It's not too late to book your 2024 cruise vacation. Whether you're hoping for a quick getaway to The Bahamas or a dream cruise around Europe, the best time of the year to book a cruise is now while wave season is ongoing.
Wave season is when the cruise industry tends to run their biggest sales and promotions of the year. While actual deals and conditions vary, wave season deals tend to include anything from additional onboard credit, free upgrades, discounted excursions, prepaid gratuities, etc.
Deals usually run from January through March, so it's important to keep an eye on your email or consult with your travel agent frequently to see what's available. This, however, doesn't mean that you have to sail during those months.
Instead, you can utilize the wave season promotions to book a cruise for later in the year, such as during summer break or over Thanksgiving!
Here's a rundown of the best wave season deals for 2024.
Read more: What to know before booking a cheap cruise
MSC Cruises
From December 27, 2023 through January 15, 2024, MSC Cruises is offering sailings as low as $279 per person that include drinks, Wi-Fi, and up to $400 in onboard credit. Plus, kids sail free!
Suzanne Salas, SVP, Marketing & E-Commerce, MSC Cruises USA, said, “With demand continuing to rise for cruising and travelers actively planning their 2024 vacations, Wave Season is the perfect time to get a great deal on a cruise before prices increase. This year, MSC Cruises has more ships and itineraries sailing from ports in the U.S. than ever before."
"This Wave Season deal is our way of inviting travelers to try our amazing, innovative ships and enjoy the unique and memorable experience MSC Cruises has to offer, while giving loyal guests a fantastic way to save on their next cruise. Cruising is already a huge value compared to land-based vacations and with value-adds like an all-inclusive drink package, Wi-Fi, kids sailing free and a credit to use on board, the savings are even greater.”
MSC's wave season deal is available for cruises to the Caribbean – including their private island in The Bahamas – and North America, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe departing through the end of the 2024-2025 winter season.
By booking now, a family of four could save over $600 on a 3-night cruise onboard MSC Seashore sailing from Port Canaveral or $1,600 on a 7-night cruise onboard MSC Seascape compared to paying full price and purchasing all the cruise add-ons separately.
Read more: Why are MSC cruises so cheap?
Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys, the privately-owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, is launching their first-ever wave season promotion called "The Total Luxury Offer."
Through January 31, 2024, guests can save up to 40% off their cruise when booking either an Ocean Terrace Suite or Ocean Grand Terrace Suite. Additionally, guests can pay a 10% reduced deposit and earn 200 EUR per person in onboard credit. It applies to a range of sailings onboard Explora I and Explora II.
Chris Austin, Chief Sale Officer Explora Journeys said, "The Total Luxury Package is designed to captivate both sophisticated travelers venturing into the world of cruising for the first time and those intrigued by the allure of luxury cruise lines and their destinations.”
“This initial promotional offering presents a seamlessly inclusive experience, embodying European elegance at sea, accompanied by substantial savings. We hope this will entice a fresh cohort of guests who may have previously overlooked ocean voyages as an upscale and uncomplicated vacation choice, appealing not only to newcomers but also to cruise enthusiasts seeking an elevated journey.”
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises announced their Wave Season deal in mid-January. From now through April 7, 2024, you can save up to 75% off your second guest's cruise fare if you book a non-refundable deposit or 50% off if you book a refundable deposit rate. Plus, you can receive up to an additional $200 in onboard credit on select dates.
This sale is valid on most cruises departing now through April 30, 2026.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line's "Time of Your Life" sale is the best time to book your dream HAL cruise. In addition to up to 40% off cruise fares, you can also receive a free stateroom upgrade. Note that the offer is only applicable on select 2024 and 2025 departures and excludes Grand Voyages and any cruise lasting 5 days or fewer. You must also make your booking by February 29, 2024.
Their wave season deal also includes kids sail free for guests ages 18 and under when booked as a 3rd and/or 4th guest and reduced deposits for the 1st and 2nd guests on new bookings when booked outside of the final payment date.
If you book by January 31, you could be eligible for extra onboard credit, too:
- $100 per person ($200 per stateroom) for 6- to 9-night cruises
- $150 per person ($300 per stateroom) for Alaska Cruisetours or 10- to 20-night cruises
- $200 per person ($400 per stateroom) for 21+-night cruises
- $250 per person ($500 per stateroom) for Legendary Voyages
Read more: I tried a Holland America cruise to Alaska. Here's what it's like to sail on this cruise line
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival's wave season deal only ran through January 6. The cruise line, which is known for their fleet of FUN ships, offered up to 35% off cruise fares, reduced deposits that were as low as $50 per person, up to $150 in onboard credit, and up to a 4-category stateroom upgrade on select sailings through April 2026.
