What is ‘Wave’ Anyway and How Can it Save You Hundreds on Your Next Cruise?

Just as the high street stores will be flooded with a sea of red stickers come Boxing Day, cruising has its very own January sales situation. We call it ‘Wave’ – a pretty apt name for a cruise sales campaign, right?  – and it can save you hundreds of pounds on your next voyage.

Wave season usually runs from January to March but a handful of operators have already begun their special promotions. Here are three ways they can help you save money on your next booking, plus details on some of the best cruise deals around.

LOW DEPOSITS

It’s the ultimate January conundrum; the skies are grey, you need a holiday after the Christmas chaos, but the festive season has left your wallet emptier than the turkey freezer in your local Tesco on Christmas Eve. Low deposits are the answer. During Wave, P&O Cruises are offering a low deposit of just 5% on cruises of 35 nights or under, meaning you can book your 2018/19 holiday from as little as £40 when you book by 5 March 2018. Find our P&O Cruises 2019 deals here. 

Princess Cruises are also inviting you to book with just 5% deposit, with fares from £499pp!

Low deposits are great if you are booking in advance too, giving you plenty of time to spread the cost of your 2019 holiday without missing out on the cabin you really want. Booking well in advance doesn’t just guarantee your preferences – around 35% of all ships’ capacity is filled during Wave – but also means you can take advantage of some of the cheapest fares and early booking benefits.

REAP THE REWARDS

Speaking of booking benefits, saving money on your holiday during Wave goes way beyond simply bagging a cheaper fare. Getting more bang for your buck means taking into consideration the incentives cruise lines offer aside from lower fares. Fred Olsen and Seabourn are both offering free shore excursion credit, while Royal Caribbean are covering your gratuities, two incentives that could save you some serious cash. Similarly, free airfare deals from the likes of Seabourn and river favourite, APT, could also save you hundreds of pounds.

Another hugely popular way to save on your next cruise is to take advantage of free on-board spending money. Many of the world’s leading cruise lines attract guests with the promise of some free spends, from P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Fred Olsen, Holland America Line, Silversea and Norwegian Cruise Lines. What’s more, you’ll also qualify for Bolsover Cruise Club’s EXCLUSIVE Cruise Club Cashback on certain holidays with selected operators.

BAG A FREE UPGRADE

The free upgrade is the holy grail of travel but getting one isn’t easy. Rather than waiting for the email that says you’re one of the fortunate few selected for an upgrade, or paying out for a higher cabin grade in the first place, you can get ahead of the game when you book with Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas Cruises during Wave. Both luxury cruise lines are offering complimentary accommodation upgrades for a limited time as part of their Wave promotions.

BUY-ONE-GET-ONE HALF PRICE

While cruise deals come and go all year round, Wave sees the cruise lines unleash the serious savings on cruise fares. If you have toyed with the idea of booking a river cruise, APT’s offer of savings worth up to £1000 per couple is unmissable. A 50% saving on cruise fares for the second passenger travelling can also save you hundreds. Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International are both offering 50% off second passengers, so check out their cruise deals if you’re looking for contemporary cruising and family fun.