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The 13 best cruise deals for 2026, hand-picked by an expert
Sail away with some of these great savings at sea
It is not too late to grab a cruise bargain for this summer and beyond. Lured by iconic cities and beautiful beaches, an increasing number of travellers are choosing a cruise for their holiday – and you can still bag a bargain for this year and beyond.
Passengers are spoilt for choice, with several new ships now on the water. Royal Caribbean's latest Star of the Seas and Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady hit the water in August 2025, while Princess Cruises Star Princess launched last October. There will be a range of new cruise ships sailing away for the first time in the coming months such as Legend of the Seas and MSC World Asia.
Guests can choose from convenient UK departures with brands such as Celebrity Cruises, Princess, P&O Cruises and Disney Cruise Line. Alternatively, there are plenty of fly-cruise options to travel the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and beyond.
The cruise industry's traditional sales period – known as wave season – runs from January until the end of March but there are still decent deals available now. It is also worth keeping an eye on your favourite cruise line's website as deals can change regularly.
Here are some of the best cruise deals for wave season and beyond to catch a top cabin in 2026 or to plan ahead as far as 2028.
Best cruise deals 2026
Ambassador Cruise Line
Port parking is an extra cost to consider when departing from the UK. Bookings with Ambassador Cruise Line made until 27 May 2026 will include one free car parking space per cabin, or a free return coach journey. The coach will travel between Victoria Station in London and the port of Tilbury. Free car parking is available at Tilbury, Bristol, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Belfast, Dundee and Newcastle ports.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is offering up to 60 per cent off a second guest in the same cabin, plus European flights from £199 per person. The offer applies to eligible bookings made until 17 August 2026 on sailings until 30 April 2028 including on the cruise line's newest ship, Celebrity Xcel.
Cunard
Guests can enjoy a traditional taste of cruising with Cunard and enjoy up to $1,000 (£750) per cabin of onboard spending money. The amount of credit depends on the cabin you are staying in and the duration of the cruise. Credit ranges from up to $160 (£120) per person for an interior cabin to $500 (£375) for a Queens Grill suite. Bookings must be made by 1 June 2026 on eligible 2026, 2027 and 2028 sailings.
Explora Journeys
Luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys is offering savings of up to 30 per cent on fares, along with a reduced deposit of 10 per cent. The discount reduces prices on Rome to Barcelona sailings to around £3,000 per person for seven nights. Bookings need to be made by 26 May.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line has launched a "Fly and Cruise Caribbean" offer for its 2026/27 season. Guests booking until 31 August 2026 can get air credit worth £600 per person, a free one-night pre cruise hotel stay and free return transfers from the airport, hotel and ship. The deal applies to more than 120 Caribbean cruises sailing from October to April covering the eastern, western or southern Caribbean, as well as the Panama Canal, with select calls taking in Belize and Mexico. Holland America has six ships in the Caribbean for its Caribbean season, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Eurodam, Volendam and Zuiderdam, with itineraries ranging from seven to 21 days. Prices start from £899 per person.
HX Expeditions
HX Expeditions is offering 25 per cent off or a complimentary suite upgrade on its 2026 Antarctica departures to mark its 130th anniversary this summer. The expedition cruise line's Highlights of Antarctica sailing now starts from £7,576 per person, compared with £10,999 per person previously, on select departures between October and December 2026. The price includes all meals and select drinks, guided activities, tips, wifi, expedition gear and a professional photo log of your trip.
Marella Cruises
Marella is offering passengers savings of up to £300 per booking on selected sailings departing until 30 April 2027. Deals include a repositioning cruise from Gran Canaria to the Caribbean, departing on 26 April 2027 from £1,978 per person as well as sailings to mark the cruise line's 30th anniversary.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Fares are on offer from £699 per person on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sailings, including on the new Norwegian Luna. Guests booking a balcony can also get up to £250 of airfare credit per person towards European flights and can upgrade to NCL's "More at Sea" package for wifi, drinks and speciality dining from £249 per person.
Oceania
Culinary-focused luxury cruise brand Oceania, which recently launched a new ship Allura, is currently offering up to 50 per cent off on more than 150 sailings across 2026 and 2027. Offers include five per cent off 12 days aboard Oceania Allura's "Adriatics to the Balearics" sailing, departing 13 June 2026. Prices start from £4,469 per person. Guests need to book by 30 June 2026.
P&O Cruises
Guests on P&O Cruises sailings of five nights or more can access all-inclusive packages covering drinks, wifi and speciality dining credit. There are two packages to choose from. The Classic Package includes a wide selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, essential wifi for browsing and social media and either a £20 dining credit for sailings of five to nine nights, £40 for between 10 and 14 and £55 for sailings of 15 nights or more. It costs £49 per person per day. The Deluxe Package includes a wider range of premium spirits, craft beers and a variety of cocktails, ultimate wifi for streaming and video calls and £30 dining credit on five to nine night itineraries, £60 for 10 to 14 nights and £80 for 15 or more. The package costs £59 per person per day. The cruise line is also offering up to £800 onboard spending money on select European fly-cruise holidays departing up to March 2028. The bonus onboard spend is available for more than 400 select fly cruises booked by 1 June 2026. The amount varies by cabin type, cruise duration and date and is applicable to the first two guests in a cabin only.
Princess
Guests can get up to $1,000 (£735) of onboard cabin credit when booking a 2027 or 2028 sailing with Princess Cruises. Bookings can be made on routes from the UK, in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean on ships including the new Star Princess. The amount of credit depends on your cabin choice and the length of sailing but ranges from $100 (£75) for a six to eight day sailing in an inside cabin to $1,000 (£735) if you book 18 or more days in a suite. Bookings need to be made by 15 June 2026.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean regularly launches flash sales for short periods so it is worth signing up to its newsletters so you don't miss out. The cruise brand is currently offering up to £635 off European summer 2026 sailings including on Liberty of the Seas from Southampton and the new Legend of the Seas from Barcelona and Rome.
Virgin Voyages
Fans of Virgin Voyages can benefit from 80 per cent off a second "sailor" as well as a bar tab worth up to $300 (£223), depending on the length of the sailing. This includes a 12-night "Total Eclipse of the Med" sailing aboard Scarlet Lady, departing on 10 August from £2,574 per person.
