Last updated: October 17, 2026
Quick answer: Yes. Military Cruise Deals gives a real military and veteran discount on every cruise, on every cruise line — always at least 5% off the cruise fare, taken off the cruise line’s lowest price and added on top of current sales. Many sailings may also come with extra perks like onboard credit, special amenities and Distinctive Voyages. Active duty, retirees, ALL veterans, ALL military and veteran spouses (even if divorced) and everyone traveling with them qualify. There are no booking fees. Call 866-964-5482.
How do military members and veterans get a discount on a cruise? 3 steps
- Verify your eligibility. Each cruise line uses its own method. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line verifies through ID.me and Princess through SheerID; other lines ask for a military ID or DD-214.
- Select the military fare. If the sailing has a military rate, choose it when you book (Royal Caribbean’s offer type is MILITARY or MILITARY NRD). When you book with Military Cruise Deals, we compare the military rate with the lowest public fare, start from whichever is lower, and take at least 5% off on top — for every cabin in your group.
- Bring proof to the pier. Cruise lines can ask for proof of eligibility at check-in, and a booking can be repriced if you can’t show it. (Our own discount needs no verification.)
Last updated: October 2026 · By Mitchell Bank, owner of Military Cruise Deals, serving military families since 2001
The quick answer
To get a military discount on a cruise, confirm you qualify (active duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired military, honorably discharged veterans and, on most cruise lines, spouses), have your military ID, DD-214 or VA ID card ready, then book the cruise line’s military rate — directly with the cruise line, through American Forces Travel or your base MWR/ITT office, or through a military travel agency like Military Cruise Deals. Military Cruise Deals applies the cruise line’s military rate plus its own extra military discount on top, for every cabin in your group, with no booking fees.
How to get a military discount on a cruise: step by step
- Check that you qualify. Most cruise lines offer military rates to active duty, Reserve and National Guard members, military retirees and honorably discharged veterans. Many also include spouses.
- Gather your proof of service. A military ID, dependent ID, DD-214, VA Health ID card (VHIC), Veteran ID Card or a driver’s license with a veteran designation.
- Choose where to book. You can book with the cruise line, American Forces Travel, your base MWR/ITT office or a military cruise agency. See the comparison below.
- Select the military rate — and compare it. On cruise line websites, check the “military” box when you search. Always compare the military fare with current sales: a promotion like 60% off the second guest can sometimes beat the military rate.
- Verify your eligibility. Some cruise lines verify online (for example through ID.me or SheerID) before you sail; others check your ID at the pier. Bring your proof on embarkation day either way.
- Stack every extra you can. Past-guest perks, onboard credit, kids-sail-free and resident offers often combine with military pricing. When you book with Military Cruise Deals, we add our own military discount and perks on top — and keep monitoring your rate until final payment.
Who qualifies for a military cruise discount?
- Active duty in any branch, including the Coast Guard
- Reserve and National Guard members
- Retired military
- Honorably discharged veterans
- Spouses (on most cruise lines)
- Canadian active and retired military and veterans (for the Military Cruise Deals discount)
Cruise line military rates usually apply only to the cabin occupied by the military member or spouse. The Military Cruise Deals discount applies to every cabin in your group — family and friends traveling with you qualify too.
What ID do I need for a military cruise discount?
| If you are… | Typical proof accepted |
|---|---|
| Active duty, Reserve or National Guard | Common Access Card (CAC) or military ID |
| Retired military | Military retiree ID card |
| Veteran | DD-214, VA Health ID card (VHIC), Veteran ID Card (VIC) or a driver’s license with veteran designation |
| Spouse or dependent | Uniformed Services ID card (dependent ID) |
Requirements vary by cruise line. When you book with us, we tell you exactly what your cruise line will ask for.
