There’s a Very Good Reason You Should Book a Cruise Right Now

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 by way of 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 2025 wave season.

The best wave season cruise deals for 2025

Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury tour operator that charters Ponant ships, is making it easier for travelers to sail alone by offering 50 percent off single supplements on select expedition cruises to the Seychelles and coastal Tanzania, Europe, and the Arctic. Similarly, companions save 40 percent on select European sailings.

AmaWaterways: AmaWaterways, a river cruising company, is offering complimentary land packages on hundreds of sailings in 2025 and 2026. The packages, which range from two to four nights, are available in the departure or arrival port on select European sailings. Alternatively, cruisers can save up to $2,000 per stateroom and earn $100 in credit aboard per stateroom on select 7- to 11-night European river sailings in July and August 2025 (including a 7-night Colors of Provence cruise, a wine-themed Bordeaux sailing, and a Rhine castles and Swiss Alps cruise).

Aurora Expeditions: Environmentally friendly expedition operator Aurora Expeditions is offering a slew of savings on sailings to Antarctica in 2025 and 2026—and providing savings of up to 25 percent off, plus an air credit on select itineraries (including on its brand-new ship, the 154-passenger Douglas Mawson, sailing for the first time this year). Similarly, solo travelers can enjoy no single supplement for a limited time. The savings are available on bookings made before March 31, 2025. Here’s our recent review of sailing with Aurora in the Arctic.

Azamara: Travelers can receive up to $1,000 in credit aboard on new bookings made by February 28, 2025.

The Boat Company: For wave season, the Boat Company, which operates small-ship eco-friendly cruises in southeast Alaska, is offering $500 off of the cruise fare, per person, on most trips departing summer 2025.

Celebrity Cruises: Until April 7, cruisers can save 75 percent on their second guest’s cruise fare (specifically for nonrefundable cruises; otherwise, it’s 50 percent off) for select sailings.

Cruise Croatia: Passengers can enjoy up to $500 off per cabin on select departures throughout summer 2025 when booking by February 28.

Crystal Cruises: The recently relaunched luxury line Crystal is offering complimentary suite upgrades on select 2025 sailings booked before February 2, 2025.

Delfin Amazon Cruises: This boutique cruise company is currently offering buy one, get one half-off fares for Peruvian Amazon river sailings aboard the 44-passenger Delfin III in February, March, and April 2025.

Emerald Cruises: Savings on this accessible luxury river cruise line include two-for-one fares and bonus savings of up to $1,000 off per suite on select Europe and Southeast Asia river cruise sailings. Bookings must be made by February 2, 2025. Those who pay in full within 30 days of booking (or 120 days prior to departure, whichever is sooner) will receive free airfare.

Explora Journeys: On the newer boutique cruise line Explora Journeys, passengers can save up to 25 percent on trips to the Mediterranean, northern Europe, and the Caribbean on the 922-passenger Explora I (we were among the first aboard this brand-new vessel, which aims to court noncruisers) and Explora II by February 28. Some available trips include a 17-night Journey of Moorish Conquest from North Africa to Spain and the 9-night Journey to the Barrier Reefs of Mexico, Belize, and Honduras.

Hurtigruten: From now until the end of March, second guests are half 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 31, 2025, HX—the expedition arm of Hurtigruten—is offering discounts of up to $4,000 on select sailings through 2027. The all-inclusive sailings include destinations ranging from the Galápagos Islands to the Arctic.

MSC Cruises: This European cruise line is running a flash sale on short cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, from $199 per person. You have to act fast though—the current deals only run through January 24.

National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions: Until March 31, guests can save up to $2,000 on their cabin fare and up to 40 percent on solo cabins. Here’s what recently sailing around Svalbard with Lindblad entailed.

Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises: On these fine-dining–focused cruises, travelers can receive up to a four-category stateroom upgrade plus their choice of one major perk (free or reduced airfare, a premium drinks package, or up to $1,000 in shipboard credit) on more than 100 sailings in 2025 and 2026 if booked before the end of January.

Paul Gauguin Cruises: As part of this boutique line’s “Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti” promotion, Paul Gauguin is offering a $500 shipboard credit on select Tahitian sailings between April and December. The sale ends on February 14, 2025.

Quark Expeditions: For a limited time, Quark Expeditions is offering an exclusive pre-voyage package, including $1,500 in flight credits, free charter flights, and a hotel stay before embarkation. This exclusive offer is available on all Arctic 2025 voyages in Svalbard (like the 10-day Svalbard Explorer expedition), Greenland (such as the 11-day Adventures in Northeast Greenland), and the Canadian Arctic (including the Northwest Passage). It also includes select Antarctic 2025 and 2026 voyages, plus three brand-new voyages: Snow Hill to the Peninsula, Antarctica by Helicopter, and Antarctic Express: Fly South, Cruise North.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Through February 28, 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. 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 cruises, guests who book by February 2 can get up to $1,750 off per suite, a promotion that can be combined with Scenic’s two-for-one fares on select departures through 2026. For ocean sailings through 2027 (including expedition-style cruises to Antarctica, Greenland, and Australia’s Kimberley region), guests can book two-for-one fares and receive up to an additional $3,000 off per suite. Here’s what it’s like sailing to Greenland aboard the Scenic Eclipse II.

Seabourn: For both ocean and expedition voyages booked by February 18, 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 90-day Africa itinerary, which will stop in 44 ports in 26 countries as it circumnavigates the continent.

Sea Cloud Cruises: For select cruises booked before March 31, you can save 65 percent on an itinerary with this unique line that operates a fleet of sailing ships throughout the world. 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 $5,000 per suite on its door-to-door, all-inclusive fares (which include pre- and post-cruise private transfers and airfare) or $2,000 per suite on port-to-port all-inclusive fares for bookings made through February 28.

Star Clippers: On select sailings aboard the masted sailing ships Star Clipper or the Star Flyer, cruisers will receive $250 in air credits per person. The deals are good for bookings made by March 31.

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, 2025.

Variety Cruises: This small-ship line is offering savings of up to 20 percent on cruises around the world or no single supplement on bookings made between now and February 3. 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 special fares (with just a $25 deposit) on new bookings across its collection of river, ocean, and expedition offerings through January 31. Select voyages include free airfare. Read our review of Viking’s newest destination: coastal China.

Virgin Voyages: Through January 30, cruisers can get 80 percent off the second guest’s booking. They will also receive up to $300 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 choose an additional perk, which could include a free night in a hotel (pre- or post-cruise) or up to $1,000 in onboard credit (which can be used for shore excursions and adventures or spa services or alcohol aboard). Those who book a premium suite can upgrade to the all-inclusive fare, which includes alcohol, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. Our suggestion? Sail the Mediterranean with Windstar this winter when there are fewer crowds and no extreme heat.

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.

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.

1. 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.
2. Travelers suggest a price they’re comfortable with spending.
3. 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 21, 2025, to include current information.