best price guarantee (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best price guarantee<\/a>,\u201d which means that if you find a lower price on another cruise booking website within 24 hours of your initial booking, you\u2019ll get refunded the difference. But one key difference between CruiseDirect and the other cruise sites is that you don\u2019t have to pay the cost of your cruise up front, just a deposit\u2014and then if your cruise fare drops before you\u2019ve made your final payment, CruiseDirect will readjust your rate accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out CruiseDirect<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"related single cf\">\n<h3 class=\"related-title\">Related:<\/h3>\n<span class=\"related-item\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/themed-cruises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">5 Crazy Themed Cruises You Can Take in 2022 and 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-cruise-critic\">Cruise Critic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisecritic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Cruise Critic\" class=\"wp-image-446037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisecritic-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Cruise Critic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A subsidiary of Tripadvisor, <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisecritic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cruise Critic<\/a> has similar search results to that site, but it offers a bit more comprehensive information for seasoned cruisers who want more details before they book. Cruise Critic has tons of filters and sort options to help you find what you want, including everything from cruise line to cruise style (family cruises, luxury cruises, cruises for the disabled). Each itinerary clearly lists what is and isn\u2019t included in the fare; Wi-Fi, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, and port taxes and fees are among the common exclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain itineraries are marked with graphics declaring that the ship has won one of the site\u2019s \u201cCruisers\u2019 Choice\u201d awards, denoting vessels that Cruise Critic members declare to be the among the best in categories such as cabins, entertainment, and family-friendly features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can sign up for price alerts, which will notify you by email when the fare on your selected itinerary drops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019re ready to book, Cruise Critic shows you a variety of offers from some of the best cruise booking sites, including bonuses such as onboard credit and prepaid gratuities. Then you click off to the site of your choice to make your purchase. Prices generally match what\u2019s advertised on Cruise Critic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature: <\/strong>Under each search result is a tab for \u201creviews\u201d where you can read reviews from Cruise Critic members who\u2019ve previously traveled on the ship. On certain cruises you can click over to a full-length write-up of the ship by one of the experts on the Cruise Critic editorial team, including detailed information on dining options, cabins, entertainment, dress code, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisecritic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Cruise Critic<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-costco-travel\">Costco Travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.costcotravel.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Costco Travel\" class=\"wp-image-446038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/costco-travel-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Costco Travel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When you think of Costco, you probably think of bulk food and toilet paper. But the next time you\u2019re booking a cruise, it\u2019ll be worthwhile to pull up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costcotravel.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Costco Travel<\/a>, which is, unexpectedly, one of the best cruise websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The site doesn\u2019t look fancy\u2014it\u2019s pretty bare-bones, visually\u2014but the upside of going with a no-frills cruise-booking website is that Costco Travel offers extremely competitive prices, as well as some of the most attractive incentives, usually in the form of Costco Cash delivered to you after you get home from your cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though there\u2019s no single point of contact if you need to call and discuss your cruise booking, Costco Travel\u2019s call center is staffed with helpful agents from early morning until evening, seven days a week, and passengers can rest assured that Costco won\u2019t go out of business before they set sail. Note that a Costco membership (starting at $60 per year) is required to book with Costco Travel, and that Costco doesn\u2019t accept American Express.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> Rock-bottom prices\u2014plus lots of cash back if you play your cards right: Costco Citi cardholders earn 3 percent cash back on cruise purchases, which can combine with the 2\u00a0percent Costco Reward for Costco Executive Members for a total of 5 percent back on Costco Travel\u2019s already super low cruise rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.costcotravel.com\/Cruises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Costco Travel<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"related single cf\">\n<h3 class=\"related-title\">Related:<\/h3>\n<span class=\"related-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-vacation-rental-sites-short-term-rental\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The 9 Best Vacation Rental Sites for Travelers<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-cruisewatch\">Cruisewatch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisewatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop showing the cruise search homepage of Cruisewatch\" class=\"wp-image-446040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cruisewatch-2048x1385.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"stia-image-attribute\">guteksk7 | Adobe Stock &amp; Cruisewatch<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pondering which is the best site to book a cruise? Keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisewatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cruisewatch<\/a> in strong consideration\u2014more than a typical cruise booking website, Cruisewatch bills itself as a \u201cdigital cruise advisor\u201d that couples data power with personalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an artificial intelligence cruise advisor, Crusewatch created technology that makes searching and booking a cruise more efficient\u2014the first, it calls \u201cCruise Price Prediction.\u201d In short, Cruisewatch collected and stored the daily price for each ship and cabin over a span of five years, resulting in millions of data points\u2014and a massive database that informs exactly when cruise prices are lowest, and when the greatest saving potential exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to this comprehensive price history, Cruisewatch can predict cruise prices and drops with an accuracy rate of around 80 percent. Using the site\u2019s cruise price prediction alerts, travelers can save up to 71 percent just by booking at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to being able to predict prices, Cruisewatch tailors user search results to match their established preferences through customizable profiles and other similar features. This means you won\u2019t waste time wading through cruises that may be cheap but don\u2019t align with your vacation goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best feature:<\/strong> Cruisewatch\u2019s easy-to-set price alerts, based on tons of data, allow users to be notified in real time of the best new cruise deals the minute they come online.