January 2026 Cruise Price Index Report
Cruise prices climbed sharply this month, driven by premium line increases. We tracked 904,000 price snapshots across 140+ ships — Celebrity and Virgin Voyages pushed prices higher while Carnival and MSC held steady.
Market Snapshot
| Avg Price/Night | Premium Deals (90+) | Biggest Drop |
|---|---|---|
| $208 (+$14) | 20 active | -43% on Sunshine |
What Moved the Market?
- Celebrity saw the biggest increase at +$47/night, pushing their average to $293/night
- Princess led price drops among mid-tier lines at -$9/night
- Royal Caribbean dropped -$6/night despite strong Icon-class demand
- Budget lines held firm: Carnival at -$4/night and MSC at -$3/night
- Virgin Voyages edged up +$6/night, Norwegian held flat
- Disney Cruise Line joins tracking this month at $531/night
Cheapest Ship of the Month: MSC Virtuosa — from $40/night
Average Price by Cruise Line
| Cruise Line | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $145 | -$4 |
| MSC Cruises | $156 | -$3 |
| Princess | $166 | -$9 |
| Norwegian | $205 | — |
| Royal Caribbean | $219 | -$6 |
| Virgin Voyages | $265 | +$6 |
| Celebrity | $293 | +$47 |
| Disney Cruise Line | $531 | New |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
Key Takeaways by Line
- Carnival: Maintains budget leadership at $145/night, down -$4 from December
- MSC Cruises: Best big-ship value at $156/night, down -$3
- Princess: Biggest drop among tracked lines (-$9), solid mid-tier option
- Norwegian: Flat month-over-month at $205/night — holding steady
- Royal Caribbean: Down -$6/night despite strong Icon-class demand
- Virgin Voyages: Modest +$6 increase at $265/night
- Celebrity: Massive +$47/night jump makes them the priciest non-Disney option
- Disney Cruise Line: New to tracking this month at $531/night — expect premium pricing
Average Price by Departure Port
| Port | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $111 | New |
| Norfolk | $113 | New |
| Jacksonville | $116 | New |
| Tampa | $130 | +$7 |
| Galveston | $155 | -$11 |
| Los Angeles | $168 | +$3 |
| Miami | $195 | +$8 |
| Port Canaveral | $210 | -$22 |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
Port Insights
- Mobile and Norfolk: Cheapest US ports at $111-113/night
- Port Canaveral: Notable -$22 drop after December's peak, good time to book from Orlando's port
- Miami: Up +$8 as Caribbean demand remains strong post-holidays
Average Price by Cabin Type
| Cabin Type | Avg Price/Night | vs Last Month |
|---|---|---|
| Inside | $158 | +$9 |
| Ocean View | $194 | +$26 |
| Balcony | $216 | +$26 |
| Suite | $390 | +$33 |
Average of all prices tracked over 30 days.
- Inside cabins saw the smallest increase (+$9) — still the best option for budget travelers
- Balcony and oceanview both rose +$26 — upgrade gap narrowed
- Suites rose +$33/night — premium demand stayed strong through January
Best Booking Windows
| Days Before Departure | Avg Price/Night |
|---|---|
| 0-30 days | $205 |
| 31-60 days | $216 |
| 61-90 days | $232 |
| 91-120 days | $214 |
| 121-180 days | $241 |
| 180+ days | $198 |
Biggest Price Drops This Month
| Ship | Itinerary | Drop | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Sunshine | 8-night from Norfolk | -43% | $47/night |
| Norwegian Prima | 7-night Caribbean from Port Canaveral | -43% | $81/night |
| MSC Virtuosa | 14-night from Pointe-a-Pitre | -42% | $40/night |
| MSC World Europa | 7-night from Rome | -42% | $74/night |
| Carnival Sunshine | 8-night from Norfolk | -42% | $48/night |
Pro Tip: Use our Live Cruise Price Index to track these deals in real-time.
What to Expect in February
Expect Higher Prices:
- Wave Season promotions typically include add-ons rather than base price cuts
- Spring break planning intensifies, driving March/April sailing demand
- Valentine's Day creates premium demand for romantic getaways
Potential Deals:
- Carnival and MSC continue competing on price — expect more sub-$150 averages
- Norfolk and Mobile remain underpriced departure points worth watching
- Repositioning cruises begin as ships move for summer itineraries
- European sailings may see early-booking discounts as cruise lines build inventory
How We Calculate These Numbers
- 904,000 price snapshots collected over the past 30 days
- 8 major cruise lines and 140+ 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 December 30, 2025 - January 29, 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