A record of the wave-season promotions Norwegian, Celebrity and Holland America still had open in the first week of May 2026, and when each window closed.
Archived edition. This was published on May 3, 2026, 6 months ago. The fares, promotions and ticket prices below were what the sources reported that day and have not been revised since, so treat every figure as a record of that date rather than a current quote and confirm anything you plan to book with the line. For current per-night fares across the fleet, see the cruise comparison table.
The cruise industry's so-called "Wave Season" — the annual January–March booking frenzy where lines offer their most aggressive pricing — officially wrapped up for 2026. But the end of the marketing calendar did not mean the end of the deals: as of May 3, 2026, several lines were still carrying wave-season-adjacent promotions into May, particularly for departures in the traditionally softer booking windows of late summer and early fall 2026. This edition is the record of those offers as they stood that day.
Wave-carry-over deals open on May 3, 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line was running its "Free at Sea" promotion on select Alaska and Caribbean sailings, with a booking window that closed on May 15, 2026. It stacked free open bar, free specialty dining (up to 3 restaurants), a free shore excursions credit ($50 per port) and free Wi-Fi on a single booking. On a 7-night Alaska itinerary, that package was worth approximately $1,200–$1,500 per couple above the base fare.
Celebrity Cruises had extended its "All-Inclusive Sale" pricing on Edge-class ships to May 20, 2026. The offer included drinks, tips and Wi-Fi, and pricing that week on Celebrity Beyond's October 2026 Mediterranean sailings was $2,189 per person against a quoted regular rate of $2,799 — a 22% saving on the fare as advertised at the time.
Holland America was offering a "Have It All" upgrade promotion on 2026 Alaska cruises, with no end date announced. The value was strongest on Koningsdam's 14-night Inside Passage round-trips from Seattle, where the upgrade added $700+ in bundled value at no extra charge.
What the week's inventory looked like
Mediterranean summer 2026 inventory was tightening at the time of writing, particularly July and August departures from Barcelona and Rome. All three booking windows above have since closed, and none of the fares quoted here should be read as available now.
Cruise Deals & Promotions Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrity Cruises Holland America