It might seem odd to think about summer travel in the middle of winter. However, now’s the ideal time to start planning your travels for 2025. This is especially true since the cruise vacation is firmly in its high-demand era. Travelers might find it challenging to secure a deal — and, in some cases, even a sailing. While researching this story, I came across quite a few sold-out cabins across lines in 2025.
Many cruise lines are currently offering wave season cruise deals, and passengers looking to get a jump on their vacation planning can snag significant savings.
Wave season is typically in the first quarter of each new year when cold winter weather in many parts of the U.S. has potential cruisers dreaming of warmer climates. Cruise lines have taken note, luring travelers with discounted fares and inclusions like free Wi-Fi and drinks.
Although we’ve been seeing wave season extending well past March for the last few years, you don’t want to take a chance and miss out on some great cruise deals.
Here’s a roundup of cruise lines’ latest offers. We’ll update this list as more lines release wave season promotions, so make sure to bookmark this page and check back often.
AmaWaterways
Take advantage of deep discounts on river cruises in 2025 and 2026 with this wave season offer from AmaWaterways. Enjoy an extended cruise with complimentary two-, three- or four-night precruise and postcruise land packages available on select European itineraries. If you cannot extend your cruise, AmaWaterways is offering up to $2,000 off per cabin instead. This offer is valid on select sailings in 2025 and 2026; book by March 31.
American Cruise Lines
Enjoy deep discounts on river cruises and coastal sailings along U.S. waterways with American Cruise Lines. Passengers who book one of the line’s 12-night Mississippi Explorers cruises between New Orleans and Memphis can save up to $2,000 on cruise fares. This deal also includes free domestic airfare. This offer expires Jan. 15.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
With its “Adventure Beyond” wave season promotion, Atlas Ocean Voyages is offering travelers savings of up to 30% — a value of up to $10,000 per cabin — and up to $600 onboard credit on select expeditions in 2025. You can apply the onboard credit to enhanced Wi-Fi packages, small-group excursions, spa treatments and other upgrades. The promotion ends Feb. 3 and is only valid on new bookings.
Azamara
Book by Feb. 28 and snag up to $1,000 in onboard credit (per cabin) on select Azamara cruises in 2025. Travelers can also take advantage of over $4,500 worth of the line’s “Always Azamara” inclusions, such as complimentary room service, exclusive cultural events, unlimited beverages (beer, wine and spirits) and gratuities. With an affinity for extended port stays and AzAmazing evenings that connect passengers with authentic local experiences, Azamara is a great way to explore destinations in small-ship style.
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Celebrity Cruises
Fans of Celebrity Cruises will rake in savings of 75% on cruise fares for a second passenger during the line’s Semi-Annual Sale. Just pay the first full fare and enjoy the discount on a second one. You can also receive up to $500 in additional savings on your cruise. Book by April 7 to take advantage of this deal. The offer is valid on sailings through May 10, 2027.
Celestyal Cruises
When you book one of Celestyal Cruises‘ voyages by Feb. 28, you can save up to 50% with the line’s “Live Your Dream Holiday” offer. The discount is good for voyages through 2027. You can also enjoy onboard credit of up to 100 euros (about $105) per person preloaded on each passenger’s CelestyalPay — a prepaid food and beverage tab the line launched in 2024 — to use in specialty restaurants, coffee bars and lounges.
Costa Cruises
Through Jan. 12, travelers can enjoy onboard credit of up to $200 on select Costa Cruises sailings thanks to the line’s “Holiday Season” promotion. Book a balcony cabin to receive onboard credit of $100 per person. Guests who book ocean view and interior cabins will get onboard credit of $50 per person.
Crystal
Passengers who book a Crystal cruise by Feb. 2 for sailings departing through 2025 will be entitled to free cabin upgrades. They can also snag complimentary dry-cleaning services as part of the brand’s Suite Dreams upgrade offer.
Emerald Cruises
Take advantage of two-for-one fares on luxury river and yacht sailings with Emerald Cruises’ “Wave of Savings” promotion, which runs through Feb. 2. Free airfare is also on the table for passengers who pay in full within 30 days of booking or 120 days prior to departure (whichever is soonest). Suite guests can also save up to $1,000 per suite on select yacht and river sailings.
This deal is available on select river cruises through 2026 and select yacht cruises through 2027.
Explora Journeys
Through Feb. 28, enjoy a reduced deposit of 10% on select cabin categories and select voyages with luxury cruise line Explora Journeys. With the brand’s “Unique Oceans Offer,” you’ll also receive onboard credit of up to 1,000 euros (about $1,040) per cabin. Guests can combine this deal with other offers, including the Explora Early Booking Benefit, the Additional Guests and Younger Travelers (reduced fares for third and fourth guests) program, and the Welcome Back Benefit offer.
Holland America
With its “Start Your Journey” wave season sale, Holland America is offering fare discounts, free balcony upgrades, 50% reduced deposits and free kids fares (when children are the third and fourth guests in a cabin with paying adults). Book by Jan. 31 to receive up to $400 in onboard credit per cabin. The sale ends Feb. 28.
