Wave Season: When to Book Your Cruise

‘Tis the season, cruisers! And by season I mean fall is the time you want to start prepping for wave season. Not sure what the heck I’m talking about? Don’t worry I’m covering everything below so you can make sure you get the best deal on your next cruise!

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How to Prepare for Wave Season

Know When Wave Season is

Wave season typically refers to the first quarter of the year, January through March. Cruise lines want to get a headstart on bookings, so they offer up a “wave” of deals to entice people to book sooner rather than later. If you’re planning on booking a cruise in the next year or two, this is your chance to get the best bang for your buck. 

I’ll also note that some cruise lines will start their wave season even earlier, so be prepared to book as early as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

So Why Am I Prepping in Fall?

You want to prepare in the fall so you have plenty of time to research your bucket list destinations as well as all possible routes and cruise companies. Fall is when itineraries will be listed at their normal prices and offerings, so you’ll be able to compare listings with their wave season prices and offerings. It’s both the calm before the wave so you can research without the stress of booking and a way to make sure a cruise company is actually offering a deal.  

Your research can be as simple as scrolling through itineraries or as complex as creating spreadsheets, screenshots, and reading through forums for discussions on past wave season deals. It’s really up to you!

Know What’s a Good Deal

What you consider a good deal really depends on your overall budget and expectations of a cruise. Typically wave seasons offers are as follows: 

• Discounts & Reduced Fare – this is the most straightforward. You could get a percentage off the total price, money back, 2-for-1 specials, and waived supplements or deposits. 
• Extras & Bonuses – think free airfare, complimentary pre-cruise hotel, onboard credit, crew gratuities covered, or complimentary excursions. Really any bonuses that you’d normally have to pay extra for.
• Upgrades – i.e. cabin upgrades.

This is where the notes you made in the fall will really come in handy!

Maximize Your Potential Rewards

There are other ways to maximize your potential rewards during wave season. Check out travel agents and third party bookers to see what they might offer on top of a cruise’s deals. This is where it’s also handy to get recommendations from fellow cruisers in person or online. That way you can see if they can recommend an agent and more specifically what that agent’s wave season bonuses were.

And while we’re looking at rewards, if you’ve been considering signing up for a specific credit card, wave season is the time. Many big credit cards have sign-up bonuses that require a minimum spend over three months, and chances are your cruise payments will meet that minimum. Maximize those credit card points and benefits!

Sign-up for Newsletters

Fall is also the time you want to sign-up for cruise newsletters. That’s where they tend to share their deals first. This can be crucial if you’re hoping to visit more popular destinations like the Mediterranean or the Inside Passage of Alaska. If you subscribe while you’re already researching, it’s just one less thing to remember to do later.

Have you experienced a wave season? Any extra tips to prepare? Let me know below. And if you need more advice for cruising, check my guide for total beginners!