You’ve finally landed on the cruise you want to take—maybe it’s a winter expedition to Norway to see the northern lights or perhaps you’re keen on visiting Costa Rica on a classic sailing ship—but now the question is, when should you book? Is it better to secure reservations far in advance or do you stand a better chance of snagging a deal if you wait?
We polled travel advisors who specialize in cruises to better understand when the best time to book a cruise is. Here’s what they had to say.
When is the best time to book a cruise?
While there’s not necessarily a wrong time to book a cruise, there are time frames where travelers can benefit from discounts and promotions.
Beyond holiday periods such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Labor Day when there may be some flash sales, January and February are particularly good times to book a cruise. That’s because the first two months of the year are considered “wave season” in the cruising industry. It’s a time when cruise lines are looking to base load their ships for the year.
“Wave season is when cruise lines announce incredible promotions in an effort to sell as much unsold space for the year as possible,” explains Jeremy Hall, a travel advisor at Cruise Vacations International.
Those promotions could include free stateroom upgrades, highly reduced cruise fares, discounts on deposits, free sailings for children, complimentary airfare, and discounted beverage packages, among other offers.
As of press time, here are some of the best cruise deals we’ve spotted for the 2026 wave season.
Experience the floating boutique resort atmosphere on Explora Journeys, which is offering up to 30 percent off of select sailings.
Courtesy of Explora Journeys
The best wave season cruise deals for 2026
Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury tour operator that partners with luxury cruise companies like French line Ponant, is offering up to $2,500 off select sailings, including on 10-day Nile River sailings and 9-day expeditions in India’s Kerala backwaters.
AmaWaterways: River cruise line AmaWaterways is offering complimentary land packages on hundreds of sailings in 2026 and 2027 if booked by March 31, 2026. The packages, which range from two to four nights, are available in the departure or arrival port on select European and Colombian sailings.
Aurora Expeditions: Environmentally friendly expedition operator Aurora Expeditions is offering a slew of savings on sailings to the Arctic and Antarctic in 2026 and 2027—and providing savings of up to 35 percent off The savings are available on bookings made before March 31, 2026. Here’sour recent review of sailing with Aurora in the Arctic.
Azamara: Travelers can receive up to $1,000 in onboard credit per stateroom on new bookings made by March 31, 2026. Maybe consider an Alaska sailing—2026 marks Azamara’s return to the 49th state.
Crystal Cruises: Luxury line Crystal, which is owned by Abercrombie & Kent, is offering up to $5,000 in savings per room or suite on select 2026 sailings booked through March 31, 2026. Guests also receive up to $500 in onboard credit per stateroom.
Ecoventura: As the only Relais & Chateaux cruise line in the Galápagos, operating just three 20-passenger mega-yachts in one of the world’s most protected destinations, Ecoventura’s departures rarely go on sale. However, through January 31, 2026, the cruise company is offering savings of up to 25 percent off select future sailings.
Emerald Cruises: Savings on this accessible luxury river cruise line include 30 percent off staterooms, combinable with two-for-one fares on select Europe and Southeast Asia river cruise sailings.
Explora Journeys: On boutique cruise line Explora Journeys, passengers can save up to 30 percent on select trips to the Mediterranean, northern Europe, and the Caribbean when booked by January 28. Look for sailings aboard the excellent 922-passenger Explora I (we were among the first aboard this recently launched vessel, which aims to court noncruisers).
Havila Voyages: Havila Voyages, a Norwegian cruise line that celebrated its first carbon-neutral sailing last fall and has a northern lights guarantee on select departures, is offering savings of up to $650 on sailings through 2028. Offer ends March 15, 2026.
Holland America Line: Holland America Line is offering up to 30 percent off fares on more than 500 sailings, plus free balcony upgrades, reduced deposits, free kids fares, and onboard and shore excursion credits. Guests who book by January 31, 2026, can receive onboard credit of up to $250 per person, plus up to $200 in Alaska shore excursion credits per stateroom on eligible 2026 Alaska cruises.
Hurtigruten: From now until the end of February, bookings are up to 25 percent off on select voyages within Norway on this local cruise line that has been sailing coastal Norway for more than 130 years.
HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions): For select bookings made by March 23, 2026, HX—the expedition arm of Hurtigruten—is offering discounts of up to $4,000 on select sailings through 2028. The all-inclusive sailings include destinations ranging from theGalápagos Islands to theArctic.
MSC Cruises: This European cruise line is running a flash sale on select cruises —the lowest fares start at $199 per person. You have to act fast though—the current deals only run through January 15.
National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions: Until February 9, guests can save up to 20 percent on their cabin fare. Here’s whatrecently sailing around Svalbard with Lindblad entailed.
Oceania’s 1,200-passenger Vista offers some of the best fine dining at sea, plus impressive solo cabins and immersive port excursions.