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cruisewatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Check out Cruisewatch<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading\" id=\"h-book-a-stay-with-smartertravel-hotels\">Book a Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Need a place to stay the night before you set sail? Search <a href=\"https:\/\/hotels.smartertravel.com\/?adults=2&amp;datediff=4&amp;length=3&amp;children=0&amp;device=desktop&amp;rooms=1&amp;audit=T&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=smartertravel&amp;utm_content=best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SmarterTravel Hotels<\/a> for great accommodations in your port of call.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"cta-widget cwb theme-st\">\n\t\t<a class=\"cta-button-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hotels.smartertravel.com\/?adults=2&amp;datediff=4&amp;length=3&amp;children=0&amp;device=desktop&amp;rooms=1&amp;audit=T&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=smartertravel&amp;utm_content=best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/smartertravel-logo-300x75.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-302906\" alt=\"SmarterTravel Logo\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/smartertravel-logo-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/stmllc.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/smartertravel-logo.png 669w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"text-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-button-1__text\">Book Now<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Follow Avital Andrews on Twitter\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/avitalb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@avitalb<\/a><em>\u00a0or on\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Avital-Andrews-148381671901806\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s note: Sarah Schlichter contributed to this story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Booking a cruise isn&rsquo;t always simple. It can be a complicated, time-consuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. But knowing the best site to book a cruise can help a lot. And while would-be travelers are accustomed to clicking around on travel search engines to find the best [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":438750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"stpt_category":2206,"stpt_post_tag":2439,"stpt_st_article_types":0,"stpt_st_travel_types":2184,"stpt_st_campaign":0,"stpt_st_providers":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2019-05-08T22:04:50Z","apple_news_api_id":"4b885c96-3d66-49b5-a0c7-0a09f439e5e1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2020-07-27T14:14:27Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEg==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AS4hclj1mSbWgxwoJ9Dnl4Q","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"middle","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[\"https:\\\/\\\/news-api.apple.com\\\/sections\\\/ef387a4f-36f7-4c29-8f80-3dad3afa70f7\",\"https:\\\/\\\/news-api.apple.com\\\/sections\\\/1fc266be-0fea-4c8c-8216-80bf384133c0\"]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[2206,3727],"tags":[],"smartertravel_exclude_from":[],"st_article_types":[2892],"st_travel_types":[2184],"st_providers":[],"audience-tags":[185427],"destination":[],"departure":[],"all_publish_dates":["2019-05-08","2020-10-26","2021-12-15","2022-11-18","2023-03-30"],"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cruise-ship-on-tropical-island.jpg","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.9.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The 9 BEST Websites to Book a Cruise (2023) | SmarterTravel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for cruise deals? It helps to know which are the best sites to book a cruise. Read our expert roundup of the world&#039;s best cruise search engines.\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The BEST Websites to Book Your Cruise\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Booking a cruise isn\u2019t always simple. It can be a complicated, time-consuming process that involves dozens of open tabs and maybe a spreadsheet or two. But knowing the best site to book a cruise can help a lot.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SmarterTravel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/smartertravel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Avital-Andrews-148381671901806\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-30T18:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-30T18:36:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cruise-ship-on-tropical-island-1200x600.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"The BEST Websites to Book Your Cruise\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Booking a cruise isn\u2019t always simple. 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But knowing the best site to book a cruise can help a lot.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@avitalb\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@smartertravel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/\",\"name\":\"SmarterTravel\",\"description\":\"The Best Trips Start Here\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cruise-ship-on-tropical-island.jpg\",\"width\":1440,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Cruise ship on tropical island\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/\",\"name\":\"The 9 BEST Websites to Book a Cruise (2023) | SmarterTravel\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/best-sites-to-book-a-cruise\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-30T18:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-30T18:36:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ffce0b822f7e9ced2a6690a46c404b54\"},\"description\":\"Looking for cruise deals? It helps to know which are the best sites to book a cruise. 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Her stories have been among the 10 most emailed or viewed on the Los Angeles Times, Outside, Sierra, and SmarterTravel websites, and have also appeared in USA Today, HuffPost, Apple News, Business Insider, and many other nationwide outlets. Her travel book, sold at bookstores and on Amazon, is in its fourth edition, and her journalism gets national media attention, including from The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, NPR, and MTV. She's currently working on her first children's book. Follow her on Twitter @avitalb. The Handy Item I Always Pack: My laptop\\u2014the lightweight and stylish HP Spectre x360\\u2014since I'm almost always on deadline. Ultimate Bucket List Experience: A round-the-world cruise that makes stops to experience Aurora Borealis, the Olympics opening ceremony, Borneo, Madagascar, the Jerusalem Festival of Light, the Bolivian salt flats, Kenya's Giraffe Manor, the Galapagos, the Maldives, Bora Bora, the Seychelles, and every Disney park. 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