Margaritaville at Sea
Whether you’re a Jimmy Buffett fan or you just want a short inexpensive getaway, Margaritaville at Sea can deliver. During the line’s latest wave season promotion, you can snag 60% off all fares and up to $300 in onboard credit.
Plus, third and fourth passengers sail free when sharing a cabin with two adults — great for saving money on a girlfriend getaway or family cruise vacation. This is also a great deal for solo cruisers, as there’s no single supplement. The offer ends Jan. 31 and is good for cruises through Dec. 31, 2025, on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Dec. 31, 2026, on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
Oceania Cruises
Luxury cruise brand Oceania Cruises is offering passengers up to a four-category room upgrade and a choice of one amenity. Choose from perks like free or discounted airfare, a premium drink package (unlimited wine, beer and spirits) or onboard credit of up to $1,000 per cabin. Book by Jan. 31 to take advantage of this offer.
Overseas Adventure Travel
A sister company to Grand Circle Cruise Line, which offers scenic river cruises, OAT specializes in small-ship ocean cruises and land trips with a focus on authentic cultural experiences. For its wave season promotion, OAT is offering passengers a choice of either $750 off all departures through August or $500 off all departures from September to December. This year, solo travelers can also enjoy free or greatly reduced single supplements on sailings. Itineraries available with the wave season promotion include destinations such as Japan and Africa.
Book by Jan. 31 to save on 2025 sailings. Call 1-800-955-1925 to book, and use the code “NEWYEAR 25” to apply the offer.
Princess Cruises
Want to save up to 40% on your next Princess Cruises sailing? Jump on the line’s Come Aboard Sale, which is available through Feb. 28. In addition to the savings, you can score free cabin upgrades and discounted booking deposits.
Families take note: This deal also includes free fares for third and fourth passengers (in the same cabin as first and second passengers), so kids sail free. This deal applies to select voyages from now through 2027.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
For wave season 2025, Regent is offering suite upgrades and reduced deposits with its “Upgrade Your Horizon” promotion. Passengers can enjoy a two-category suite upgrade and pay only 50% of the usual deposit amount. Residents of the U.S. and Canada can snag an additional 20% discount on select sailings. This offer is available on all ships and destinations and expires Feb. 28.
Seabourn
Luxury line Seabourn‘s “Sail of the Year” promotion includes savings of up to 15% on select ocean and expedition cruises and up to $1,000 in onboard credit per cabin when you book by Feb. 18. The sale applies to select voyages through 2027.
Sea Cloud
Small sailing ship line Sea Cloud is offering savings of up to 65% on select sailings with its “Catch the Early Wave” promotion. The offer applies to all ships and itineraries departing from April to December 2025. Book by March 31.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic’s “Wave of Savings” sales promo includes two-for-one fares on river and yacht voyages. You can also save up to $3,000 per cabin on luxury yacht itineraries and up to $1,750 per cabin on select river sailings. This offer ends Feb. 2.
Silversea Cruises
Available until Feb. 28, Silversea‘s “Up to $5,000 Reasons to Sail” offers cruisers savings of up to $5,000 ($2,500 per person) on the line’s Door-to-Door and Port-to-Port All-Inclusive fares. Passengers will also enjoy a 15% reduced deposit. This offer applies to hundreds of ocean and expedition sailings departing through 2027.
Swan Hellenic
With Swan Hellenic’s “Explore Together” promotion, cruising companions can snag 50% savings. The offer applies to almost all cruises to destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, the Mediterranean, Western Europe and the Americas. Book by March 16.
Viking
Save on river, ocean and expedition cruises with Viking‘s “Explorers’ Sale” wave season promotion. When you book select sailings by Jan. 31, you can receive discounts on cruise fares, free airfare and reduced deposits of as little as $25 per person. This offer is available to North American travelers and valid on select river, ocean and expedition cruises departing through 2027.
Virgin Voyages
Always on the cutting edge of the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages is offering cruisers (“sailors” in Virgin lingo) a BOGO deal — 80% off second-passenger fares. Book one fare at full price, and your companion will sail for an 80% discount.
The line is also throwing in up to $300 worth of free drinks per cabin (beer, wine, Champagne and cocktails), depending on the length of your voyage. Four- to five-night sailings include a $100 drink credit; six- to seven-night voyages include a $200 drink credit; and sailings of nine nights or longer will come with $300 in free drinks. This deal is available through Jan. 20 and applies to all 2025 and 2026 itineraries.
Windstar
Known for its high-end sailings in French Polynesia, Windstar Cruises is giving cruisers a choice of either one free hotel night (precruise or postcruise) or up to $1,000 in onboard credit during its “Pick Your Perk” promotion. You can apply the onboard credit to shore excursions, spa services or alcoholic beverage packages.
Planning to splurge on a premium suite? You have a third option — a free all-inclusive fare upgrade (valued at $99 per day) that covers unlimited select alcohol, Wi-Fi and all gratuities. Book by March 31 to take advantage of this offer.
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