13 Proven Ways to Secure Early Booking Discounts on Cruises

Locking in a great cruise fare isn’t luck—it’s a repeatable system. Early booking discounts are fare reductions and value-added perks you get when reserving months in advance, often including reduced deposits, onboard credit, Wi‑Fi, or drink packages. For popular sailings, these early fares frequently beat last-minute prices as cabins fill. Real deals highlight the upside: Carnival has advertised up to 40% off with reduced deposits from $50 per person on select sailings (see Carnival deals), while some Virgin Voyages offers have featured 80% off the second guest plus up to $400 in bar credit via agency promos (Cruise.com). Below are 13 proven moves to secure early booking cruise deals and stack perks without the hassle.