The annual cruise sale blitz is here. Consumers who are in-the-know tend to book cruises during cold winter months, when cruise lines and travel agents launch a bunch of "Wave Season" promotions - bringing price reductions and creative value-added savings.
Their goal is getting reservations on the books for the rest of the year. Your goal is to find the Best Offer offers. The promotions run in January and February, and in some cases through March. To get started wading through "Wave Season", check out these deals.
Choose a free shore excursion at each port on Mediterranean sailings with the "On Shore On Us" promotion. The savings is up to $2,000 per couple. Book by January 31. The offer covers select 2014 spring, summer and fall cruises. Sample: 7-day Athens to Rome (on Azamara Journey, May 12, from $2,399 per person.
Royal Caribbean: The "WOW" promotion brings shipboard credit on select 2014 Caribbean cruises of six nights or longer, embarking between March and December. You get $75 per stateroom for an ocean-view stateroom, $150 for a balcony, or $300 for a suite - to spend however you like onboard. Excluded from the offer are sailings on the soon-to-debut Quantum of the Seas. Royal is also offering up to $400 in shipboard credit for Europe cruises. Booking deadline is February 28. Sample: 7-day Western Caribbean on Allure of the Seas, Nov. 2, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, from $929 for a balcony cabin.
The "New Year, New Memories" promotion applies to select Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexican Riviera cruises. Save up to $400 per stateroom on sailings of six days or longer, up to $200 on short sailings. Free cabin upgrades also available. Book in January. Sample: Balcony cabin, 7-day Eastern Caribbean on Carnival Dream, round-trip from Port Canaveral, from $749 for a balcony cabin.
With the "3 for Free Sales Event" receive up to $280 in perks including a shore excursion credit of up to $200 per stateroom in Europe (up to $100 in Alaska and the Caribbean), a famed 8 x 10 keepsake photo and a bottle of wine. Booking deadline is February 28. Sample: 7-day Alaska sailing, May 18, round-trip from Seattle on the Grand Princess, from $598.
Get a complimentary upgrade to a veranda suite, up to 15% savings if you combine two or more consecutive sailings and up to $1,000 per suite in shipboard credit for premium suites. The "Signature Savings Event" offer applies to select cruises in many destinations. Sample: 11-day Mediterranean cruise on Seabourn Odyssey, from Monte Carlo to Athens, May 13, from $4,999.
The "123go!" promotion comes with a choice of perk: A complimentary "Classic Beverage Package" (valued at $88 per day for two); free gratuities (valued at $30 per day); or an onboard credit of $100 to $300 per stateroom (based on length of cruise). On Europe cruises guests can pick two perks. Offer valid through February. Sample: 7-day Bermuda cruise on Celebrity Summit, round-trip from Bayonne, N.J., May 4, from $739 for an ocean-view.
Cruise on a three-night or longer itinerary and get free upgrades - to ocean-view, balcony or mini-suite cabins -- and a coupon booklet worth more than $300 in savings (if you use all the coupons). Book by April 4. The "Upgrade Wave" offer applies to most sailings. Sample: Book a balcony stateroom on the new Norwegian Getaway, 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise round-trip from Miami, March 1, from $809.
The "Royal Upgrade Celebration" brings free upgrades, free gratuities and other benefits on transatlantic crossings, New England/Canada sailings, Europe cruises and Grand Voyages. Do a New York to Southampton, UK crossing in a balcony stateroom on the Queen Mary 2, June 13 from $1,549. Offer valid until February 28.
Holland America: Book an ocean-view or above category on select Europe cruises and receive a free Signature beverage package (valued at $50 per person, per day). On select other itineraries including Alaska, the "Above and Beyond" promotion brings shipboard credits ($150 to $250 for a 7-day cruise). There's also free or reduced 3rd and 4th passenger fares and up to 10% savings on select summer shore excursions. Book by February 28. Sample cruise: 7-day Norway, round-trip from Dover, UK on the Ryndam, from $1,099 for an ocean-view.
Take advantage of 2-for-1 fares, with included airfare, free gratuities, shipboard credit ($100) and free unlimited Internet during the "Your World on Sale" promotion. Offer expires March 31. Sample: 7-day cruise on the Riviera, from Venice to Rome, from $3,299 for a deluxe ocean-view.
