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The 19 best cruise deals for 2026, including top sale offers and discounts
Sail away with some of these great cruise deals for the new year and beyond
Holidaymakers with a cruise on their 2026 wish list can now find savings of up to 60 per cent for a wide range of sailings.
This marks the start of wave season, when cruise lines release perks and discounts to tempt passengers onto ships in the new year and beyond.
Wave season traditionally starts in January and runs until March – but many cruises lines are already offering decent deals.
Guests are spoilt for choice, with several new ships now on the water. Royal Caribbean’s latest Star of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady hit the water in August, whileCelebrity Xcel from Celebrity Cruises set sail in November.
It is worth keeping an eye on your favourite cruise line’s website as deals can change regularly during wave season.
Of course, it is important to shop around to ensure you are still getting value for money and check the total costs, including any flights and tips.
Here are some of the best cruise deals for wave season and beyond to catch a top cabin in 2026 or to plan ahead as far as 2028.
Ambassador Cruise Line
Drinks packages on select Ambassador Cruise Line sailings have been cut by 50 per cent.
The deal applies for bookings made by 12 February 2026, giving guests access to premium and house brand spirits and wines, premium teas and coffees, non-alcoholic beverages including unlimited soft drinks, all gratuities and service charges, plus preferential dinner sitting selections.
Celebrity
Celebrity Cruises has launched what it describes as its biggest sale ever, offering up to 60 per cent off a second guest, alongside up to £500 in additional savings or $600 (£450) in onboard spend.
These savings apply to bookings made by 2 March 2026 across all sailings until 30 April 2028.
Deals include an 11-night “Best of Greece” sailing aboard Millennium-class ship Celebrity Infinity, departing on 9 March 2026, from £529 per person.
Read more: How to avoid getting seasick on a cruise
Celestyal
Celestyal, which recently opened its own UK-based travel agency to help guests book sailings, has deals with up to 50 per cent off 226 Greek, Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf sailings departing between December 2025 and October 2027.
Guests can also get a €500 (£440) bonus on all credit added before departure through CelestyalPay and up to €200 (£175) for on-shore excursions.
Prices for the cruise line’s “Desert Days and Iconic Arabia” sailings now start from £239 per person for a three-night sailing, while its seven-night “Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia” itinerary starts at £739 per person.
The offer ends 5 February 2026.
Read more: Best cruises for teenagers
CroisiEurope
River cruise operator CroisiEurope is releasing new offers every week until Christmas.
Passengers can currently get up to 20 per cent off fares sailing on an Alsace barge cruise or for river cruises in the Champagne region.
Alternatively, single guests can access rates with no solo supplement.
Cunard
Passengers can get up to $600 (£450) onboard credit per balcony stateroom on select Cunard voyages across the fleet.
The offer is available on sailings such as transatlantic crossings aboard Queen Mary 2 as well as itineraries in the Norwegian fjords and the Canary Islands.
Bookings must be made by 16 February 2026, plus guests can also save up to 30 per cent on extras such as drinks packages and wifi.
Holland America Line
Guests who book Holland America Line’s all-inclusive “Have it All” cruise fare by 26 February 2026 will be eligible for a free cabin upgrade and free car parking on sailings departing from Dover in the new year.
The cruise line has also reduced fares for children aged 18 and under travelling as the third and fourth guests.
Additionally, guests who book by 31 January 2026 will also receive up to $500 (£370) per stateroom as on board spending money and a further bonus of up to $200 (£150) shore excursion credit when booking an Alaska 2026 cruise.
The offer is valid for bookings on more than 500 cruises departing from summer 2026 to spring 2027.
Voyages include the seven-day “Alaska Inside Passage” sailing, departing on 27 June 2026, with fares starting from £1,489pp.
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten has savings of up to 30 per cent for passengers on selected Norway voyages departing between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2027.
Prices start from £1,639pp for its 12-day coastal express roundtrip from Bergen.
The offer ends on 28 February 2026.
HX Expeditions
HX Expeditions is offering guests up to 30 per cent off all-inclusive voyages plus £200 onboard credit for new passengers.
The discount applies to bookings made from 4 December 2025 to 23 March 2026 for select HX departures between 23 December 2025 and 31 March 2028
The reductions mean the price of an Alaska Inside Passage cruise in May 2026 has been cut from £4,266 to £3,413.
Plus, passengers travelling in 2026 will be part of a celebration marking the cruise line’s 130th anniversary.
Every voyage taken in that year will include a 130th anniversary cocktail and a limited edition ocean bottle.
Guests will also be able to stay in The Exclusive 1896 Cabin aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, a meticulously recreated 19th-century explorer’s cabin for one night a €450 (£400), with half of all proceeds going to the HX Foundation.
Marella Cruises
Marella is offering passengers savings of up to £300 per booking on selected sailings departing between 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2027.
The offer ends at midnight on 2 March 2026.
Deals include a repositioning cruise from Gran Canaria to the Caribbean, departing on 26 April 2027 from £1,941 per person.
