Welcome to Wave Season—prime time to score the best cruise deals of 2023 and into 2024, whether you're a seasoned sailor or novice passenger. During wave season—which happens annually, usually from about January until March—cruise lines offer up their best deals, savings, and perks. And this year is no exception, with the world's best cruise operators offering deep discounts worth thousands of dollars, free upgrades for staterooms and suites, and onboard credits that can be spent however you wish.
Here are some of the best cruise deals 2023 has to offer.
All cruises featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
From now until March 31, 2023, Atlas Ocean Voyages is offering a free additional cruise when travelers buy two back-to-back voyages.
Additionally, the second guest in the party gets to sail free, the cruise deposit is cut in half, and guests are awarded up to $1,000 in air credit. To book, call your preferred travel advisor or an Atlas voyage specialist at 1-844-44-ATLAS (28527).
Aurora Expeditions
Save up to 20 percent on expeditions, including a 15-day voyage through Cape Verde, Canary Islands; a 24-day “odyssey” around the coast of Greenland; an 11-day circumnavigation of Iceland, and many more. To receive the discount on most itineraries, they need to be booked and deposited by February 28.
Avalon Waterways
Save up to $250 off per person, $500 per couple when you book select European river sailings for this year. The booking must be made, under deposit, and the discount will be applied between January 3, 2023, and February 28, 2023. Travelers can also score free round-trip economy airfare when they fly out of select cities such as Atlanta, Boston, and Philadelphia. The travel window for both offers last until December 31, 2023.
Azamara
Until January 31, save on Azamara cruise with its “Best Offer Yet.” Save up to 40 percent off of select staterooms and enjoy $300 credit to enjoy onboard. The offer is available for voyages that depart between February 28, 2023, and April 3, 2024.
Cunard
With Cunard's “Treat yourself, on us” sale, travelers who book by March 28, 2023, can receive an onboard credit of up to $2,000 per stateroom and 30 percent off of launch fares. The “Treat yourself, on us” sale event includes an elevated Conard experience where travelers can unwind onboard while traveling to Alaska, Australia, and Asia.
Celebrity Cruises
Available now through March 1, 2023, second guests get 75 percent off their cruise fare. Guests can also enjoy an additional $800 off per stateroom, and get up to $800 of cruise credit to spend on board. The offer is applicable on most cruises sailing now through April 30, 2025, such as Bermuda, New Zealand and Tahiti.
Celestyal Cruises
With its “Go Further, Get Closer” offer, Celestyal Cruises is giving up to 59 percent off select 2023 sailings booked through February 28, 2023. The deal applies to the line's “Iconic Aegean” winter and voyages with three-day and four-day itineraries. Enjoy an additional $80 discount for pre-booked shore excursions.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney is offering a special deal where guests can pay half of their required deposit on the day of booking and can pay the remaining balance at the time of the final payment. This offer is valid for select sailings booked through February 17, 2023. If you’re already thinking of a summer vacation, this offer is valid on any new reservation for select Disney cruises departing between June 2023, and May 2024, which does not require final payment at the time of booking.
Emerald Cruises
Emerald’s “Explore the Extraordinary” offer has been extended until March 31, 2023. Couples can save up to $1,000 on Southeast Asian or European river cruises. When guests pay in full within 72 hours of booking, they’ll be able to decide between one of the two bonus offers: free or reduced airfare or free premium drinks package.
Holland America
During Holland America's “Time of Your Life” offer, cruises booked during the 2023 and 2024 sailing seasons will receive a free stateroom upgrade, and up to 30 percent off cruise fares, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, and specialty dining. The offer lasts through February 28, 2023.
