Key Aspects:
- Wave season takes place each year between January and March.
- During wave season, many cruise lines offer their steepest discounts and best promotions of the year.
- Beyond lower cruise fares, cruisers can also get lots of freebies and perks from wave season promotions, such as free drink packages or onboard credits.
Wave season is the annual period when cruise lines roll out lots of sales and promotions, and when many travelers book their cruises hoping to snag a deal. Here’s what you need to know about whether or not wave season will truly help you save, and how to get the most out of wave season.
What is Wave Season?
Wave season refers to the annual time of year when most cruise lines offer a range of promotional deals and savings. Wave season occurs at the beginning of each year, starting in January and lasting for typically a few months, through March or April.
Historically, travelers didn’t really book cruises right after the holidays, so wave season was a way for the industry to lure travelers in, when they otherwise wouldn’t think of booking.
Now, wave season has become an expected, industry-wide tradition and it’s one of the overall busiest cruise-booking periods. Think of it as the Black Friday or Cyber Monday for cruising.
In fact, many cruise lines have broken booking records over the past few years, including Cunard, P&O Cruises and Virgin Voyages, due to the sheer number of people booking cruises during this timeframe. Cruisers eagerly await the promotions and it’s not uncommon for promoted sailings to sell out.
Additionally, cruise lines are even trying to extend wave season beyond its normal January–April bounds, with some starting to promote their wave season deals as early as November.
Who is Wave Season For?
Wave season is for absolutely everyone, but it’s especially ideal for newer cruisers who are booking their first cruise or are hesitant about booking a cruise. The lower price makes the perceived “risk” a little more palatable.
Additionally, wave season will allow new cruisers to maybe enjoy experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise.
For example, they might be normally reluctant to buy that drink package or spend a lot aboard the ship, in the name of cost. However, if they get a free or discounted drink package or lots of onboard credits to spend, they may have an overall better time — making it more likely for them to book a future cruise.
Plus, wave season gives new cruisers access to some perks that may normally only be reserved to avid cruisers that have built up their loyalty status with a certain line. While top-tier loyalty members may be accustomed to receiving free drinks or onboard credits, wave season makes many of these perks accessible to everyone.
That said, wave season is still going to be a beloved occasion for those long-time, frequent cruisers as well. After all, if you can save money doing what you love, why wouldn’t you?
What Kind of Deals Can You Expect During Wave Season?
In addition to wave season being the best time for low fares, many cruise lines will also run promotions that throw in some freebies.
For instance, you might be able to get some onboard credits that you can then redeem for dining, drinks and similar, you might get prepaid gratuity, or your kids might be able to cruise for free. You might be able to get a discount on a drink package or WiFi package.
Types of Wave Season Discounts
- A large percentage off your cruise fare (30–50%)
- Discounted cruise deposits (as low as $25)
- Kids sail free discounts
- Free fare for third, fourth, fifth, or sixth passengers in a cabin
Types of Wave Season Freebies and Bonuses
- Free drink packages
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free gratuities
- Free shore excursions
- Free hotel stays before or after your cruise
- Free airfare to your cruise port
- On-board credits to pay for your on-board expenses
- Cabin upgrades
Here are a few examples of past wave season promotions.
40% Off Cruise Fares from Princess Cruises
For 2026’s wave season, Princess Cruises launched a Come Aboard Sale that offered up to 40% off cruise fares, 50% off cruise deposits and free sailings for third and fourth guests.
30% Savings from Explora Journeys
Also for 2026’s wave season, Explora Journeys offered its A Suite Invitation promotion, giving cruisers up to 30% savings, 10% savings on deposits and complimentary one-category suite upgrades.
$25 Deposits from Holland America
Holland America, meanwhile, offered multiple 2026 wave season promotions, several including $25 deposits, plus other perks ranging from free balcony upgrades to 50% off fares.
$159 Cruises from MSC Cruises
Similarly, MSC Cruises offered multiple deals for 2026’s wave season, with cruise fares starting at just $159, and perks including free sailings for kids and up to $500 in onboard credits.
Will You Always Get the Best Cruise Deals During Wave Season?
No, you won’t necessarily always get the best cruise deals during wave season, though booking during wave season does increase the likelihood of scoring a lower fare.
Other factors influence your overall cruise travel cost, including:
- How far in advance you’re booking your cruise
- The time of year you’re cruising
- Itinerary (including destinations and length)
- Chosen stateroom
The best way to know whether or not you’re truly getting a good wave season deal is to really do your research beforehand. Get a feel for what cruise pricing typically is, on your preferred line or on a preferred itinerary.
