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If thoughts of next year’s vacation have you yearning to cruise, Black Friday deals are a great way to solidify your plans early and bag a bargain while you’re at it. Many lines are offering Black Friday cruise sales that feature fare discounts, free Wi-Fi and drinks, “kids sail free” offers, cabin upgrades and other perks and bonuses.

With cruise deals, Black Friday offers aren’t quite as enticing this year as in 2020, 2021 and 2022. That’s because cruises have been selling exceptionally well in 2023.

It’s easy to be swept up in offers that tout what appear to be great markdowns — either a set amount of money off or percentage discounts — but the fares might not be as discounted as you’re led to believe. Always make sure you’re comfortable with the final price and what you’ll be paying per person, per night, before you book any voyage.

Check back often. We’ll update this article as new deals roll out.

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Get to know the Big Muddy next spring with this Black Friday offer from American Cruise Lines. The line is extending savings of $1,000 on Mississippi River sailings in February and March 2024. Plus, they’ll toss in complimentary airfare. This deal is bookable Nov. 24-27 and valid on all Historic Mississippi River (round-trip from New Orleans) and Lower Mississippi River (from Memphis to New Orleans and reverse) itineraries.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like on a river cruise in the United States, now might be the time to find out. From Nov. 22-27, American Queen Voyages passengers can snag up to $2,500 off fares for select 2024 voyages and free round-trip airfare when they book a sailing on American Queen, American Countess or American Empress. Choose from cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Snake and Columbia Rivers.

If you’re looking to save on a river sailing, Avalon Waterways is knocking $500 off cruise fares, including gratuities in the price and throwing in free round-trip airfare from certain U.S. gateways. This Black Friday offer is good for select 2024 Europe river cruise bookings made through Nov. 28.

Azamara

Azamara is offering significant savings this Black Friday. Book any cabin on select Australia, Asia, Europe, South Africa or South America voyages departing in 2024, and you’ll score a two-category upgrade (or a 20% discount on your fare if you book a suite) plus $1,500 in onboard credit. That means you can book a balcony room for the price of an inside or a deluxe balcony for the price of an outside. This opportunity won’t stick around for long, though. Cruisers have until Dec. 1 to take advantage of it.

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Celebrity Cruises

Cruising is more fun when you bring a friend. Through Dec. 5, Celebrity Cruises is giving you 75% off a second cruise fare when you buy one at regular price for any voyage departing through April 30, 2026. That means you can choose to travel at the last minute or plan a bit more in advance. You’ll also receive as much as $300 in onboard credit, based on sailing length.

Black Friday is a relatively new concept for Costa Cruises, which has only recently begun to make its presence known in the North American market. This year, the line is offering passengers fares from as little as $399 per person for cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America booked through Dec. 4.

Crystal

Crystal, which made a triumphant comeback in 2023, is extending a discount for new passengers in honor of Black Friday. New-to-Crystal cruisers will receive up to $250 per passenger ($500 per cabin) in onboard credit when they book select voyages through 2024 by Dec. 10.

If a traditional ocean-liner experience is more up your alley, check out this offer from Cunard. Book one of nearly 200 select sailings departing in 2024 and 2025 by Dec. 4 and take up to 40% off cruise fares. Passengers who reserve a cabin as part of this promo will also receive up to $1,000 in onboard credit based on room type. Prices start from $799 per person.

Disney Cruise Line

Although Disney Cruise Line rarely runs Black Friday-specific offers, it’s discounting select sailings into June 2024 from New Orleans, Galveston, Port Canaveral (near Orlando) and Fort Lauderdale. Passengers who book one of these three- to eight-night voyages will save anywhere from 20-30% on fares for guarantee cabins. That means you won’t get to select your specific room, but you’re guaranteed to get one in the category you select or higher.

