Best Cruises for Senior Couples Under $100 a Night

Cruising in your golden years just makes sense. No driving, no stairs, 24/7 room service, and a calendar packed with activities and shore excursions. It’s a low-effort holiday for time-rich seniors eager to keep seeing the world. With some careful shopping, senior discounts, and ongoing cruise promotions, taking a trip for under $100 per night (including meals and drinks) is entirely possible. Here are a few of our favorite cruises to look into, including some on brand new ships and a transatlantic voyage.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Related: The Most Luxurious Cruise Ships at Sea

From: Miami 

Ship: MSC Seascape

When: Various dates starting in December, 2023

Starting price: $408 per person

How’s this for a break from winter: spending a week on MSC’s newest ship that’ll coast by its private Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Costa Maya, and Belize. Inspired by New York City, the vessel has a 3-meter-high replica of the Statue of Liberty at the heart of the casino, a glass-floored Bridge of Sighs, an infinity pool, and the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises’ exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept so you won’t need to lift a finger.

From: San Diego 

Ship: Koningsdam

When: Jan. 31-Feb.18, 2023 

Starting price: $1,649 per person 

Taking a cruise around the islands of Hawaii with stops in Kauai, Honolulu, Lahaina, Hilo, and Kona means you get to experience all the best spots without any flight delays or car rental issues. There are four days at sea so there's ample time to take it easy and enjoy the mid-sized Koningsdam, a Pinnacle-class ship with an onboard blue’s club, casino, and staterooms featuring spa amenities. Check ahead for staterooms with mobility-assistive features.

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From: Los Angeles

Ship: Diamond Princess

Dates: Feb. 16-20, 2023

Starting price: $295 per person

You might be tempted to splurge on a better cabin but the difference can be diverted to onboard amenities like the adults-only Sanctuary or a soothing treatment at the Lotus Spa. The trip includes shore excursions in San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

Related: Disco, 'Star Trek,' and More Themed Cruises You Won’t Believe

From: San Francisco 

Ship: Ruby Princess

Dates: Sept. 17-24, 2022 

Starting price: $499 per person

The ship will drop anchor in Oregon and Seattle, and Vancouver and Victoria in Canada, so plenty is going on. Shore excursions include a visit to the Space Needle, a gondola ride over Shannon Falls in Vancouver, and Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. For sailing days, there’s a putting course, the Lotus Spa, and don’t forget to make reservations at Crown Grill and the Chef's Table Experience.

From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ship: Celebrity Apex

When: Various dates starting in December 2022 

Starting price: $661 per person 

There’s plenty to love about the new 16-deck Celebrity Apex, starting with the staterooms that come fitted with king-sized cashmere mattresses and in-room automation controls so you can personalize the lighting, shades, and in-room temperature. Still, on this voyage, you’ll want time outside the room. Ports of call allow for excursions to San Juan’s historic castles, swimming in Tortola, and strolling through St. Kitts' charming French and English colonial-style town. On board, the Apex is a showstopper with a new craft beer bar.

From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Ship: Eurodam

Dates: April 9-29, 2023 

Starting price: $1,899 per person

Make good on that travel goal to cruise through the historic Panama Canal on this voyage that stops off at Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Canada before calling it to a close in Seattle. Staterooms are sized from 141 to 284 square feet for a bit more breathing room. Some come with mobility assistive features. There’s nightly entertainment presented by Lincoln Center Stage performers alongside a calendar of food and wine tastings. 

Related: 20 Bucket-List Cruises Worth Saving For

From: New York 

Ship: MSC Meraviglia

Dates: Dec. 30, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024 

Starting price: $949 per person

Ring in 2024 in grand style (yes, this is planning well in advance) aboard the MSC Meraviglia. Escape the bitter winter snow, and instead sun it up cruising to Nassau, Bermuda with two drop-ins at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The mega vessel has a full-sized bowling alley, nightly immersive shows, and outdoor water park.

From: Baltimore 

Ship: Vision of the Seas

When: Various dates from December 2022 

Starting price: $921 per person 

What’s the fun of a cruise without some leisurely days at sea? Bookended by sea days, this itinerary sails through the crystal blue waters of the Southern Caribbean stopping at St. Croix, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Barbados. Come nightfall, the onboard casino, Boogie Wonderland production and restaurants (Chop’s Grille, Izumi) offer ample distraction.

From: Seattle 

Ship: Celebrity Solstice

When: Various sailings August and Sept. 2022; and May 2023  

Starting price: $549 per person

2022 has been a great year for an Alaska cruise, and if you keep the trip simple (read: take an inside room), this is a value-for-money deal. There’ll be plenty of time off the ship with dockings at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria in British Columbia. Plus cruising past the Endicott Arms and the more protected Alaska Inside Passage of fjords and bays means you won’t want to be inside your cabin.

