Cruise Wave Season Explained: When It Is and Whether the Deals Are Real
Wave season is the cruise industry's traditional peak booking period, running roughly from January through March. Cruise lines launch their biggest promotions of the year in that window, and travel agencies plan their calendars around it.
The wave season cruise deals are real offers, and in 2026 they included up to 75% off the second guest, free third and fourth guests, onboard credit, and reduced deposits. The savings depend on the sailing and on what the perk would have cost you anyway. The next wave season runs January through March 2027, and this guide explains how to judge the offers and when it makes sense to wait for them.
Cruise Wave Season at a Glance
| Detail | What to expect |
| Next wave season | January through March 2027 |
| Typical offer types | Percentage off fares or the second guest, free third and fourth guests, onboard credit, reduced deposits, upgrades |
| Typical offer length | A few weeks per promotion, with new offers replacing old ones through the quarter |
| Best sailings to shop | Summer, fall, and holiday sailings later the same year and into the next |
| Watch for | Bigger discounts tied to non-refundable deposits, and perks you would never use |
Why Cruise Wave Season Happens in January
Early in the year, people are planning vacations, and many of the most popular sailings for the coming summer and fall are still months away from final payment. Cruise lines use that moment to fill ships. They also roll out agent incentives at the same time; in 2026, Carnival ran a travel advisor promotion through March 15. The result is a quarter where nearly every line has a sale running at once, and new offers replace old ones every few weeks.
Wave Season Cruise Deals Lines Ran in 2026
These are the main 2026 wave season offers as reported when the lines announced them. They are a guide to the kind of deal to expect in 2027, and the 2027 offers will be different:
- Royal Caribbean: up to $1,000 off cruise fares, third and fourth guests sailing free, and savings on onboard extras, running for much of the quarter.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: 50% off cruise fares plus up to $1,000 in onboard credit per cabin, combinable with its Free at Sea perks package, through January 20.
- Celebrity Cruises: up to 75% off the second guest, up to $700 in additional savings, and free third, fourth, and fifth guests on select sailings.
- Princess Cruises: up to 40% off, up to $500 in instant savings, 50% reduced deposits, and free third and fourth guests, through February 16, 2026.
- MSC Cruises: fares from $199, up to $500 in onboard credit, kids sailing free, and a free balcony upgrade offer, through late January.
- Holland America Line: up to 30% off, reduced deposits, free balcony upgrades, onboard credit, and free kids' fares.
- Virgin Voyages: 80% off the second sailor, up to $350 in drinks credit, and $300 in onboard credit on select itineraries, through February 26.
The current Princess sale is always listed on the current Princess Cruises offers page. For a sense of what these sailings cost at standard pricing, see my Royal Caribbean cruise cost and Norwegian cruise cost breakdowns.
Are Wave Season Cruise Deals Real Savings
Compare the wave season offers above with the 2025 Black Friday sales and the pattern is obvious. Royal Caribbean used up to $1,000 off with free third and fourth guests in both. Celebrity used up to 75% off the second guest in both. Norwegian used 50% off in both, with a different bonus attached. The structure of the deal stays the same, and what moves is the fare it is applied to.
So a wave season deal is a real saving when the total price of your cabin is lower than it was before the sale, or when it includes something you would have paid for anyway. It is a weak deal when the base fare has crept up and the headline discount simply brings it back to where it was. The only way to know is to price the same ship, date, and cabin before and during the sale.
Pro Tip: Save a full quote, with taxes and fees, for the exact cabin you want in December. When wave season starts, you will have a clean comparison instead of a guess.
How to Judge a Wave Season Cruise Deal
Run every offer through the same four checks:
- Total price for the cabin. Add every guest's fare, taxes, port fees, and prepaid gratuities. Compare that number to your earlier quote.
- Value of the perk to you. Onboard credit and bundles are worth what you would have spent on those items. My cruise line drink packages guide and how to get onboard credit post help you put a number on that.
- Deposit terms. Some promotions give a larger discount on non-refundable deposit fares. Royal Caribbean says non-refundable deposits are kept in full if you cancel, and Carnival's Early Saver fare uses a 50% reduced deposit that is non-refundable. A reduced deposit lowers what you pay today and leaves the total unchanged.
- Cabin choice. A deal on a guarantee cabin means the line assigns the room. My guarantee cabin vs. picking your own post covers when that trade is worth it.
Booking Early vs. Waiting for Cruise Wave Season
New sailings usually open for booking 18 months to two years ahead. Royal Caribbean is opening its 2028 to 2029 schedule in stages this fall, and Carnival opened its 2028 to 2029 West Coast sailings on September 30, 2026. My 2028 to 2029 cruise ship deployments guide follows those releases.
For holiday weeks, school breaks, Alaska, suites, and new ships, waiting until wave season to make your first booking is risky, because the cabins people want most are often gone. The better approach is to book at opening on a refundable deposit and then use wave season to reprice. Before final payment, a refundable booking can usually move to a lower fare in the same category. Carnival's specials terms warn that taking a new promotion can mean giving up perks from the original fare, such as onboard credit or special deposit terms, so compare both versions in full. My guides to the best time to book a cruise and getting the lower fare after a cruise price drop explain the process.
Every January I go back through my clients' open bookings, compare each one with the new wave season offers, and request a reprice wherever the total comes out lower.
Who Benefits Most From Cruise Wave Season
- Families of three or four: free third and fourth guest offers appeared from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America in 2026.
- Summer and fall travelers who have not booked: sailings later in the year usually still have good availability in January.
- Anyone holding a refundable booking: a sale is a free chance to reprice before final payment.
- Travelers who want a drink package or Wi-Fi anyway: bundle offers are worth the most to people who would have bought them.
If you are planning a short-notice spring sailing, check the final payment rules first in my cruise deposits and final payment dates guide, since a booking inside final payment is usually paid in full right away.
Wave Season Cruise Deals: Frequently Asked Questions
When is cruise wave season 2027? Wave season runs roughly January through March. Individual offers start and end on dates each line sets, and several 2026 offers ended in January or February.
Is wave season cheaper than Black Friday for cruises? In 2025 and 2026, several lines used the same type of offer in both periods. Price your sailing in both windows and compare totals instead of assuming one is cheaper.
Can I use a wave season deal on a cruise I already booked? Often yes, before final payment and in the same cabin category, if your fare type allows it. You may lose perks from your original fare, so compare the full totals first, and review cruise cancellation policies by cruise line before changing anything close to final payment.
Do wave season deals require a non-refundable deposit? Some do, and some give a bigger discount if you choose a non-refundable deposit. Check the fare type on your quote.
Should I buy travel insurance when I book during wave season? It is worth pricing at the time you pay your deposit. My cruise travel insurance guide covers what to look for.
Book Your Wave Season Cruise With Jackson Jetsetting
My pricing is the same as booking direct. On top of it, you get access to group rates and promotions that do not always show up on the cruise line's website, and somebody to call when a flight cancels or a cabin category disappears. Send me your dates, and I will price your sailing now and again when the 2027 wave season offers launch. If you are budgeting first, start with how much does a cruise cost.
