Frequently Asked Questions about Military Cruise Discounts
Last updated: October 15, 2026
Direct answers about military and veteran cruise discounts, how our pricing works, and booking with Military Cruise Deals. Still have a question? Call 866-964-5482, 8 AM–8 PM Eastern. For general cruise questions (kids, packing, Europe departures), see our cruise FAQs.
Military Discounts & Eligibility
Who qualifies for a military cruise discount with Military Cruise Deals?
Active duty service members, veterans, retirees, National Guard and Reserves, military spouses and families, and Gold Star families all qualify. Only one person in the stateroom needs to qualify, and our discount applies to the whole cabin.
Do I need to be active duty to get a military cruise discount?
No. Veterans, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and military families qualify for our discount the same as active duty. Some cruise lines’ own military rates are narrower, but our agency discount isn’t.
Does everyone in the cabin need to be military?
No. Our discount applies to every cabin we book, regardless of who in it served. Some cruise line military rates (for example NCL’s) require the service member or spouse to actually sail in that cabin.
Can I book cabins for friends and family with my military discount?
Yes. Our agency discount applies to every cabin on the booking, including friends and family traveling with you. Cruise line military rates and onboard credits have their own rules and may be limited to the qualifying guest’s cabin.
Do most cruise lines have their own military rate?
Most cruise lines don’t publish a standing military or veteran rate. Where one exists, we stack our agency discount on top of it; where none exists, our discount is still applied to the cruise fare.
Does the military discount stack with cruise line promotions?
Yes. Our discount is applied on top of whatever promotion the cruise line is running, so you keep the sale fare and still get our discount.
What does the military discount apply to?
The discount applies to the cruise fare only. It doesn’t apply to port charges, government taxes and fees, travel insurance, gratuities, or airfare.
Is the discount a price reduction or onboard credit?
It’s applied directly to the cruise fare, which lowers what you actually pay. It isn’t issued as onboard credit.
How do I verify my military status?
Our own agency discount doesn’t require a separate verification step. Cruise line military rates and onboard credits do; for example, Princess verifies through SheerID and NCL through ncl.com/military, and we’ll walk you through the right process for your line.
Do you offer discounts on Disney Cruise Line?
Yes. Disney releases military rates closer to sailing and only on select dates, so they often aren’t available on far-out sailings when you first get a quote. Our agency discount combines with Disney’s military rate as long as it’s applied before final payment.
Do you offer a military discount on Princess Cruises?
Yes. Our agency discount applies to Princess fares, and qualifying guests can also receive Princess’s military onboard credit: $50 on sailings of 6 days or less, $100 on 7–13 days, and $250 on 14+ days per qualified guest (up to 2 per booking). Verification must be submitted at least 14 days before departure.
Do you offer a military discount on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)?
Yes. Our agency discount applies to every NCL cabin we book. NCL’s own military rate applies only where the service member or spouse is in the cabin and must be verified at ncl.com/military before booking.
Do you offer a military discount on Viking?
Yes. Our discount applies to Viking ocean and river fares. Viking also gives a 2% discount for eCheck/ACH payments and a past-guest credit for Viking Explorer Society members.
Do you book Carnival cruises?
Yes. We book all major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, MSC, Disney, Viking, Holland America, and luxury and river lines.
Pricing & How Our Discount Works
Is booking with Military Cruise Deals really cheaper than booking direct?
Yes, guaranteed. We start with the cruise line’s lowest available rate and apply our discount on top, so our price is always lower than booking directly with the cruise line.
How much is the discount?
Our agency discount is 5% of the commissionable cruise fare. It comes out of our commission and is the same for every client. The exact dollar amount is confirmed once your booking is with us, because non-commissionable parts of the fare don’t generate a discount.
I see a better rate on the cruise line’s website. Can you beat it?
Yes. Call us at 866-964-5482 with that rate, including past-guest or loyalty rates, and we’ll add our discount to it.
Why are Priceline or Travelocity prices the same as the cruise line’s?
Base cruise fares on most large travel sites are essentially identical to the cruise line’s published rate; they compete on perks, not fare. We start from that same rate and apply our discount on top.
Why does Vacations To Go sometimes show a lower price?
Usually it’s a different product: a restricted fare (non-refundable deposit or no promotions), a guarantee cabin, a residency-restricted rate, or a comparison against an inflated brochure price. Ask whether it’s a specific cabin, what promotion is attached, and whether the deposit is refundable, then call us and we’ll compare like for like.
What’s the best cruise deal available right now?
Our Today’s Biggest Cruise Price Drops page lists the largest current fare reductions across all lines, updated as prices change. For the best value on a specific sailing, book early with a refundable deposit; we monitor your fare through final payment and apply any lower rate we find.
When is the cheapest time to book a cruise?
Early booking usually gets the best cabin choice and promotions, and close-in sailings sometimes drop to fill unsold cabins. Because we monitor your fare until final payment, booking early with us lets you lock a cabin without giving up a later price drop.
Do you charge booking, change, or cancellation fees?
