The Ideal Time to Book a Cruise for Maximum Savings

You've finally chosen the cruise of your dreams—perhaps a winter adventure to Norway to witness the northern lights, or maybe you're excited about sailing through the Galápagos to encounter the islands' uniquely curious wildlife—but now the question arises: when should you make your reservation? Is it wiser to book well in advance, or might waiting provide a better opportunity for deals?

We consulted with cruise travel advisors to gain insights on the optimal timing for booking a cruise. Here's what they had to share.

What is the best time to reserve a cruise?

Although there isn't a universally wrong time to book a cruise, there are specific periods where travelers can take advantage of discounts and special promotions.

Apart from major holiday sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Labor Day that may feature flash deals, January and February are excellent months to book a cruise. These first two months are known as “wave season” in the cruise industry, a time when companies aim to fill their ships for the year ahead.

“Wave season is the period when cruise lines roll out amazing promotions to fill as much unsold inventory as possible for the year,” says Jeremy Hall, a travel advisor at Cruise Vacations International.

These promotions may encompass complimentary stateroom upgrades, significantly lowered cruise fares, reduced deposit fees, free trips for children, included airfare, and discounted beverage packages, among other enticing offers.

Top wave season cruise deals for 2024

AmaWaterways: Travelers on river cruises can enjoy savings of up to $2,000 per stateroom and earn $50 in onboard credit for select 7- to 11-night European river sailings in July and August 2024. This includes a 7-night Colors of Provence cruise, a wine-themed Burgundy voyage, and a Rhine castles and Swiss Alps cruise. For 14-night European river cruises, such as the Grand Danube journey during the same timeframe, guests can save $4,000 per stateroom and receive $100 in onboard credit.

Aurora Expeditions: The environmentally conscious expedition company Aurora Expeditions is presenting a range of discounts on journeys to the Arctic and Antarctic for 2024 and 2025. This includes up to 25 percent off select itineraries and air credit on others. These offers are valid for bookings made by March 31, 2024. Here’s our latest review of an Arctic sailing with Aurora.

Azamara: Travelers can enjoy savings of up to $2,000 per stateroom on select sailings in 2024 when booked by March 21.

Celebrity Cruises: Until February 1, guests can receive a 75 percent discount on the cruise fare for a second guest (applicable to nonrefundable cruises; otherwise, it's a 50 percent discount) for sailings from now until April 30, 2026.

Cruise Croatia: Passengers can take advantage of discounts up to 30 percent on over 25 departures along the Dalmatian Coast from May to October for bookings made by January 31.

Crystal Cruises: The newly relaunched luxury line Crystal is providing complimentary suite upgrades on select sailings in 2024 for bookings made before the end of January.

Emerald Cruises: This luxurious river cruise line offers significant savings, including two-for-one fares and discounts of up to $3,750 per suite on select river sailings in Europe and Southeast Asia. Reservations must be completed by March 31.

Explora Journeys: With the newly launched cruise line Explora Journeys, guests can enjoy savings of up to 40 percent when booking either an Ocean Terrace Suite or an Ocean Grand Terrace Suite for sailings on Explora I (we were among the first to experience this brand-new vessel, which aims to attract non-cruisers) and Explora II by January 31. This deal is valid for sailings through April 2026, with options including the 44-night A Grand Journey Connecting Continents and the 10-night A Celestial Caribbean and Creole Soul.

Holland America Line: Cruisers can enjoy discounts of up to 40 percent on bookings made before February 29. Additional offers include up to $500 per stateroom for onboard spending (depending on the length of the cruise), free fares for children, and stateroom upgrades.

Hurtigruten: Until the end of March, travelers can receive up to $4,000 off select voyages within Norway.

HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions): For select bookings made by March 31, 2024, for departures between March 29, 2024, and March 29, 2025, HX is providing flight credits of up to $2,000.

Lindblad Expeditions: Until March 31, travelers can enjoy savings of up to $2,000 on cabin fares and discounts of up to 40 percent on solo cabins. Here’s a glimpse of what recently sailing around Svalbard with Lindblad involved.

