Key Points:
- Wave Season (January–March) is the best time to book cruises due to cruise lines promoting their best deals.
- Early booking ensures better ship choices, cabin choices, lower fares, and exclusive perks like free upgrades, drink credits, and more.
- Last-minute cruise bookings can offer savings but come with limited options and less flexibility.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday are also prime times to snag some of the best cruise deals available.
- Paying in full more than 365 days in advance unlocks an extra 10% savings.
Timing your cruise booking
As the old saying goes, “timing is everything.” That particularly applies to booking cruises. While we always encourage Sailors to book whenever is most convenient for them, whether that’s early or last minute, there is definitely a best time to book a cruise for 2025, 2026, & 2027, and it’s important to consider all the factors in play.
When is the best time to book a cruise?
Virgin Voyages generally has cruises available for booking online between 18 and 24 months in advance, and periodically announces new cruises throughout the year. While the perks of booking far in advance differ by cruise line, it’s typically normal for Sailors to book months (and even years) in advance to get the best rates and deals.
And you don’t even have to worry about spending a bunch of money upfront for your next cruise, thanks to our 0% down monthly cruise payment plan. You can also use the best credit card to make cruise purchases and get extra points, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard. Sign up for email and text alerts to get notified about new cruise itineraries, so you can get the inside scoop and have as much notice and information as possible when to save and book your next cruise.
Book a cruise early and save
As another saying goes, “the early bird gets the worm.” Or in this case, “the early bird gets the cruise deals. When you book a Virgin Voyages cruise early, you get the best rates on cabin fares, since prices directly correlate with occupancy and availability. If you wait to book at the last minute when cruise ships are nearly full, you’ll likely be paying more for your cabin.
In addition to simply having a wider pick of available cabins on the best cruise ships, you’ll also be able to take advantage of our fair and flexible rates, meaning you can cancel up to 48 hours before the voyage to receive a 100% refund. That certainly makes advance booking a little less scary.
🎯 Cruise Booking Strategy Tips:
- Book early & save (12–24 months out) to lock in some of the best rates, cabin choices, and group perks.
- Book cruises during Wave Season (January-March) for the biggest incentives. You can also book two years in advance.
- Pay in full on cruises 365+ days out for extra 10% off.
- Plan milestone celebrations or group trips in advance for bonus perks.
- If you're not one to plan ahead, take advantage of some of the best last-minute cruise deals.
Benefits of last-minute cruise deals
We understand that not everyone is able to book early. That’s ok. When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll get all the inside info about our enticing last-minute cruise deals. So if you’ve got a flexible schedule and a spontaneous side, booking last minute might actually be the answer. And don’t worry, sometimes there’s the opportunity to upgrade your cabin if your cabin of choice isn’t available at first.
Best months to book a cruise
In the cruise industry, January, February, and March are some of the best months to book a cruise. That’s because winter is Wave Season, the best time for Sailors to book their next cruise with stellar deals and savings. April and May are two of the best months to book a cruise since you'll usually find better deals. Booking at the beginning of the year also gives you the benefit of getting first crack at our new cruise itineraries, as well as any new ships that may be announced.
📅 Month-by-Month Cruise Booking Guide:
January Cruises
- Why book a cruise in January? Get the deepest discounts of the year during Wave Season!
- Best places to cruise to for January:
- Caribbean (Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Aruba, Mexico & more)
February Cruises
- Why book a cruise in February? There's still time to take advantage of Wave Season cruise deals; there may also be Valentine’s travel & spring break deals available.
- Best places to cruise to for February:
- Caribbean (Turks and Caicos, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
March Cruises
- Why book a cruise in March? The final month of Wave Season to score the best deals; plan and book summer or fall cruises.
- Best places to cruise to for March:
- Caribbean (Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
April Cruises
- Why book a cruise in April? Spring shoulder season = fewer crowds + last-minute deals.
- Best places to cruise to for April:
- Caribbean (Colombia, Panama, California, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
May Cruises
- Why book a cruise in May? Get deals to book for summer cruises before peak prices hit.
- Best places to cruise to for May:
- Caribbean (Jamaica, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (start of Med season - France, Morocco, Barcelona, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and more)
- North America (Vancouver, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington)
June Cruises
- Why book a cruise in June? Start planning ahead for holiday travel, great for families and groups.
- Best places to cruise to for June:
- Caribbean (Key West, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and more)
- North America (Vancouver, Alaska, Washington)
July Cruises
- Why book a cruise in July? Book Christmas or New Year cruises early before they sell out.
- Best places to cruise to for July:
- Caribbean (Key West, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Portugal, France, Rome, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Netherlands, Scotland, Iceland, and more)
August Cruises
- Why book a cruise in August? Plan fall getaways or 2026/2027 cruises for early pricing rates.
- Best places to cruise to for August:
- Caribbean (Key West, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Greece, Montenegro, Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Netherlands, Scotland, Iceland, and more)
September Cruises
- Why book a cruise in September? Find great prices for September cruises.
