Wave season is here, and if you’re considering a cruise holiday, now is the time to act.
Wave season, which typically spans from January through March, is when cruise lines roll out some of their most enticing offers for the year ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first voyage, booking early can help you secure the best deals, preferred itinerary, and ideal departure date.
Not convinced? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of cruising and explore the diverse styles of cruising available, so you can plan your perfect holiday for 2025 and beyond.
Cruising offers a unique blend of relaxation, exploration, and convenience, making it an excellent choice for travellers seeking a more intimate and immersive experience. Smaller ships and expedition cruises, in particular, provide unparalleled access to remote destinations and a more personalised journey.
- Unpack Once, Explore Multiple Destinations
Cruising allows you to visit several destinations without the hassle of repacking and navigating multiple modes of transport. Your ship serves as your floating hotel, seamlessly transporting you from one incredible location to the next. - All-Inclusive Convenience
Cruises bundle accommodation, meals, and expertly guided shore excursions into one package, simplifying the planning process and providing excellent value for money. Many cruises, including expedition options, feature unique experiences such as guided hikes, wildlife encounters, and educational talks, ensuring an enriching and hassle-free journey. - Specialty Dining Options
Dining is a highlight of any cruise, whether you’re on a larger ship offering a wide range of culinary choices or a smaller ship emphasising high-quality, locally inspired cuisine. Many cruises incorporate regional flavours and fresh, seasonal ingredients, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable dining experience for all passengers. - Seamless Travel
Cruising eliminates the need to coordinate multiple modes of transport, making it a stress-free way to explore multiple destinations. Many smaller ships include guided tours and transportation to ensure every aspect of your journey is well-organised and enjoyable.
Expedition and smaller ship cruising provide a more intimate and enriching travel experience, perfect for those who value unique adventures and deeper connections to the destinations they visit.
Types of Cruising: Find Your Perfect Fit
Cruising is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Different types of cruises cater to different interests and travel styles.
- Expedition Cruising
For those with a thirst for discovery, expedition cruising is an unforgettable way to explore some of the world’s most remote and untouched locations. These cruises focus on destinations that are often inaccessible by other means, such as the polar regions, the Galápagos Islands, or Australia’s Kimberley Coast.
Benefits of Expedition Cruising:
- Intimate Ships: Expedition vessels are typically smaller, allowing them to navigate narrower waterways and anchor in remote locations.
- Expert-Led Adventures: Onboard naturalists, historians, and scientists provide expert insights, making each journey as educational as it is inspiring.
- Immersive Shore Excursions: Kayaking near glaciers, hiking through rainforests, and snorkelling in pristine waters are just a few of the incredible activities you can experience.
- Personalised Experiences
Smaller vessels offer customised adventures, individualised crew attention, and shore excursions deeply connecting travellers to local cultures and environments. - Access to Remote Destinations
Expedition cruises explore unique, remote destinations like polar regions, fjords, and islands, offering unmatched opportunities to connect with nature.
Expedition cruising is perfect for travellers looking to go off the beaten path and connect with nature and culture in a meaningful way.
- River Cruising
River cruising offers a slower pace and a more intimate experience, ideal for exploring inland destinations and charming towns that large ships can’t access. Popular river cruising regions include Europe’s Danube and Rhine rivers, the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and Egypt.
Benefits of River Cruising:
- Close to the Action: River cruises dock right in the heart of cities and towns, making it easy to step off and start exploring.
- Relaxed Atmosphere: With fewer passengers and a focus on leisurely travel, river cruises offer a serene and unhurried experience.
- Cultural Immersion: Shore excursions often include guided tours, cooking classes, and opportunities to engage with local communities.
- Panoramic Views: Scenic cruising is a highlight, with constantly changing landscapes visible from your cabin or the deck.
River cruising is ideal for those who want to soak in culture and history at a relaxed pace while enjoying a high level of service.