MSC Cruises: As one of the largest cruise lines globally, MSC is kicking off the new year with a sale. Guests who book during wave season will also receive Wi-Fi for up to two devices per stateroom and up to $400 in onboard credit. Plus, kids can sail for free. This offer applies to sailings in the Caribbean and North America, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Southern Caribbean through winter 2025.

Oceania Cruises: On these culinary-focused voyages, you can receive discounts of up to 50 percent per stateroom on 112 sailings scheduled for 2024 and 2025 if you make your reservation before the end of February.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Until February 29, the ultra-luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas is running an Upgrade Your Horizon promotion, which offers guests a complimentary two-category suite upgrade (up to a Penthouse Suite) on select sailings through June 2026. Last November, Regent introduced the latest in luxury cruising: the 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Grandeur, featuring marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and unique art pieces.

Scenic Luxury Cruises: For Scenic’s river cruises, those who make reservations by March 31 can receive discounts of up to $4,250 off per suite, a deal that can be combined with Scenic’s 2-for-1 fares on 31 departures in 2024. For ocean voyages, including expedition cruises to Antarctica, Greenland, and Australia’s Kimberley region, guests can enjoy 2-for-1 fares and an additional savings of up to $13,000 per suite on over 60 sailings in 2024 and 2025.

Seabourn: For both ocean and expedition voyages booked by January 31, guests aboard Seabourn’s ultra-luxurious cruise ships can save up to 25 percent on fares and earn up to $1,000 in onboard credit per stateroom. This could be the perfect opportunity to book Seabourn’s incredible 90-day Africa itinerary, which includes stops at 44 ports across 26 countries as it navigates around the continent.

Sea Cloud Cruises: For select sailings reserved before February 29, passengers can save 25 percent on their fare and receive $500 in onboard credits.

Silversea Cruises: The luxury line Silversea is providing savings of $4,000 per suite on all-inclusive door-to-door fares (which include pre- and post-cruise private transfers and airfare) or $2,000 per suite on all-inclusive port-to-port fares for bookings made by February 29.

Star Clippers: For select voyages aboard the Star Clipper or Star Flyer, guests can enjoy $240 in air credits per person along with $200 in onboard credits per cabin. These offers are valid for reservations made by March 31.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Guests can save as much as $3,000 when booking both cruise and airfare together on select itineraries for 2024 with this luxury boutique line. This promotion is available for new reservations made through January 31 for travel in 2024.

Viking: Viking is offering exclusive fares with a low $25 deposit on new bookings for its river, ocean, and expedition cruises through January 31. Selected voyages also include complimentary airfare.

Virgin Voyages: Until January 31, travelers can receive a 70 percent discount on the second guest's fare. Additionally, they can save up to $600 on their bar tab, based on the duration of the cruise. Virgin Voyages, which recently launched its latest ship, the 2,770-passenger Resilient Lady, promotes itself as the ideal cruise line for those who aren't fond of traditional cruising. Here’s our perspective.

Windstar Cruises: By booking a Windstar cruise before February 29, you can select an extra benefit, which may include a complimentary night in a hotel (before or after your cruise) or up to $1,000 in onboard credits. Guests reserving a premium suite can opt for an all-inclusive fare that covers alcohol, Wi-Fi, and tips. Our recommendation? Experience sailing in the Mediterranean with Windstar this winter, when the crowds are fewer and the heat is more bearable.

How early should you make cruise reservations? Is it more beneficial to book ahead?

For travelers who prioritize specific destinations or ensuring they secure preferred accommodations, a different strategy for booking might be necessary. Cruise lines typically begin accepting reservations up to two years in advance. While this may seem like ample time to consider your options, William Kiburz, a travel advisor at Coronet Travel, emphasizes that booking sooner is advantageous, particularly for expedition-style cruises or trips to Alaska, which frequently sell out well over a year in advance.

According to Samantha Robichaud, a travel advisor and owner of Fabulous Adventures Travel Company, booking in advance also allows travelers greater flexibility in selecting travel dates, stateroom options, preferred dining reservations, and shore excursions.

Todd Smith, the owner of AdventureSmith Explorations, emphasizes that for those interested in an expedition cruise, typically on a smaller vessel, booking early is crucial.

According to Smith, "Last-minute bookings mean you’ll only find what’s left rather than the ideal trip, ship, cabin, and program that suits you best."

