But even just keeping track of all the available offers can feel like an insurmountable task, let alone combing through for the ideal discounts. One of the easiest ways of keeping tabs on new offers is subscribing to cruise lines’ email alerts. “To make it more manageable, travelers should only sign up to email offers from the cruise lines that appeal to them, and skip ones that aren’t the right fit,” Schattauer says. She recommends travelers even create a separate email account just for cruise offers to keep the potential deals sorted away from other inbox clutter. That way, travelers can open their specific wave season account and start narrowing down the best options.
How to understand whether the deal is worth it
The actual work of comparing cruise offers might sound easier than it is in reality. With lines offering a wide array of perks, upgrades, and fare discounts, how can travelers find the most valuable deal? “The best way to compare deals is to look at the total cost, as well as extra perks that are included,” says Schattauer. “Cruise travelers should keep track of pricing, so that they can book when they see a price decrease.”
While it’s easy to see the value of straightforward cheaper fares, those types of wave season savings are becoming less common. “More likely are cruise line extras that are included with the price during wave season,” says Schattauer. “Extras like drink packages, pre-paid gratuities, and onboard cash credits make cruises cheaper and can save hundreds of dollars.” She recommends breaking up the cruise itinerary into a price per day that factors in these extras—but you should only calculate the value of perks you’ll actually use.
Travelers can find a wide range of these free perks across lines, depending on what type of cruisers the company is aiming to target. “When we’re traveling with our kids, we love to see deals that include ‘kids sail free’ [offers],” says Ramnarine. “Typically, Royal Caribbean or MSC offer that. When we are just sailing alone as a couple, we’d love to see that Virgin Voyages includes a bar tab for the number of days that we are sailing—and throw in Wi-Fi.”
Be open to discounts in unconventional places, too: The biggest savings might come where you wouldn’t expect them. “More often, non-refundable deposits offer the best values to clients with substantial savings,” says Tom Baker, a travel specialist with CruiseCenter. That’s because with these stricter fares, lines can lock in cruisers and reduce cancellations, according to Baker. “The fare differences can be several hundred to thousands of dollars.”
