How to score the best deal on your next dream cruise

We’re meticulous about finding the best prices on flights, hotels, and currency. Isn’t it time we did the same with cruising?

Everybody loves cruising. But even if you’re a seasoned sailor or a fresh-faced first timer, finding the right cruise can be tricky.  Between destinations and departure ports, cruise lines and cabin categories, loyalty perks and last-minute deals, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Luckily, Cruise Guru is a great online tool to help you narrow down the right trip for you: taking the guesswork out of planning and guiding you to the right cruise for your travel style, budget and sense of adventure.

What is Cruise Guru

With over 25,000 cruise itineraries to choose from, Cruise Guru, is the best way to find the right sailing for you. Similar to popular travel comparison sites like Webjet and Skyscanner, Cruise Guru is the premier online cruise search tool for Australian passengers, helping them become cruise experts.

“Cruise Guru gives customers the power to choose the right cruise by putting everything a first-timer needs to know at their fingertips”, says Cruise Guru CEO Michael Betteridge.

Depart from Sydney on Ovation of the Seas. (Image: Royal Caribbean)

How? Cruise Guru’s online cruise finder. Using parameters like destination and departure point, cruise line or specific ship, departure date and the number of nights a person wants to be away, Cruise Guru clients not only have the best selection of cruises for their specific holiday needs-with an incredible range of cruise itineraries to choose from – but they allow passengers to bag the best bargain and last minute deals, too.

It’s the sort of system even Cruise Guru CEO Michael Betteridge uses to book his own cruise holidays.

“Once I know where I want to go and when, I like to find a cruise line that caters to people like me”, says Betteridge. “Most recently, I just wanted a short break with my wife where we could do very little, but dine really well and enjoy some great on-board entertainment. We did a Weekend Like A Guru deal with Royal Caribbean on Ovation of the Seas. Best weekend ever. No kids. No hassles. Just an epic two full days and three nights at sea”.

While Cruise Guru’s online cruise finder offers incredible choice and convenience, it’s also distinguished by its customer service, with the family-operated business voted Best Online Cruise Store in 2024.

While everything can be booked directly online, customers can also call a knowledgeable and experienced cruise consultant about a potential trip. Having the flexibility to book however suits you is what sets Cruise Guru apart from its competitors.

What cruise lines are on offer?

Cruise Guru offers a broad selection of cruises from favourite operators, each with their own feel and focus. If you’re after an innovative ship experience, for example, try Royal Caribbean. If you’re more destination-focused, try an operator like Princess Cruises. Celebrity Cruises has a nice upscale feel, while Norwegian Cruise Line has a more freestyle approach. Want to party? try the Adults-only Virgin Cruises, while if you’re planning to travel with kids, you can’t go past family favourite Disney Cruise Line.

Wake up to Celebrity Cruises. (Image: Celebrity Cruises)

What are the best deals?

One of the key advantages of booking with Cruise Guru is that they offer incredible deals and specials exclusive to subscribers and visitors. Like allowing you to lock a cruise in with just a $25 deposit, and providing a Price Protection guarantee. This means if you book with Cruise Guru, and find a lower fare for the same trip and cabin category elsewhere within 48 hours of booking, they’ll match the fare.

“Our relationships with cruise lines allow us to deliver exceptional value and benefits to our customers,” says Betteridge. “This may be better fares, deals or value adds – like on-board credit and perks”.

One of its best deals on offer right now is Cruise Guru’s Summer Like a Guru through Royal Caribbean, for their recently released 2026/2027 cruises. Departing from Sydney and Brisbane, there are 51 itineraries to choose from.

In addition, Cruise Guru is also a one-stop shop for all of its clients’ holiday needs, offering airfares, accommodation, transfers and insurance for clients.

Book an adventure with Royal Caribbean. (Image: RCI)

How to Cruise if you’re a first-timer

If you’re looking to try your first cruise, Cruise Guru has an incredible selection of cruise options available and plenty of advice to help you ease into cruising the right way. Betteridge recommends starting off slow, with a short cruise that is close to home: a 3 or 4-night cruise with a port stop.

“I promise it will feel like you’ve had a much longer holiday than you think,” he says.

Where can you sail?

Once passengers have cut their teeth on their first cruise, there’s a whole new world of cruising to discover: everything from bigger ships to longer voyages, niche cruising and small ship voyages, different destinations and fresh itineraries,

Some of the big trends Cruise Guru is seeing include the rising popularity of trips departing from the East Coast of Australia, including departures from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. New Zealand and the South Pacific have proven popular, and cruises to places like Alaska, river cruises in Europe. And bucket-list trips to destinations like expedition cruises in Antarctica are hugely popular.

“There is a cruise for everyone,” says Betteridge, “and we want your experience to be the best it can be so you keep coming back for more”.

Find the best cruise line and location for your dream trip. (Image: Getty/ Richmatts)

Start planning the cruise of a lifetime at cruiseguru.com.au.