Another advantage of booking early is that cabin rates are usually more affordable. Jeremy Hall states, "Cruise prices generally increase as the departure date approaches. Even if a new promotion appears for a cruise you booked six months prior, you likely secured a better deal since fares typically rise before such promotions are announced."

Guests who book ahead often receive additional benefits. For instance, Holland America Line provides an early booking bonus, granting access to all features of their standard 'Have It All' package. This includes shore excursion and specialty dining credits, included gratuities, a price guarantee, as well as upgrades to premium Wi-Fi and an elite beverage package that encompasses all premium spirits, beers, and wines.

Can you find last-minute cruise bargains?

For travelers prioritizing cost over specific accommodations, waiting until closer to the departure date might allow them to snag last-minute deals. However, this approach carries risks, such as the possibility of the ship selling out, and last-minute flight prices to the port may also be higher.

To discover discounts, travelers should subscribe to email newsletters from various cruise lines, as these companies frequently announce flash sales. Additionally, checking the cruise line websites can be beneficial—some, like Holland America, feature dedicated sections for last-minute offers.

Hall mentions that his company typically observes a higher frequency of last-minute offers for river cruises compared to ocean cruises. He adds that these last-minute deals often include extra amenities or waived single supplements.

Can a travel advisor help me secure a better deal?

"There are numerous strategies to score a great cruise deal, and no one is more knowledgeable than an experienced travel advisor," states Hall. "With the myriad of promotions, amenities, loyalty programs, and pricing structures available today, finding the best deal can be overwhelming. Your travel advisor will expertly narrow down the options to help you find the perfect cruise and deal."

Robichaud concurs, stating that travel advisors can utilize their connections with cruise lines to secure discounted rates or complimentary extras. Smith adds that agencies with high booking volumes often receive free upgrades for their clients as an incentive from cruise lines aiming to cultivate a loyal network of travel advisors.

Are there optimal times for families or groups to book a cruise?

Only specific ships and expeditions provide accommodations spacious enough for three or four guests, so families and groups wanting to stay in the same cabin should reserve as soon as possible, as availability may be limited.

As Robichaud highlights, cabins that can host more guests typically fill up quickly during holidays and school breaks; thus, if travelers have a particular sailing in mind, early booking is crucial.

Judy Perl, president of Judy Perl Travel, notes that for parents planning trips around school schedules, spring break is often the most affordable time for cruising, while summer break offers a wider variety of destinations. She points out that the winter holiday season is generally much pricier.

How to place a bid for a cabin upgrade

Similar to how some airlines allow passengers to bid for an upgrade to business or first class, numerous cruise lines provide guests the chance to bid on upgraded staterooms.

1. Several cruise lines will reach out to confirmed guests before their journey, presenting them with the option to bid on a higher-tier cabin at a significant discount.
2. Travelers propose a price they are willing to pay for the upgrade.
3. If the cruise line accepts the bid, guests will be charged the proposed amount and will receive a revised booking confirmation with their new room information.

Robichaud shares her recent experience aboard a Virgin Voyages cruise where she originally booked a Sea Terrace stateroom but successfully upgraded to a Mega RockStar suite, which includes daily access to the spa, an all-inclusive in-room bar, a dedicated butler, and entry to an exclusive sundeck. Additionally, many cruise lines feature specific web pages allowing guests to place bids for upgrades.

Keep in mind that when you bid for an upgrade online, your bid cannot be canceled once it is accepted (though you can modify or cancel your offer before it is accepted).

You can also request upgrades after boarding the ship. Perl advises those interested in a more spacious room to visit the purser’s office and ask about any cancellations or no-shows. “Once the ship has departed, it typically is no longer under the revenue management policies of headquarters,” Perl notes. “The ship can set its own prices to optimize revenue based on the inventory available.”

What cruise add-ons are truly worthwhile?

Add-ons like beverage packages, onboard credit, internet access, laundry services, and included gratuities only hold value if you plan to utilize them. For someone who enjoys just one glass of wine a day or prefers to unplug during vacation, an unlimited drinks package or premium Wi-Fi may not be beneficial. It’s essential to assess the worth of these items for your personal preferences and purchase accordingly.

This article was initially published in March 2023 and was revised on January 12, 2024, to reflect the latest information.