How to Get the Best Wave Season Deals
There are a few things that you can do to get the best wave season deals, including booking in advance, booking earlier in wave season, thinking about your individual travel needs, being flexible and staying up to date on available deals.
Book as Far in Advance as Possible
While it’s not always easy to know your travel plans a year or more in advance, if you can book a cruise for next year, during this year’s wave season, you’ll likely see some bigger savings.
When booking any cruise vacation, booking further out is typically better, not only give you potentially a lower fare, but also more choice in terms of cabins and itineraries.
But what if you book your next vacation well in advance, and then the cruise fare drops after you’ve booked? Keep in mind that you can sometimes contact the cruise line and get a refund in this instance, or they may reimburse you through some on-board credits.
Book Earlier Rather Than Later During Wave Season
Remember how I mentioned that wave season has become one of the busiest cruise-booking times of the year? And how, as such, promoted sailings can sell out?
Well, because of this, you really want to try to book earlier rather than later during wave season. You don’t necessarily need to be ready to book on January 1, but don’t push off booking until the end of March or April, either.
What’s Going to Be Most Valuable to You?
Then, keep in mind that the best deal for you isn’t going to necessarily be just the cheapest fare. As cruise wave season promotions really vary in terms of what they offer, think about your individual travel needs and what will ultimately give you the best value, beyond the price tag.
For example, if you’re not going to use those onboard credits, a promotion that gives you a lot of them probably isn’t a good fit. However, if you spend a lot while aboard the ship (and onboard spending can really add up fast!), then the credits could come in handy.
Similarly, if you’re sailing with multiple people, you might want to specifically look for special offers that allow for a second or more guests to sail for free.
Additionally, some cruisers use wave season as an excuse to splurge. If you can save in certain pricey areas of your cruise — like on shore excursions or beverage packages — you might find that you have extra in your budget to spend on nice-to-haves like specialty dining.
Ultimately, you might not technically save money if you go this route, but you’ll get more bang for your buck.
Be Flexible
There are so many wave season sales out there. You really want to explore all of your options, if your goal is to get a great value.
Sure, you might have your heart set on a certain itinerary or destination, but if you can save significantly by adjusting your plans, and, say, cruising the Mediterranean instead of to Alaska… it might just be worth it.
Stay Up to Date on Deals
Don’t wait until you’re ready to book to sit down and start researching all of the available wave season deals. Let those deals come to you.
If you know you’re going to be likely booking a wave season cruise, then, in the preceding fall, go ahead and sign up for a few of your favorite cruise lines’ email lists.
Already missed the boat? Cruise lines are still pushing out promotions throughout the entirety of wave season, so go ahead and still sign up, so that you’re getting those special promotions right in your inbox.
Travel Agent or No Travel Agent?
One question that newbie cruisers might be asking is if they should work with a travel agent to book their wave season cruise. Will they get even better deals if they book through a professional versus going it on their own?
There are pros and cons to working with a travel agent. We actually asked this very question on Cruise Hive’s Facebook page here.
On one hand, if you’re a complete cruise newbie, and you don’t want to do any research whatsoever, just want to say, “here’s my budget, here’s where I want to go, please book it for me,” then a travel agent might be able to help you out.
On the other hand, if you’re booking during wave season specifically, you may find that the deals and perks that a travel agent might be able to get you are readily available to the public during this timeframe anyway. You don’t necessarily need their connections to get those during wave season.
Should You Get Travel Insurance for a Wave Season Cruise?
Whether or not you should buy travel insurance for the cruise you’re booking during wave season all depends on how risk-averse you are.
Some travelers never purchase travel insurance policies and are fine with risking it and maybe losing a little money if something unexpected happens. Other travelers don’t like to chance it.
It’s important, though, to consider that, if you’re booking a wave season cruise, you may be booking a cruise that’s a year-plus out. A lot can happen over the course of a year and you may very well need to cancel the cruise due to unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance can reimburse your lost deposits.
Otherwise, travel insurance comes in handy in a few key cruise-related situations:
- If the cruise itself is interrupted
- If you miss your embarkation
- You have medical needs during the cruise
Do note, though, that most travel insurance policies won’t cover pandemics and you need to purchase your coverage well in advance for full protection.
Always Read the Fine Print
Lastly, before booking any wave season cruise, make sure that you read the deal’s fine print.
Are there exclusions? If you’re getting $500 of on-board credits, are you only able to use them in certain situations, on certain things? If you get a free shore excursion, is it limited to shore excursions you actually don’t want to take?
Taking the time to read all of the fine print before you buy can ensure you actually book the amazing wave season cruise that you wanted, for a price that you feel good about.
