Luxury Cruise Deals and Destinations 2026–2027: Where the Real Value Is
In luxury cruising the real deal is rarely a markdown: it is what the fare includes, the suite you get and the sailing you choose. Here is how to compare offers for 2026 and 2027, and where to sail.
- At ultra-luxury level, value is what the fare includes and which suite you get, not the size of a discount.
- Regent Seven Seas fares typically include roundtrip flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and specialty dining.
- The Mediterranean is the No. 1 cruising itinerary in the 2027 Virtuoso Luxe Report; the Greek Isles are No. 3.
- The best suites and scarce sailings go first on small ships, so book early if your dates are fixed.
- The Caribbean is best in the dry season, December to April; avoid roughly August to October.
- The four ultra-luxury ocean lines start from around US$600 per person, per night.
The short answer
In luxury cruising, the real deal is rarely a markdown. It is what the fare already includes, which suite you get, and which sailing you are on. The ultra-luxury lines we compare, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Crystal, start from around US$600 per person, per night in an entry suite with two sharing, and the best-value choices for 2026 and 2027 are the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, the Caribbean in its dry season and the classic European rivers.
What a cruise "deal" means at this level
- What is folded into the fare. Regent Seven Seas fares typically include roundtrip flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and specialty dining, so a higher headline fare can cost less in the end than a lower one with extras added later.
- The suite, not just the sailing. On ships of a few hundred guests, the best suites go first. A sailing that looks cheaper but leaves only the least favourable suite is not a better deal.
- Virtuoso privileges. Where a sailing qualifies, your advisor adds the onboard benefits that come with booking through Virtuoso. They differ by line and sailing, so they are confirmed for each booking, not assumed.
- Fewer, better days. Choosing a shorter sailing in the right month is usually better value than a long one in a crowded week.
Are last-minute cruise deals worth it?
Sometimes, with limits. Flexible dates in the quieter shoulder weeks can open a suite late, but small ships sell out of the best suites and the scarce sailings early: the Greek Isles in May and September, the festive river sailings, Antarctica and the Galápagos. If your dates are fixed, book early; if they are loose, ask your advisor to watch for availability.
Where to sail in 2026 and 2027
- The Mediterranean. The No. 1 cruising itinerary in the 2027 Virtuoso Luxe Report. Best in May to June and September into early October, when the seas are warm and the ports quieter than in high summer. Itinerary shapes available through our Virtuoso partnership include western Mediterranean loops, Mediterranean and Aegean crossings, and Italy and Montenegro routes by Sicily and Kotor. See the best time to visit Greece and our Croatia and Montenegro guide.
- The Greek Isles. No. 3 in the same report. May to June and September into early October; July and August are the hottest and busiest. See our Greece guide.
- The Caribbean. The dry season, December to April, is the one to sail; the hurricane window, roughly August to October, is the one to avoid.
- European rivers. The Danube and the Rhine are the classics, with the Christmas markets sailings in the festive season. The river lines available through our partnership include AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld and Viking; see the river cruise lines compared and the Christmas markets river cruise.
- Expedition sailings. Antarctica runs only from November to March; the Galápagos limits any single vessel to 100 guests. See the best time to visit Antarctica.
All-inclusive luxury cruises: how they differ
"All-inclusive" is a spectrum. Regent Seven Seas goes furthest, folding in flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and specialty dining. Seabourn and Silversea include more than mainstream lines but not the same things, and Crystal concentrates its enrichment aboard. The comparison table in our luxury cruise lines guide shows what each includes. Ask for the full list of inclusions in writing before you compare two fares.
How to compare two offers
- Same suite category, same sailing dates, same number of guests.
- List what is included: flights, drinks, excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty dining.
- Add what is not: the extras you would certainly buy.
- Check the cancellation and change terms.
- Ask what Virtuoso benefits attach to that exact sailing.
What it starts from
As a guide, the four ultra-luxury ocean lines start from around US$600 per person, per night in an entry suite, double occupancy, rising with the line, the suite and the itinerary; expedition sailings cost more. Fares move with the season and the sailing, and your advisor confirms the figure for yours. Forest Travel's planning fee is US$250 per itinerary.
Start the conversation
Tell a Forest Travel advisor where and when you want to sail and they will find the sailings, suites and inclusions that fit, privately and with every Virtuoso privilege that applies. Request your private consultation →
Questions, answered.
At ultra-luxury level the best deal is usually the one with the most included, not the biggest discount: Regent Seven Seas fares typically fold in roundtrip flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and specialty dining. Compare the same suite on the same dates, add what is not included, and ask which Virtuoso benefits attach to that sailing.
Sometimes, if your dates are flexible and you accept limited suite choice. Small ships sell the best suites and the scarce sailings, such as the Greek Isles in May and September, early. If your dates are fixed, book early; if they are loose, ask your advisor to watch availability.
It varies by line. Regent Seven Seas typically includes roundtrip flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities and specialty dining. Seabourn and Silversea include more than mainstream lines but not the same things. Ask for the full list of inclusions in writing before comparing fares.
The Mediterranean is the No. 1 cruising itinerary in the 2027 Virtuoso Luxe Report, followed by Alaska and the Greek Isles. Rivers such as the Danube and the Rhine suit shorter trips, and Antarctica runs only from November to March.
May to June and September into early October, when the seas are warm and the ports quieter than in high summer. Smaller ships can enter harbours that larger vessels skip.
The dry season, December to April. The hurricane window, roughly August to October, is the one to avoid.
The Danube (Vienna, Budapest and the Bavarian towns) and the Rhine (Basel to Amsterdam) are the classics, and both carry Christmas markets sailings in the festive season. The river lines available through our Virtuoso partnership include AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld and Viking.
The four ultra-luxury ocean lines start from around US$600 per person, per night in an entry suite with two sharing, rising with the line, suite and itinerary; expedition sailings cost more. Your advisor confirms the fare for your sailing. Forest Travel's planning fee is US$250 per itinerary.
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