When is the cheapest time of year to book a cruise? It could be wave season.
Well, what is wave season, you ask? At the beginning of each year is the deadline when all cruise lines announce discounted fares or special deals in hopes of booking their voyages for the next 12 months. It ties in well with the period when many couples and families plan their vacations for the year.
If you’ve had your eye on a cruise vacation, wave season is the perfect time to price one out and see what cruise deals you can snag. You may find a lower price on your next cruise vacation. Or, you can find tons of freebies that can stretch your vacation dollars even further.
Read on to find out what wave season is, when it happens, cruise deals and how to get the best possible value from your cruise booking.
What is wave season?
Wave season is the time of year when cruise lines run some of their most competitive sales. This promotional period takes its name from the “wave” of deals persuading travelers to travel “on waves”. It’s a win-win; Cruise lines fill many berths for the coming year, and cruisers take advantage of discounts and value-adds on their bookings.
Wave Season’s promotions are designed to entice you not only to book a cruise for later in the year, but for dates up to two years into the future. Last-minute trips may also be on sale.
You can find Wave Season promotions from almost every major cruise line, including large-ship, small-ship, river and expedition lines, including deals on worldwide sailings from Alaska to Antarctica and the eastern Caribbean to the western Mediterranean.
Related: How to book a cruise using miles and points
When is wave season?
The wave season usually starts in January and ends in late March. Just as we’ve all seen Christmas decorations appear in retail stores earlier than ever, we’ve also seen the start of big cruise sales in the past few years. These days, it’s common for cruise lines to release Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November and keep them active the following year, when they are rebranded as Wave Season Deals, perhaps with minor changes.
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There are many reasons why it happens when wave season occurs. Many northern regions have travelers dreaming of cold winter weather and eager to book warm-weather vacations. Many families make vacation plans for the year at the beginning of the year after the busy season of holiday shopping, entertainment, and travel is over. Also, cruise lines have closed the previous year’s books and are eager to start filling ships for next year.
This convergence of interests makes January through March the perfect time to offer incentives for people to book cruises.
What cruise deals are offered?
The important thing to know about wave season sales is that you’re not just looking for discounted cruise fares, although that’s a great place to start. The real incentive is that cruise lines add to their promotions, making it hard to pass up booking a cruise (or three).
Here are three types of booking incentives you’ll see during wave season.
Cruise deals and discounts
Some cruise lines take a direct approach and give you money back on your booking. This Cruise deals can take many forms, such as:
- Discounted cruise fares (eg, 40% off, $500 back, etc.)
- Reduced deposits (eg, lock in your cruise with just $1 or $25 and pay the balance 90 days before sailing)
- Get two-way fares on one cruise, or a discounted second fare when you pay full price for the first.
- Third and/or fourth passengers in the cabin travel free or at a discounted rate
- Children travel free or at a discount
- Waived solo supplement
Free and added value benefits
Some cruise lines choose to keep prices higher during wave season but offer some amenities for free that you would otherwise have to pay for. These include benefits that add value to your purchase and save you from high onboard bills when you finally set sail.
Free booking benefits may include:
- Free airfare from select US gateways
- Pre-cruise overnight hotel stay
- You can use onboard credit to pay for specialty dining, shore excursions, and more
- Drink packages
- Prepaid specialty dining fees
- Prepaid gratuity
- Free internet access
- Complimentary shore excursion or travel credit
Cabin upgrade
The last type of offer you can expect to see during wave season is complimentary cabin upgrades. You pay the rate for a one-of-a-kind cabin but get to stay in a “better” room that would normally cost more.
Cabin upgrades come in two types:
- Upgrade within a cabin category (eg, from a cheaper inside cabin to a larger or better inside cabin)
- Upgrade to the next cabin category (eg pay inside cabin price but stay in an outside or balcony cabin)
As usual with wave season promotions, this upgrade is essentially a discount on a higher-category room, and you can still choose an upgraded cabin location.
Related: 5 Reasons to Decline a Cruise Ship Cabin Upgrade
Where can you find wave season deals?
Almost every cruise seller wants a portion of the wave season costs, so you can expect to find wave season deals in many places.
Almost every cruise line will offer its own wave season deal, which is valid whether you book directly with the cruise line, through an online travel seller, or through a travel agent. It’s not just the major cruise lines that offer promotions at this time. A small expedition cruise line might put its bucket list Antarctica trip on sale, or the river cruise line you’ve been eyeing might cut fares on its Rhine and Danube river cruises.
