Last updated: October 2026
Every year we look at every cruise line and ask the same question: what does this line actually give our military and veterans?
Here’s the short answer:
- Some lines have a real military rate. Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, Disney, Virgin and Carnival all have one, with different rules about who qualifies.
- Some give onboard credit instead. Princess, Holland America and Cunard give onboard credit to military guests.
- Most luxury and river lines give nothing at all. AmaWaterways, Scenic and Atlas are the exceptions.
- Our military discount stacks ON TOP of all of it. You get at least 5% off every cruise, on every cruise line, plus extra perks on many sailings.
At a Glance
Each cruise line’s own military benefit, and what we add on top:
| Cruise line | The cruise line's own military benefit | What we add on top |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Military fare, usually $10–25 pp below the lowest fare | 5% + free kids' travel insurance |
| Royal Caribbean | Military rate, usually the same as the public fare | 5%, up to 40% on select sailings, specialty dining, OBC |
| Norwegian | 10% off; 20% off guarantee cabins | Extra 5% + up to $200 OBC |
| Celebrity | $25–$100 pp savings | 5% + OBC + Distinctive Voyages |
| Princess | $50–$250 OBC per military guest | 5% + OBC + Distinctive Voyages |
| Holland America | $100 OBC per cabin | 5% + OBC + Distinctive Voyages |
| MSC | 5–10% off (active and retired) | 5%, for all veterans |
| Disney | 30–35% off select sailings (active and retired) | 5% on every sailing, everyone qualifies |
| Virgin Voyages | 5–15% off select sailings | 5% + Sailor Loot |
| Costa | None | 5% + special rate + $100 deposit |
| Cunard | $50–$250 OBC per military guest | 5% + Distinctive Voyages |
| Luxury lines (Oceania, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Azamara, Windstar, Explora, Crystal, Ritz-Carlton, Lindblad) | None | 5% + onboard credit and Distinctive Voyages on select sailings |
| Atlas Ocean Voyages | Up to 5% off (Military Edge) | 5% + $300 savings or $150 pp OBC |
| AmaWaterways | $250 pp off, or 2-for-1 on select sailings | 5% + up to $300 pp OBC |
| Scenic | $150–$250 pp off (USFIRST) | 5% |
| Viking, Avalon, Uniworld, American, Tauck | None | 5% (usually $500–$1,000 on a river cruise) |
Big-Ship Cruise Lines
Carnival
What Carnival offers military and veterans:
- Carnival always has a Military Farecode, usually about $10–25 less per person than the lowest rate available to civilians.
- Sometimes the military rate also includes onboard credit and a reduced deposit.
- Sometimes you can apply these benefits to 3 cabins total. Those windows usually pop up around May and November.
- Active duty, Guard, Reserves, retirees and honorably discharged veterans with a DD214 qualify.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- Free travel insurance for kids.
- See all Carnival sailings, lowest price first
Royal Caribbean
What Royal Caribbean offers military and veterans:
- Royal Caribbean lists a “military rate” on select sailings, but most of the time it’s the same price everyone else can get.
- Once in a while they post a real one. This spring they took an extra 10% off about 250 sailings for military.
- Veterans qualify only with at least 2 years of service or 6 months in a war zone.
- Spouses qualify only if the service member is deployed or deceased.
- It covers only the one cabin you sail in.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount on every Royal cruise. We’re the only company that takes a military discount off Royal Caribbean’s lowest fare.
- Up to 40% off on select sailings.
- Free specialty dining on some sailings.
- $50 per cabin onboard credit on select sailings.
- See all Royal Caribbean sailings, lowest price first
Norwegian
What Norwegian offers military and veterans:
- 10% off insides, ocean views and balconies on all sailings.
- 20% off “guarantee” cabins on select sailings.
- Active duty, veterans, spouses and surviving spouses all qualify, even if the spouse sails without the service member.
- It combines with Free at Sea.
