Wave Season Cruise Deals 2021

This article was last updated on April 5, 2021.

With everything the cruise industry endured in 2020, you might be surprised to learn that wave season is still a go for 2021.

As cruise lines release their deals, we're here to give you a primer on everything you need to know.

So exactly what is wave season, anyway?

Wave season is generally the first-quarter booking period each year, running January through March, when winter-weary North Americans begin longing for trips to the warm, sunny Caribbean and start thinking about planning their cruise vacations for the coming year.

Generally, each cruise line releases deals, add-ons and other perks as incentives to entice travelers to book. These could include everything from discounts on cruise fares themselves to onboard credit, complimentary gratuities, gratis dining or beverage packages, reduced deposits or inclusions like free Wi-Fi access.

What are the latest wave season deals?

AmaWaterways

If a river cruise piques your interest, AmaWaterways has three deals for passengers this wave season. Those who book back-to-back sailings through 2022 by December 31, 2021, will receive a discount of 10 percent on any consecutive voyages after the first one, with no limit on how many can be booked.

Passengers who have already cruised with AmaWaterways can earn $100 per referral (up to $500) to use on future bookings when they refer new-to-Ama cruisers. New cruisers who book using the referrals will also save $100. This offer is available through December 31, 2021, and must be booked through a travel agent using a personal referral code.

Carnival Cruise Line

Until further notice, Carnival's ongoing "Early Saver Sale" discounts select sailings departing through April 2023 by up to 40 percent.

On certain voyages and vessels, passengers can also take advantage of reduced deposits and complimentary room upgrades.

Emerald Waterways

As part of Emerald Waterways' "Explore the World With Us" wave season campaign, cruisers can take to the rivers of Europe and Southeast Asia on select sailings in 2022 and receive 10 percent off their fares when they book and pay in full at least 12 months in advance.

Holland America Line

With Holland America's "View & Verandah" sale, cruisers can snag six extra perks when they book 2021 or 2022 voyages by April 5, 2021.

Freebies include a "BIG" stateroom upgrade, free one-night specialty dining, the line's Signature Beverage Package, 50 percent reduced deposits, free or reduced fares for kids in the same cabin, and a 10 percent discount on shore excursions.

MSC Cruises

For a limited time, MSC's "Your Cruise, Your Choice" promotion offers passengers up to $400 in onboard credit per cabin (depending on cabin type) to spend on extras like Wi-Fi, spa treatments, drink packages, specialty dining and shore excursions when they book select 2021 and 2022 sailings.

Additionally, the line is featuring a "Kids Sail Free" promotion on select voyages, allowing up to two children (17 and younger) to sail free in the same cabin as two paying adults.

For bookings through April 30, 2021, MSC is also offering a 50 percent discount on cruise fares for healthcare workers. For even more savings, this offer can be combined with other promotions currently offered by the line.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Until further notice, NCL is offering a 30 percent discount on cruises across all 17 of its ships for select sailings of three nights or longer into 2023.

Cruisers will find additional savings, valued at up to $2,900, via five included perks: free Premium Beverage Package (open bar), complimentary specialty dining (number of meals based on length of sailing), gratis Wi-Fi access (number of minutes based on cruise length), $50 off all shore excursions, and a "kids sail free" offer that allows up to two children to share a cabin with two paying adults at no additional cost.

The line is also running a two-for-one airfare promotion. When you book one airfare through Norwegian Cruise Line for a sailing of four nights or more to select locations, you'll get a second airfare free (not including taxes and fees).

Further, travelers can double their money through Norwegian's CruiseFirst program. Until further notice, cruisers can purchase $300 worth of future cruise credit for $150. With a limit of 10 per person, you can snag up to $3,000 in value for just $1,500.

Certificates can be applied to any sailing of six nights or longer within the next three years.

Royal Caribbean International

For bookings made until further notice, cruisers will save up to $350 on select sailings departing April through December 2021. Plus, they'll receive 60 percent off the fare for the second passenger in each cabin.

Travelers who are members of the line's Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program will also receive double points for all sailings through September 2022.

Silversea Cruises

As part of its wave season offers, luxury cruise line Silversea is featuring 20 percent off for cruisers who book select 2021 or 2022 sailings early and pay in full by May 31, 2021.

Further incentives for bookings on select 2021 voyages include reduced deposits (15 percent of the total cruise fare due upon reservation) and the ability to claim a full refund or 100 percent future cruise credit within 30 days of sailing (or during the sailing) if you or a member of your travel party tests positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Why should you feel comfortable booking a cruise during wave season?

Because the pandemic situation changes almost daily, cruise lines are more flexible than ever with their cancellation policies. If your sailing is canceled by the cruise line, you're likely to have a choice between a full refund or future cruise credit in an amount greater than what you originally paid.

If you choose to cancel your booking yourself, those policies have also been relaxed, allowing you to scrap your booking closer to the sailing date and offering more lenient refund amounts or, in some cases, the ability to simply reschedule for a later date with no penalty.

Plus, booking a cruise now means that your favorite cruise line has a more steady flow of cash on hand, which helps to keep it solvent and maintain a more positive financial outlook, which, in turn, helps to keep stock prices from falling and prevent lines from having to borrow more money (which could, ultimately, lead to higher cruise fares for all of us).

Additionally, in light of recent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine developments and with inoculations underway, sailings could resume by the summer of 2021, meaning that it's not unreasonable to start thinking about booking now.

If you have concerns about health, safety and sanitation procedures onboard when voyages finally do resume, rest assured that cruise lines are implementing protocols outlined in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's conditional sail order, which is designed to prevent the virus from ever making it onboard and, if it does, to quickly detect and isolate it.