If Alaska, the Caribbean, or a relaxing getaway has been sitting on your travel wish list, today is a good day to pay attention.

We have several important cruise deals and cruise news updates for September 8, 2026. Holland America just opened its 2028 Alaska season, Princess Cruises has a promotion ending today, and Holland America’s own Labor Day deal ends tomorrow.

Norwegian Cruise Line is also continuing its savings offers with Free at Sea.

And honestly? The best cabin, sailing date, and itinerary combination may not be available later.

Here’s what I’m watching at ITS Travel Services in Flushing, Michigan.

1. Holland America Opens 2028 Alaska Bookings (and the itinerary choices are impressive)

Holland America Line opened public bookings for its 2028 Alaska cruise season on August 27, 2026.

The new program includes sailings from 7 to 18 days aboard six ships:

• Oosterdam
• Noordam
• Eurodam
• Koningsdam
• Westerdam
• Zaandam

Travelers can choose from departures in Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, and Whittier, depending on the sailing.

That gives you a lot more flexibility than simply searching for “Alaska cruise” and clicking the first result.

You can review Holland America’s official Alaska cruise information for current itinerary details, ports, cruisetours, and departure options.

The big Oosterdam news: Holland America Evolution arrives in Alaska

The reimagined Oosterdam will make its Alaska debut as the first ship featuring Holland America’s Evolution transformation.

The updates are designed to give the ship a refreshed feel while adding several new cabin and public-space options, including:

• New Solo Verandah staterooms
• Bridgeview Suites with forward-facing views
• A refreshed Grand Dutch Café
• Updated staterooms and public areas

That could be especially interesting for solo travelers, couples wanting a newer-feeling ship, and guests considering an Alaska cruisetour.

A cruisetour combines the cruise with land travel, such as hotels, transportation, rail travel, and time exploring Alaska’s interior. In other words, it’s a cruise-and-land vacation package instead of a cruise by itself.

New scenic cruising through Nootka Sound

Another standout piece of Holland America’s 2028 Alaska program is first-time scenic cruising through Nootka Sound on select itineraries.

Nootka Sound is on Vancouver Island’s west coast, known for rugged shorelines, forests, and dramatic coastal scenery.

It will appear on select:

• 14-day Great Alaska Explorer itineraries
• 16-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer sailings
• 18-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer sailings

Let me be straight with you: scenic cruising is not the same as a port call.

You may not get off the ship to shop or take a traditional excursion. Instead, the ship slowly moves through the area while you enjoy the scenery from the deck, your balcony, or a comfortable lounge.

For many repeat Alaska cruisers, that is exactly the appeal.

You get more quiet viewing time and fewer rushed port days.

A rare 11-day San Diego-to-Alaska option

One of the most unusual new routes is an 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers voyage aboard Zaandam.

The sailing is scheduled to depart San Diego on April 29, 2028, and end in Vancouver.

Published highlights include:

• Glacier Bay National Park
• Juneau
• Ketchikan
• Wrangell
• Klawock
• Prince Rupert

This could be a smart option for travelers who would rather begin in Southern California than fly to Seattle or Vancouver.

Of course, you still need to price airfare, hotels, and transfers carefully. But avoiding an extra positioning flight can make a difference, especially if you are building a larger vacation package around the cruise.

2. Princess Cruises: Up to 40% Off and $99 Deposits End Today

If you have been waiting to book a Princess cruise, this is the urgent one.

The current Princess Cruises limited-time offer ends September 8, 2026.

The promotion includes, on select sailings:

• Up to 40% off
• Up to $300 in instant savings
• $99 deposits
• Free third and fourth guests on qualifying cruises

The offer applies across popular destinations, including Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, and Canada & New England.

Myth-busting: Is 40% off a flat discount?

No. “Up to 40% off” is the maximum advertised savings, not a guarantee that every cabin on every sailing will be discounted by exactly 40%.

The actual value can depend on:

• Ship
• Sailing date
• Stateroom category
• Cruise length
• Availability
• Number of guests in the cabin

And the $99 deposit lowers what you pay upfront today. It does not reduce the final cruise fare.

