Wave Season Deals on Small-Ship Cruises
By Anne Kalosh.
Wave season — the cruise industry’s annual peak booking period when lines extend their best offers — is drawing to a close.
It’s been suggested that wave season, typically January to March, is muted this year because some companies don’t have the marketing funds or are holding off until there’s more certainty about when ships will sail.
But a number of lines do have deals out there that will expire Feb. 28 or later (see specifics to follow).
So time is running out for travelers to lock in savings on a future trip now.
Here are some of the wave season deals available in the North American market:
Uniworld’s 30 Percent Savings
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and U by Uniworld are offering savings up to 30 percent on select dates and itineraries when bookings are made by March 31. Plus, travelers who purchase flights through Uniworld will receive an additional $500 per person in savings and a private car transfer from the airport to the ship.
The line’s elegant vessels provide a sophisticated, all-inclusive experience. Trips eligible for the savings include “Milan, Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy,” 10 days from Milan to Venice. Travelers will explore northern Italian vineyards and discover the breathtaking architecture of canal cities like Venice and Burano. Fares start at $2,379.
The elegant.look of a grand suite on Uniworld’s Venice-based La Venezia. * Photo: Uniworld
Also eligible: “Splendors of the Nile,” 12 days from Cairo, with access to the Temple of Karnak, Luxor, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings. The voyage is priced starting at $3,849.
And “Enchanting Danube,” eight days from Budapest to Passau, Germany, traverses highlights in Eastern and Western Europe. Fares start at $2,099.
As for U by Uniworld, a river-cruise brand targeted at younger travelers, savings apply to itineraries like “Amsterdam and Brussels Bound,” eight days from Brussels to Amsterdam. The voyage sails along the Rhine through the Netherlands and Belgium.
U by Uniworld vessels are immediately recognizable by their black livery. * Photo: U by Uniworld
Travelers will explore Dutch and Belgian cities via bike, sightseeing with locals and tasting the delectable food. Fares begin at $1,749.
Biking is a popular way for U by Uniworld travelers to explore European cities. * Photo: Uniworld
“Eastern European Escape,” eight days from Vienna to Belgrade, explores the vibrant atmosphere of Vienna, Budapest’s dramatic architecture and the picturesque landscapes in between. The trip is priced from $1,749.
And during “Vienna Vibe,” eight days from Nuremberg to Vienna, travelers will sail along the Danube to discover Germany and Austria though edgy public art displays in Linz, bike rides in Bavaria and cooking classes in Vienna. Fares start at $1,959.
U by Uniworld is designed to appeal to younger travelers, Here, a lounge on board. * Photo: Uniworld
On-board Credit From Riviera River Cruises
Riviera River Cruises is dangling on-board credits of up to €400 per cabin as part of their wave season deals. The offer is available for new bookings made through Feb. 28.
The line fields 20 itineraries on 10 European rivers and waterways, including dedicated departures for solo travelers with no single supplement. Riviera’s fleet of 12 vessels is one of Europe’s youngest.
Riviera River Cruises is offering on-board credit applicable to purchases aboard its vessels. Here, George Eliot. * Photo: Riviera River Cruises
“Everybody enjoys having a little extra to spend during their cruise,” said Riviera’s Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president sales and marketing North America. “On-board credit can be used to pay for everything from drinks in the lounge and restaurants to massages in the spa, souvenirs from the boutique or even gratuities.” (One exception: gratuities on Douro River cruises.)
On-board credit of up to €400 per cabin (€200 per person, double occupancy) is available on select 15-day cruises, while credit of up to €200 (€100 per person, double occupancy) is offered for select eight-day cruises.
RELATED: The Best European River Cruises for Solo Travelers. By Heidi & Ted.
Emerald Waterways’ Savings For Europe 2022
Emerald Waterways‘ wave season deals include new experiences for 2022 on Europe’s rivers including an extended stay in Amsterdam during a range of Rhine itineraries; a special, once-in-a-decade excursion to Amsterdam’s Floriade Horticulture Expo; and five-day Christmas markets cruises on the Rhine, Danube and Rhône.
Travelers who book by Feb. 28, 2021, can save up to $2,000 per couple or get discounted round-trip airfare of $295 per person.
Those paying in full 12 months in advance of sailing will receive an additional 10 percent off when booking panorama balcony suite categories C and above.
Emerald Waterways’ travelers who book a panorama balcony suite in categories C and above get extra savings when paying in full 12 months before sailing. * Photo: Emerald Waterways
For those who like to explore independently, city stays can be added before or after most Emerald sailings. New for 2022, Amsterdam joins Berlin, Prague, Paris and Madrid on the list of available cities.
On a selection of Rhine cruises, passengers can extend the trip with two nights at a hotel in the heart of Amsterdam. Daily breakfast and transfers to and from the airport are included. The eight-day “Jewels of the Rhine” sailing with Amsterdam stay is priced starting at $4,320.
Travelers on select Rhine sailings and Amsterdam city stays will have the chance to visit the Floriade Horticulture Expo, a spectacle that takes place every 10 years between April and October. The Floriade features a spectacular greenhouse complex, a cable car, pavilions with sustainable innovations and a vibrant arts and culture program.
Emerald’s eight-day “Holland and Belgium in Bloom” itinerary, which also pays a visit to the famed Keukenhof Gardens during the tulip bloom, is available from $3,395.
Christmastime cruises afford the opportunity to visit a new Christmas market or Christmas-themed event each day. Emerald will increase its selection in 2022 with five-day itineraries on the Danube, Rhine and, for the first time, the Rhône, for those seeking a shorter getaway.
The five-day “Christmas in Southern France” cruise visits markets large and small bursting with Provençal traditions. Fares start at $1,645.
Emerald Waterways’ add-on city stays give more time to explore independently. * Photo: Emerald Waterways
American Cruise Lines’ $1,000 Savings
American Cruise Lines’ wave season deals include savings of $1,000 per stateroom on select 2021 spring and summer sailings.
Among the choices are eight-day “Cape Codder” cruises round-trip from Boston aboard American Constitution, the line’s newest, 175-passenger coastal ship. The itinerary includes an exclusive visit to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Before the discount, fares start at $4,790. An optional new Four Seasons pre-cruise package is available.
Also eligible for the savings are eight-day “Music Cities” cruises between Memphis and Nashville aboard the new American Jazz, debuting in March as the line’s third modern-style riverboat. Pre-discount rates begin at $4,295. Included is a complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay from either departure city.
American Cruise Lines’ modern-style riverboats, including American Jazz and American Harmony, sport an airy atrium and lots of glass for great views. * Photo: American Cruise Lines
And travelers can save on eight-day “Columbia & Snake Rivers” cruises aboard American Harmony, the modern-style riverboat that began sailing in 2018. Fares start at $5,550 before the discount. A complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay is included.
Savings are available on “Cape Codder” cruises aboard coastal ship American Constitution. * Photo: American Cruise Lines
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