MSC Cruises
Passengers can raise a glass with MSC Cruises, as drinks packages have been cut from £250 to £196
Additionally, you can secure a sailing with a deposit of just £100 and flights start from £99 on select summer 2026 fly and cruise packages.
The offers are valid for bookings made until 7 April 2026 and can be used to cruise around the UK, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the United Arab Emirates, Alaska, the Caribbean and Far East Asia.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise fares have been cut by 50 per cent on some Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sailings for a limited period until 15 December, including on the new Norwegian Aqua and the soon-to-debut Norwegian Luna.
Guests can also upgrade to NCL’s “More at Sea” package for wifi, drinks and specialty dining from £119 per person.
Up to £250 of airfare credit is also available on select sailings.
Oceania
Culinary-focused luxury cruise brand Oceania, which recently launched a new ship Allura, is currently offering up to 30 per cent off on more than 140 sailings across 2026 and 2027.
Offers include five per cent off 12 days aboard Oceania Allura’s “Adriatics to the Balearics” sailing, departing 13 June 2026. Prices start from £4,469 per person.
Guests need to book by 4 March 2026.
P&O Cruises
Guests on P&O Cruises sailings of five nights or more will be able to access all-inclusive packages for the first time from March 2026, covering drinks, wifi and specialty dining credit.
There are two packages to choose from.
The Classic Package includes a wide selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, essential wifi for browsing and social media and either a £20 dining credit for sailings of five to nine nights, £40 for between 10 and 14 and £55 for sailings of 15 nights or more. It costs £49 per person per day.
The Deluxe Package includes a wider range of premium spirits, craft beers and a variety of cocktails, ultimate wifi for streaming and video calls and £30 dining credit on five to nine night itineraries, £60 for 10 to 14 nights and £80 for 15 or more. The package costs £59 per person per day.
The packages can be chosen when you book the cruise and is applicable on all the ships in the fleet.
Princess
Guests can secure a voyage with Princess Cruises with a low deposit of just £99 and enjoy savings of up to £800 per stateroom until 2 March 2026.
The cruise line’s Value is Princess (VIP) Sale features more than 1,800 itineraries worldwide, across seven continents, including on the new Star Princess.
Guests can secure the full £800 per stateroom when booking a mini-suite for four people on a voyage that is 17 nights or longer.
The full savings breakdown is up to £75 off per person on cruises of six to eight nights, rising to £150 per person for nine to 16 nights and £200 per person on sailings of 17 nights or more.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean regularly launches flash sales for short periods so it is worth signing up to its newsletters so you don’t miss out.
The cruise brand is currently offering up to £635 off sailings, while a third and fourth guest can sail from £99 each when sharing a cabin on select routes.
Scenic
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises & Tours have unveiled a multi-brand “New Year Savings Event” that is valid across their ocean and river cruise programmes for new bookings made until 16 February 2026.
For Scenic’s ultra-luxury ocean voyages, guests can save up to 30 per cent on select itineraries between 2026 and 2028. Prices start from £4,645 per person for a six-day “Riviera Gems with Corsica & Sardinia” cruise departing 26 May 2026, including return flights and private door-to-door chauffeur transfers.
Savings of up to 35 per cent are available on select 2026 itineraries for Scenic’s all-inclusive river cruises. Prices start from £1,985 per person for the eight-day “Gems of Danube” voyage, departing 26 October 2026. This includes return flights and private door-to-door chauffeur transfers, as well as all excursions, onboard premium dining and beverages, wellness facilities, and butler service.
Emerald
Guests can get up to 40 per cent off select European river cruise itineraries with Emerald. Prices start from £1,799 per person for the eight-day Danube Explorer, departing 17 November 2026 and including return flights, a platinum drinks package or €300 (£260) onboard credit per couple.
Fares have also been cut by up to 25 per cent across Emerald Cruises’ luxury yachts for select sailings between 2026 and 2028. For example, prices for an eight-day “Eastern Caribbean with St Barts” cruise start from £3,900 per person, departing 20 December 2026, with return flights included.
Virgin Voyages
Fans of Virgin Voyages can benefit from 80 per cent off a second “sailor” as well as up to $400 (£300) of onboard credit.
Select sailings are even available for just $99 (£75) per sailor, per night – the lowest fares the brand has ever offered.
This includes a 12-night “Total Eclipse of the Med” sailing aboard Scarlet Lady, departing on 10 August from £2,574 per person.
Offers are available until 29 January 2026.
Windstar
Luxury small-ship cruise line Windstar is offering guests savings of up to a third on fares plus a complimentary all-inclusive upgrade, covering selected beer, wine and cocktails as well as wifi and tips.
Guests can also receive onboard credit worth $500 (£370) for sailings between six to nine days, $700 (£520) for 10 to 13 days and $1,000 (£740) for 14 or more days.
The offer is valid until 31 March 2026 on select voyages up to 31 March 2027.
A seven-day “Treasures of the Greek Isles” cruise departs on 2 May 2026 with fares from £4,307pp.
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