Wave Season, the first quarter of each year, is a booking period when cruise lines offer some of the best discounts, and Princess Cruises has launched a promotion with great deals for couples, families and groups of friends.
Princess Cruises is offering up to 40% off fares on all cruises across its entire fleet during its 2026 Wave Season embarkation special. It also offers deposit discounts and other ways to save on sea vacations.
From now through February 16, passengers who book a cruise on any of Princess Cruises’ 17 ships, including Nova Princess, which debuted in November, and Sun Princess, a 2024 Sphere-class sibling, can save up to 40% off their cruise fares. They also receive up to $500 in instant savings, 50% off their deposit, and the third and fourth guests in the same cabin are free.
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Even better, guests can take advantage of onboard promotions on cruises to wherever Princess sails, with the ship sailing to 345 destinations on all seven continents. Popular options include experiencing Alaska’s glaciers and wildlife, island hopping on sunny Caribbean islands or Greek islands, exploring Japan’s vibrant culture, and visiting Europe’s most attractive coastal cities in the Mediterranean, British Isles and Baltic Sea regions.
Examples of global cruise deals
You can save big on a variety of Princess cruises. For example, Regal Princess sails from Fort Lauderdale (August 29, 2026) with seven-night, inside-cabin fares to the Bahamas in the Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale for as low as $544 per person. All fares are priced based on double occupancy. However, families or groups of friends sharing a cabin for four guests can enjoy an even bigger deal: the third and fourth guests sail free.
Here are other examples of cruises eligible for onboard promotions:
Caribbean Sea
In the Caribbean, Princess Cruises will offer seven-night sailings from the Western Caribbean to Mexico on Regal Princess sailing from Fort Lauderdale (May 16, 2026), priced at $549 per person for interior cabins and $729 per person for balcony cabins. Sun Princess also offers a seven-night Western Caribbean to Mexico cruise from Fort Lauderdale (November 29, 2026) priced at $584 per person for interior cabins and $764 per person for ocean view cabins. Other dates and fares for these trips are also available.
Alaska
If Alaska is a must-see, discounts are available on all scheduled flights to the 49th state. This includes a seven-night Alaska Inside Passage round-trip sailing from Seattle on the brand-new Star Princess (May 3, 2026). Prices are $924 per person for interior cabins and $1,589 per person for balcony cabins.
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RELATED: 3 Ways Princess Cruises Stands Out in Alaska
west coast of usa
Other cruises departing from the West Coast include shorter sailings along the Pacific Coast to longer round-trip sailings to Hawaii and Mexico. These include:
- Grand Princess’s four-night Pacific Coast cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver (May 2, 2026) is priced at $304 per person for an interior cabin and $394 per person for a cabin with a balcony.
- Ruby Princess’s 16-night Hawaiian Islands round-trip cruise from San Francisco (September 17, 2026) starts from $1,229 per person in interior cabin and $2,004 per person in balcony cabin.
- Ruby Princess’s 10-night round-trip Mexican Riviera cruise from San Francisco (October 3, 2026) starts at $649 per person for interior and $1,074 for balcony.
Europe
Do you prefer European and Mediterranean history and culture? Princess has seven-night Mediterranean and Aegean Sea sailings, return from Rome on Enchanted Princess (June 23, 2026), with balcony rates starting from $902 per person.
Other offers include:
- Sun Princess seven-night Italy and Turkey Mediterranean itinerary, Rome to Athens (May 22, 2026), prices start at $1,094 per person inside cabin
- A 12-day round trip to the British Isles, France and Belfast on Majestic Princess from Southampton, UK (April 19, 2027), interior prices start at $1,580, balcony prices start at $2,127
Discounted fares are also available for other European sailing dates.
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Japan
Japan remains a popular destination for cruise ships, and Princess has expanded its presence in the region, with Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess set to offer more than 100 sailings in 2026 and 2027. Sapphire Princess’s seven-night round-trip sailing to Japan and South Korea from Tokyo (May 29, 2027), fares are $1,144 per person for interior cabins and $1,789 for balcony fares. Prices for the 10-night Japan Explorer cruise (round trip from Tokyo on the Diamond Princess) start at $1,329 per person for interior cabins and $2,529 per person for cabins with balconies.
Fares include all taxes and fees
In addition to discounts during embarkation specials, Princess now includes taxes, fees and port fees in all advertised cruise fares. In other words, the price listed is what you’ll pay before adding extras such as gratuities or the optional Princess Premier and Princess Plus beverage, meal and Wi-Fi packages.
Passengers can also receive instant savings of up to $100 per cabin on quick getaways of four to five nights; up to $200 per cabin on sailings of six to eight nights; and up to $500 per cabin on sailings of nine nights or longer.
Guests can also enjoy a 50% discount on the deposit required by Princess Cruises when booking a cruise during the Embarkation Special promotion.
Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer Mary Lee acknowledged that wave season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for cruise enthusiasts and said Princess is excited to offer customers the best deals possible. “Whether you are a loyal guest who has sailed with us before, a first-time cruiser ready to discover the magic of the ocean, or a multi-generational family planning a special vacation together, our ‘Onboard Special’ makes it easier than ever to make those dream adventures a reality,” she said.
Unique onboard facilities and experiences
The Princess Cruises fleet consists of 17 ships divided into four classes, accommodating 2,000 to 4,300 guests.
The two newest classes – Sphere (Sun Princess and Star Princess) and Royal (Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Enchanted Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess and Discovery Princess) – have the largest ships and the most complete onboard bars and restaurants.
Sphere-class ships can carry 4,300 guests and have the most suites. Known as the Sanctuary Collection, these suites have access to the exclusive Sanctuary Club pool deck and Sanctuary restaurant. Sun Princess and Star Princess are also the only cruise ships to feature “Spellbound by Magic Castle,” an interactive cocktail and illusion experience that can be booked for an additional fee, and “The Dome,” a glass sphere containing a swimming pool, relaxation terrace and entertainment space.
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Princess, a fleet of six Royal-class ships, can accommodate approximately 3,600 guests and is known for its multiple swimming pools and spacious outdoor decks. (The main pool is where “Movies Under the Stars” is shown.) Plus, there’s the glittering Plaza, the ship’s social hub.
Princess Cruises also has seven older Grand Princess ships (Grand Princess, Crown Princess, Caribbean Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess) that can accommodate approximately 2,600 guests. There are two smaller Coral-class cruise ships (Coral Princess and Island Princess), which can carry 2,000 guests.
The Come Aboard promotion ends on February 16 and is open to residents of all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda and Washington, D.C. Cruise owners can find more details and exceptions on the Princess Cruises website.
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