Where to book a military cruise discount: 4 options compared
| Option | Best for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Book directly with the cruise line | Travelers who want to handle it themselves | You get the cruise line’s military rate only. Finding the right fare code and perks is up to you. |
| American Forces Travel (official DoD MWR travel site) | Eligible members who like booking online | Military-exclusive deals and no booking fees. Eligibility rules apply — check the site. |
| Base MWR / ITT office | Personnel near an installation | In-person help. Hours and cruise options vary by base. |
| Military Cruise Deals | Anyone who wants the lowest total price with an expert handling it | The cruise line’s military rate plus our own extra military discount on every cabin in your group. No booking, change or cancellation fees. We monitor your rate until final payment. Serving military families since 2001. |
Already booked directly with the cruise line? If you booked within the last 30 days and haven’t passed final payment, you can transfer your booking to Military Cruise Deals — same cabin, same booking number, same rate — and add our military discount. Call us at 866-964-5482.
Comparing Armed Forces Vacation Club with booking through a travel agent? See our Armed Forces Vacation Club vs a travel agent comparison.
Is there such a thing as 80% discounts on cruises, as advertised by some other websites?
No. Those sites are comparing their price to a “brochure rate” to make it sound like they’re offering a discount — but their rates are usually the same as the cruise line’s own website.
Military Cruise Deals has always been the only company focused specifically on military and veteran cruise discounts. Not only do we have our own military discount that applies to all military and veterans, we know exactly what every cruise line is offering military — and we’re experts at getting all of it applied.
We’ve even helped cruise lines create their military discount policies. For example, MSC’s military discount program exists because they asked Military Cruise Deals to write it for them — that’s why it goes up to 10% off and applies to everyone in the family, not just the one cabin with the military member.
Military Cruise Deals is the only company that has been offering a military and veteran discount on cruises for 25 years. We started it. And we continue it, while others are now pretending they offer a military discount.
What kind of military cruise discounts do we offer in 2026 and 2027?
We offer a discount off the cruise lines’ lowest rate — usually about 5%, and sometimes as high as 40% when we have an exclusive group rate. We also offer free travel insurance for kids and discounted travel insurance for adults at around 50% off, based on passengers’ ages.
We also have exclusive perk offers like free gratuities, onboard credit, specialty dining, priority boarding, and more. And we can get you a Diamonds International gift card for up to $500 if you like that sort of thing.
You also receive any and all past guest perks, amenities, onboard credits, and promos offered by the cruise line — everything you’d get by booking direct, plus our extra military discount on top.
Do the cruise lines offer any military discounts and benefits?
They all do something different. Here’s the current picture:
Carnival consistently has a special low rate just for military on most of their cruises.
Royal Caribbean says they offer a military rate, but their rate is usually the same as their civilian rate. However, they do run strong promotional discounts — up to 60% off and kids sail free — that combine well with our exclusive offers.
Norwegian has a military discount program that can get you 10% off — ask us how to get it applied, as it can be cumbersome to navigate.
MSC offers 5–10% off depending on cabin type, plus kids free on many dates.
Celebrity offers a $25–$100 extra discount for military, but we have to specifically request it. Celebrity has many fare codes and getting the right price with the right perks takes expertise — let us handle it.
Disney has a special low military rate called the MTO fare code. It is only available on select sailings departing within the next 1–3 months — you will never see a Disney military rate on a cruise departing more than about 6 months out. We check for those daily and post all details on our Disney page.
Princess and Cunard offer onboard credit to every military member — $50 to $250 depending on the length of the cruise.
Luxury and river cruise lines rarely have a specific military discount, but we book all luxury and river cruise lines and provide our own discount when you ask us for a quote.
Current Military Cruise Offers by Cruise Line
Holland America — 40% off, kids free, balcony upgrade, up to $400 onboard credit, Have It All Bonus Upgrade. Our exclusive offers: military discount, onboard credit, Distinctive Voyage Host, and free shore excursion.
Royal Caribbean — 60% off, kids free, up to $800 instant savings or onboard credit. Our exclusive offers: free specialty dining, up to $50 per cabin onboard credit, and special low group rates discounted up to 40%.
