See the whales up close in Baja or the glaciers calve in Alaska. Explore Tahiti or Japan, maybe Norway’s fjords. Kick back in the Caribbean.
It’s the cruise industry’s WAVE season, which means the best deals are available from now until March, whether you are looking for an adventure on an expedition ship, a trip with the kids on a megaship with giant water slides and kids and teen programs or whether you want to cruise soon, next summer, or even next year.
CruiseCritic.com, which updates wave season cruise deals throughout deals season, notes that there are perks, upgrades and enticing deals to encourage cruisers to book—everything from deeply discounted deposits, free flights, cabin upgrades to complimentary Wi-Fi and drinks packages, to low nightly cruise fares.
Cruises are especially popular for multi-generational groups. There are activities for all ages—even toddlers. There is food to suit every taste and dietary preference and everyone—or grandparents, if they are footing the bill—knows up front what they’re spending (mostly).
Another plus: You can save money and hassles in many cases by driving to the port. Carnival Cruise Line, which historically carries more children than any other line and boasts more domestic ports, notes that half of the country lives within five hours of a port. Carnival’s newest ship, Venezia, will set sail in June with year-round trips from New York City. Meanwhile, you might be able to find a deal that is less than $100 a day per person. Watch for the new Turtle and Dr. Seuss programs for the littlest cruisers!
If you’ve always wanted to get your gang out of their collective comfort zone to explore nature, consider UnCruise with ships that carry just 22 to 86 people (charter one for your extended family). The all-inclusive itineraries are flexible whether you are in Belize, Alaska, or the Sea of Cortez where you can hike, kayak, paddleboard and take off on excursions in the wilderness with expert guides. Save $1,000 per cabin ($500 per person double occupancy) on select Alaska Awakening featured departures April 7 through May 13, 2023, and if you book the Baja California’s Whales & Sealife 2023 departure by Feb. 5, you receive one complimentary pre-night hotel in San Jose del Cabo.
