The results were surprisingly cheap. The lowest fare I could verify was the equivalent of just €238 per person for a 7-night cruise on MSC Lirica in January 2027. MSC Euribia comes very close, with a February sailing from around €241 per person.
And these aren't all obscure ships or unusual itineraries. The cheapest cruises include Barcelona, Bari, Athens, Istanbul, Izmir, Corfu, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bruges.
Prices were checked on September 25, 2026. Cruise fares change frequently, and prices can vary between booking markets, so use the prices below as a snapshot of the lowest advertised fares I could verify rather than a guaranteed price at the time you book.
Quick answer: The cheapest 7-day European cruise I could verify for 2027 is MSC Lirica, sailing January 23–30, 2027, from Bari. The advertised inside-cabin fare was $271, equivalent to approximately €238 per person at the exchange rate used for this article.
The 10 Cheapest 7-Day European Cruises for 2027
I compared 7-night European sailings from major cruise companies, concentrating on inside cabins for two people sharing. The table below ranks the lowest advertised fares I could verify during this search.
Because some cruise-search websites display fares in US dollars even when the cruise departs from Europe, the prices below have been converted to euros for European readers. The euro amounts are therefore approximate equivalents, not a guarantee that the cruise line will display exactly the same amount in euros at checkout.
Prices are converted approximate starting fares per person for an inside cabin, based on two people sharing. Cruise prices are dynamic and can change without notice. Taxes, fees, gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and other extras may vary depending on the fare and booking market.
1. MSC Lirica – 7 Nights in the Eastern Mediterranean for €238
Departure: January 23–30, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €238 per person
This is the new cheapest cruise I could verify in the 2027 European market.
MSC Lirica's January 23 sailing departs from Bari, Italy, and combines several fascinating Eastern Mediterranean destinations in one week.
The itinerary includes Piraeus for Athens, Izmir, Istanbul and Corfu before returning to Bari.
At an advertised $271 per person, the fare converts to approximately €238 using the exchange rate used for this article.
That works out at roughly €34 per night for the cruise fare.
More importantly, this isn't simply a cheap cruise around one small area. You get the chance to combine Italy, Greece and Turkey in a single seven-night itinerary.
Route: Bari → Piraeus/Athens → Izmir → Istanbul → Corfu → Bari.
If you are searching specifically for the cheapest European cruise but still want a genuinely interesting itinerary, this is one of the most eye-catching fares I found.
2. MSC Euribia – 7 Nights in the Western Mediterranean for €241
Departure: February 13–20, 2027
Ship: MSC Euribia
Price found: approximately €241 per person
This is the cruise that originally looked like the winner of the entire search, and it remains one of the biggest bargains available.
MSC Euribia's February 13, 2027 sailing is a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona.
The itinerary takes in some of the biggest names in Mediterranean cruising, including Marseille, Genoa, Naples and Palermo, before returning to Barcelona.
The advertised fare of $275 converts to approximately €241 per person.
That works out at less than €35 per night for the cruise fare.
The timing is also significant. February is one of the quietest periods for Mediterranean cruising, which is exactly when some of the lowest fares appear.
Route: Barcelona → Marseille → Genoa → Naples → Palermo → La Goulette → Barcelona.
This same MSC Euribia itinerary also appears at low prices on nearby January and February departures, making it one of the easiest cruises on this list to find for a flexible traveler.
3. MSC Lirica – January 13 Departure for €257
Departure: January 13–20, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €257 per person
MSC Lirica appears again just one position later, with another remarkably cheap Eastern Mediterranean sailing.
This departure begins in Istanbul and offers another opportunity to explore several major destinations around the Eastern Mediterranean without paying anything close to a typical summer cruise fare.
The advertised inside-cabin fare was $293, equivalent to approximately €257 per person.
For travelers who want Greece and Turkey rather than the classic Barcelona–Marseille–Genoa circuit, this is one of the most interesting cheap options in the current listings.
4. MSC Lirica – January 30 Departure for €264
Departure: January 30–February 6, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €264 per person
The MSC Lirica bargain continues into the end of January.
This seven-night Eastern Mediterranean sailing departs from Bari and again combines destinations around Greece, Turkey and Italy.
The advertised inside-cabin fare was $301, equivalent to approximately €264 per person.
That means four different Lirica departures can be found in this price range during January and early February.
If you are flexible with your dates, this is exactly the kind of pattern worth looking for when hunting for a cheap cruise.
5. MSC Lirica – January 18 Departure for €282
Departure: January 18–25, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €282 per person
This sailing departs from Piraeus, Greece, making it particularly interesting for anyone who wants to add Athens to a cheap European cruise.
