Wave Season Cruise Deals Are Here
Wave Season is officially here, marking the annual period when cruise lines typically introduce their strongest booking incentives of the year.
While Wave has traditionally run from January through March, many cruise brands once again began rolling out deals earlier than expected. That shift has made Wave feel less like a single moment and more like a rolling release, with offers appearing weeks ahead of schedule.
Not every promotion launched at the same time. Some cruise lines introduced short-term sales in late December, while others are expected to reveal new Wave offers in the weeks ahead. We will continue tracking Wave Season closely and sharing updates as new deals come online.
Where to Find Ongoing Coverage
Wave Season can be a great time to book a cruise, but it can also feel overwhelming. Deals vary widely by cruise line, sailing, and traveler type. The best offer often depends on who is traveling, how many people are sharing a cabin, and whether value comes from lower fares or added perks like onboard credit, drinks, or Wi-Fi.
To help simplify the process, we have launched a dedicated Wave Season hub, where we’re tracking confirmed offers, booking windows, and key terms as they evolve. Please check back throughout Wave Season to compare deals and follow new developments.
Wave Deals to Watch
With so many Wave offers now available, a few stand out depending on what kind of trip travelers are planning.
FOR PACKAGE HUNTERS
- Windstar Cruises currently offers one of the strongest promotions with its Cruise Beyond offer. Rather than focusing on headline fare discounts, Windstar bundles several high-value inclusions into one package. The offer combines an all-inclusive onboard experience, a complimentary pre-cruise hotel night, transfers, and onboard credit that can reach up to $2,000 per stateroom.
FOR TRAVELING FAMILIES
- Families may find the best value with Royal Caribbean International. The cruise line continues to emphasize promotions that benefit larger groups, including Kids Sail Free offers and free third and fourth passengers on select sailings. When paired with rotating fare discounts, these incentives can significantly lower the overall cost for families cruising together, particularly on longer itineraries.
FOR SOLO TRAVELERS
- Two offers that clearly cater to solo travelers come from Aurora Expeditions and Scenic, both offering reduced or waived single supplements. Aurora’s 35th Anniversary sale apply to expedition departures in polar regions, including Antarctica and the Arctic. Scenic’s Wave of Savings Sales includes solo-friendly pricing on European river cruises and select ocean itineraries.
Current Wave Season Deals
The table below highlights confirmed Wave Season offers currently available, based on cruise line terms and conditions. Booking windows, inclusions, and availability vary by cruise line and sailing. Some promotions are capacity controlled or available for a limited time.
| Cruise Line | Offer Name | Start Date | End Date | Fare Savings (Up To) | Onboard Credit (Up to) | Value-add Amenities | Combinability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmaWaterways | Complimentary Land Package | 12/31/25 | 03/31/26 | 4-night hotel, daily breakfast, guided tours and transfers on Europe and Colombia | AirPlus, past passenger savings, and future cruise credits | ||
| American Cruise Lines | Free Airfare & Savings for Great Lakes, Lower Mississippi, and Florida Gulf and Rivers | $1,600 off per cabin | Free domestic airfare | ||||
| Aurora Expeditions | 35th Anniversary | 12/22/25 | 03/31/26 | 35% off | Loyalty and back-to-back savings | ||
| Azamara | Biggest Sale of the Year | 12/09/25 | 03/31/26 | $1,000 per stateroom | Loyalty benefits | ||
| Carnival Cruise Line | Great Rates Onboard Credit Sale | 01/02/26 | 01/12/26 | $1,100 off | $300 per stateroom | $49 reduced deposit per person | |
| Celebrity Cruises | Semi-Annual Sale | 01/02/26 | 01/05/26 | $700 per stateroom + 50% off second person | 3rd/4th passengers sail free | Loyalty benefits and onboard booking credits | |
| Celestyal Cruises | Unmissable Sale | 12/10/25 | 02/05/26 | €250 per cabin | Drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities included | ||