Courtesy of Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises: On these fine-dining–focused cruises, travelers can receive up to 40 percent off plus their choice of one perk ( shore excursion credits or a premium drinks package on more than 100 sailings in 2026 and 2027.
Paul Gauguin Cruises: As part of this boutique line’s “Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti” promotion, Paul Gauguin is offering a $1,000 shipboard credit on any 7- to 14-night Tahiti sailing in 2026. . The sale ends on February 28, 2026.
Quasar Expeditions: Through March 2026, this Galapagos expedition cruise company is offering savings of up to $3,000 per person, plus complimentary domestic flights to the Galapagos and over $500 in added-value perks, including park entrance fees, Transit Control Cards, WiFi, and open bar.
Rainforest Cruises: This small ship adventure cruises company is offering 20 percent discounts aboard select Amazon River cruises.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Through February 28, 2026, ultra-luxury line Regent Seven Seas is offering an Upgrade Your Horizon promotion that gives guests a free two-category suite upgrade (up to a Penthouse Suite) on select cruises, plus 50 percent reduced deposits on all destinations and a $500 shipboard credit per suite on select 2026 sailings. In 2023, Regent unveiled the latest “world’s most luxurious cruise ship”: the 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Grandeur with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and exclusive art pieces.
Scenic Luxury Cruises: On Scenic’s river and ocean cruises, guests who book now can get up to 30 percent off per suite, a promotion that can be combined with Scenic’s two-for-one fares on select departures through 2027. Here’s what it’s like sailing to Greenland aboard the Scenic Eclipse II.
Seabourn: For both ocean and expedition voyages booked by February 17, guests sailing on Seabourn’s super-luxurious cruise ships can save up to 15 percent off their cruise fares and receive up to $1,000 in shipboard credit per stateroom. Maybe this is your sign to book Seabourn’s epic 39-day Australia circumnavigation itinerary.
Sea Cloud Cruises: For select cruises booked for 2026, you can score two-for-one rates with this unique line that operates a fleet of sailing ships throughout the world. Eyeing a 2027 sailing? They’re 30 percent off. What’s it like to take a sailing cruise? We recently reviewed the experience on a cruise to Costa Rica.
Silversea: Luxe line Silversea is offering savings of up to 40 percent off on its all-inclusive fares for bookings made through February 28.
Smithsonian Journeys: Smithsonian Journeys, in alliance with Ponant, a French luxury cruise brand, is offering $1,000 in shipboard credit on any new 2026 sailing booked by March 31, 2026. Use code SBC500SJ at check-out.
Star Clippers: On select sailings aboard the masted sailing ships Star Clipper or the Star Flyer, cruisers will receive up to 65 percent off. The deals are good for bookings made by March 31.
Trafalgar: Global guided vacation company, Trafalgar, is offering up to 15 percent off select river cruise itineraries and departures, including Best of the Danube, Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam and Christmas Market river cruises. The offer is available through February 27 for travel throughout 2026.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Cruisers can save up to 30 percent off per person on select itineraries with this boutique luxury river cruise line, which sails the rivers of Europe, including Italy, India, Asia, Africa, and South America. This offer is valid on new bookings made through February 28, 2026.
Variety Cruises: This small-ship line is offering savings of up to 30 percent on cruises around the world or no single supplement on bookings made between now and January 15. That includes cruises around the Seychelles,Tahiti, and French Polynesia, as well as in the company’s home base of Greece.
Viking: Viking is offering up to 35 percent off new bookings across its collection of river, ocean, and expedition offerings through January 31. The deal comes with free airfare and a $25 deposit. Select voyages include free airfare. Read our review of one of Viking’s newest destinations: coastal China.
Virgin Voyages: Through January 15, cruisers can get 80 percent off the second guest’s booking. They will also receive up to $400 per room off their bar tab, depending on the length of the voyage. Virgin Voyages—which launched its newest ship, the 2,770-passenger Resilient Lady in 2023—bills itself as the perfect cruise line for people who don’t like cruises. Here’s our take.
Windstar Cruises: Book a Windstar sailing by March 31, and you can a slew of additional perks, including complimentary all-inclusive upgrades (select beer, wine, and cocktails, Wi-Fi, and gratuities), a free night in a hotel (pre--cruise), transfer from the hotel to the ship, up to $1,000 in onboard credit (which can be used for shore excursions and adventures or spa services or premium alcohol aboard). Our suggestion? Sail the Mediterranean with Windstar this winter when there are fewer crowds and no extreme heat.
You’ll have access to a sauna with glacier views on Seabourn Venture.
Rendering courtesy of Seabourn
How far in advance should you book a cruise? Is it better to book early?
The earlier you book, the better, according to William Kiburz, a travel advisor at Coronet Travel, especially when it comes to expedition-style or specialized cruises, as well as sailings to Alaska, as those are itineraries that often sell out more than a year in advance.
