For savings-savvy cruisers in search of great value, welcome to "wave season" 2015. Like clockwork, when the new year rolls around, the cruise industry's incentive-packed annual sales blitz known as wave season kicks in, as cruise lines compete to curry customers' favor and kickstart the year's sales. Look for a bevy of great cruise deals running from January through March -- offering reduced rates, onboard credits, free upgrades, and plenty of other perks. Here are our top five picks.
Norwegian Cruise Line
The Deal: Norwegian Cruise Line is touting its "best offer yet" for wave season, with their Freestyle Choice promotion. Guests who book a stateroom category of ocean-view or higher, on a sailing that's five days or longer, can choose from up to three perks (based on cruise destination and cabin category): a free Ultimate Dining Package (for complimentary dining at shipboard specialty restaurants), Ultimate Beverage Package (including onboard wine, beer, and cocktails), or up to $300 in onboard credit (valid for excursions, spa treatments, and more).
Book It: Deal ends January 31.
MSC Cruises
The Deal: MSC Cruises is running its "greatest cruise sale ever," a wave season promotion that includes up to $200 in shipboard credit, comped beverage packages (when booking their Fantastica Experience fare category), and reduced deposits. Plus, kids ages 11 and under sail for free. Nab the value-added perks when reserving an ocean-view or balcony stateroom on sailings of five days or longer to the Caribbean and Europe; fares start from just $299 per person.
Book It: Deal ends February 15.
Royal Caribbean
The Deal: Buy one fare and get the second one at half price (for two guests sharing a stateroom), courtesy of Royal Caribbean's Vow to Wow sale. Plus, guests get up to $200 in onboard spending credit (per stateroom) to boot.
Book It: Deal ends January 31.
Celebrity Cruises
The Deal: Celebrity's 1-2-3 Go! promo boasts incentives like a beverage package for two, free gratuities (for two), and/or an onboard credit of up to $300 per stateroom. You'll get to choose one of the three perks when booking an ocean-view or veranda stateroom, two when you cruise to Europe, and all three when booking a Concierge Class stateroom or higher (for sailings of three nights or longer that embark after April 1, 2015).
Book It: Deal ends February 28.
Carnival
The Deal: Nab one of Carnival's Early Saver Event deals for special early-booking rates (like a 4-day Western Caribbean sailing from Key West from $169 per person in November), along with complimentary upgrades and reduced deposits (50 percent less than the norm). Promotional fares are available for departures between April and December of this year.
Book It: Deal ends January 18.
