Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year – but does that apply to cruises too?
Well, every November, cruise lines roll out flashy “can’t-miss” offers that promise huge savings and free perks. But are they really as good as they look?
Before I became a full-time cruise blogger, I spent five years working in the marketing department at Cruise118, part of World Travel Holdings – the world’s largest retailer of cruises.
I saw exactly how these deals are created, so I know what’s genuine and what’s just clever marketing. Plus, I hand-source cruise deals every week, spending hours looking over the promotions.
So, should you actually book your next cruise on Black Friday… or wait for a better deal? Let’s find out.
The Truth About Black Friday In The Cruise Industry
Here’s the truth – there are always cruises with cabins that are hard to sell.
While the family cabins on the newest ships are selling out over a year in advance, there will always be be plenty of obstructed, oceanview cabins on older ships during the off-season that are tricky to fill.
So, cruise lines use traditional sale periods like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the January Sales to drop the prices on anything that might otherwise go unsold.
But… if that’s all they did, you’d notice, wouldn’t you? You’d be like: “Hmmm, why can I not find any August sailings on the Black Friday page?”
So what you’ll see, is sitewide offers like “Up to 75% Off The Second Guest” or “Save Up To £600 Per Cabin”.
Yes, those offers will apply to certain cruises. But they won’t apply to all of them.
That means that sometimes, if you book during the Black Friday Sales, you’ll get a great deal. But sometimes, you’ll pay exactly the same as you would have done in October.
The trick is knowing which is which – and that’s where a little insider knowledge helps.
What You Can Actually Save
Let’s be honest – cruise prices don’t usually fall off a cliff on Black Friday. You’re unlikely to find half-price cruises, but you can grab some great value if you know where to look.
Most cruise lines offer around 10–30% off, and they may also add bonuses like free drinks, onboard credit, WiFi or kids sail free.
Sometimes, those perks are worth more than a straight discount – especially if you’d have paid for them anyway.
For example, Royal Caribbean often runs “up to 30% off” plus a second offer like up to £250 off. Last year, Holland America Line offered savings of up to £800 per cabin, plus free upgrades. Princess Cruises offered discounts of up to £500 per cabin, plus free onboard spending money.
It’s important to note the phrase ‘up to’. If It says up to £800 per cabin, you can bet that you’ll probably need to book the top suite to save that much. The saving on an inside cabin will be much, much lower.
The best way to tell if you’re getting a true saving is to check the historical cruise prices before you book. If they haven’t changed much, then you’ll know it’s not actually a bargain. Unless, of course, you’re getting extra value added, like free onboard credit.
How To See Historical Cruise Prices
My favourite way to see cruise prices over the past 90 days is with Cruise Critic.
It’s easy. Just search for the cruise that you’re interested in, then scroll down to the Price Insight section.
Choose your cabin type and it will show what the price was price every day for the past 90 days, like this…
It will also tell you whether the price you see today is low, high, or typical, based on historical prices for the cruise. Like this…
When Black Friday Cruise Deals Are Worth It
Black Friday (and a couple of weeks leading up to the actual day) can be a brilliant time to book – but only if you find a good deal.
Not every Black Friday deal is good, but some of them are unbeatable. You can find real value, especially when deals include extras and not just discounts.
A free drinks package or £300 onboard credit can be worth more than a fare discount, especially if you’d spend that money on board anyway.
Travel agents may give extra discounts on Black Friday too. That could be an extra 5% off on top of the cruise line’s price, or something like a free case of wine or a Christmas hamper.
So, even when you’ve found a cruise you like, it can be worth shopping around to make sure you’re getting it for the best price and not missing out on any free gifts.
Expert Tips for Getting the Best Cruise Deal
Want to make sure you don’t miss a genuine bargain? Here’s how to stay one step ahead of the crowd.
1. Sign up for Black Friday alerts from Cruise Mummy
I’ll be watching every cruise line’s sale closely and listing them all in one place.
I’ll also share my handpicked Black Friday cruise bargains straight to your inbox so you can book the best ones before they’re gone.
Pop your email in the form above and I’ll email you as soon as the deals are out.
2. Be ready to book fast
Black Friday isn’t just one day in the cruise world. Cruise lines start releasing offers from early November, so by the time Friday 28th November rolls around, many of the best cabins may be gone.
Do your research ahead of time so that you have an idea of when and where you want to go.
And if you need to get your annual leave approved, put that request in now so that you’re ready to book as soon as you spot a good deal.
3. Double check it’s a good deal
Remember, perks are only perks if you’ll actually use them. So while free WiFi and drinks may sound great, if you wouldn’t have bought them anyway it may not be such a good deal.
When you spot a deal, be sure to use the Cruise Critic Price Tracker to see what the price was before the sale started.
The Bottom Line
So, should you book a cruise on Black Friday?
Yes! I do it every year and have gotten some great deals. But, don’t assume that every cruise is cheaper, just because it’s Black Friday.
Some deals are genuinely fantastic, especially when they include free perks or extra onboard credit. Others are just clever marketing with prices that haven’t really changed. The key is to compare, stay alert, and move quickly when you spot a real bargain.
I’ll be tracking every cruise line’s offers and sharing the best of the best. So if you haven’t already, sign up for my Black Friday cruise deal alerts to get my handpicked recommendations as soon as they drop.
Happy bargain hunting!
Related Posts:
- Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Back “Free at Sea” Ahead Of Black Friday Promo Period
- The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Cruise Deals
- Everything You Must Know About Cruise Drinks Packages Before You Book
Do you get good deals whilst on a cruise.
Sometimes, yes, the book onboard offers can be strong. But they’re not always. So just because you’re on board it doesn’t mean that you’re automatically getting a good deal. The best deals can be to stay onboard for the next cruise, if it’s not sold out.