Wave season cruise deals 2024: Book early, and save big

Happy New Year! With the dawn of another trip around the sun, it’s time to start thinking about your travels for 2024. Cruise lines are rolling out a host of enticing wave season deals for passengers looking to get a jump on their vacation planning.

What’s wave season, you ask? It’s the time, typically in the first quarter of each new year, when cold winter weather in many parts of the United States has potential cruisers dreaming of warmer climates. Cruise lines have taken note, luring travelers with discounted fares and inclusions like free Wi-Fi, drinks and more.

If you missed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, here’s a roundup of the lines’ latest offers.

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AmaWaterways

Enjoy deep discounts on river cruises in summer 2024 with this wave season offer from AmaWaterways. Take $2,000 off per stateroom for voyages of seven to 11 nights or $4,000 per cabin for sailings of 14 nights or longer. The deal also includes complimentary cabin upgrades and up to $100 in onboard credit, per stateroom, depending on the length of the cruise. This promotion is valid on select sailings in July and August and can be combined with the line’s fixed-price economy airfare offer. Just be sure to book by March 31.

Avalon Waterways

For more river cruise savings in the New Year, check out Avalon Waterways’ wave season offer, which grants travelers up to $500 per cabin ($250 per person) in savings on select 2024 voyages in Europe. This deal is available for booking from Jan. 4 to March 2.

Azamara

This wave season, Azamara is giving cruisers up to $2,000 off sailings, per cabin, when they book voyages departing between April 1 and Dec. 31. With a penchant for extended port stays and AzAmazing evenings that connect passengers with authentic local performances, Azamara is a great way to experience destinations in small-ship style. Book by March 21, 2024.

Carnival Cruise Line

As part of its New Year sale, which runs only through Jan. 1, Carnival is offering two promotions: “Book Early, Save Surely” and “Sail Soon, Save Big.” Both feature up to 35% off cruise fares. Additionally, the former comes with reduced deposits as low as $50 per person for select sailings departing through April 2026, and the latter touts up to $50 per stateroom on select voyages setting sail through April 2024.

Crystal

Through Jan. 31, book a sailing with Crystal, and receive a free upgrade up to three categories — from an Aquamarine Veranda Suite to Sapphire Veranda Suite or from a Double Guest Room with Veranda to an Aquamarine Veranda Suite — for all departures in 2024 as part of the line’s “Suite Dreams” promotion. Plus, when you reserve a cabin for a sailing that’s 10 days or longer, you’ll also snag complimentary dry-cleaning for up to five pieces of clothing, a bag of laundry for every 10 days and pressing for up to five pieces of clothing every three days.

Disney Cruise Line

Although this isn’t exactly a sale, Disney Cruise Line — which rarely offers promotions of any kind — is cutting in half the amount of money you’ll have to pay up front when you book a sailing with the line. This offer is valid on select cruises, for which final payment is not immediately due, departing between June 17, 2024, and May 31, 2025. Book by Feb. 16, and your deposit will be reduced by 50%. If discounted fares are what you’re seeking, check out the line’s reduced-price voyages, which include 30% off voyages departing from Honolulu, Hawaii, and Sydney, Australia, and 20% off departures from Port Canaveral near Orlando, Florida.

Holland America

With its “Time of Your Life” wave season offer, Holland America is extending discounts of up to 40% on cruise fares. The line is also tossing in free cabin upgrades (inside to ocean-view or ocean-view to balcony), reduced deposits and free kids fares when children are the third and fourth passengers in a cabin with two paying adults. This offer is available through Feb. 29, but travelers who book by Jan. 31 will also receive up to $500 per room in onboard credit, depending on cabin category.

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)

To kick off its new rebrand as HX, Hurtigruten Expeditions is offering up to $2,000 in flight credits (depending on itinerary) for passengers who book by March 31 for an expedition cruise departing between March 29, 2024, and March 30, 2025. You’ll also enjoy a reduced deposit of just 20%. Choose from bucket-list destinations such as the Galapagos, Alaska, Antarctica and others.

Margaritaville at Sea

Whether you’re a Jimmy Buffett fan or you just want a short, inexpensive getaway, Margaritaville at Sea provides a cheap and cheerful cruise experience from either the Port of Palm Beach or Tampa to Freeport in the Bahamas. During the line’s wave season promotion, which runs Jan. 9 – Feb. 12, you can snag up to three free cruise fares when you buy one. Just purchase one full fare, and the second, third and fourth passengers sail free when staying in the same cabin.

MSC Cruises

Looking for a big-ship cruise that offers tons of activities and dining options at affordable prices? MSC Cruises is providing passengers with up to $400 in onboard credit (depending on cabin type), free basic Wi-Fi, a basic drink package and a “kids sail free” deal that will allow children younger than 18 to cruise for free as the third and fourth people in a cabin shared with two adults paying the full fare. This offer is available through Jan. 15.

Princess Cruises

Want to save up to 40% on your next Princess cruise? Check out the line’s wave season offer, which runs through Feb. 29. It includes the discount, as well as a free cabin upgrade (same category of cabin but in a better location) and free third and fourth passengers when sharing a room with two paying guests. This deal applies to select sailings into 2026.

Royal Caribbean International

Through Jan. 2, passengers booking Royal Caribbean voyages can save up to 30% on cruise fares. Plus, kids 12 and younger sail free as the third and fourth guests in a cabin with two paying adults. These offers are valid on sailings departing on or after Jan. 5.

Seabourn

Luxury line Seabourn‘s aptly named “Sail of the Year” promo is slashing voyage prices for cruises by up to 25% and reducing deposits to just 15%. Travelers who reserve a sailing with the line will save up to 15% on ocean sailings and up to 25% on expedition cruises. This offer is valid through Feb. 29, but if you book by Jan. 31, you’ll also be eligible for up to $1,000 per cabin in onboard credit, depending on cabin type.

Silversea Cruises

Book select sailings with Silversea departing on or after Jan. 1, and you’ll save up to $2,000 per person on door-to-door fares (which include round-trip transportation from your home) to places like the Mediterranean, the Galapagos and Alaska. You’ll also pay a reduced deposit of just 15%. Passengers who book regular fares that do not include door-to-door will save up to $1,000 per person. This offer is valid through Feb. 29.

Uniworld River Cruises

Through Jan. 31, ultra-luxury river cruise line Uniworld is also in on the wave season game with a revival of its popular “Cruise + Air” offer, which allows passengers to save up to $3,000 when they book their cruise and airfare together through the cruise line. Destinations include places like the Peruvian Amazon, India’s Golden Triangle and Germany’s Rhine Gorge, known for its stunning castles.

Virgin Voyages

Always on the cutting edge of the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages is granting cruisers a BOGO 70% off deal (bogo, for those who don’t know, standing for “buy one get one”). Book one fare at full price, and your companion will sail for a 70% discount. Plus, the line will throw in up to $600 in drink credit, based on the length of the cruise you select. Need a reason to give Virgin a try? All food is free, and the three ships in its fleet have some of the best entertainment at sea.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises, known for its high-end sailings in French Polynesia, has brought back its “Pick Your Perk” promo. The offer, which runs through Feb. 29, gives travelers the option of selecting either one free hotel night (either pre- or post-cruise) or up to $1,000 in onboard credit, depending on cruise length. Passengers booked in Premium suites also have a third option, which allows them to upgrade for free to an all-inclusive package that entitles them to complimentary Wi-Fi, alcohol and gratuities.

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