- It normally covers only the military member’s cabin. This year Norwegian ran its first-ever Military Friends & Family offer, so friends in their own cabins could get the 20% too.
- The maximum discount doesn’t always show online. Put your cruise on a free hold, and we’ll get it applied.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- An extra 5% on top of Norwegian’s discount, for everyone traveling with you.
- Up to $100 per cabin onboard credit, and up to $200 on some sailings.
- See all Norwegian sailings, lowest price first
Celebrity
What Celebrity offers military and veterans:
- $25 per person off insides and ocean views, for guests 1 and 2.
- $100 per person off verandas, Concierge, AquaClass and suites, for guests 1 and 2.
- Select sailings of 4 nights or more (not the Galapagos).
- It combines with Celebrity’s other promotions.
- Veterans need a minimum service time, and spouses qualify only if the service member is deployed or deceased.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $50 per cabin onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings: a host on board, a private welcome reception and an exclusive shore event. Some add $50 per person onboard credit or a $100 specialty dining credit per couple.
- See all Celebrity sailings, lowest price first
Princess
What Princess offers military and veterans:
- Princess’ military “discount” is onboard credit, on all cruises and all cabins.
- $50 per military guest on cruises of 6 days or less, $100 on 7–13 days, and $250 on 14 days or more.
- Active, retired and disabled military and veterans all qualify, up to 2 military guests per booking.
- It combines with other onboard credit offers. Apply at least 14 days before you sail.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $50–$85 per cabin onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- On select Alaska cruisetours: a Tundra Wilderness tour upgrade, lodge breakfasts, dinner at Fannie Q’s and a kennel excursion.
- See all Princess sailings, lowest price first
Holland America
What Holland America offers military and veterans:
- Holland’s Military Appreciation Offer is $100 onboard credit per cabin on select sailings, for new bookings.
- Active, retired and veteran service members qualify.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $75 per cabin (or $50 per person) onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings. Some add sparkling wine and strawberries, a photo credit, and dinner for two at Rudi’s Sel de Mer.
- See all Holland America sailings, lowest price first
MSC
What MSC offers military and veterans:
- 5% off insides and ocean views.
- 10% off balconies, suites and Yacht Club.
- For active and retired military. Family members qualify when they sail with you, including in additional cabins.
- It combines with MSC’s lowest promotional rates.
- MSC’s terms don’t list veterans.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount, which applies to all veterans.
- See all MSC sailings, lowest price first
Disney
What Disney offers military and veterans:
- Disney’s military rates are big, often 30–35% off, but only on a few select sailings at a time.
- Only active duty and retired military qualify. Most veterans don’t.
- One cabin per service member, and it can’t be combined with other offers.
- In 2026 Disney also added $250 onboard credit on select Disney Wish and Disney Dream sailings from Florida.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount on every Disney cruise.
- Everyone in your group qualifies, veteran or not.
- See all Disney sailings, lowest price first
Virgin Voyages
What Virgin Voyages offers military and veterans:
- 5%, 10% or 15% off select sailings with the code SERVICERATE.
- Active duty, veterans, spouses and surviving spouses qualify.
- Not available in suites.
- It combines with some of Virgin’s public promotions.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $50–$200 per cabin in Sailor Loot (onboard credit) on select sailings.
- See all Virgin Voyages sailings, lowest price first
Costa
What Costa offers military and veterans:
- Costa does not have a standard military rate.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- Our own special low rate on select dates.
- A reduced $100 per cabin deposit.
- See all Costa sailings, lowest price first
Cunard
What Cunard offers military and veterans:
- Cunard’s military benefit is onboard credit.
- $50 per military guest on cruises of 6 days or less, $100 on 7–13 days, and $250 on 14 days or more.
- Active, retired and disabled veterans qualify.
- It combines with other onboard credit offers. Email Cunard at least 14 days before you sail.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, some with a champagne breakfast on your balcony.
