The Best Time to Book a Cruise
Bust the cruise price with timing: when to book, when to wait and which fare to choose.
Get My Best Cruise PriceThe Best Time to Book a Cruise Depends on Your Cruise
There is no single best time to book a cruise. There is a best time for your cruise — and it depends on when you want to sail, where, on which ship and in which cabin. A suite on a new ship over Christmas and an inside cabin on a September Caribbean sailing follow completely different calendars.
Cruise Price Busters is about that calendar. We explain the booking windows that work for different trips, the sale periods that come round every year, and the fare types that decide what happens if your plans change. Busting the price, in our experience, has much more to do with timing and flexibility than with secret codes.
No prices here, on purpose. Cruise fares change daily, so we explain when to book rather than quote numbers that would be out of date by tomorrow. For live offers, see WaveSeason.com and Cruising for Less, or ask our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise.
Booking Windows by Type of Cruise
| Your cruise | When to book (general guidance) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Holidays, school breaks, peak summer | As early as you can once the sailing opens | These weeks fill first; the cheapest cabins go early |
| Suites, family cabins, connecting cabins | Early | Ships have relatively few of them |
| Alaska, Northern Europe, Mediterranean summer | Early, often the year before | Short seasons and high demand |
| Brand-new ships | When bookings open, or wait for the second season | Launch demand is high; later seasons may offer more choice |
| Caribbean outside holidays | Early or during a sale period | Plenty of ships and dates to choose from |
| Flexible dates, any cabin | Sale periods or close to sailing | Lines may promote sailings that need filling |
The Cruise Sales Calendar at a Glance
January to March: Wave Season
The industry’s busiest booking season, when most lines put their best-known promotions in front of buyers.
Spring and summer
Mid-year sales and offers tied to holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July appear on many lines.
Late November: Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Promotions usually run around the Thanksgiving weekend, sometimes for longer.
Whenever a new season opens
New itineraries and deployments, including 2027 and 2028 sailings, often open with launch offers.
A sale does not always mean a lower fare: many promotions add value instead, such as onboard credit, drinks or a reduced deposit. The question to ask is always what the total cost of the sailing is, with and without the offer.
How Price Busting Actually Works
- Decide your must-haves — dates, ship, cabin type — and where you can flex.
- Book early on what is scarce, then watch for price drops you may be able to claim.
- Use sale periods for what is plentiful, such as standard cabins on regular sailings.
- Pick the right fare type for how certain your plans are.
- Count the whole trip: flights, hotels and extras often decide the real cost.
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise watch fares across lines every day, so you do not have to. Tell us what you would like and when, and we will tell you whether to book now or wait. For eligibility discounts such as military, senior or resident rates, see Cruise Discounters; for promo codes, see Cruise Coupon; and for why some fares are so low, Cheapest Cruise Prices.
Get Sale Alerts Without the Hunting
The easiest way to catch a sale period is to have it arrive in your inbox: join the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter, and check WaveSeason.com and Cruising for Less for current promotions.
This site is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Best Time to Book a Cruise: FAQ
What is the best time to book a cruise?
For most people, as soon as the dates are firm and the sailing is open — often a year or more ahead for peak weeks, popular ships and suites. The main exceptions are flexible travellers who can wait for a sale period or a late sailing that needs filling.
Is it cheaper to book at the last minute?
Sometimes, but not reliably, and the cheapest cabins usually sell first. Flights also cost more at short notice. Last Minute Cruising explains when it can work.
Which months have the best cruise sales?
The best-known sale period is Wave Season, roughly January to March. Many lines also run Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions, and offers appear throughout the year.
And if the fare falls after I have booked?
Depending on the line, the fare type and whether you have made final payment, you may be able to re-price. Best Cruise Quotes covers price drops in detail.
More Cruise Sites From Our Network
Elsewhere in our network: the Official Cruise Directory lists our cruise sites, the Official Travel Directory covers all travel, Best of the USA covers America’s best, and Be a Travel Agent is for anyone who would like to sell travel.
Should You Book Now or Wait?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise your dates and cruise, and we will tell you honestly whether to book now.
Ask Us When to Book