It’s "Wave Season" in the cruise industry, the busiest booking season of the year traditionally lasting from January to March. This year's Wave Season is rolling in with bigger sales and better deals than ever. If you’ve been thinking about taking a cruise, now is the time to take advantage of fabulous savings on sailings to a wide variety of exciting destinations.

Carnival Cruise Line is offering a new "Fun4All" sales event providing free best available upgrades on virtually all 3- to 12-day Carnival cruises through December 18, 2009. Only bookings made by January 23, 2009 are eligible. The sale is capacity controlled and only new individual bookings for categories 4A and higher are eligible. Request fare code PFF when booking your cruise for "Fun4All" upgrades. In addition, Carnival just announced a program called Early Saver, offering rates up to 25% lower than the best generally available fares and rate protection if prices later drop below the price you paid. The Early Saver rates start January 12, 2009, and can be booked up to 3 months prior to sailing for cruises of 5 days or less and up to 5 months in advance for longer cruises, subject to availability. For more information, contact your favorite travel agent, visit www.carnival.com, or call 1-800-CARNIVAL.

Norwegian Cruise Line is ringing in the year with its "Freestyle Resolution" promotion, giving guests free onboard spending credits of $30 to $500 per stateroom for cruises booked by February 1, 2009. The credit amount depends on the stateroom category booked and the length of the cruise. In addition, Norwegian is offering unbelievable deals on upcoming cruises. For more details, call NCL at 866-234-5647, visit their website at www.ncl.com, or contact your travel agent and mention the PGWAVE booking code.

To help cruise vacationers get away despite current economic woes, Holland America Line has implemented a Vacation Stimulus Package. The promotion offers significantly lowers fares and eliminates fuel supplements as long as crude oil stays under $70 a barrel. In addition, cruisers departing after May 1, 2009, get 50% off their deposits and save up to 25% on cancellation protection. For more information and details on updated special offers, contact your favorite travel agent, visit the cruise line’s website at www.hollandamerica.com, or call Holland America at 877-932-4259.

Disney Cruise Line is making it easier than ever for families who have wanted to take a Disney cruise vacation to sail this winter and spring with their "Kids Free" special offer on three-night cruises departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Guests 12 and under can sail free on three-night voyages aboard the Disney Wonder when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests within the same stateroom. This offer is valid for most sailings from Jan. 22 to May 28, 2009, and covers a variety of stateroom categories. To get complete details, contact your travel agent, visit www.disneycruise.com/kidsfree or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Mention booking code "FREE" when making your reservation.

Kids ages 17 and under cruise free on all sailing on MSC Cruises this year, and the line is offering some additional tremendous deals on upcoming cruises. Vacationers can save almost 50% on selected MSC Lirica 10-night itineraries on bookings made by January 31, plus they will receive a shipboard credit of $50 per person. Cruisers can also save up to 50% on Caribbean sailings when booked before May 1, as long as at least one person in the stateroom is at least 50 years of age or older. In addition, MSC Cruises is offering a free balcony upgrade on selected Europe sailings (expires 2/28/09) and a Senior Saver deal (expires 10/31/09) with discounts of more than 60% off the retail rate. Contact your travel agent for more information, visit www.msccruises.com, or call MSC Cruises at 800-666-9333.

Royal Caribbean wants vacationers to plan to set sail as soon as possible with their “ASAP – Amazing Ships, Amazing Perks” program. Book your cruise by January 19, 2009 and receive up to $200 shipboard credit on selected sailings as well as 50% off cruise deposits. The cruise line is offering great rates on close-in sailings as well. For more information, call your travel agent, visit www.royalcaribbean.com, or call Royal Caribbean at 866-562-7625.

Princess Cruise Line is holding a Balcony Bonanza promotion on cruise bookings made by February 28, offering savings of up to $1200 per couple on most cruises and special pricing on inside staterooms. In addition, Princess has some great deals on cruises leaving soon, such as March 7-day Caribbean sailings on the Caribbean Princess. Rates for these March cruises start at $499 per person for an inside cabin. For more information, visit www.princess.com, call Princess Cruises at 800-774-6237, or contact your travel agent.

For more suggestions on getting your best cruise deal, check out the links below.