The Best Time to Book a Cruise in 2025
Why Timing Matters for Cruise Deals
Most cruisers don't realize that the same cabin on the same ship can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on when you book. After analyzing over 90,000 price snapshots across major cruise lines, we've identified clear patterns in when prices drop.
The cruise industry uses dynamic pricing similar to airlines. Prices fluctuate based on demand, time until departure, and cabin inventory. Understanding these patterns gives you a significant advantage.
The Sweet Spots for Booking
Wave Season (January - March)
This is the cruise industry's biggest sale period. Cruise lines aggressively compete for bookings with:
- Reduced deposits
- Onboard credit offers
- Free drink packages
- Cabin upgrades
Our data shows prices during Wave Season average 15-20% lower than summer booking periods for the same sailings.
90-Day Window
When a sailing is 60-90 days out, cruise lines start pushing harder to fill remaining cabins. This is when we see the most 90+ scored deals appear in our system.
Pro tip: Set up alerts for sailings 2-3 months out. This is where the best last-minute deals appear.
Tuesday and Wednesday Pricing
Our analysis shows prices tend to be lowest mid-week. Cruise lines often release new inventory and adjust pricing on Tuesdays.
When to Avoid Booking
Right After a Sale Announcement
Prices often spike immediately after a major sale ends. Wait 2-3 weeks for prices to normalize.
Holiday Weeks
The weeks surrounding major holidays see peak pricing. If you're flexible, booking sailings that depart the week before or after a holiday can save 30% or more.
Cabin Type Timing Strategies
Different cabin categories follow different pricing patterns:
| Cabin Type | Best Booking Window | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Inside | 60-90 days out | 20-30% |
| Balcony | 90-120 days out | 15-25% |
| Suite | 6+ months out | 10-15% |
Inside cabins see the steepest last-minute discounts because they're hardest to sell. Suites rarely drop significantly since inventory is limited.
How We Track This Data
At All Aboard Deals, we monitor prices across 35,000+ sailings daily. Our scoring algorithm compares current prices against historical baselines to identify when a deal is genuinely exceptional versus just marketing hype.
When a price drops into the bottom 25% of what we've seen for similar routes, cruise lines, and seasons, we flag it as a deal worth considering.
The Bottom Line
The best time to book depends on your flexibility:
- Most savings: Book during Wave Season for sailings 6-12 months out
- Last-minute flexibility: Watch the 60-90 day window for deep discounts
- Premium cabins: Book early for suites, wait for inside cabins
Sign up for our deal alerts to get notified when prices drop below market averages for routes you care about.
About the Author
Graham H — Founder, All Aboard Deals
Graham has been cruising for over a decade and has sailed on 15+ cruises across Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Virgin.
He built All Aboard Deals to track cruise prices the same way traders track charts — monitoring 35,000+ sailings and spotting fares that fall well below their recent averages.
When he's not digging through price drops, he's on board testing cabins, checking drink packages, and talking with other cruisers about what actually feels like a good value.
Editorial Standards
All guides are based on real pricing data, live fare checks, and historical trends. Content is updated as ships launch and prices change. Questions or corrections? Contact us