The advertised fare was $321, equivalent to approximately €282 per person.
With an Eastern Mediterranean itinerary and a starting fare of only a little over €280, it is another example of how much cheaper winter cruising can be compared with the main summer season.
6. MSC Lirica – January 20 Departure for €284
Departure: January 20–27, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €284 per person
Just two days after the previous sailing, MSC Lirica offers another low-cost seven-night cruise.
This time the departure is from Istanbul.
The advertised fare was $324, which converts to approximately €284 per person.
That makes this one of the cheapest ways currently available to combine a cruise holiday with several Eastern Mediterranean destinations.
It is also a good reminder that the departure port can make a huge difference when comparing cruises. A slightly more expensive cruise from a much easier-to-reach port could ultimately cost less as a complete holiday.
7. MSC Lirica – January 27 Departure for €286
Departure: January 27–February 3, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €286 per person
The Lirica appears once again, with this sailing departing from Istanbul.
The advertised inside-cabin fare was $326, equivalent to approximately €286 per person.
The itinerary offers another opportunity to explore the Eastern Mediterranean in winter, when cruise fares are much lower than during the main summer season.
For travelers interested in Istanbul, Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, this is an unusually low starting fare.
8. MSC Euribia – January 23 Departure for €289
Departure: January 23–30, 2027
Ship: MSC Euribia
Price found: approximately €289 per person
MSC Euribia returns to the list with another Western Mediterranean sailing.
The advertised fare was $330, equivalent to approximately €289 per person.
The route again brings together Spain, France, Italy and Tunisia, giving you a remarkable number of destinations during a single seven-night cruise.
For travelers who prefer the Western Mediterranean to Greece and Turkey, this is one of the strongest alternatives to the €241 February sailing.
9. MSC Lirica – February 3 Departure for €290
Departure: February 3–10, 2027
Ship: MSC Lirica
Price found: approximately €290 per person
The MSC Lirica appears again, this time departing from Istanbul in early February.
The advertised inside-cabin fare was $331, equivalent to approximately €290 per person.
The itinerary continues to offer a particularly attractive combination of destinations around the Eastern Mediterranean.
If you are more interested in ancient cities, Greece and Turkey than Mediterranean beach resorts, this is one of the cheapest options currently available to investigate.
10. MSC Preziosa – Northern Europe for €293
Departure: January 14–21, 2027
Ship: MSC Preziosa
Price found: approximately €293 per person
Finally, we reach the first Northern European cruise in the top ten.
MSC Preziosa's January 14 sailing departs from Le Havre and visits Southampton, Hamburg, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.
The advertised inside-cabin fare was $334, equivalent to approximately €293 per person.
This is particularly interesting for travelers from Belgium, the Netherlands, northern France or western Germany, because reaching Le Havre by car or train can be considerably easier than flying to Barcelona or Istanbul.
And unlike the Mediterranean cruises, this itinerary gives you a completely different winter cruise experience, with several major Northern European cities packed into seven nights.
What About Costa Cruises?
Costa was one of the first cruise lines I checked because it regularly produces some of the cheapest European cruise fares.
And Costa does come relatively close, although it currently doesn't break into the top ten.
Costa Toscana has several January 2027 Western Mediterranean departures advertised from around $390 per person, equivalent to approximately €342.
The January 11, January 18 and January 25 departures are all currently around this level, with February departures rising to around $450.
The route includes destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Palermo, Civitavecchia/Rome, Savona, Marseille and Barcelona.
So Costa Toscana is absolutely worth checking if you don't want MSC, but the lowest MSC fares are currently around €100 cheaper.
Why Are These 2027 Cruises So Cheap?
There is a very obvious pattern in the cheapest fares: January and February.
These are some of the quietest weeks of the European cruise calendar. Mediterranean ports are much less crowded, demand is lower and cruise lines have more incentive to fill cabins.
That is why a cruise costing several hundred euros less than a summer sailing can sometimes follow almost exactly the same route.
January and February are the sweet spot
If price is your main priority, don't automatically search June, July or August.
For the lowest European cruise fares, start with:
- January
- February
- Early March
- Late autumn
The trade-off is weather. Northern Europe can be cold and grey, while the Mediterranean can be cool rather than beach weather.
Which Cheap Cruise Should You Look At?
It depends heavily on what you want to see.
What About AIDA, Royal Caribbean and Princess?
I also checked the other major cruise lines rather than assuming MSC and Costa would be the cheapest.
AIDA has a substantial 2026/27 winter programme, including Canary Islands cruises and sailings from German ports. However, its fares and packages can be structured differently from the cruise-only inside-cabin fares used in this comparison, so they aren't always directly comparable.