Read more: Carnival Cruise ship classes guide & explanation (2024)
Princess Cruises
Like Holland America Line, Princess Cruises is another upscale mainstream cruise line that caters more towards adults and those focused on visiting unique destinations. Through February 29, 2024, you can snag up to 40% off your cruise fare and a free room upgrade! Moreover, 3rd and 4th guests sail free.
The free stateroom upgrade applies to booking a cabin in the location you wish to sail in for the price of the lowest category. This simply means you won't be able to book an ocean view room and upgrade to a balcony. Instead, it's only for like-to-like staterooms (i.e., interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, etc.).
Disney Cruise Line
Family-friendly Disney Cruise Line isn't known for their jaw-dropping deals, and while you will find better wave season deals on other lines, they are cutting their deposit rate in half on select cruises that depart between June 17, 2024 and May 31, 2025. If you book by February 16, you'll receive 50% off of your deposit.
There are some restrictions, including Disney Treasure sailings departing on December 21 and 28, 2024, Suite and Concierge Level staterooms, and other cabins with restrictions (categories IGT, OGT, and VGT).
Currently, you can also save up to 30% on select sailings:
- 15-night South Pacific cruise ending in Honolulu onboard Disney Wonder departing February 16, 2024
- 10-night Hawaiian cruise ending in Vancouver onboard Disney Wonder departing March 1, 2024
- 7-night Western Caribbean cruise onboard Disney Fantasy departing February 24, 2024
- 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard Disney Fantasy departing March 2, 2024
Read more: I am going on my first Disney Cruise: Here’s what I think I should do
Margaritaville at Sea
From now through February 12, 2024 Margaritaville at Sea is offering buy-one-get-three-free cruise fares on new bookings for cruises through December 30, 2024.
The offer is valid on sailings onboard both ships. Margaritaville at Sea Islander is the newest ship for the cruise line that's set to launch in summer 2024 and offer 4- and 5-night cruises to Key West and Mexico. It's quite an upgrade from the Paradise, which is a 52,900 gross-ton ship that initially debuted in 1991 as Costa Classica.
While not brand-new Margaritaville at Sea Islander is considerably newer, having launched as Costa Atlantica in 2000.
Read more: What it's like to sail on a very short & cheap 2-night Margaritaville at Sea cruise
Virgin Voyages
Looking to take an adults-only cruise? Look no further than Virgin Voyages. While a relatively new cruise line, it has already become well-known for straying from the traditional cruise experience. In addition to only serving those 18+, you won't find any buffets onboard. Similarly, all "specialty" restaurants and essential beverages are included in the cost of your cruise fare.
Through January 31, 2024, you can save up to 70% off the fare of second sailors on cruises that depart through November 2025.
Additionally, you can get up to $600 in premium drinks per stateroom. However, this is only applicable on new bookings in the XL Sea Terrace, Central Sea Terrance, and Ltd View Sea Terrance cabins, as well as those in the RockStar Quarters Meta Category:
- $600 in premium drinks per cabin on sailings over 14 nights
- $300 in premium drinks per cabin on sailings over 7 nights
- $200 in premium drinks per cabin on sailings of up to 6 nights
- $100 in premium drinks per cabin on select sailings of up to 4 nights
Read more: 10 things I loved and hated about my first Virgin Voyages cruise
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is currently offering up 75% off your second guest's cruise fare, as well as up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom, during their semi-annual sale, which only lasts through January 11, 2024.
Note that it only applies to select sailings that are 3 nights and longer departing December 06, 2023 through April 30, 2026.
Why is wave season important?
The cruise industry’s "wave season" happens for a few reasons. The most important, however, is to entice potential cruisers to take the leap and put down a deposit for future sailings, whether it's three months or one year away.
Cruise lines figure that many people will see the start of the new year as an opportunity to book vacations. Perhaps they've been waiting to find a deal for spring break or want to think ahead and book a holiday celebration with family.
Additionally, securing your booking as early as possible is the only way to ensure that you get to cruise on the ship and itinerary that appeals to you the most. If you try and hold out on a last-minute deal, you may find yourself disappointed.
Read more: The best cruise booking perks – and are they actually free?
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