- See all Cunard sailings, lowest price first
Luxury and Expedition Cruise Lines
Most luxury lines don’t offer a military discount at all. That’s why our discount matters most here: 5% of a luxury fare is real money.
Oceania
What Oceania offers military and veterans:
- Oceania does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $250 per cabin onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all Oceania sailings, lowest price first
Regent Seven Seas
What Regent Seven Seas offers military and veterans:
- Regent has no standing military discount.
- Once in a while they run a one-time offer, usually around Veterans Day.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $100 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, some with a fireside chat with a guest lecturer and Leonidas chocolates.
- See all Regent Seven Seas sailings, lowest price first
Seabourn
What Seabourn offers military and veterans:
- Seabourn does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $200–$250 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, some with a galley tour.
- See all Seabourn sailings, lowest price first
Silversea
What Silversea offers military and veterans:
- Silversea does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $300 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, some with in-suite caviar and champagne.
- See all Silversea sailings, lowest price first
Azamara
What Azamara offers military and veterans:
- Azamara does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $150 per cabin onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, some with chocolate-covered strawberries and a wine tasting.
Windstar
What Windstar offers military and veterans:
- Windstar does not publish a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $150 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all Windstar sailings, lowest price first
Explora Journeys
What Explora Journeys offers military and veterans:
- Explora does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $150 per person journey credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all Explora Journeys sailings, lowest price first
Crystal
What Crystal offers military and veterans:
- Crystal does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount on every sailing.
- $125–$250 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all Crystal sailings, lowest price first
Atlas Ocean Voyages
What Atlas Ocean Voyages offers military and veterans:
- Atlas’ Military Edge Savings is up to 5% off select sailings.
- Active, reserve, retired and former service members qualify, plus their spouses and surviving spouses.
- It combines with Atlas’ Bonus Savings. In June 2026 they briefly doubled it to 10%.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount, on top of Military Edge.
- Your choice of $300 savings per booking or $150 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all Atlas Ocean Voyages sailings, lowest price first
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
What Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers military and veterans:
- Ritz-Carlton does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings, with $500 onboard credit per suite ($1,000 in the top 3 suite categories).
- See all Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sailings, lowest price first
National Geographic-Lindblad
What National Geographic-Lindblad offers military and veterans:
- Lindblad has no standing military discount.
- They’ve run one-time Veterans Day offers in the past.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $100 per person onboard credit on select sailings.
- See all National Geographic-Lindblad sailings, lowest price first
River Cruise Lines
On a river cruise, our discount usually adds up to $500–$1,000 in savings.
AmaWaterways
What AmaWaterways offers military and veterans:
- AmaWaterways has the best military program on the rivers.
- $250 per person off any river cruise (except Africa safaris) with code MIL250, for active, retired and veteran service members. It combines with other promotions.
- On select 2026 and 2027 sailings, you can choose 2-for-1 fares instead (MIL2FOR1).
- Solo travelers can choose a 10% single supplement instead (MILSOLO).
- The 2-for-1 and solo offers can’t be combined with anything else.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- A DOUBLE military discount: theirs plus our 5%.
- $150 per person onboard credit on 7-night sailings, and $300 per person on longer ones, on select sailings.
- Distinctive Voyages on select sailings.
- See all AmaWaterways sailings, lowest price first
Viking
What Viking offers military and veterans:
- Viking does not publish a military discount on its river, ocean or expedition cruises.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- $100 per person onboard credit on select Viking River sailings.
- See all Viking sailings, lowest price first
Avalon Waterways
What Avalon Waterways offers military and veterans:
- Avalon does not offer a military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- Prepaid gratuities on select 2026 Active & Discovery sailings.
- A bottle of wine (some with chocolates) on select sailings.
- See all Avalon Waterways sailings, lowest price first
Scenic
What Scenic offers military and veterans:
- Scenic’s Military and First Responder Savings (code USFIRST) is $150 per person off river cruises.
