Why Now May Be the Perfect Time to Start Booking for 2028
2028 may sound far away, but in the travel world, it is anything but.
That’s why working with us at Passport & Duffel Bag Travel Co. should be an essential part of your travel planning process. We don’t just help you book, we guide you through the when, where, and how to book as well.
In the past 2 weeks, a significant number of 2028 ocean cruises, river cruises and destination itineraries have opened for booking, including Europe, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, South America and even around-the-world voyages. That doesn’t mean every 2028 vacation needs to be booked today. But for the right trip, starting early can make a huge difference.
The Biggest Advantages
Planning early often comes with significant savings when it comes to Ocean Cruising, River Cruises, Suite accommodations. Only that’s not the only advantage. Often, it’s also about having more options. That can mean preferred travel dates, better stateroom or suite availability, itinerary choices, and access to private guides or limited-capacity experiences. For a flexible getaway, that may not matter much. For a milestone trip, bucket-list vacation or high-demand itinerary, it absolutely can.
2028 Travel Is Already Opening in a Big Way
It’s that time of year, when major cruise lines begin releasing their deployment schedules so early planners can take advantage of their options.
Celebrity Cruises is right in the middle of its 2028–2029 rollout. Europe, Japan, Bermuda and Canada & New England are already open, and Alaska, Hawaii and South America opened September 1. Celebrity’s Europe season will be its largest ever, with eight ships sailing the region and new ports including Alexandria, Egypt; Bari, Italy; Galway, Ireland; and Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Australia and Winter Asia are scheduled to open September 29, with the Caribbean and additional destinations still to come.
Norwegian Cruise Line recently opened more than 450 Summer 2028 voyages across 20 ships, departing from 25 homeports and visiting nearly 150 destinations in 51 countries. The new season includes Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Canada & New England, Bermuda, Hawaii and the South Pacific, with an increased focus on longer port stays and overnight visits.
Holland America Line has been steadily opening its 2028 inventory as well. Its Europe season is already available and includes the line’s highest number of European port calls in nearly a decade. Just last week, Holland America opened its 2028 Alaska season with cruises ranging from 7 to 18 days, including a new San Diego-to-Vancouver itinerary and select voyages cruising through Nootka Sound for the first time. Its 2028 Grand Voyages are also open, including a 129-day Grand World Voyage roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale with an Antarctic experience.
Princess Cruises opened its 2028 Alaska season in August, giving travelers another major Alaska program to begin comparing while availability is still fresh.
Virgin Voyages is taking a completely new direction in 2028. For the first time, the adults-only cruise line will sail Scandinavia and the Baltics from Amsterdam. The new season includes Norwegian Fjords itineraries and an Arctic Circle voyage reaching as far north as Honningsvåg, Norway, with Valiant Lady crossing the Arctic Circle during the Midnight Sun.
Disney Cruise Line has also just announced its Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 itineraries. Early booking began August 31 for eligible Castaway Club members, with general booking opening September 8. The new schedule includes sailings from New York, Vancouver, San Diego, Galveston, San Juan, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Disney’s newest homeport in Singapore.
And it isn’t just ocean cruising.
AmaWaterways already has 2028 river cruise departures available, including itineraries on the Rhine, Rhône and other European rivers. Travelers can begin comparing dates, itineraries and stateroom categories well ahead of departure.
Avalon Waterways has also begun releasing 2028 European river cruises, including Rhine, Rhône and multi-river itineraries, along with select themed departures.
Tauck is continuing a significant expansion of its river cruise fleet. The new ms Harmonie will debut on France’s Rhône River in 2028, and travelers can already reserve preferred 2028 itineraries and departure dates while final details and pricing are being completed. By 2028, Tauck says its river cruise capacity will have increased by more than 50% compared with the beginning of its current fleet expansion.
Uniworld has already opened its 2028 river cruise collection with eight new European itineraries and new ships joining its fleet, including the S.S. Clara and S.S. Helen. One of the new options is an ambitious 30-day journey from Amsterdam all the way to Bucharest on the Black Sea.
AMADEUS River Cruises is expanding into an entirely new destination in 2028 with the debut of AMADEUS Douro. The 111-guest ship will be the company’s first vessel dedicated to Portugal’s Douro River, sailing between Porto and the Spanish border from March through November.
The amount of 2028 river cruise inventory already appearing is particularly noteworthy because these ships are much smaller than their ocean counterparts. With fewer staterooms on each departure, travelers who want to be selective about a specific river, itinerary, travel season or stateroom category can benefit significantly from having more inventory to choose from.
We’re also seeing world cruises and extended voyages opening particularly early, which isn’t unusual given the amount of planning involved. In addition to Holland America’s Grand World Voyage, Oceania Cruises already has its 180-day 2028 Around the World voyage aboard Oceania Aurelia, traveling from Miami to New York and visiting 88 ports in 35 countries across six continents.
Which Trips Are Worth Planning Early?
Some vacations benefit more than others from getting an early start.
World Cruises & Extended Voyages
Long, complex itineraries with limited stateroom availability often open years in advance and require more planning than a typical vacation.
Polar Expeditions
Antarctica and Arctic expeditions have limited seasons, smaller ships and fewer departures. The best itinerary, ship and cabin choices can make planning well ahead especially worthwhile.
Cruise Suites & Specialty Staterooms
Ships may have thousands of staterooms but only a handful of certain suites, connecting rooms or specialty categories. If your accommodations matter, selection matters.
River Cruises
Smaller ships mean fewer staterooms, particularly on popular itineraries and during high-demand seasons like Christmas Markets.
Seasonal Destinations & Events
Galapagos, Alaska, Japan during cherry blossom season, European Christmas Markets and other seasonal trips have specific timing and itinerary considerations that make planning ahead especially valuable.
Group & Milestone Trips
When you’re celebrating something important or finally taking a trip you’ve dreamed about for years, having more choices—and more time to plan it well is worth starting early. Planning ahead also gives us an opportunity to lock in group discounts and perks for your group before you are ready to start booking.
Planning Early Doesn’t Mean Booking Everything Now
Cruises may open years in advance, while airfare, transportation, and excursions do not. Starting early gives us time to determine what should be booked now, what should wait and what is worth watching as additional options are released. Sometimes the best advice is to book early. Other times, it’s to start planning now and wait for the right time to make the reservation. Knowing the difference matters, and that’s one of the many benefits of working with us.
So, Is it too early to book 2028?
For some vacations, yes. For a major trip where your dates, itinerary, accommodations or experiences really matter, absolutely not! If there’s a cruise, European vacation, river cruise or milestone trip on your 2028 wish list, now is a good time to reach out to us to get the conversation started. At Passport & Duffel Bag Travel Co., we help travelers sort through the options, decide which details matter most and determine when it makes sense to book—and when it makes sense to wait.
Planning ahead can give you the opportunity to make a great trip into an absolutely phenomenal one.
