Wave Season: 7-night Alaskan cruise from $292 & more cruise deals!

It’s that time of the New Year when cruise lines publish their lowest rates, or so they say. Don’t feel pressured to buy during this promotional Wave Season. There will be many more opportunities to save when the time is right for you to commit to choosing and paying for your voyage.

To land the best cruise rates, we strongly recommend planning your trip with an experienced travel advisor. He or she has established relationships with cruise lines and can even negotiate upgrades and or additional perks for you. Plus, their services are often free, since they earn a commission directly from the cruise line.Ask family, friends and coworkers for recommendations or find an agent at Cruising.org.

We want to share a trio of deals that caught our attention during Wave Season. A one-week Alaskan cruise for $292? Let’s have a look.

I followed that amazingly good offer on a Celebrity Cruise in Alaska. The per person rate was $292 so I had to go through a sample booking to see if this advertised rate was real since the brochure rate was $1,312 per person. It’s a 7-night 1 one-way sailing on May 31, 2024 aboard Celebrity Summit (8 other sail dates). The ship calls at 6 Alaskan ports. Yes, the rate per person for an inside cabin is $292. Taxes, fees and port expenses are $383.88 — without airfare, drinks, Wi-Fi or other perks.

If you’d like the extras such as drinks, specialty dining and more, add about $790 per person (doesn’t include tipping) and the $383.88 for tax & fees. Other Celebrity cruises start at just $198 per person during the company’s flash sale!

(Editor’s note: This rate was available at last check on February 6.)

A small-ship luxury line Oceania Cruises is famous for its onboard culinary programming and elegant ambiance. The line’s New Year Sale runs through February 9 with savings of up to 50% off per stateroom on dozens of sailings through 2025. The line’s value-packed simply MORE offer includes two-for-one cruise fares, complimentary airfare, shore excursion credits, unlimited Wi-Fi, gourmet specialty dining and champagne and wine.

I chose as an example the Oceania Vista sailing from Trieste, Italy to Athens on an 11-day voyage from June 1-12. Ports on the Adriatic & Aegean Medley include Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey and Greece.

Staterooms are quite swanky with 1,000-thread count linens, complimentary soft drinks, still and sparkling water replenished daily in your refrigerated mini-bar, a private teak veranda, Bulgari amenities, room service menu 24 hours a day and twice-daily maid service, oversized rainforest shower, Belgian chocolates with turndown service, on-demand movies, Wi-Fi and cell service, writing desk and stationery, robes and slippers and more.

When doing a sample booking I stayed with what was included — nothing more — no pre- or post-hotel stays, fancy transfers. But I added the optional round-trip airfare from/to ATL. The rate for two persons is $7,598. The cruise-only rate for two adults is $4,598.

Holland America has the “Time of Your Life” promo running through February 29 with up to 40% off fares, free stateroom upgrades, free and reduced fares for kids, a 50% reduced deposit and up to $400 onboard credit.

For variety, I chose to sample book an 11-day Eastern Caribbean Wayfarer itinerary aboard Holland’s Eurodam, November 27-December 8 (Thanksgiving is November 28). The ship departs and returns to Ft. Lauderdale and calls at these lovely islands:

• St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
• Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis
• Roseau, Dominica
• Castries, Saint Lucia
• St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda
• Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
• Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

The Have It All premium cruise package includes:

• Specialty fine dining
• Two shore excursions
• Beverages — all types up to $11
• Wi-Fi
• and depending on when you book you may see:
• 50% reduced deposit
• Free kids’ fares (guests 3 & 4)
• $300 onboard credit per stateroom