Norwegian Cruise Line — 10% off for qualifying military and veterans, 5 perks included (drink package, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, shore excursion credit), kids sail free as 3rd/4th passengers, 2nd passenger 50% off plus free air, reduced deposit of only $125 per person. Our exclusive offers: free gratuities or up to $300 in onboard credit.
Celebrity — 75% off and $600 bonus onboard credit or instant savings on select dates, 3rd and 4th free on select dates. Our exclusive offers: Distinctive Voyage free shore excursion, up to $50 per cabin onboard credit, and special low group rates.
Princess — 40% off, free upgrade, 3rd and 4th free, $99 deposit. Our exclusive offers: onboard credit, Alaska Cruise Tour amenities on select dates, and up to $250 onboard credit for military and veterans.
Oceania — Up to $1,000 in shore excursions, 25% off, wine, champagne, specialty dining, and unlimited Wi-Fi. Our exclusive offers: culinary themed cruises with free gratuities.
Disney — Military discount up to $1,000 off select cruises, 50% reduced deposit, 25% off Europe cruises and Caribbean for Florida residents. Our exclusive offer: a military discount on every Disney cruise — everyone in your group qualifies.
Virgin Voyages — 80% off 2nd passenger, up to $300 in free drinks, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining included. Our exclusive offers: military discount and/or up to $100 in onboard credit.
Carnival — Up to $100 in onboard credit, 50% or $50 reduced deposit, free upgrade. Our exclusive offers: military discount and free travel insurance for kids.
MSC Europe / MSC Caribbean — Up to 10% off for military in balconies or better, 5% in oceanview and inside cabins, kids free on many dates, up to $400 in onboard credit, drink package and Wi-Fi may be included.
Viking River / Viking Ocean — Free international airfare, $25 deposit, savings up to $800. Our exclusive offer: up to $1,000 military discount and $100 onboard credit.
Silversea — Door-to-door all-inclusive fares, 15% reduced deposit. Our exclusive offers: up to $600 onboard credit, Distinctive Voyage amenities including Host and free shore excursion.
Cunard — Up to triple onboard spending money on selected voyages. Our exclusive offers: Distinctive Voyage Hosts and free shore excursions, up to $100 per person onboard credit, champagne breakfast and/or assorted canapés.
AmaWaterways — Free land package, reduced air, and double military discount (theirs and ours). Our exclusive offers: up to $600 onboard credit, Distinctive Voyage Host and free shore excursion, exclusive market tour with chef for private Chef’s Table Dinner.
Seabourn — 25% off, up to $1,000 onboard credit, 15% reduced deposit. Our exclusive offers: up to $400 onboard credit, Distinctive Voyage Host and free shore excursion, culinary collection amenities (galley tour, Chef’s Table, or wine tasting).
Regent — Two-category upgrade, 50% off, 7.5% reduced deposit. Our exclusive offers: up to $400 in onboard credit and/or free gratuities, Distinctive Voyage Host, private welcome reception, exclusive shore event, and a box of chocolates.
Windstar — Our exclusive offers: up to $200 in onboard credit, Distinctive Voyage Host, private welcome reception, exclusive shore event, and a chef’s hosted dinner with wine pairing.
*On select sailings only — not all promotions apply to all ships and dates.
As always, your entire group gets everything the cruise line is offering, plus our military and veteran discount, plus any extra amenities we offer. Our best advice: book as far in advance as possible, or cruise in the shoulder season (May, October, or November) for the best deals.
How are our military cruise discounts calculated?
Cruise lines often have anywhere from 3 to 20 different fare codes we could use to price a cruise. When you book on our site, our system automatically uses the lowest available fare code offered by the cruise line, then automatically subtracts our discount from that fare and reveals the new discounted price to you.
If you want the perks that come with a higher-priced fare code (like a drink package or specialty dining), call us to book and we’ll apply that fare code while still getting our discount applied on top.
How do I find all possible military cruise discounts?