That can still be helpful if you want to reserve a popular Alaska sailing or a family vacation without putting down a larger deposit immediately.

But today is the deadline. If Princess is your jam, I would not wait until tomorrow to compare the actual numbers.

3. Holland America Labor Day Deal Ends September 9

You still have one more day to look at Holland America’s Labor Day promotion.

The Holland America Labor Day Deal runs through September 9, 2026, on select fall 2026 through spring 2027 warm-weather sailings.

The headline offer includes:

• Up to 40% off cruise fares
• $25 deposits
• Up to $400 onboard credit per stateroom

Eligible destinations may include:

• Caribbean
• Mexico
• Panama Canal
• Hawaii
• Pacific Coast
• Holiday sailings

What can onboard credit pay for?

Onboard credit is spending money attached to your reservation. Depending on the sailing and the promotion terms, it may be used toward eligible purchases such as:

• Shore excursions
• Drinks
• Spa treatments
• Specialty dining
• Other onboard purchases

Here’s the thing: the full $400 amount may not apply to every cabin or cruise length.

A shorter sailing may receive less credit than a longer voyage. The best way to compare is to look at the total trip value, not just the largest number in the advertisement.

4. Norwegian Cruise Line: Up to 50% Off with Free at Sea

Norwegian Cruise Line remains a strong option for travelers who want more bundled benefits.

The current Norwegian offers can include up to 50% off cruise fares on qualifying sailings, while Free at Sea adds popular inclusions to eligible reservations.

Norwegian’s Free at Sea package may include:

• Unlimited open bar for eligible guests
• Specialty dining meals
• High-speed Wi-Fi minutes
• A $50 shore excursion credit at each port for the first guest
• Additional benefits depending on the promotion and booking

Norwegian also offers Free at Sea Plus for an additional charge. That upgraded option can add unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, premium beverages, Starbucks drinks, prepaid service charges, and discounts on additional specialty dining.

Quick reality check

Free at Sea is not the same as absolutely everything being free.

Taxes, port expenses, service charges, airfare, travel protection, and certain premium items may still apply.

That is why I always recommend comparing the final trip cost, not simply the fare shown at the top of a search page.

Pro Tip: Book cruise deals with an agency, not just a search box

I understand why big travel websites are tempting. They are fast, familiar, and available at midnight when you suddenly decide you need an Alaska cruise.

But cruise bookings involve more moving parts than most people realize.

At ITS Travel Services, we help travelers in Flushing, Fenton, Grand Blanc, and throughout mid-Michigan compare the details that can affect the real value of the trip:

• Cabin location
• Deposit requirements
• Cancellation rules
• Onboard credit
• Drink and dining packages
• Flights
• Pre-cruise hotels
• Transfers
• Shore excursions
• Travel protection
• Cruise-only versus cruise-and-land vacation packages

I have seen travelers choose a lower advertised fare and later discover that the cabin location, inclusions, or payment terms did not fit what they actually wanted.

The best cruise deals 2026 offers are not always the cheapest number on the screen. They are the options that fit your budget, comfort level, schedule, and travel style.

Which cruise deal should you consider first?

Here’s my simple take:

• Choose Holland America 2028 Alaska if you want early access to longer explorer itineraries, Nootka Sound scenic cruising, or the transformed Oosterdam.
• Choose Princess Cruises if you can use the up to 40% off offer and $99 deposit before today’s deadline.
• Choose Holland America’s Labor Day deal if you are planning a warm-weather cruise between fall 2026 and spring 2027.
• Choose Norwegian Cruise Line if bundled drinks, dining, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion benefits are important to you.
• Consider a custom vacation package if you want to add flights, a hotel in Seattle, Vancouver, or San Diego, rental cars, or transfers before or after your cruise.

Promotions can change, and eligible cabins are capacity-controlled. Still, you do not have to make a rushed decision by yourself.

If one of these cruise deals caught your eye, send us a message through our Contact Us page. Tell us where you want to go, when you want to travel, and what matters most to you.

We’ll help you sort through the options with no pressure: just a friendly conversation about your next vacation.