Wave season, a term embraced by the travel industry, is the post-holiday period during which cruise lines offer discounts on upcoming voyages as well as promotions like cabin upgrades and onboard perks. Cruise lines benefit by filling their ships early—capitalizing on people who plan out their travel at the beginning of the year—and passengers can travel for less if they’re willing to book well in advance. Wave season typically starts in January and lasts into March.
Why wave season is the best time to book a cruise
If you’re set on cruising this year, you’re likely to get the best deal if you book now. The only potentially better time to book is during the previous fall, but if you missed that boat and want to sail over spring break, summer vacation, or the winter holidays, wave season deals are generally the cheapest you’ll see. There are a few other scenarios that make wave season bookings worthwhile:
You’re booking a cruise for a group
Cruise lines commonly offer heavily discounted fares during wave season, which alone can reduce the total cost per person. But deals may also include two-for-one tickets, discounted or free fares for kids, and reduced fares for additional guests (second, third, or fourth) in a single stateroom. If you’re taking your whole family on a cruise, you can save a lot by booking early.
You want popular dates or itineraries
Cruise lines try to book as many passengers as possible during wave season to guarantee full ships later in the year. If you want to travel over major holidays or have specific departure dates, itineraries, or staterooms in mind, you should consider booking early to beat any competition.
You care about upgrades and perks
Discounted fares aren’t the only promotions available during wave season. Cruise lines may also offer other freebies in addition to (or instead of) deals:
Complimentary hotel stays or airfare
Onboard ship credit or beverage and dining packages
Free internet
Tour credits or complimentary excursions
Complimentary cabin upgrades (within or to the next category)
These extras can increase the value of your trip and may not be included in bookings made later.
How to take advantage of wave season sales
Cruise lines of all sizes participate in wave season (they’re all competing for your business), so you’re likely to find deals whether you book directly or go through a third-party seller or travel agent. Subscribing to cruise line emails or following them on social media is a good way to catch deals as they come up.
Before booking, make sure you read the fine print to make sure that “free” or “complimentary” things are actually free or complimentary and have no additional strings attached. Some deals may not apply to all sailings or expire well before March. You should also compare fares to previous prices and other cruise lines to ensure a promotion is, in fact, a great deal.