Royal Caribbean was considerably more expensive in the European 7-night fares I could verify. Current published European fares include 7-night itineraries from several hundred euros higher than the cheapest MSC sailings, with some currently advertised well above €700 per person.
Celebrity was also substantially higher in the European sailings I found, with current 7-night examples generally starting well above the €900 mark.
Princess has an extensive European programme for 2027, including Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries, but the available seven-night fares I could verify were also well above the cheapest MSC fares.
Norwegian, Cunard and other premium options were similarly higher in the European fares I could verify.
This is why MSC dominates this particular list. It isn't because I only looked at MSC. It is because the lowest currently verifiable advertised fares were overwhelmingly coming from MSC.
How to Get the Cheapest Cruise Price
The headline fare is only part of the calculation. Here are the things I would check before booking.
1. Compare several weeks
The biggest lesson from this search is how much the price can change from one week to the next.
MSC Lirica, for example, has several January and February departures clustered around the €240–€290 range, while nearby departures can suddenly become much more expensive.
MSC Euribia shows exactly the same pattern.
If you can move your holiday by a week, always check several sailings.
2. Start with an inside cabin
If the goal is simply to cruise cheaply, an inside cabin is normally where you will find the lowest advertised fare.
You still get access to the ship's restaurants, pools, entertainment and public areas. You simply don't get a window or private balcony in the cabin.
3. Check the final price before comparing
This is important with cruise deals.
A headline price can change depending on the country you book from, taxes and port charges, gratuities, promotions, drinks packages and other extras.
That's why I use the advertised fare as the starting point in this article rather than pretending that every cruise will have exactly the same final checkout price.
4. Don't forget the cost of getting to the port
A €238 cruise isn't necessarily the cheapest holiday if getting to the departure port costs €500.
This is particularly important with Mediterranean cruises departing from Barcelona, Bari, Piraeus or Istanbul.
For travelers in northern Europe, the MSC Preziosa sailings from Le Havre can therefore be particularly interesting because the departure port may be much easier to reach than Barcelona or Istanbul.
5. Compare the total holiday, not just the cruise
Look at:
- Cruise fare
- Taxes and port charges
- Gratuities
- Drinks
- Wi-Fi
- Excursions
- Travel to the departure port
- Pre-cruise hotel if needed
- Parking or airport costs
Once you add everything together, the cheapest advertised cruise isn't always the cheapest complete trip.
Are Cheap European Cruises Worth It?
A 7-night cruise can be an unusually efficient way to see Europe.
Instead of checking into several hotels, packing and unpacking every couple of days and driving or taking trains between cities, your hotel moves with you.
And some of the cheapest 2027 cruises have surprisingly ambitious itineraries.
For less than €300 per person in the current listings, you can potentially visit multiple countries in one week, including Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, Spain and other European destinations depending on the itinerary.
The biggest compromise is usually the time of year. The cheapest fares are concentrated in winter, so you need to decide whether saving several hundred euros is worth giving up the warm Mediterranean weather of summer.
My Biggest Finding From the 2027 Search
The interesting thing about looking for the cheapest European cruises is that the answer isn't necessarily one particular cruise. It is flexibility.
The difference between an expensive week and an extremely cheap week can be enormous, even when the ship and itinerary are almost identical.
In this search, MSC Lirica produced several seven-night sailings for less than €300 per person. MSC Euribia also has an exceptionally low February fare, while MSC Preziosa brings the cheapest Northern European option into the same price range.
So if you are genuinely hunting for a bargain, don't choose your dates first and then look for a cruise.
Choose your price first, then find the date.
Ready to Cruise for Less?
The cheapest 7-day European cruises for 2027 are currently far cheaper than I expected when I started comparing them.
The lowest fare I could verify was approximately €238 per person for MSC Lirica, with several other seven-night European cruises available below €300 in the current listings.
The biggest surprise was how strongly MSC dominated the cheapest end of the market. MSC Lirica produced the lowest Eastern Mediterranean fares, MSC Euribia dominated the cheapest Western Mediterranean options and MSC Preziosa provided the lowest Northern European sailing I could verify in this price range.
Costa Toscana came closest among the other mainstream lines I checked, but its lowest verified fares were around €340 rather than below €300. Other major brands such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess were considerably higher in the comparable European seven-night fares I could verify.
If you can travel in January or February 2027, are happy with an inside cabin and can be flexible with your departure date, this is where I would start looking.
Prices and availability can change at any time. The fares in this article were checked on September 25, 2026. Prices originally displayed in US dollars have been converted to euros for European readers and rounded to the nearest euro. They are intended as a snapshot of the lowest advertised seven-night European cruise fares I could verify at the time of research, not as guaranteed checkout prices.