When is the best time to book a cruise?

Companies like Norwegian Cruise Line regularly send out newsletters with early access promotions - Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group Editorial

Locking in a cruise at the right time can save holidaymakers significant amounts off the final price – but the devil is in the details of the deal.

Get the seasonality wrong, and you can end up being disappointed by the weather or paying above the odds. You might find a brilliant bargain on your cabin, but you may arrive to discover it’s beneath the pool deck (scraping loungers and constant chatter aren’t much fun).

Here’s everything you need to know about getting the best deal.

The early bird catches the worm

Most cruise lines recommend booking at least one or two years in advance to secure your preferred accommodation – particularly if you need interconnecting cabins, an accessible room or are travelling as a large group.

Book early, and you’ll have the full run of cabin categories, rather than choosing from whatever is left over after the early planners have had their pick.

Princess’s price-drop policy will honour a lower fare before final payment, due 90 days before departure

What’s more, if the price drops before the final payment due date, most cruise lines will honour the lower rate, so you get the peace of mind of a confirmed booking without the risk of paying over the odds. However, do make sure you check the specific price-drop policy when you book, as rules vary between lines.

Don’t overlook wave season

Think of wave season, which traditionally runs from January to March, as the cruise industry’s answer to the January sales. Wave season is when cruise lines offer their best promotions of the year – expect everything from discounted sailings to complimentary on-board credit.

If you book a European cruise with AmaWaterways before the end of March, you can save up to £1,000pp

Those looking for European cruises, for example, can save up to £1,000pp (and nab free flights) with AmaWaterways throughout 2026 and 2027, provided you book by the end of March.

Meanwhile, Holland America Line’s wave promotion applies to more than 500 cruises departing between summer 2026 and spring 2027, with up to 30 per cent off fares, reduced deposits, free balcony upgrades and kids going without charge.

Set sail during the off-season

If you have children, then chances are you’re tied to the school holidays (unless you’re willing to risk a fine). For everyone else, the cheapest time to cruise is during term time. This means you’ll find lower prices on cruises departing from mid-September to December and from January to March.

Those travelling without children can benefit from lower prices outside of the school holidays

Consider sailing during off-season, too, but keep in mind that “off-season” also varies by destination. In the Caribbean, for example, this runs from June through November and coincides with hurricane season, so while you will get great deals, there’s also the chance that ports may be swapped out. 

Similarly, the Alaska cruise season runs from the end of April to early October. You’ll pay less to sail outside of this period, as the bears and whales – highlights of a holiday in this region – are most active during high summer.

The two to three months out sweet spot

Prices can start to drop again between eight to 12 weeks before a cruise is due to set sail – particularly on bigger ships. This is because it’s around this point that final deposit payments are due, and many people drop out due to cash flow or illness, thereby adding their cabins back into the inventory.

When people begin to drop out around two months before a trip, companies like Royal Caribbean Group shift unsold cabins and drop prices to fill them - sbw-photo

In order to shift these unsold cabins, major lines, such as Royal Caribbean, can often drop prices by several hundred pounds or reprice balcony cabins to match earlier inside fares.

There’s absolutely no guarantee of this on your chosen ship, however, so this strategy is a gamble.

Leave it to the last minute

When it comes to last-minute deals, cruises can offer some real bargains. Think of it this way: unlike a hotel on land that may get last-minute bookings or walk-in restaurant spend, once a ship has left harbour, its rooms remain empty, and all that additional on-board revenue is lost too.

Last-minute bookers may miss out on popular cabin types but the savings can be worth it

It therefore makes financial sense for many cruise lines to fill the rooms no matter what as the sailing date approaches. According to Royal Caribbean, once its Christmas rush is over, demand drops significantly, and cruises in January and early February often make for the best last-minute deals. The only catch is that popular cabin categories will likely already be gone.

Stay organised

There’s another way to stay on top of when the best deals pop up, and that’s to make sure you’re signed up to email alerts from your favourite or preferred cruise lines and agents.

Regular updates via the likes of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes mail-out, or cruise specialist Panache, ensure early access to promotions. And, of course, it pays to be part of a cruise line’s loyalty programme, such as Silversea’s Venetian Society, which offers pre-sale access to new itineraries, among other perks.

Loyalty programmes, such as Silversea’s Venetian Society, can offer good value to frequent cruisers - Fiippo Vinardi

Similarly, Disney’s Pearl loyalty tier (reached upon completion of 25 sailings) gets you access to cruises a full four days before the public and one day before the next tier down, so the advantages do add up.

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Use a travel agent

Booking a cruise is complicated, and a good specialist agent such as Mundy Cruising or Imagine Cruising earns their keep in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

Their service is usually free – agents are paid commission by the cruise lines – so you’re getting genuine expertise on cabin pros and cons, cancellation policies and the best times to book at no cost. A friend once booked what seemed like a brilliant deal on a Disney veranda cabin, only to discover it was opposite the ship’s laundry room. An agent would have flagged it. 

Many agents who belong to industry consortia can unlock group rates unavailable to the public, fight your corner if something goes wrong, and handle repricing if fares drop.

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About our expert

Sarah Keenlyside

A travel industry veteran, Sarah discovered her sea legs after almost two decades specialising in shore excursions for adventurous sea-goers in Asia. She’s now a convert to the “unpack once” lifestyle and the luxury of visiting different destinations on cruises.

Telegraph Travel’s cruise expert, Sarah Keenlyside

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