Indeed, travelers who are less concerned about deals and more focused on a specific destination or making sure they get choice accommodations may want to take a different approach to booking a cruise. Cruise companies open up bookings for sailings as early as two years in advance. While that might sound like plenty of time to mull over sailings, Samantha Robichaud, a travel advisor and owner of Fabulous Adventures Travel Company, says that booking early means travelers have more choices when it comes to travel dates, staterooms, specialty dining reservations at preferred times, and shore excursions.
Todd Smith, owner of AdventureSmith Explorations, says that if you want to go on an expedition cruise, which typically involves a smaller ship, it’s imperative to book early.
“Booking last minute also means you get what remains available instead of the best trip, ship, cabin, and program for you,” Smith says.
Another reason to try to book early: The cabin price is usually lower. “Cruise fares tend to rise as the time before departure draws closer,” Hall says. “Even though you may see a new promotion announced for the cruise you booked six months ago, chances are you got a better deal because the cruise fare more than likely went up before that new promotion was announced.”
There are often perks for guests who book early. For example, Holland America Line offers an early booking bonus that allows guests to enjoy all the benefits of the standard “Have It All” package, including shore excursion and specialty dining credit, plus included gratuity, a low-price guarantee, and upgrades to premium Wi-Fi and an “elite” beverage package, which covers all premium spirits, beers, and wines.
Is it possible to score last-minute cruise deals?
If pricing is more important than preferred accommodations, travelers can opt to wait until closer to the departure date to see if they can take advantage of any last-minute offers. It’s a bit of a gamble—you risk the ship selling out. And, in the 11th hour, flights to the port might be more expensive.
To find deals, travelers can sign up for email newsletters from various cruise lines, as the companies often send out updates on flash sales. You can also search the cruise line websites—some, like Holland America, have pages on their website dedicated to last-minute deals.
Hall says that his company typically sees more last-minute deals with river cruises than ocean cruises. He also notes that last-minute deals usually involve added amenities or a waived single supplement.
Will working with a travel advisor get me a better deal?
“There are so many ways to get a good deal on a cruise, and nobody knows better than an experienced travel advisor,” Hall says. “There are so many promotions, amenities, loyalty programs, and pricing structures these days—it makes finding the best deal a daunting task. Your travel advisor will know precisely how to narrow down the search field to find the right cruise and deal for you.”
Robichaud echoes that sentiment, saying that travel advisors can leverage relationships with cruise companies to get discounted rates or free add-ons. And Smith notes that agencies that book a lot of cruises often receive free upgrades for their clients as an incentive from cruise lines aiming to build up a loyal network of travel advisors who sell and book their cruises.
Are there better times for families or groups to book a cruise?
Only certain ships and expeditions offer accommodations large enough to fit three or four people, so groups and families looking to stay in the same cabin should book as soon as possible because options may be limited.
As Robichaud notes, rooms that can accommodate more people tend to fill up fast during holidays and school breaks; if travelers have a specific sailing in mind, it’s essential to book early.
Judy Perl, president of Judy Perl Travel, adds that for parents looking to travel around school schedules, it’s worth noting that spring break is often the cheapest for cruising, and summer break offers more destination options. The winter holiday season is always significantly more expensive, she says.
Sailing with Celebrity? Upgrade to the Retreat, a private resort area within the ship.
Courtesy of Ryan Wicks/Celebrity Cruises
How to bid on a cabin upgrade
Just as some airlines offer the opportunity to bid for a business- or first-class seat upgrade, many cruise companies offer travelers the opportunity to bid on stateroom upgrades.
- Some cruise lines will email confirmed customers before their voyage, offering them the chance to bid on a higher class of cabin at a steeply discounted price.
- Travelers suggest a price they’re comfortable with spending.
- If the cruise company accepts the offer, guests will be charged the amount of their bid and receive an updated booking with their new room details.
Robichaud says she just got back from a Virgin Voyages sailing where she was supposed to have a Sea Terrace stateroom but won her bid for a Mega RockStar suite (complete with daily spa access, a bottomless in-room bar, a personal butler, and access to a members-only sundeck). Similarly, some companies have dedicated landing pages on their websites where guests can bid.
When bidding for an upgrade online, be aware that you can’t cancel your bid once accepted (but you can cancel or change the offer before acceptance).
Upgrades are also available after you’ve boarded the ship. Perl recommends that people keen on a larger room go to the purser’s office and inquire if there have been any cancellations or no-shows. “Once the ship leaves the dock, typically, it is no longer under revenue management control back at headquarters,” Perl explains. “The ship can make their own pricing decisions about what to charge to maximize the yield on their available inventory.”
What’s worth it and what isn’t in terms of cruise add-ons?
Amenity add-ons, like beverage packages, onboard credit, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and included gratuities, only have a value if you are going to use them. A person who drinks only one glass of wine each day or someone who likes to disconnect from tech on vacation may find little worth in an unlimited drinks package or premium Wi-Fi, respectively. It’s important to know the value of these items for you and purchase accordingly.
This story was originally published in March 2023, and was updated on January 19, 2026, to include current information.
