Wave Season Has Arrived! Summary of Offers and NEW Oceania Sales Event!

When my phone rang this morning at 5:44AM, I knew that the first day of Wave Season had arrived. So far, the rest of my Monday has followed suit, and I'd say the rush is on!

What is Wave Season? It's the cruise industry term for the first quarter of the year, which traditionally has the highest number of bookings. In fact, more than half the yearly bookings are usually made in these three months, especially in January. Think of a bell curve, with lows in December and April, and there is a "wave" of bookings this first quarter.

The past couple years, Wave Season has been less of a tsunami and more of just a good surfing day, with bookings spread out more throughout the year. Whether that's because of the growing sophistication of cruisers who book according to their personal needs rather than as a result of increased marketing which takes place this time of year, and have learned when is the best time to book, or other factors, I'm not sure. This year, the industry experts are expecting a little quieter season, but judging from today's responses from my clients, I'm not so sure. While my clients are booking on average closer in, they're still booking. The Wave is On!

To remind you all of the various specials the cruise lines are running, here are some of my past "head's up" posts to help you choose your next cruise:

RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara ASAP Promotion

Holland America View and Verandah Sale/Vacation Stimulus Plan

NCL Freestyle Savings Event

Princess is running their "Balcony Bonanza" and Carnival has some upgrade offers, but nothing out of the ordinary for either of them.

Later today, Oceania will be announcing their Historic 5th Anniversary Celebration of Savings with HUGE reductions. They're offering up to $2,000/cabin discounts off their 2-for-1 sailings in Europe with free air for their 2009 season and 25% single supplements, and up to $1,500/cabin discounts off their 2-for-1 2009/2010 Winter Season sailings, with free air, free pre-paid gratuities, $500 onboard credits and 25% single supplements. Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about! These Oceania offers become available for sale on January 7, and I'll be first in line to book myself as these are crazy fabulous prices.

There are a lot of reasons to book, especially in the next week. If you're considering any sailings for the next year, give me a call or email now to see how we can maximize your savings and benefits!

Of course, for close-in bookings, don't forget about the weekly Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Happy Hours and Carnival Pack N Go Specials.

Holland America Vacation Stimulus Plan

Yes, it's another offer designed to prompt you to book your 2009 cruise now! This one is from Holland America, and does have a few nice features.

The components of this plan are:
50% reduced deposit on all cruises sailing on or after May 1, 2009
Up to 25% discount on vacation protection (trip insurance) through Holland America (I don't generally recommend cruise line plans, but this might be worth considering for some people, depending on the cruise and circumstances)
Low fares, including the View and Verandah sale with upgrades from Inside to Oceanview as little as $50/person, or Oceanview to Balcony as low as $100/person
Suspended fuel supplement - Holland America suspended fuel supplements for departures on or after December 17, 2008
Easier free berths for group leaders - time to schedule that group cruise you've been thinking of!

These offers are effective now, so if you've been considering Holland America, they're making it a bit easier for you to book.

Holland America View and Verandah Sale Begins

I'll admit, most of Holland America's "sales" really aren't much of a value (hence why you rarely see me touting the various 1-day and 3-day sales here). But once a year they do have a promotion which is worth promoting: the Holland America View and Verandah Sale!

This sale runs from December 1 through February 28, and offers special pricing for all Oceanview and Verandah cabins, including suites. While many times I do have better fares to offer than even these sale prices, if you're considering Holland America, it is a good starting point to give you an idea of the deals available.

I've scanned the full 10-page listing of specials, and they can be found at 2008-2009 View and Verandah Sale. You know the drill: If you're interested in booking any of these sailings, or if I can research pricing for you for any other options, just email me at amber@cruiseresource.com or phone toll-free at 888-SAIL-123 (888-724-5123).