Wave season cruise deals 2025: Book early and save big on your next sailing
With summer just a few months away, it's time to start thinking about 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 have extended their wave season cruise deals into the second quarter of the year for passengers looking to get a jump on their vacation planning.
Wave season is the industry name for 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.
Aurora Expeditions
Through March 31, travelers can save on an ultimate adventure to Antarctica or the Arctic with Aurora Expeditions’ wave season offers. Save up to 20% on select 2025 and 2026 expeditions to Antarctica, plus receive an airfare credit of $2,000 per person. Enjoy up to 20% off an Arctic expedition in 2025, plus receive a free cabin upgrade on select Arctic voyages.
Solo travelers aren’t left out in the cold. The line is waiving single supplements on select 2025 and 2026 Antarctica expeditions and on select Arctic expeditions in 2025.
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. The offer is good through April 7 and is valid on sailings through May 10, 2027.
Celestyal Cruises
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, two-ship Greek cruise operator Celestyal is offering two-for-one fares on select sailings departing between April 2025 and March 2027. You can combine the line’s current Kids Go Free of Fare offer on select seven-night sailings (applies to passengers ages 2 to 11 in a quad occupancy cabin). Cruisers can also snag a free shore excursion with the purchase of two (excursions must be booked and prepaid before the promotion ends). Take advantage of these offers by May 31.
Costa Cruises
Through April 23, travelers can snag reduced fares on a Costa Cruises sailing. The line is celebrating its 77th anniversary with a Birthday Sale promotion. This offer applies to select Mediterranean sailings departing from June through November 2025.
Cunard
This year, fans of the luxury cruise line Cunard can receive free spending money with the line's “Treat yourself, on us” promotion.
Book now through March 26 and get up to $800 of onboard credit (per cabin) on select sailings of up to 20 nights. (Book the line's longest cruises and get even more credit to spend on the ship.) Book a premium Grills Suite, and you'll receive a free drinks package and prepaid service charges. This offer applies to select voyages between June 2025 and March 2027 on all ships in Cunard’s fleet.
Emerald Cruises
Take advantage of two-for-one fares on select 2025 luxury river sailings with Emerald Cruises' Spring into Savings promotion, which runs through March 31. Free airfare is also on the table for passengers who pay in full within 30 days of booking or 90 days prior to departure (whichever is sooner). You can also save up to $1,250 per suite on select river cruises.
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) is offering up to $4,000 off select all-inclusive sailings through 2027 with its See the World promotion. The offer applies to itineraries featuring destinations such as Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Greenland and the Arctic. This offer expires March 31.
Margaritaville at Sea
Whether you're a Jimmy Buffett fan or you just want a short, inexpensive getaway, Margaritaville at Sea provides a cheap and cheerful cruise experience from the Port of Palm Beach on Paradise or from Tampa on Islander.
During the line's limited-time Sip and Surf Flash Sale, you can enjoy five free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi for one device per booking — all on top of the line’s current "kids sail free" deal and 50% off all cruise fares promotion.
The Sip and Surf Flash Sale applies to sailings on the Margaritaville at Sea Islander through December 31, 2027, and Margaritaville at Sea Paradise through December 31, 2026. You must book by March 17 to take advantage of the offer. However, “kids sail free” and 50% off all cruise fare deals are available through March 31.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
With National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ Built for Awe promotion, cruisers can save up to 20% on a 2025 sailing. The offer is valid on select voyages and expires April 15.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Families can save on a bucket-list sailing in the South Pacific with Paul Gauguin Cruises. The line is offering kids ages 15 and under to cruise and fly for free with its Kids Sail and Fly Free promotion. The offer applies to select 2025 summer and holiday sailings. Book by April 25, and use the code “PGFAMILY” at the time of booking.
Princess Cruises
Want to save up to 50% on your next Princess Cruises sailing? Jump on the line’s Sail and Save promotion, which is available through April 1. In addition to the savings, you can score cabin upgrades and up to $500 onboard credit.
Families take note: This deal also includes free fares for third and fourth passengers (in the same cabin as first and second passengers). This deal applies to select voyages from July through December 2025.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Through April 30, Regent is offering suite upgrades or onboard credit with its Enhance Your Escape promotion. Passengers can enjoy a two-category suite upgrade or receive up to $2,000 (per suite) credit. The offer is available to residents of the U.S. and Canada, and applies to select voyages to Alaska, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic's Spring into Savings sales promo includes two-for-one fares on select 2025 river voyages. You can also save up to $1,750 per suite and receive free airfare when you pay in full based on suite category and destination. Solo travelers can also enjoy a waived single supplement fee on select itineraries (when you pay in full). This offer ends March 31.
Seabourn
Luxury line Seabourn’s A Sail Beyond Event includes complimentary two-category suite upgrades and up to $2,000 in onboard credit per suite when you book by April 30. The sale applies to select ocean voyages and expeditions.
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.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises, known for its high-end luxury offerings, is discounting select all-inclusive “door-to-door” and "port-to-port" prepaid, nonrefundable sailings by 15% for passengers who book by March 31. Additionally, guests can take advantage of savings of up to $4,500 per suite, plus a $1,000 shipboard credit.
The line's door-to-door and port-to-port fares include extras, such as butler service, free shore excursions and other perks.
Star Clippers
Sailing ship line Star Clippers is offering up to $250 in airfare credit (per person) and up to $250 in beverage credits (per cabin) when you book a sailing on any of the line’s three sailing vessels by March 31. The wave season promotion applies to select cabin categories and is only valid for residents of North America, Central America and South America.
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.
Shore Excursions Group
Wave season deals aren’t limited to cruise lines, as is the case with Shore Excursions Group, which specializes in smaller group shore excursions. Through March 31, travelers will get up to a 10% discount (on top of the up to 40% off the company already offers cruisers) on select shore excursions.
The special applies to single excursion bookings, as well as multiport packages (a bundle of excursions at two or more ports). Excursions are available at a variety of destinations throughout Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Australia, among others. Tours included in the deal are marked with a red ribbon that reads "special."
CruisesOnly
Through March 31, booking platform CruisesOnly is offering travelers special discounts and offers on select bookings with various premium and luxury cruise lines, including AmaWaterways, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Ponant Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and others.
Offers include cruise fare discounts, prepaid gratuities and onboard credit. Travelers can also earn 10 CruisesOnly Rewards points per dollar spent on their cruise booking. You can redeem the points for onboard credit, spa treatments, shore excursions and other perks.
Additionally, CruiseOnly promotions are combinable with current cruise line promotions.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.