All rates on our site already have a military discount applied — meaning they are lower than the cruise line’s own lowest rate. Any additional benefits, amenities, or perks that come with a cruise are listed under that cruise in the “Bonus Offers” section. Be sure to click each bonus offer to read the terms and conditions.
The best approach: start by looking for a cruise based on where you want to go and when you can go — then see what the best deals are that fit your needs.
How do you get all military discounts applied to your booking?
You don’t have to do a thing — we handle it three ways. First, our online booking engine is configured to check for all military discounts from the cruise line. Then our system automatically adds our additional discount. Finally, one of our expert agents personally reviews every booking to confirm everything is correct and all applicable perks and discounts have been applied. Once we receive the confirmation from the cruise line, we check it carefully to make sure all our discounts and benefits are reflected.
You are in good, capable hands. You don’t need to worry about a thing.
🏅 Why Military Families Book With Military Cruise Deals
Military Cruise Deals has been serving military families since 2001 — longer than anyone else in the industry. Our agents — Mitch, Kevin, and Hope — know every cruise line’s military discount policy, every fare code, and every exclusive perk available to you. We’ve helped over 50,000 military customers, earned 1,500+ five-star reviews, and our rates are always guaranteed to be the lowest available.
Call us: 866-964-5482 | Contact Us
Military cruise discount FAQ
Can veterans get a military discount on a cruise?
Yes. Most major cruise lines extend military rates or onboard credit to honorably discharged veterans, and the Military Cruise Deals discount applies to all U.S. and Canadian veterans and their families.
Can I combine a military discount with other cruise promotions?
Often, yes. Military rates and perks frequently combine with past-guest benefits and some sales, but not always. We price every combination and book whichever is lowest for you.
Does the military discount apply to my whole group?
Cruise line military rates usually apply only to the cabin with the military member or spouse. Our Military Cruise Deals discount applies to every cabin traveling with you.
Is there a fee to book a military cruise discount through Military Cruise Deals?
No. We charge no booking, change or cancellation fees.
What if the price drops after I book?
We monitor your rate until final payment. If it drops, we ask the cruise line to re-fare your booking or give you onboard credit or an upgrade for the difference.
Learn about the best new military cruise discounts and deals the moment they are announced! Every day we look for the very best veteran and military discounts and special offers so you don’t have to. The really amazing, once-a-year-type deals are usually offered without notice — and new last-minute deals pop up every day.
Like us on Facebook to get notified of all military cruise discounts as soon as they come out!
What’s new and awesome in cruising? We’ll tell you — and give you some great tips!
Military Cruise Discount at a Glance
| Our military discount | Always at least 5% off the cruise fare on every cruise, off the lowest price |
| Extra perks | Onboard credit, special amenities and Distinctive Voyages on many sailings |
| Who qualifies | Active duty, retired military, ALL veterans, ALL military and veteran spouses (no matter the military member’s status, even if divorced), plus friends and family — even in separate cabins |
| Stacks with sales? | Yes — added on top of the cruise line’s current promotions |
| Booking fees | None — no fees to book, change or cancel |
| Price protection | Free rate monitoring and re-faring requests until final payment, plus our exclusive Price Drop Tracker |
| In business since | 2001 — military-family-owned, 1,500+ five-star reviews. Call 866-964-5482 |
More Questions About the Military Cruise Discount
How much is the military discount on all cruise lines?
Our military discount is always at least 5% off the cruise fare on every cruise. Many sailings may also come with extra perks like onboard credit, special amenities and Distinctive Voyages. The more your cruise costs, the more you save.
Do all military and veteran spouses qualify for the Military Cruise Discount military discount?
Yes. ALL military and veteran spouses qualify, no matter the status of the military member — including surviving spouses and divorced spouses. Friends and family traveling with them qualify too, even in separate cabins.
Can I transfer my booking to Military Cruise Deals?
In many cases, yes — if you booked directly with the cruise line and haven’t made final payment. Call us at 866-964-5482 and we’ll check your booking.