Considering taking a cruise this year? You are not alone. According to Travel And Tour World, more than 30 million passengers plan to set sail in 2025, a 20 percent increase over 2024. Fortunately, cruise lines keep up, debuting new cruise ships and itineraries to appeal to all types of cruisers, from solo travelers to couples, friends, families and multigenerational groups.
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© CELEBRITY CRUISES
When it comes time to book your cruise, you may get the most bang for your cruising buck by booking an upcoming voyage during the cruise industry’s wave season, the time of year some experts refer to as the Black Friday of the cruise industry. In fact, Celebrity Cruises likens wave season to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Presidents’ Day all rolled into one. Nearly all of the major cruise lines roll out special offers for wave season — from small, intimate ships to expedition ships and ocean liners — to destinations around the world.
“Wave season is basically Black Friday for people looking to book a cruise,” said Scott Campbell, manager of cruise relations, AAA. “It’s generally a time period when cruise lines run their best deals. Traditionally, wave season is January through March every year, although some cruise lines are trying to stretch the season into December.”
The timing of wave season is not by happenstance. Campbell said cruise lines time wave season around family holiday gatherings.
“Grandma and Grandpa have talked about how fun it would be to have all their kids and grandkids together on a cruise in the Caribbean, or your aunt shared about her great cruise to the Mediterranean, which makes you now want to go there,” Campbell suggested. “The cruise lines offer great deals to take advantage of these conversations and encourage you to book while everyone is still excited for the trip.
“The offers are strong because this is the time period that cruise lines want to fill all the empty staterooms for the upcoming year,” he added. “It’s called ‘wave season’ because of the big wave of bookings that are made during this time period.”
Campbell noted more bookings are made during wave season than any other time of the year.
“It’s a make-or-break period for cruise lines,” said Campbell. “If the cruise lines sell a lot of cruises during wave [season], they will not need to discount as much later in the year.”
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© CELEBRITY CRUISES
One of the cruise lines getting an early jump on wave season is Silversea Cruises. The luxury cruise line announced its wave season savings in early December, featuring up to $5,000 savings per suite on more than 500 of its voyages. Celebrity Cruises chimed in with its wave season savings in mid-December, offering guests up to 75 percent savings on a second guest, with additional savings of up to $600 per sailing. As the countdown to 2025 began, other cruise lines announced their savings, too.
“You will have access to promotions like big discounts, stateroom upgrades, onboard credits and kids-sail-free offers for that cruise you were thinking about booking,” Campbell said of cruise lines’ wave season savings. “It may also be the lowest price of the year.”
“During this period, travelers can uncover some of the best cruise deals of the year,” added Fora advisor Amy LaGrow-Rogers. “Cruise lines roll out enticing offers including discounted rates, complimentary onboard credits and even free upgrades.”
If you are thinking of waiting to book your cruise closer to the time you want to sail, you could miss out on snagging the best deals.
“It’s a myth that cruise prices go down as you get closer to a sailing date,” said Campbell. “Since the pandemic, cruising has been incredibly popular, and the most popular ships, itineraries and staterooms sell out early. With less inventory, waiting to book closer to sailing date likely means higher prices — if you can even find the space.”
To make the most of wave season, you may consider tapping into the expertise of an experienced travel agent.
“With so many promotions available, it can be overwhelming to determine which option is the best fit,” said LaGrow-Rogers. “That’s where a cruise-focused travel advisor comes in. They not only help secure the best deal but also guide you through the entire planning process, from selecting the right cruise line, ship and itinerary to meeting all the crucial deadlines leading up to your adventure.”
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