Posted on 01/09/2025

Welcome to Wave Season!  Wave after wave of promotions, offers and perks that make booking your next – or your first! - cruise irresistible. Cruise lines compete to outdo each other during Wave, and that gives you the opportunity to save money, get some extra perks to spoil yourself – or sail into new cruise horizons! 

Navigating Wave

With all the different kinds of discounts, promotions, perks and savings, it’s important to understand their differences, relative values, and especially, to compare deals ‘apple to apple’ to make sure you’re getting the best deals on the best cruise for you. 

An expert travel advisor is your best bet to help you maximize your cruise travel budget and ensure you make the most of Wave Season.

Here are some tips for the most common types of Wave incentives:

Discounts:

• Cruises are priced per person, double occupancy, so make sure you know whether the discount is per person or per stateroom (For example $1000 off per person would be $2000 off for the stateroom, but $1000 off per stateroom is $500 savings per person).
• Solo Travelers can also win during Wave. Instead of having to pay double occupancy rates, single supplements can be waived or reduced.
• BOGO / 2-for-1 cruise fares: compare with regular fares in comparable cruise lines to make sure this is really as valuable as it suggests.
• 3rd/ 4th passengers OR Kids Sail Free: this is generally code for family savings, and applies most often to mass-market, family-oriented cruise lines.  This kind of incentive can suddenly make a family cruise quite cost-effective. It applies to guests occupying the same stateroom – not 2 rooms, so be prepared to be cozy!
• Reduced deposits: lower deposits to save your space on your cruise don’t change the overall price you’ll pay in the end. But they do give you the time to spread the cost of your cruise out, especially if your cruise is 12, 18 or more months away. That could allow you to book a higher category of stateroom, which will make a difference to your holiday.

Bonus Value:

• Stateroom upgrades: Like airlines, some cruise lines offer bidding for upgrades, but there are no guarantees. Complimentary accommodation upgrades are like a fare discount as you’ll know you’re getting better accommodations than you paid for.
• Pre-cruise overnight hotel stay: we always recommend arriving the day before your cruise, and a bonus perk like this makes that good practice easy on the wallet.
• Onboard Credits, or OBC or Shipboard Spending: even on inclusive luxury cruises, you’ll always end up spending some money on the ship, and OBCs allow you to treat yourself to shore excursions, spa treatments, top bottles of wine, maybe even some shopping on board.

Adding Inclusions or Bundling:

• Cruise plus Airfare bundles:  Usually from major gateways; if you need to fly to get to the closest applicable gateway, there may be discounts on those connectors or you’ll be quoted on the difference.
• Beverage package or specialty restaurant dining package: These perks can really add value to non-inclusive cruises. More and more cruise lines are offering bundled pricing options on a regular, not promotional rate, so make sure you are getting a deal.
• Gratuities: 15 -20$ or more per day per person in tips during your cruise can really add up; having them included in your fare can ensure you don’t have sticker shock at the end! If they are a free perk, all the better!
• Wi-Fi: We take free wi-fi for granted, but internet at sea can be expensive if it’s not included. Tip: Check how many devices you can have connected at once.
• Shore Excursions: A perk of one or more included shore excursions can make a big difference to your cruise budget. Tip: book your shore excursions as soon as possible after booking before they fill up! 

Make ‘Wave’ Really Work for You: 

Perks, deals, bonuses and more can give you the budget flexibility to try something new:

• New to Cruise?  Wave is definitely the time to look into booking the cruise you’ve been meaning to try.
• Try a new cruise style. Have you been thinking about an expedition cruise?  A small-ship cruise? If you usually sail in the Caribbean, now’s the time to fulfill your curiosity about cold water cruising, or the Med, or even something really remote and exotic like Tahiti or Antarctica or the Galapagos.
• Treat yourself. Use Wave savings and perks to upgrade to a luxury or ultra-luxury cruise line.  Many are inclusive, offering certain things (like included tips, open bar, even shore excursions) that start making the math – especially with Wave offers – look very tempting! 

The Bottom Line:

Your travel advisor is your best partner sourcing and comparing the many deals available during Wave.

And in helping match you to your perfect cruise style and cruise line, especially if you’re going to take advantage of Wave promotions to expand your cruise travel horizons to try a new cruise for you.

START YOUR CRUISE TRIP! 

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert

Image: Seabourn

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