Wave Season Watch: The Latest Cruise Deals

With 2016 officially underway, Wave Season is kicking into high gear with new cruise offers from Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn, Oceania Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We've rounded up the latest packages and deals you need to know. 

carnival vistaCarnival's “Cruise, Explore & So Much More” Sweepstakes

Carnival is running the “Cruise, Explore & So Much More” travel agent sweepstakes through February 12. Through the contest, travel agents can win one of three cruise/land vacation grand prizes from their choice of the following three homeports: Miami, Los Angeles (Long Beach), and New Orleans. The prize includes roundtrip airfare for two, a two-night hotel stay, $1,000 in spending money and balcony accommodations on a three- to eight-day cruise departing from the associated homeport. Participants can also win one of 600 “instant prizes,” which include an invitation to the U.S. debut of the Carnival Vista in New York in November, Visa gift cards, and various Carnival logo items and branded merchandise.

To participate in the giveaway, travel agents must visit the line’s travel agent Internet portal, GoCCL.com, and enter each FIT booking they make during the sweepstakes period. With each valid booking, agents are entered into a drawing for one of the three grand prizes which will be announced on or around February 19, 2016. Each booking also qualifies agents to participate in an interactive scratch-off game where they may win one of the 600 “instant win” prizes.

Visit GoCCL.com

norwegian cruise lineNorwegian Cruise Line's "Free at Sea" Deal

In conjunction with the cruise line's new brand campaign, "Feel Free," Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a new "Free at Sea" deal, which gives guests who book a new cruise vacation through April 10 up to $1,600 in added benefits.

Guests who book a new five-day or longer sailing in any category stateroom on sailings more than 30 days prior to departure can select their preference of four offers, including a free Ultimate Beverage Package, a free Specialty Dining Package, free $50 per port shore excursion credits in up to four ports, or a free 250 minute Wi-Fi package. Guests who book a suite or The Haven by Norwegian will enjoy all four free offers. 

Guests who book a new seven-day inter-island Hawaii cruise more than 30 days prior sailing through April 29, 2017, aboard Pride of America in any stateroom category will be able to select one of four offers to enhance their cruising experience, including a free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, a free Specialty Dining Package, free pre-paid gratuities for the first and second guest in the stateroom, or a free $50 per port shore excursion credits in up to four ports. Guests who book a suite aboard Pride of America will receive all four offers.

Visit www.ncl.com/specials-and-promotions/choice

crystal serenity"Book Now" Savings From Crystal Cruises

In luxury news, Crystal Cruises is offering special Wave Season savings for guests who book by the line's February 29 "Book Now" deadline. Two-for-one cruise-only "Book Now" fares start from $1,485 per person, representing a savings of up to $5,435 per person. Additionally, limited-time Book Now Savings between $400 and $4,550 per person are also available. Guests booking by February 29 can also enjoy: 

  • Exclusive Crystal Society savings of up to $5,435 per person for returning Crystal guests; plus, additional New-to-Crystal Savings of up to $4,350 per person for our first-time cruisers on the line's Full World Cruise
  • Complimentary select fine wines, champagne and premium spirits.
  • Complimentary gratuities for all dining, bar, housekeeping and Penthouse butler staff.
  • Complimentary evening of specialty restaurant dining at least once in Silk Road or the Sushi Bar celebrating the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa, and at least once in Prego. Additional reservations or visits are available for a fee.
  • Complimentary enrichment via the Creative Learning Institute and the Computer University@Sea with classes in diverse topics such as world affairs, art, wine appreciation, digital photography and iPad filmmaking; free Wi-fi and Internet access.
  • Complimentary fitness programs with classes in yoga, mat Pilates, Spinning and more

Visit www.crystalcruises.com

seabournSeabourn's 2016 Signature Savings Event

Seabourn just announced its 2016 Signature Savings Event, offering savings and a variety of value-added amenities on a selection of voyages throughout 2016 and 2017.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced deposits
  • Complimentary veranda suite upgrades
  • Additional savings of up to 15 percent on Combination Voyages
  • $1,000 per suite shipboard credit for penthouse and premium suites   
  • $200 per suite shipboard credit on select Europe voyages

Seabourn's Signature Savings Event applies to select worldwide cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antarctica and Patagonia, Atlantic Crossings, Arabia & India, Southeast Asia, Canada & New England, the Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand

Visit www.seabourn.com

oceania cruisesOLife Choice Promotion From Oceania Cruises

On January 1, Oceania announced a new OLife Choice promotion, replacing the line's OLife Early Booking Advantage program. 

The OLife Choice promotion provides guests with a variety of complimentary amenities, including free unlimited Internet access and a choice of a beverage package, free shore excursions or a shipboard credit. The number of complimentary shore excursions offered and the amount of shipboard credit is dependent on the length of the cruise -- ranging from three shore excursions or a $300 credit for voyages up to nine days to five shore excursions and $500 credit for sailings 14 days or longer. The promotion is valid for six months and is scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2016.

The OLife Choice program is offered on all sailings departing on or after April 25, 2016 and is available to all guests, regardless of suite or stateroom category booked. 

Visit OceaniaCruises.com

silver cloudSilversea's All-Inclusive Mediterranean and Africa Packages

Finally, Silversea is offering all-inclusive fares on featured Mediterranean and Africa voyages in 2016. Guests can enjoy the following all-inclusive package amenities:

  • Roundtrip economy air travel and transfers
  • Two-night pre-cruise hotel stay (for Mediterranean sailings)
  • Three-night safari (for Africa sailings)
  • Free Silver Shore Select excursions
  • Free Wi-Fi (for all 2016 sailings to all regions of the globe)

The all-inclusive air, land, and sea packages are available for new bookings on three Silver Cloud voyages to Africa and the Indian Ocean, plus 30 Mediterranean cruises aboard Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, and Silver Spirit

All-inclusive packages include a two-night pre-cruise stay at a deluxe hotel in the Mediterranean with transfers between airport, hotel and the ship (or for Africa voyages, a three-night safari in Kenya or South Africa), and roundtrip international economy airfare from over 50 gateways in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, a business class air upgrade is also available from $999 for transoceanic flights each way for Mediterranean voyages and from $2,749 each way for Africa.

The Silver Cloud Africa and Indian Ocean voyages, departing November 18, December 6, and December 21, 2016, also include a three-night, pre- or post-cruise safari. From Mombasa, the safari includes air travel between Mombasa and Nairobi, one night at the Fairmont Norfolk hotel in Nairobi, and two nights at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. From Cape Town, the safari includes one night at a deluxe hotel, two nights at a Kruger National Park lodge, and flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Game drives with safari guide, ground transfers, and some meals are also included. The all-inclusive package fare for the 18-day sailing from Dubai to Mombasa, departing November 18 with calls in Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Mumbai, Cochin, Maldives, and Seychelles, starts at $11,850 per person, double occupancy, and includes a post-cruise safari.

Guests may also choose their own airline and schedule with cruise-only fares on new bookings for these select voyages -- and they will enjoy free Silver Shore Select excursions and free Wi-Fi. For example, cruise-only fares for a six-day voyage from Barcelona to Rome aboard Silver Spirit, departing April 26 to explore Sète, Sanary-sur-Mer, Monte Carlo, Livorno, and Olbia (Sardinia), start at $2,950 per person, double occupancy, with free shore excursions and free Wi-Fi included.
 
Visit Silversea.com/exclusive-offers/all-inclusive-2016

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