Wave Season Cruise Deals: River Edition
Wave Season may dominate ocean cruise headlines, but river lines are rolling out some compelling cruise deals as well. Instead of focusing on a single discount, river cruise brands are stacking incentives that address airfare, solo pricing, trip length, and overall value.
We reviewed the promotional terms and conditions and found clear differences in how each river cruise line is approaching this important booking period.
- Riviera Travel is bundling the most elements into a single offer this Wave Season. The line is promoting savings of up to 50 percent, airfare credits, a free hotel night, and reduced deposits within one package.
- Solo travelers may find some of the strongest deals with Emerald Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Both lines are offering free or discounted single supplements, easing one of the biggest cost challenges for cruisers traveling by yourselves.
- Free airfare remains a particularly compelling incentive during Wave Season. Viking River Cruises is combining reduced fares with free international airfare, while American Cruise Lines is offering free domestic airfare alongside savings of up to $1,600.
- AmaWaterways is enhancing the overall travel experience by including a complimentary land-tour extension on select Europe and Colombia sailings. This allows travelers to add a guided land program before or after the river cruise, reducing planning complexity while extending the journey.
Wave Season River Cruise Deals at a Glance
The table below provides a side-by-side snapshot of current Wave Season river cruise offers. It highlights where savings, airfare, solo incentives, and added inclusions are being applied, serving as a quick reference for how each line is structuring its Wave promotions.
| 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 | ||||
| Emerald | Wave of Savings Sale | 12/08/25 | 02/01/26 | 30% off | 2-for-1 fares; free single supplement on select sailings | ||
| Riviera Travel | Festive Season Sale | 12/05/25 | 01/31/26 | 50% off | $500 pp air credit, free 1-night hotel, 50% reduced deposit | ||
| Uniworld | 50th Anniversary Sale | 12/19/25 | 02/28/26 | 30% off | Reduced single supplement on select | ||
| Viking Ocean and River | Viking Sales Event | 01/01/26 | 01/31/26 | 35% off | Free International Air, $25 deposit | ||
| Cruise Line | Offer Name | Start Date | End Date | Fare Savings (Up To) | Onboard Credit (Up to) | Value-add Amenities | Combinability |
Taken together, these offers show how river cruise Wave deals differ from their ocean counterparts. The strongest promotions are not simply about lower prices, but about addressing specific travel concerns.
Whether the focus is airfare, solo pricing, trip length, or bundled value, Wave Season river cruise deals are designed to make complex itineraries easier to commit to.
For our extensive coverage of cruise deals for ocean and expedition, please go to CruiseNews’ Wave Deals hub. You can see our full table of nearly 30 current wave deals.
