Many cruise lines honor active-duty and retired servicemen and women, as well as veterans, with military cruise discounts. These take the form of special rates or onboard credit on select cruises, with proof of military service.
If you’re a veteran, discount cruises are a great way to enjoy your retirement or travel to places you first visited as a service member. For active military, cruises are a relaxing way to spend time with family, especially after a long deployment.
The following six cruise lines offer special military cruise prices.
Royal Caribbean Military Discounts
Royal Caribbean offers special pricing to the following military personnel or veterans:
- Active duty members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, or Army Reserves
- Active duty members of the Canadian National Defense
- Retired personnel from the above armed forces, with retirement occurring either after 20 or more years of service, for a medical reason, or due to a major disability
- Veterans of the U.S. military who spent 6 months or more in an active war zone or who received an Honorable Discharge after serving 2 years or longer
- Spouses of deceased military personnel
To be eligible for Royal Caribbean’s military discount, you are required to show proper military I.D. cards proving active or retired status at check-in. Veterans must present a DD 214 form and a photo I.D., and spouses should show the Dependent Military I.D.
For families of deployed service members, the spouse can make the booking and access Royal Caribbean’s military rate if the active-duty spouse is sharing the cabin.
All cruisers booked in the same stateroom will pay the military fare, but travel companions in additional cabins cannot access the special pricing.
Royal Caribbean’s military and veteran discounts are only available on select sailings.
Carnival Military Rates
Carnival offers discounts to active-duty and retired U.S. and Canadian military personnel, including the following:
- Active, retired, and reserve personnel of the U.S. Military and Canadian National Defense
- Active U.S. Military cadets
- U.S. Coast Guard personnel
- Active National Guard members
- Uniformed members of the U.S. Public Health Services
Once a military rate is booked, cruisers must submit their eligibility documents to Carnival’s Interline Desk via email, the postal service, or fax within 72 hours of booking (or 24 hours if booking takes place one week or less prior to departure).
Documents needed to satisfy Carnival’s military rate requirements depend on your status.
U.S. military should provide a copy of one of the following: A copy of a Leave and Earning statement with social security number blackened out, military retirement papers, proof of honorable discharge, or — for cadets only — a military pay stub and a letter from your commander.
Canadian military should provide a copy of form NDI 20 for active-duty personnel or a copy of NDI 75 for retired members who were honorably discharged after at least 10 years of service.
Carnival will not accept a Veteran’s Administration card as proof of service.
Each eligible military member can book one cabin at Carnival’s discounted military rate (typically an Early Saver fare) and must sail in that room.
READ MORE: Why You Should Attend Carnival’s Military Appreciation Gathering
Princess Military Cruise Benefit Program
Princess does not offer cruise fare discounts to military members, but instead offers free onboard credit. The benefit is $50 for cruises of 6 days or less, $100 for 7 to 13-day cruises, and $250 for cruises that are 14+ days.
The onboard credit can be used for a variety of onboard purchases (minus casino charges), and is available on any cruise. A maximum of two credits is allowed per cabin.
Eligible servicemen and women include:
- Active-duty personnel serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, or Army Reserves
- Active-duty Canadian National Defense personnel
- Retired personnel from the above armed forces, with retirement occurring either after 20
or more years of service, for a medical reason, or due to a major disability - Veterans of the U.S. and Canadian military branches mentioned above who spent 6
months or more in an active war zone or who received an Honorable Discharge after serving 2 years or longer
To be eligible, active U.S. military members must present a military verification certificate that can be obtained online. Canadians must present a CF1FC Silver card. Retirees must show one of the following forms: DD214, WD AGO, NAVPERS, NDI 75, CF 75, or certificate of discharge.
Veterans should provide a DD214 plus photo or a Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC) Health I.D. card. Military members must provide a Princess Captain’s Circle number, and all documentation must be submitted to the cruise line 14 days prior to sailing.
Disney Cruise Military Rates
Disney Cruise Line offers cruise discounts on select sailings for active and retired U.S. military personnel or their spouse. Eligible military branches include the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Army Reserves. Department of Defense personnel are also included in this offer.
Each military member, or their spouse, can access one cabin per cruise at the discounted rate, and that person must sail in that room. There’s a limit of 50 cabins per category, per sailing, that can be priced at military rates.
To be eligible, you must provide a military I.D. and proof of active-duty orders if applicable at check-in.
MSC Military Cruise Discounts
MSC Cruises offers reduced military rates, as well as no penalties for canceling a cruise due to redeployment.
Eligible servicemen and women include active and retired members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Army Reserves. Department of Defense personnel and Canadian military personnel are also included in this offer.
The discount is 5 percent off inside and outside cabins and 10 percent off balcony cabins and above. It’s applicable to the military member who is sailing, plus immediate family (spouse, parents, in-laws, and children) and to multiple cabins.
Request the “military discount” and present a valid military I.D. when booking.
In addition, if you have to cancel a cruise due to redeployment, MSC Cruises will offer a 100 percent future cruise credit valid for two years from cancelation. You must cancel at least 15 days ahead of sailing and provide a note from a commanding officer.
Celebrity Military Cruise Rates
Select Celebrity sailings are eligible for military discounts, typically $25 per person off an inside or outside cabin or $100 off a balcony cabin or above (applies to a maximum of two people per cabin).
To be eligible, one person in the cabin must be an active, retired, or veteran member of the U.S. or Canadian military. You will need to provide a valid military I.D. when checking in for the cruise.
MORE: 5 Ways Cruise Lines Appreciate Military Members
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