From: Los Angeles 

Ship: Discovery Princess

Dates: March 11-18, 2023 

Starting price: $468 per person

Plan a springtime getaway to cruise the California coastline dropping in at Monterey (limited wheelchair access), San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico. Although with dining options like Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar with after-dinner jazz entertainment and musical shows created by Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked," "Godspell," and "Pippin") you might not want to disembark.

From: New Orleans 

Ship: Carnival Glory 

When: Various dates starting in November 2022 

Starting price: $349 per person

This Cozumel Plus sailing means more time at Cozumel to explore the ancient city of Tulum or just to relax at the adults-only La Casa Beach retreat. Two sea days means there’s adequate undisturbed time at the Serenity adults-only retreat space.

From: New York 

Ship: Norwegian Gem 

When: February-April 2023 

Starting price: $899 per person 

Escape the last weeks of winter on this round-trip Caribbean cruise to sunny Grand Turk, down to the Turks and Caicos and St. Thomas. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea program bundles a bunch of freebies (unlimited wine and beer, discounted shore excursions) so you might be able to keep within the $100 per person/night range for the entire voyage.

From: Seattle 

Ship: Norwegian Encore 

When: August-October 2022; May-October 2023 

Starting price: $459 per person 

Spend a week taking in the beauty of Alaska from the Norwegian Encore’s 180-degree Observation Lounge. The ship makes calls into Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan with a full day cruising through the pristine Glacier Bay. Shore excursions include sightseeing tours to the Misty Fjords and the stunning Mendenhall Glacier.

Related: World's Most Beautiful Glaciers to See Before They're Gone

From: Miami 

Ship: Carnival Conquest

When: Various dates from August 2022

Starting price: $144 per person

Why not splurge on an Oceanview room when you have one full day at sea? You’ll be calling in at Nassau and the Bahamas, so don’t get too comfortable. Save some of your holiday budget for a meal at the 12-person Chef’s Table of Sushi at sea.

From: Tampa, Florida 

Ship: Celebrity Constellation

When: April 17, 2023 

Starting price: $898 per person  

Planning ahead has its advantages. This discounted early-bird deal going from Florida to Barcelona passing by Madeira, Seville, and Malaga sees 10 days at sea, enough time to hang out at the adults-only solarium or try your hand at beating the house. If all else fails, the ship’s new outdoor spaces and Martini Bar offer some downtime distraction.

From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ship: Odyssey of the Seas

When: April 22, 2023

Starting price: $1,365 per person 

Considering the chaotic state of air travel and check-in luggage, taking a transatlantic cruise from Florida to Rome might be a better way to get to Europe. A two-week voyage stopping at popular European towns like Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Florence, you’ll spend the first week at sea acclimatizing to the time difference and enjoying the many distractions of the ship with creative dining concepts like the Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine and Bionic Bar.

From: Miami 

Ship: MSC Magnifica

When: Various dates from May 2023

Starting price: $229 per person

Cruise pros book their sailings well in advance to maximize savings. Typical of MSC ships, the newly refurbished Magnifica comes with quite a few bells and whistles: 4-D cinema, an open-air pool complex with whirlpools and a solarium, an Atlantic City-style casino and nightly theater shows that rival glitzy Broadway-style productions. Another big bonus is two days docked at their private Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, where you can walk right off the gantry to go snorkeling or squeeze in a sunset SUP session.

From: San Francisco 

Ship: Royal Princess

When: April 30, 2023

Starting price: $239 per person

This cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver makes for a quick getaway and the perfect excuse to wine, dine and get in some massages at the Lotus Spa. With just one sea day before stops at Victoria and Vancouver, that’s just the right amount of time to enjoy a movie under the stars or relax at the adults-only The Sanctuary.

From: New York 

Ship: MSC Meraviglia

Dates: Aug. 21-Sept. 4, 2023 

Starting price: $1,319 per person 

Cruise fans have six sea days to explore the MSC’s largest vessel, the MSC Meraviglia. Kitted out with a two-deck inside promenade for strolls and the Balinese-style Aurea Spa, there’s an ocean-view lounge and a packed-out after-dinner program where a different show (Rock Circus, House of Houdini) is put on nightly. Ports of call include three days docked at King’s Wharf in Bermuda and a full day to enjoy the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve so there’s little opportunity to get bored.

Related: The Craziest Cruise Ship Amenities

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