- Ocean Cruising
The most traditional and versatile form of cruising, ocean cruises offer a range of experiences, from family-friendly mega-ships to luxurious, all-inclusive vessels. Ocean cruises sail to destinations worldwide, from the tropical South Pacific to the cultural hubs of the Mediterranean and beyond.
Benefits of Ocean Cruising:
- Extensive Itineraries: Ocean cruises can range from short getaways to world cruises lasting several months.
- Onboard Amenities: Larger ships feature an array of facilities, including pools, spas, gyms, theatres, and even zip lines and ice-skating rinks.
- Diverse Dining and Entertainment: With multiple dining venues and entertainment options, ocean cruises cater to a wide range of tastes and interests.
- Family-Friendly Options: Many ocean cruises are designed with families in mind, offering kids’ clubs, family-friendly excursions, and interconnecting cabins.
Ocean cruising is suitable for all types of travellers, from couples seeking a romantic getaway to families looking for a fun and inclusive holiday.
Trust Your Travel Advisor
Our very own Leanne has recently returned from an expedition cruise around PNG and the Solomon Islands with A&K, so we’ve secured her top tips on cruising.
What surprised you most about expedition cruising?
It’s probably more what surprised me about expedition cruising in warm waters – I had previously experienced the knowledge and passion of the expedition team in polar regions and Alaska, but I’d really only given thought to the water activities we’d be doing on this expedition and hadn’t properly factored in the experience, passion and incredible knowledge of the expedition team. Two of the team had lived with two respective communities for years (one in PNG and one in the Solomons) and we visited that PNG community, which was a teary “welcome home” for the expedition member, and it was that personal interaction and experience that helped make the cruise so special.
What advice would you give to someone considering their first expedition cruise?
Be flexible and have an open mind – expeditions set out with an itinerary in mind, but this can change according to weather conditions, developments in the local communities that are being visited, and other operational requirements.
Expedition cruises go to remote destinations that can often only be reached by sea, and the expedition company will prepare detailed pre-departure documentation outlining packing lists, what level of fitness is required and what type of terrain you’re likely to encounter, whether you’ll have wifi or not etc. Read these documents – being prepared for your expedition will definitely help you have a better time!
What were your favourite parts about cruising in general?
- Only having to unpack once is one of the best parts of cruising.
- You can also do as much or as little as you please – if you’re feeling like a sleep in, that’s ok because you don’t have to be up to check out of your hotel and get to the next destination!
- I love that you can venture into areas that may not be accessible by land.
- I also love that you get to know the hospitality team, particularly on a small ship cruise – waiters, bartenders and hotel staff. These people get to know you, what you like and don’t like and make your time onboard so much more special.
How important is choosing the right cruise ship and operator?
It’s vital. Cruising is the fastest growing sector in the travel industry and there’s a ship and an itinerary to suit everyone. In fact, there are so many options that it can be overwhelming and confusing so that’s where a trusted travel advisor who knows you well comes in because they know the options that are out there and can recommend the ones that best suit your style.
What kind of person would enjoy an expedition cruise?
- Anyone with a sense of adventure who wants to spend more time in, and learn about the destination they’re visiting, not just capture kodak moments.
- Anyone who wants to get out there!
What other advice would you give someone looking to book a cruise?
- It’s never too early to start planning and booking your next cruise. Some departures in 2026 are already sold out.
- If you’ve got your heart set on a particular destination or cabin category, get in early to secure it. Some expedition companies will offer the best discounts to the early bookers and then you can plan what you’re doing on either side of the cruise and secure your flights at the best price.
Tips for Booking During Wave Season
To make the most of wave season, keep these tips in mind:
- Book Early: The best itineraries and cabin options sell out quickly, so act fast to secure your spot.
- Take Advantage of Promotions: Cruise lines often offer perks like free onboard credit, discounted fares, and free upgrades during wave season.
- Consider Travel Insurance: Protect your investment with a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers cancellations, medical emergencies, and more.
- Plan Shore Excursions in Advance: Popular excursions can fill up quickly, so book early to secure your preferred activities.