No. Military Cruise Deals never charges booking, change, or cancellation fees. Any penalties come only from the cruise line’s own policy.
Do you monitor my fare after I book?
Yes. Rate monitoring is automatic from the day you book through the final payment date. If the fare drops, we apply the lower rate; note that some new promotions don’t carry the same onboard credit as your original rate.
What happens if the price drops after final payment?
After final payment, price-drop options depend on the cruise line. NCL’s Best Price Guarantee, for example, allows one claim per reservation for either an upgrade or a future cruise credit.
How fast is the discount applied?
The discount is applied as soon as your booking is transferred to us and invoiced, essentially right away.
How do you make money if you don’t charge fees?
The cruise line pays us a commission, the same one any travel agency receives, and we pass part of it back to you as your discount. You never pay Military Cruise Deals a fee.
Booking, Holds & Payments
How do I book a cruise with Military Cruise Deals?
Search sailings on our site, request a quote, or call 866-964-5482. Agents are available 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern.
What is a courtesy hold?
A courtesy hold reserves a specific cabin with the cruise line for at least 24 hours with no payment and no commitment. You can place one at holdmycruise.com; it only collects the information needed to create the booking.
How much is the deposit?
Deposits typically run around 10% of the cruise fare, though it varies by line and promotion. The exact amount is set when the hold or booking is created.
Is my deposit refundable?
On standard fares, deposits are fully refundable up to the final payment date. Some restricted promotional fares have non-refundable deposits, and we’ll tell you before you book if that applies.
When is final payment due?
Cruise lines set final payment 75 to 120 days before sailing on most lines. We give you a date one week earlier than the cruise line’s deadline as a buffer.
How do I make a payment?
Payments can be made securely at payformycruise.com. Payments go to your reservation with the cruise line.
I already booked directly with the cruise line. Can I still get your discount?
Usually, yes. Most bookings can be transferred to us before final payment, and we apply our discount once the transfer is complete.
Can I choose a specific cabin number?
Yes, once the booking is created. Availability changes too quickly to promise a specific cabin, especially connecting cabins, before then.
Can you upgrade my cabin later?
Tell us the category you want and we’ll ask the cruise line; they notify us if and when it becomes available.
Do you offer group bookings?
Yes. We book family reunions, unit gatherings, and other groups across multiple cabins. Call 866-964-5482 for a group quote.
Can you find a cruise from my preferred port on specific dates?
Yes. Use our cruise search with your dates and departure port, or call 866-964-5482, and we’ll compare every line sailing from that port with our discount applied.
Can you compare Royal Caribbean and Norwegian prices for me?
Yes. We can price the same dates and cabin category across Royal Caribbean, NCL, and other lines with our discount included, so you can compare total cost side by side.
What’s Included & Add-ons
What does my cruise fare include?
Cruise fares typically include your cabin, main dining and buffet meals, most entertainment, and use of the pool and fitness areas. Port charges and taxes, gratuities, drink packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursions usually cost extra.
Are taxes and port fees included in your prices?
Most major cruise lines now show tax-inclusive pricing in the U.S., and our quotes break out the fare and the taxes and fees. Our discount applies to the fare portion.
Can you book drink packages, Wi-Fi, or specialty dining?
Those are purchased directly with the cruise line after your booking is created, using your reservation number. We’ll point you to the right place.
How much are gratuities?
Gratuities vary by line. For example, Carnival charges $17 per person per day in standard staterooms and $19 in suites as of April 2026. They can be prepaid or charged to your onboard account.
Do you book flights, hotels, or parking?
We book the cruise only. Flights can be priced through our air partner, and hotels and parking are usually cheaper booked independently.
Can you add airport transfers?
We can add cruise line port-to-airport transfers once we have your full flight details. Private hotel-to-port transfers must be booked independently.
Do you offer travel insurance?
Yes. Insurance is priced by trip cost and traveler age, so we quote it after names and dates of birth are in the reservation, usually the same day you book.
What’s the Diamonds International gift card?
Qualifying bookings can receive a $500 Diamonds International gift card, good for any single item up to $500 at their stores in most Caribbean ports. Request it after your booking transfers to us; it isn’t automatic.
About Military Cruise Deals
Is Military Cruise Deals legit?
Yes. Your payment is processed directly by the cruise line — they hold your money at all times, not us. We’ve been in business since 2001, have booked more than 50,000 clients, hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and have 1,500+ five-star reviews.
Who owns Military Cruise Deals?
Military Cruise Deals is a military-family-owned agency founded in 2001 by Mitchell and Hope Bank.
How do I contact Military Cruise Deals?
Call 866-964-5482 toll-free, 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern, or use the quote form on our site. Military families stationed overseas can also reach us by WhatsApp.
Can I book if I’m stationed overseas?
Yes. We book service members and families stationed abroad, including European and Mediterranean departures. Our Stationed Abroad page lists international contact numbers.
Why book with a military travel agency instead of a big online site?
You get the cruise line’s lowest rate plus our discount, no agency fees, automatic rate monitoring, and a real agent who handles changes, upgrades, and problems for you.