In addition to their own lines, travel sellers can work on their own promotions for cruise bookings. The travel agent down the street might throw in a bottle of champagne or your favorite travel website, like Expedia, might offer an extra deal or two. Airline-affiliated cruise booking sites may offer bonus miles for your Wave Season cruise purchase. Cast a wide net when looking for a deal and you’re sure to find a bunch.
Related: 5 Unexpected Places That Sell Cruises
How do you know you’re getting the best deal?
Cruise lines can sometimes be tricky when it comes to deals. That “free” beverage package may require you to pay real money for an automatic bar gratuity calculated on its theoretical value, and that 50% off deal may be based on an inflated cruise fare that no one ever pays.
If you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal during wave season, you need to do some research beforehand.
As you narrow down your cruise choices in the fall, take note of current per-passenger fares and any available perks for the cruises that interest you most. Don’t forget any special discounts you may be eligible for (think: senior, teacher, military, Florida resident). Determine the price of different cabin categories above and below the room you think you will book.
Also, look at prices for onboard extras, such as drink packages, Internet access and specialty restaurant meals, to get an idea of what you might be spending on top of the cruise fare.
Then, as cruise lines announce their sales and promotional benefits, you can compare promotional rates to previous prices. That way, you can decide if the sale really represents good value for you.
How to prepare for wave season
How can you prepare to make the most of wave season? There are a few methods.
Research which cruise you want to book
You’ll be better off jumping on a Wave Season deal if you’ve considered the places you want to cruise, the specific cruise line you want to sail with, and the available itineraries and dates you choose.
Do you want to do that plan? A family cruise with kids, a solo getaway or a multi-generational reunion trip? Or, maybe you’re dreaming of a warm-weather vacation to the Caribbean or a bucket list trip to Alaska.
If you don’t know which cruise line suits you best, don’t just pick whichever line has the best wave season deals because the onboard vibe doesn’t fit your personality. Instead, read TPG’s Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Cruise Line to help you determine which brands and ships are the best match.
Armed with this knowledge, you can then search for wave season deals that match the trip parameters you’ve determined.
Join the cruise line email list
You can monitor cruise line websites and social media feeds over the next few months so you don’t miss any sales, but it’s a better idea to join an email list for a cruise line you like. This way, they will tell you exactly when the sale is going to start.
Find a travel agent
While you may not use a travel agent for other tours, you should consider one whenever you cruise. Agents who specialize in cruise travel often receive advance notice of sales. They also usually get special rates or benefits that you wouldn’t find on your own, and they offer their own bonuses as an incentive to book through them.
For example, the right travel agent can get you several hundred dollars in onboard credit even with Disney Cruise Line, which is notorious for sales and discounts. You can work with the major online travel sellers, all of which have sales representatives you can call for assistance, or find an in-person travel agent in your area. Ask your friends if they can recommend someone, call your local AAA office or a cruise-certified agent. Cruise Lines International Association website.
Also, note that cruise line deals have different terms and conditions. A knowledgeable travel agent will know which tour offers the best deals available and can guide you accordingly.
Sign up for the right credit card
If you’re a fan of stacking deals, you can enjoy cruise discounts, cash back and benefits when you work with a travel agent to book a cruise during the sale and pay with a credit card that gives you cruise-related bonuses. If you don’t already have a card that gives you extra benefits for your cruise purchases, eg Platinum Card® from American ExpressYou may want to apply for one in advance of wave season.
Booking a cruise, plus associated travel purchases (think: a pre-booked hotel stay and flights to the departure port) can be a significant investment, even with seasonal promotions. Consider signing up for a new credit card and using your cruise purchases to reach the minimum spend required to receive the booking bonus. You’ll want to apply well in advance of wave season so you’ll have a new card in hand when you’re ready to pay for that trip.
RELATED: Best Credit Cards to Book a Cruise
The bottom line
Cruise lines come out with deals throughout the year, so there’s always a chance to find a lower price on a select cruise. But if you want a smorgasbord of offers to choose from all at once, wave season is the best time to find a cheaper cruise or a more inclusive fare. Do your homework in the fall or over winter break, and you’ll be well prepared to make a deal as soon as you see one in the new year.
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