| Crystal | Sail & Save | 12/15/25 | 03/31/26 | $5,000 per suite | $500 per suite | Most public offers and loyalty benefits | |
| Cunard | Treat Yourself, On Us | 12/09/25 | 02/25/26 | $600 per stateroom | Drinks packages and gratuities | World Club loyalty savings | |
| Explora Journeys | The Exclusive Invitation | 12/02/25 | 01/05/26 | 35% off | 5% reduced deposit | ||
| Holland America Line | Start Your Journey | 12/18/25 | 02/26/26 | 30% off + Free Balcony Upgrade | $500 per stateroom | $25 reduced deposit per person (Jan 5-12); Free kids’ fares on select sailings | |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 50% Off All Cruises | 12/29/25 | 01/06/26 | 50% off second passenger | Free at Sea on eligible sailings | ||
| MSC Cruises | New Year’s Sale | 12/30/25 | 01/06/26 | $250 per stateroom | Kids sail free on select sailings | ||
| Oceania Cruises | Upgrade Your Experience | 12/11/25 | 03/04/26 | 30% off | $1,200 Shore excursion credit per stateroom | Unlimited wine, beer & spirits or excursion credits; reduced deposits | |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Upgrade Your Horizon | 01/01/26 | 02/28/26 | $500 per suite | Free two-category suite upgrade; reduced deposits | Loyalty benefits | |
| Royal Caribbean International | BOGO60 + Kids Sail Free + Free 3rd/4th + All In Sale | 01/02/26 | 02/02/26 | $1,000 per stateroom | Kids sail free or 3rd/4th passengers sail free on select sailings | Loyalty, resident, military | |
| Scenic | Wave of Savings Sale | 12/08/25 | 02/01/26 | 30% | 2-for-1 fares; free single supplement on select sailings | Pay-in-full savings | |
| Seabourn | Explore More Event | 12/03/25 | 02/17/26 | 15% | $1,000 per suite | Reduced deposit | |
| Silversea Cruises | Limitless Discovery | 12/03/25 | 02/28/26 | 40% | Loyalty, referral, back-to-back, and onboard booking savings | ||
| Virgin Voyages | Wave 2026 | 12/05/25 | 01/29/26 | 80% off second sailor (40% blended) | $400 Bar Tab per cabin | Loyalty, resident, military, pay-in-full, and group programs | |
| Windstar Cruises | Cruise Beyond | 03/31/26 | $2,000 per stateroom | $99 All-inclusive package; 1-night pre-cruise hotel night; transfers | Yacht Club alumni discount | ||
| Cruise Line | Offer Name | Start Date | End Date | Fare Savings (Up To) | Onboard Credit (Up to) | Value-add Amenities | Combinability |
Why Wave Season Looks a Little Different This Year
One thing many travelers may notice is that deals feel more time-sensitive. Instead of launching one promotion that runs for months, several mass-market cruise lines are leaning into shorter booking windows that refresh frequently under new sale names.
Brands such as Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, along with Royal Caribbean, are all using variations of this approach. While sale titles and countdown clocks change, the underlying offers often remain the same. In many cases, similar incentives return shortly after a promotion ends, just packaged differently.
For cruise lines, shorter booking windows offer flexibility when managing demand and inventory. For travelers, it’s a reminder that missing one sale doesn’t always mean missing the deal entirely. Understanding how an offer works can be just as important as reacting to a deadline.
A Brief History of Wave
Wave Season didn’t begin with a single announcement or a clearly defined start date. Instead, it took shape gradually in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as cruise lines and travel agencies began noticing a reliable spike in bookings early in the year.
At the time, most cruises were booked through travel advisors, and vacations were planned much further in advance than they are today. Many travelers waited until after the holidays to make big travel decisions, once schedules were clearer and finances felt more settled. January through March quickly became the natural sweet spot for cruise promotions.
By the mid-to-late 1990s, this pattern was firmly established. Cruise lines regularly concentrated their strongest booking incentives in the first months of the year, and the term “Wave Season” entered common industry use. Over time, it became widely understood as the cruise industry’s most important annual sales period.