- Best places to cruise to for September:
- Caribbean (Key West, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Greece, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and more)
October Cruises
- Why book a cruise in October? Ideal for saving on winter getaways or 2026/2027 cruises with early saver fares.
- Best places to cruise to for October:
- Caribbean (Key West, St. Maarten, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Corsica, and more)
- North America (Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and more)
November Cruises
- Why book a cruise in November? Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals hit — great time to score savings on cruises before the holidays and cruises for Thanksgiving.
- Best places to cruise to for November:
- Caribbean (Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- European & Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco, and more)
December Cruises
- Why book a cruise in December? Book now for summer 2026 and 2027 and save with year-end promotions.
- Best places to cruise to for December:
- New Year’s Caribbean cruises (Turks and Caicos, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
- Caribbean (Jamaica, St. Maarten, Aruba, Dominica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Mexico & more)
Best day of the week to book a cruise
When it comes to a specific day of the week for booking a cruise, the best strategy is to track prices to get the best deals. There's lots of popularity for booking on Tuesdays because of travel Tuesday the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, where deals may still be available following Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Generally, you may be better off booking earlier in the week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) to get the best rates compared to the end of the week on Thursdays and Fridays, where prices may be higher due to the fact most travelers book hotels, flights, and rental cars for the weekend when they may have days off from work. They may be booking last minute on Thursdays and Fridays and don't have the option to wait. It's safe to say, travelers may also have similar booking patterns for cruises as well, so take advantage of deals on Travel Tuesday.
Beyond Travel Tuesday, booking around the holidays is another excellent option for finding the best deals for cruises. Holiday cruise deals usually feature the best discounts but are available for a limited time.
Best holiday promotions for booking a cruise
If you aren't planning ahead with your Wave Season cruise deals, holidays are the perfect time to plan a cruise. Whether it's a big bash for 4th of July or you're ringing in New Year's in style, there's nothing like a holiday cruise.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest deal days of the year, so it makes sense that they're also two of the best days for planning a cruise. Celebrate Thanksgiving the right way by booking your dream cruise.
New Year's Day
What better way to ring in 2025 than with a New Year's Eve cruise? Check off that resolution to travel immediately, and start the year right by setting sail to some of the most beautiful ports in the world. Keep in mind, though, that last-minute cruise deals will be scarce this time of year, so be sure to book in advance.
Valentine's Day
Cruising as a couple can be a memorable and defining moment in any relationship. Make the most of your Valentine's Day with a romantic voyage.
Presidents' Day
Since President's Day falls during Wave Season, it's one of the best holidays for booking a cruise, and scoring special deals and savings.
Spring Break
You don't have to be in college to celebrate spring break. Our adults-only cruises are the best way to avoid the college party scene at overcrowded spring break spots, and instead head to some of the most beautiful ports in the world.
Memorial Day
The symbolic start of summer, Memorial Day is when some of our best cruise deals become available. So start the season off right by booking a cruise that'll define your summer.
4th of July
The 4th of July might be the cornerstone of summer, but it's also not too early to start looking ahead to the fall and winter cruise season, and planning how you can dispel the inevitable winter doldrums. Our July 4th cruise deals make Independence Day the perfect time to book.
Summer Break
Whether you're a college student on summer break, or a professional looking for a much-deserved summer respite from responsibility, make sure you plan ahead for a summer cruise. Since these are among our most popular, high-demand sailings, you'll want to book early to make sure you get the voyage you want.
Labor Day
Just because summer is over, that doesn't mean you can't plan ahead for the winter. We like to end summer with a bang by offering some pretty enticing Labor Day Sales for your next vacation, so don't miss out.
How do I know if I'm getting a good deal on a cruise?
Sometimes, it's not always easy to know if you're actually getting a good deal on cruise tickets. Prices fares fluctuate based on several different factors (age of cruise ship, length of cruise, occupancy, popularity of destination, etc.), making it difficult to know if you're actually getting the best deal. Comparing prices between cruise lines is also tough, since many cruise lines display prices for cruises only, excluding various packages and extras like food and drinks, WiFi, gratuities, entertainment, and more in their listed cruise fare.
At Virgin Voyages, we make it as easy as possible to shop for cruises and compare. Our premium dining, free essential drinks, WiFi, entertainment, and more (over $1,000 in value) are all included in the upfront cost of a cruise ticket. Booking early, taking advantage of our fair and flexible fares, is the best way to capitalize on our all-included luxury deals to ensure you get the best priced cruise.
Plan ahead, book in advance with flexible fares
There's no bad time to book a cruise, but to snag the best rates and have the most options, you'll want to book early. Booking in advance also means you can take advantage of our last-minute cruise deals without any penalties. With upfront, transparent pricing, and flexible fares, we make it as easy as possible to plan your next cruise escape – whenever that may be.
