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10 best cruise deals for 2026: Top sale offers and discounts on last-minute 2025 holidays
Come sail away with some of these great cruise deals for the new year and beyond
The cruise industry’s wave season of sales has started early and passengers can save up to 60 per cent on fares on a wide range of cruises.
Black Friday and Travel Tuesday may be over but sales season has only just started in the cruise industry.
Cruise lines have their own sales period called “wave season”, which includes discounts on fares and extra onboard credit to tempt passengers onto ships in the new year and beyond.
Wave season typically starts in January and runs until March, but many cruises lines are already offering decent deals.
Booking a cruise holiday can help tick off a variety of destinations either close to home or around the world, whether you are interested in sunny beaches or snow-capped mountains.
Guests are spoilt for choice, with several new ships now on the water.
These include MSC World America and Norwegian Aqua, which launched in April 2025.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean’s latest Star of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady hit the water in August and Star Princess from Princess Cruises and Celebrity Xcel from Celebrity Cruises set sail in October and November.
There are also lots of older and more classic cruise ships to choose from.
Read more: The best adult-only cruises
It is worth keeping an eye on your favourite cruise line’s website as deals can change regularly during wave season and there may be general discounts and special offers as well.
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.
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 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 bonus on all credit added before departure through CelestyalPay and up to €200 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.
CroisiEurope
River cruise operator CroisiEurope is releasing new offers every week until Christmas.
Passengers can currently get up to 10 per cent off fares sailing on the Danube or up to 25 per cent for the Rhine on select sailings in 2026.
Alternatively, single guests can access rates with no solo supplement.
Read more: Best cruises for teenagers
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.
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.
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 $800 of onboard credit, while a third and fourth guest can sail from £99 each when sharing a cabin on select sailings.
Virgin Voyages
Fans of Virgin Voyages can benefit from 80 per cent off a second ‘sailor’ as well as up to $400 of onboard credit.
Select sailings are even available for just $99 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.
Read more: The cruise ships you must travel on in your lifetime
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