Starting in January and running through March, cruise lines offer special Wave Season deals to fill their ships early on, for the coming season. When you book during Wave Season, you will find the best prices and perks, such as onboard credits, drink packages, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and upgrades.
In our experience, now is truly the best time to book your cruise. You may still find deals as the season progresses, but don’t count on it, since cruising is back in full force and the newest ships and best destinations usually fill up fast.
For the best experience, you want to book far in advance since airlines are still struggling (look at what happened with Southwest over Christmas) to have their fleets back in the air, due to shortages from ground crews to pilots, which in turn has driven airfares to new heights. If you see a deal you like, book it. You usually only pay a small deposit, often refundable, to reserve that great promotion. If you hesitate to book by a day or even a few hours, it may be too late.
So let’s dive into the top four cruise line deals we’ve found for wave season.
Wave Season Deals
1. Virgin Voyages
New to the industry, Virgin Voyages offers a unique sailing experience geared toward younger, more adventurous cruisers. They are also geared towards adults only who are above the age of 18.
Special offers:
- 60 percent off the second guest + up to $600 in free drinks
- Offer expires January 31, 2023
2. Viking Cruises
Viking is offering deals on both their ocean and river cruises.
Ocean Cruises:
2023
- Free airfare
- Eastern seaboard explorer
- Offer expires: January 31, 2023
2024-2025
- Airfares vary on other gateways and departures
- Offer expires: January 31, 2023
River Cruises:
2023
- Free airfare
- Departures included: Grand European tour, European Sojourn, Capitals of Eastern Europe, Lyon, Provence, and the Rhineland
- Offer expires: January 31, 2023
2024-2025
- Airfares vary on other gateways and departures
- Offer expires: January 31, 2023
3. Celebrity Cruises
One of the “new luxury” lines you will want to go on is Celebrity, offering upscale accommodations, dining, and service that’s unsurpassed.
- Up to 75 percent off the second guest + up to $800 in savings + up to $800 onboard spending
- Offer expires: March 1, 2023
4. Princess Cruises
The best sale ever is back and even better this year.
- Save up to 35 percent on cruise fares
- Get up to $150 per guest to spend on board
- Reserve now with only a $100 deposit (one per guest)
- Offer expires: March 1, 2023
All of these deals are subject to availability and are subject to change. Since new deals are always being added, you can visit our website for the latest deals.
Popular Cruise Destinations
Now that you’ve seen the deals, we want to share with you some of our recommended destinations for this year’s wave season and what you need to know before you book.
Caribbean
When booking during Wave Season, there are things you should be aware of. If you’re booking a cruise to the Caribbean, the hurricane season runs from June until November with the highest risk from mid-August to October. The good news is that ships can be rerouted to avoid storms and rough seas. During the high season from June until August, when school is out, this will be the most expensive and crowded, but for families, it may be the only choice. Christmas is also busy and expensive for the same reasons.
Alaska
Alaska is incredibly popular. However, there is limited inventory due to the popularity and short booking season, from the end of May until September. Ships fill up quickly. This is definitely a bucket list cruise.
Europe
The Mediterranean, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece is one of the most popular cruise destinations. Europe offers many options but can be a bit more expensive due to higher airline prices and exchange rates. Booking a European cruise during wave season is a way to save money. Most itineraries to these destinations range from 7 to 11 days.
The Scandinavian countries are becoming popular while Great Britain and Ireland are always good choices.
Expedition Cruises
Somewhat new to the market, expedition-based itineraries to Antarctica are popular with small-group itineraries.
Off The Beaten Path Destinations
There are not many places you can’t explore on a cruise, especially when combined with a land package. You can explore far-flung destinations like Japan, Tahiti, Galapagos Islands, and even Trans-Atlantic sailings. A couple of under-the-radar destinations you should consider are Iceland and Costa Rica, these destinations are drawing interest from cruisers looking for more off-beat locations.
River Cruises
For river cruising, there are not as many cruise lines to choose from and most river cruise lines are considered luxury with 4- and 5-star accommodations and itineraries. AMA Waterways, Avalon, and Viking are three of the top lines. Destinations on the Danube and Rhine Rivers include itineraries through Hungary, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and The Netherlands. In France, the Seine and Rhone Rivers have itineraries through Bordeaux and Provence. The Christmas market itineraries are some of the most popular.
River cruises are different from ocean cruises in many aspects, mostly being up close and personal with the locals, if It’s a more intimate experience. You can always see the other side of the river and you spend much of the time on land in many beautiful, culturally rich cities, full of history. Average river cruise itineraries usually run 7 to 14 days depending on the destination. There are also river cruises on the rivers through Egypt, Vietnam, and Cambodia for the more adventurous.
How To Book
Booking Online
Be aware that booking your cruise on an internet site or directly with a cruise line does not guarantee you a better price or the best deal. There are so many variables to choose from when booking a cruise, from cabin locations, dining times, shore excursions, flights, etc. Trying to book a cruise on your own on the internet can be confusing, takes hours, and you probably won’t save money doing it. There will be some deals on websites but you will be on your own should something go wrong.
Travel Advisor
When you book with an experienced travel advisor, you call them directly and usually speak to the same person who has helped and guided you along in the process, compared to being on hold for hours to get through to a customer service department or call center, speaking with someone you don’t know and doesn’t know you. Travel agents usually do not charge fees for their services (they’re paid by the supplier) and some even offer extra perks, like onboard credits. These are a bonus when you book with them. A travel advisor’s experience, knowledge, and deals with their preferred suppliers provide an invaluable service to their clients.
