The holidays, along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, are over. But for cruisers, the Wave season has just begun. As holiday travel ends, cruise sales begin and last until the end of March.
According to Carmen Roig, Princess Cruises VP of Sales, “Wave season is a time when most cruise lines in the industry offer their biggest discounts and promotions, essentially creating a “wave” of deals to entice travelers to book their trips, making it the most affordable time to secure a cruise with potential perks like onboard credits or reduced deposits.”
If a 2025 Christmas cruise is being planned, now is the right time to book, as the rates are low, and the availability is high. If you wait for a last-minute deal, at the end of the year, chances are stateroom choices will be limited to inside cabins, as well as more popular sections of the ship.
When shopping for holiday cruises, it’s only natural to think about warm weather escapes from frigid temperatures. The idea of swapping snow for sand can still fulfill your need for a white Christmas, with a different kind of shovel. When asked about popular holiday cruise destinations, Roig stated that the Caribbean was very popular in 2024 and they expect 10 ships, including the new Sun Princess, to be active in the region in 2025.
Princess also offers theme park bundles so families, sailing out of Port Canaveral, can visit Orlando’s popular destinations as part of a package. And don’t stop at 2025, itineraries are already booked for 2026 and 2027 with these early months of the year offering the best deals.
(Carmen Roig, Vice President of Sales for Princess Cruises)
Hawaii is another favorite itinerary. As Roig stated, “It can be expensive and complicated to visit various islands, and the flights are long from much of the U.S. On a cruise, you can easily fly to L.A., San Francisco, or Vancouver to board one of the five Princess ships sailing to HI this year and then visit multiple islands all without packing and unpacking or taking multiple flights.”
Currently, Princess is sailing five ships to Hawaii and the South Pacific, including the following itineraries: 16-day Hawaiian Islands roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver; 32-day South Pacific Islands and Hawaii cruises from LA; and 54-day South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand voyage, roundtrip from LA, visiting 16 islands, including Fiji, Samoa, Tasmania, and Australia.
Roig also talked about Hawaii’s reputation as a romantic choice for holiday travel and Princess Cruises’ fame as the “Love Boat” line, enhancing couples’ experience. Many weddings have taken place on Princess ships, making for a stress-free opportunity for family and friends to let Princess handle all the ceremony and reception details.
When asked what separates Princess Cruises from other Hawaii cruise carrier choices, Roig listed Princess’ signature MedallionClass experience. A personalized medallion is provided, which can be worn on a lanyard, clip, watchband or other accessories. This feature allows entry into the stateroom and pays for drinks, specialty restaurants or shopping onboard the ship. It can also track your whereabouts if you find a particularly cozy spot on the ship and want to order a snack.
The OceanNow feature allows passengers to order food or drink on the Princess App and have them delivered anywhere on the ship. It’s like ordering Room Service, but you don’t have to be in your room.
Inclusive packages are also offered, like Princess Plus and Princess Premier. Depending on which you choose, these can include WiFi, drinks, crew appreciation, specialty meals, photo packages, fitness classes, and more.
So, if you are considering an end-of-the-year holiday cruise or planning to book in 2026 or 2027, taking advantage of these next couple of months will save a lot in terms of price and availability. You might be stuck waving these rates goodbye if you wait.
