Deals to Be Found During Wave Season!

Wave Season! Travel agents are familiar with this term, but how many cruise consumers know its meaning? Wave season, is the travel agent's favorite time of year. Historically, most would not relate the winter months to waves and beaches and good times. But to the sellers of cruise travel, the winter season is the time when business picks up and people are planning their summer and fall vacations. "Wave" season is January through March. It propels vacationers toward packed ships in the summer months they can only dream about now. It's a great time to plan ahead and purchase their cruise vacation, because the cruise lines like to take full advantage of the peak buying time. Eager to encourage those on the fence, promotions often abound during this time of year. Early February is an especially nice time to check in with your cruise agent, as many cruise lines will offer a Valentine's special that may not have to be redeemed until later in the year. However, a word of warning in my observations of the travel industry of late. If you are looking for specific accommodations, ships, and pricing, things are "achanging". Planning ahead is key. The recession allowed people to find last minute deals. It changed their mind set to wait for the price to drop lower instead of planning ahead. The analysts are predicting the travel industry to pick up in 2011. When I check pricing for my clients, I usually find the further out they plan, the better price they get. The pendulum is swinging back toward getting better deals by planning in advance. Make sure you don't miss the wave!