MSC Cruises
MSC wave deal includes massive savings on cruise fare with itineraries to the Bahamas, Mediterranean, and Saudi Arabia starting as low as $129. Savings don’t stop there, especially for your next family vacation: kids sail free. In addition to all the fare savings, travelers can enjoy a $200 ship credit to use on board. The offer starts on January 26, 2023, and ends January 31, 2023.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line continues to offer its 'Free at Sea' all-inclusive promotion with five offers you won’t want to miss. Valid for reservations with three or more nights, the 'Free at Sea' offer includes a free unlimited open bar, free specialty dining, free excursions, free WiFi, free airfare, and free cruise fare for the third and fourth guest in each given stateroom. This deal also includes up to 50 percent off of cruise fares as well as free airfare for a second guest when the full price is paid for one airline ticket.
Oceania Cruises
To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Oceania will be giving guests a special gift of up to $800 in ship credit to each stateroom or suite to use on board. The sale begins January 16, 2023, and ends February 28, 2023. Each 20th-anniversary sale fare features Oceania Cruises’ generous OLife Choice package, which includes a choice of either free shore excursions, a free house beverage package, or free Shipboard Credit in addition to the 20th Anniversary bonus shipboard credit of up to $800.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises' “Best Sale Ever” offers travelers up to 35 percent off cruise fares. While onboard, cruisers can enjoy $150 ship credit. When booking a seven-day cruise, travelers can enjoy up to 54 percent off the Princess Plus package, which includes a premiere beverage package, Wi-Fi for one device, crew appreciation, specialty desserts, fitness classes, and access to the juice bar. This deal runs until March 31, 2023.
Regent Seven Seas
For cruises booked through March 31, 2023, travelers with Regent can get a two-category suite upgrade. The offer, called “Upgrade Your Horizon,” is available on 337 voyages, including sailings through June 2025 to Africa, Alaska, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, and more. Enjoy up to 50 percent off deposits and up to an additional 20 percent off eligible sailing such as Athens, London, and Istanbul.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is offering a 30 percent discount to every passenger that books a cruise from now until January 31, 2023. On top of the 30 percent discount, kids sail free on bookings departing on or after February 1. Cruisers can also look forward $550 on staterooms booked between January 30 and January 31, 2023.
Scenic
Travelers booking with Scenic can save up to $1,500 per suite on more than 20 river cruise itineraries in Europe and up to $5,000 per couple off on more than 125 Scenic Eclipse departures. The promotion runs through March 31, 2023.
Seabourn
During Seabourn’s “Suite Life” event, guests can save up to up to 15 percent on Ocean voyages and up to 25 percent on Expedition voyages. Included itineraries are packed with visits to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, and the Arctic. An additional 15 percent will be deducted from initial deposit prices for select 2023 and 2024 sailings booked now through February 28, 2023.
Silversea
From now until February 28, 2023, Silversea’s port-to-port all-inclusive fare offer includes an extra savings of up to 20 percent off. This includes savings on voyages to The British Isles, Australia, and the Artic.
Uniworld
During “The Year to Remember Sales Event,” travelers can save up to $1,500 per person on a wide selection of all-inclusive, luxury river cruises to Normandy, Amsterdam, and Venice. Bookings must be made between December 19, 2022, and February 28, 2023.
Viking
Viking Cruises is offering travelers $25 off of deposits on it’s Trade Routes to Middle Ages, Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer, and a select few of their 2023, 2024, and 2025 River tours. Along with deposit savings, those who book the Trade Routes to Middle Ages voyage will save up to $999 on airfare for 2023 departures on the Eastern Seaboard Explorer.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is offering more savings for your plus one. The second guest included in the booking will get up to 60 percent off their fare. Plus, you'll get an additional $600 to go towards free drinks during your voyages. Be quick about booking, as this offer ends on January 31, 2023.
Windstar
During the “Seize Your Someday” deal, travelers get to choose between one free pre-or post-cruise Easy Stays hotel night, up to $1,000 Onboard Credit, or a free upgrade to an All-Inclusive Fare for Premium Suite guests, featuring Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine & cocktails and all gratuities during their next Windstar cruise if they book through February 28, 2023.