It’s the time for cruise deals. Here’s how to maximise your trip.
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Looking to save money on a getaway in 2025? You may want to hit the deck. The beginning of the year is generally the best time to book a cruise vacation, thanks to the promotions different cruise lines offer during what cruise veterans call wave season.
Those deals may be a little less exciting this year—the cruise industry is booming, and companies aren’t feeling pressure to discount—but there are still deals to be had. For the new-to-cruise, choosing the right sailing is no small feat. And the options go well beyond the Caribbean—everywhere from Alaska to the Mediterranean to Tierra del Fuego.
Factors like trip length and the ship’s age can make the difference between feeling like you got your money’s worth and wasting away at sea. The wave season, roughly between Christmas and early March, is when cruise lines traditionally have marketed the biggest bargains on upcoming voyages. This year, the deals look a bit different, industry analysts say.
The post-Covid surge in cruise bookings has shown no signs of abating. Cruises continue to sell out, and people are booking their cabins further in advance, says Tanner Callais, founder of travel website Cruzely.com. In late December, Carnival Corp.
CEO Josh Weinstein said all of the company’s brands were already nearly two-thirds booked for 2025. “Get used to paying more," Callais warns. Still, wave season is the best time to snag deals, even if they’re not as eye-popping as in previous years.
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