February 2026 Cruise Price Index Report
February delivered one of the calmest months we've tracked. Prices held remarkably flat across most cruise lines — a rare pause after January's premium surge. We tracked 769,000 price snapshots across 145+ ships, and the story is less about movement and more about where value quietly accumulated while the market caught its breath.
Market Snapshot
| Avg Price/Night | Premium Deals (90+) | Biggest Drop |
|---|---|---|
| $191 (+$6) | 23 active | -58% on Bliss |
Carnival and MSC barely moved, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean ticked up modestly, and the budget-to-premium gap held at roughly $100/night.
If you're watching for deals, the calm months are when quiet price drops happen without the fanfare.
What Moved the Market?
- Princess led all lines at +$16/night ($179) as 8 ships move to higher-priced Alaska routes
- Virgin Voyages was the only line to drop prices (-$2/night to $259), narrowing the gap with Celebrity
- Carnival held dead flat at $144/night — four months of stability in the budget tier
- Norwegian edged up +$6/night with selective discounting on specific sailings (Bliss down 58%)
- Budget lines averaged $159/night vs premium at $257/night — a $98 spread
- Mobile and Norfolk continued as the cheapest US departure ports at $106-109/night
Cheapest Ship of the Month: MSC Bellissima — from $44/night
Average Price by Cruise Line
| Cruise Line | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $144 | — |
| MSC Cruises | $155 | +$1 |
| Princess | $179 | +$16 |
| Norwegian | $207 | +$6 |
| Royal Caribbean | $225 | +$9 |
| Virgin Voyages | $259 | -$2 |
| Celebrity | $288 | +$5 |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
Key Takeaways by Line
- Carnival: Rock-solid at $144/night — unchanged from January and the clear budget leader
- MSC Cruises: Essentially flat at $155/night, barely +$1 — consistent value month after month
- Princess: Biggest mover at +$16/night as 8 ships move to higher-priced Alaska routes for the season
- Norwegian: Up +$6/night overall, but individual sailings saw massive drops (Bliss at -58%)
- Royal Caribbean: Modest +$9 increase to $225/night — holding the mid-premium line
- Virgin Voyages: Only line to drop prices (-$2), making February a quieter booking opportunity
- Celebrity: Up just +$5 after January's +$47 surge — the correction leveled off
Average Price by Departure Port
| Port | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $106 | -$3 |
| Norfolk | $109 | -$3 |
| Jacksonville | $118 | +$4 |
| San Diego | $122 | +$1 |
| Tampa | $122 | +$4 |
| Fort-de-France | $127 | — |
| Baltimore | $131 | -$3 |
| Valencia | $136 | — |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
Port Insights
- Mobile and Norfolk: Both dropped another -$3/night, extending their streak as the cheapest US departure ports — strong options if you're flexible on location
- Tampa and San Diego: Tied at $122/night, both up modestly but still well below the major Florida ports
- Baltimore: Down -$3/night to $131, a good mid-Atlantic alternative to Norfolk for slightly more itinerary variety
Average Price by Cabin Type
| Cabin Type | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Inside | $159 | +$3 |
| Ocean View | $191 | +$1 |
| Balcony | $213 | +$2 |
| Suite | $384 | +$2 |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
- Inside cabins ticked up just +$3 — the smallest dollar increase, and still the best entry point for budget travelers
- Balcony cabins at $213/night moved only +$2 — the upgrade from inside to balcony costs $54/night, which is actually narrower than usual
- Suites held nearly flat at +$2 — if you've been eyeing a suite, pricing pressure hasn't materialized
Best Booking Windows
| Days Before Departure | Avg Price/Night |
|---|---|
| 0-30 days | $213 |
| 31-60 days | $214 |
| 61-90 days | $194 |
| 91-120 days | $213 |
| 121-180 days | $225 |
| 180+ days | $182 |
The 61-90 day range also performed well at $194/night. Last-minute pricing (0-30 days) is no longer the bargain it was in December — those $81/night averages are gone.
Planning ahead is paying off. Cruise Radar tracks these windows automatically and alerts you when prices drop.
Biggest Price Drops This Month
| Ship | Itinerary | Drop | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Bliss | 11-night from Seattle | -58% | $88/night |
| Norwegian Getaway | 3-night Bahamas from Miami | -44% | $66/night |
| Carnival Horizon | 6-night Caribbean from Miami | -43% | $47/night |
| MSC Musica | 7-night from Funchal | -43% | $61/night |
| MSC Bellissima | 7-night Mediterranean | -41% | $44/night |
Pro Tip: Use our Live Cruise Price Index to track these deals in real-time.
What to Expect in March
Expect Higher Prices:
- Spring break demand for March and April Caribbean sailings will push prices up
- Wave Season promotions tend to include add-ons (drink packages, onboard credit) rather than base fare cuts
- Alaska season previews begin — early summer sailings will see booking pressure
- Mediterranean itineraries start gaining momentum as summer planning ramps up
Potential Deals:
- Norwegian continues aggressive discounting on specific sailings — watch Bliss and Getaway
- Repositioning cruises increase as ships move from Caribbean to Europe and Alaska
- Carnival and MSC show no signs of raising floor prices — sub-$150 averages should hold
- Longer itineraries (10+ nights) tend to see softer demand in spring shoulder season
How We Calculate These Numbers
- 769,000 price snapshots collected over the past 30 days
- 9 major cruise lines and 145+ ships
- Data sourced from official cruise line websites
- Updated every few hours for accuracy
- Prices are per person, per night based on double occupancy
Track Prices in Real-Time
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Data collected January 30 - March 1, 2026. Prices subject to change. Past performance does not guarantee future pricing.
Data by All Aboard Analytics, providing institutional-grade cruise pricing insights, historical datasets, and custom research.
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About the Author
Graham H — Founder, All Aboard Deals
Graham has been cruising for over a decade and has sailed on 15+ cruises across Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Virgin.
He built All Aboard Deals to track cruise prices the same way traders track charts — monitoring 35,000+ sailings and spotting fares that fall well below their recent averages.
When he's not digging through price drops, he's on board testing cabins, checking drink packages, and talking with other cruisers about what actually feels like a good value.
Editorial Standards
All guides are based on real pricing data, live fare checks, and historical trends. Content is updated as ships launch and prices change. Questions or corrections? Contact us