- It’s $250 per person off Scenic Eclipse ocean voyages.
- U.S. military, veterans and their families qualify.
- It combines with Scenic’s public promotions.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount, on top of Scenic’s.
- See all Scenic sailings, lowest price first
Uniworld
What Uniworld offers military and veterans:
- Uniworld doesn’t have a year-round military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- See all Uniworld sailings, lowest price first
American Cruise Lines
What American Cruise Lines offers military and veterans:
- American Cruise Lines does not offer its own military discount.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- See all American Cruise Lines sailings, lowest price first
Tauck
What Tauck offers military and veterans:
- Tauck doesn’t have a standing military or veteran rate, on its river cruises or its land tours.
Our exclusive discount and perks:
- Our 5% military discount.
- See all Tauck sailings, lowest price first
All cruise-line offers and our amenities apply to select sailings and can change at any time. Not all promotions apply to all ships and dates.
Our Military Discount and Perks
Here’s what you get on EVERY cruise when you book with us, stacked on top of anything the cruise line offers:
- At least 5% off every cruise, on every cruise line. It’s taken off the cruise line’s lowest rate, and it comes out of our own commission.
- All veterans and ALL spouses qualify, no matter the status of the service member, plus everyone traveling with you.
- Exclusive Travel Leaders Network amenities on select sailings: onboard credit, Distinctive Voyages with a host, welcome reception and private shore event, and Culinary Collection extras.
- Our Price Drop Tracker and free price monitoring. We re-fare your cruise when the price drops, right up until final payment. We pay a lot for this technology, and it’s free to you.
- No fees, ever. No booking fees, no change fees, no cancellation fees.
- Free travel insurance for kids.
- The owners answer the phone. We’ve been on dozens of cruises and have been booking them for over 26 years, with an A+ rating from the BBB and over 1,500 recent reviews.
Thank you for your service, and for your business!
Call us at 866-964-5482 or search every cruise at www.MilitaryCruiseDeals.com. Prices on our site already have our military discount built in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cruise lines offer a military discount?
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, Disney and Virgin Voyages have military rates. Princess, Holland America and Cunard give military onboard credit. On luxury and river cruises, only AmaWaterways, Scenic and Atlas have their own. Military Cruise Deals gives at least 5% off every cruise on every line, on top of the cruise line’s offer.
Which cruise line has the best military discount?
Among the big-ship lines, Norwegian’s is the strongest: 10% off on all sailings and 20% off guarantee cabins on select sailings, and veterans and spouses qualify. On the rivers, AmaWaterways is best, at $250 per person off or 2-for-1 fares on select sailings. Disney’s rates are bigger, but only on a few sailings and only for active duty and retirees.
Do veterans qualify for cruise military discounts?
It depends on the line. Norwegian, Virgin, Princess, Cunard, Carnival, Holland America, AmaWaterways and Scenic include veterans. Disney and MSC are for active duty and retirees only. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity require a minimum service time. Our military discount applies to all veterans, on every cruise line.
Do military spouses qualify?
Norwegian, Virgin and Atlas include spouses and surviving spouses. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity include spouses only if the service member is deployed or deceased. With Military Cruise Deals, all spouses qualify, no matter the status of the service member, and so does everyone traveling with you.
Can I combine the cruise line’s military discount with yours?
Yes. Our military discount stacks on top of whatever the cruise line offers, including its own military rate, because it comes out of our commission.
Do luxury and river cruise lines offer military discounts?
Most don’t. Oceania, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking, Avalon, Uniworld and most other luxury and river lines have no military discount of their own. That’s where our 5% discount and Distinctive Voyages amenities make the biggest difference.
How do I get the military discount?
Search and book on MilitaryCruiseDeals.com, where prices already have our military discount built in, or call us at 866-964-5482. If the cruise line has its own military rate, we’ll make sure you get it too.