Wave Season Cruise Deals
The busiest booking season of the year, and how to use it.
Get My Best Cruise PriceNo 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 Cruise fares change daily, so we explain when to book rather than quote numbers that would be out of date by tomorrow.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.
What Wave Season Is
Wave Season is the cruise industry’s name for the first months of the year — roughly January to March — when more people book cruises than at any other time, and when cruise lines launch many of their biggest promotions. Wave season cruise deals are the result: offers designed to catch travellers making their plans for the year ahead.
Our sister site WaveSeason.com tracks the promotions as they appear; this page explains how to use the season well.
Typical Wave Season Offers
Lower fares on selected sailings
Usually limited to particular ships, dates and cabin types.
Reduced deposits
Less money up front to secure a cabin; the total may not change.
Added value
Onboard credit, drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining or gratuities included for a time.
Offers for extra guests
Reduced fares for the third and fourth person in a cabin, popular with families.
Offers vary each year and by line, and their terms matter: some apply only to new bookings, some only to certain fare types, and many cannot be combined.
How to Get Ready for Wave Season
- Decide in December which trip you want: region, length, rough dates.
- Make a shortlist of two or three lines and ships.
- Know your must-have cabin type and your budget for the whole trip.
- Check passports and travel documents for everyone travelling.
- Ask an advisor to alert you when a matching offer appears.
If you already booked before Wave Season and a better offer appears, ask whether your booking can be adjusted. Best Cruise Quotes explains how price drops work.
Wave Season Is Not Always the Cheapest Time
For popular sailings — summer Alaska, holiday weeks, new ships — waiting for January can mean the best cabins are already gone, and a promotion on the remaining ones may not make up for it. Wave Season works best for flexible travellers and for sailings with plenty of availability. If your dates are fixed and your cruise is in demand, booking earlier and watching for price drops is usually the safer bust.
Keep a note of the regular fare for the sailings you like before January; it is the only way to tell whether a Wave Season offer is a real saving or simply a different bundle.
Wave Season FAQ
When is Wave Season?
Broadly January to March, with many promotions launching in early January. Individual lines set their own dates.
Do I have to sail during Wave Season?
No. Wave Season is when you book, not when you sail. Offers usually apply to sailings across the rest of the year and beyond.
Can I combine Wave Season offers with other discounts?
Sometimes. Rules differ by line and promotion. Eligibility discounts are explained on Cruise Discounters.
Want Wave Season Offers Matched to Your Trip?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise what you want, and we will match it to this season’s offers.
Match My Wave Season Offer