Through Nov. 30, your booking with Emerald can net you up to $2,250 per person ($4,500 per couple) off Europe and Southeast Asia river cruises along the Danube, Rhine, Mekong and other waterways. You can also save up to $3,000 per person ($6,000 per couple) on yacht sailings in the Caribbean. This offer is valid when you book select voyages for 2024, and it can be stacked with the line’s two-for-one fares.

Holland America

Now through Dec. 1, you’ll save up to 30% on Holland America cruise fares for select voyages setting sail through 2025. The line is also rolling crew gratuities in with the price — a savings of more than $100 per person. Plus, with this promotion, you can choose to upgrade to the line’s “Have It All” premium package. It includes Wi-Fi, beverage packages, specialty dining and shore excursions for a discounted rate, compared with purchasing those add-ons individually.

Hurtigruten is featuring up to half off its impressive repertoire of expedition voyages in honor of Black Friday. Secure your cabin before this deal expires on Nov. 30, and you’ll save up to 50% on sailings to the Galapagos, Antarctica, West Africa and other destinations. This offer is good on select cruises departing through March 31, 2024.

Margaritaville at Sea

Through Nov. 26, Margaritaville at Sea, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s partnership with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand, is offering sailings from $89 per couple — less than $45 per person — for two-night sailings. Additionally, anyone who books as part of the promotion will receive up to 30% off prebooked shore excursions and dining, beverage and Wi-Fi packages.

This Black Friday, MSC Cruises passengers will have Wi-Fi and drinks included in the price they pay when they book a sailing by Nov. 24. Plus, they’ll receive up to $500 in onboard credit, based on cabin type, and kids sail free as the third and fourth passengers in a cabin when sharing it with two paying adults. This offer is applicable to cruises departing through 2024. Use promo code BLACK FRIDAY SALE when booking.

Norwegian Cruise Line

When Norwegian Cruise Line passengers book by early December, they can take advantage of the line’s earliest and longest-running Black Friday sale ever. It’s extending discounts of up to 50% off prices for voyages on all ships, including the new Norwegian Viva. Want even more perks? This offer is stackable with Free at Sea selections, which feature extras like complimentary Wi-Fi, drinks and shore excursions.

Through Dec. 5, cruisers can save up to $5,400 on Oceania cruise fares with the line’s Best-Ever Black Friday Sale. To make it even more enticing, you’ll also receive two-for-one cruise fares, free round-trip airfare and free airport transfers. Wi-Fi, beer, wine and shore excursions are also rolled into the price. This promotion is available on more than 100 sailings in 2024.

Princess Cruises is giving cruisers the chance to save up to 50% on cruise fares, snag 50% off deposits and bring third and fourth passengers for free when sharing a cabin with two full-fare passengers. This offer is available through Nov. 30, and it’s good on select sailings departing in 2024 and 2025. It can also be combined with the line’s Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, which roll extras — like Wi-Fi, gratuities and beverage packages — into the cruise fares.

Royal Caribbean

As part of its Early Access Black Friday Sale, family-friendly cruise line Royal Caribbean is discounting sailings by up to $700 and tossing in an additional 30% off for good measure when you book by Dec. 4. If that’s not quite enough, kids 12 and younger sail free when they’re the third and fourth passengers in a cabin shared with two paying adults.

Through Nov. 30, Scenic passengers can save up to $15,000 per cabin ($7,500 per person) on select yacht-style ocean sailings on Scenic Eclipse when sailing to destinations that include the Arctic, Antarctica and Japan. If you’re in the market for a river cruise, passengers can save up to $5,000 per cabin ($2,500 per person) on voyages along the waterways of Europe and Southeast Asia. These offers are valid on 2024 voyages and can be combined with the line’s two-for-one fare offers.

Seabourn

Thinking of taking a luxury cruise next year? When you book select Seabourn sailings through summer 2024 as part of the line’s “Black Friday Sail,” you’ll snag money off fares across the entire fleet, including expedition vessels Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. Choose from the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Arctic, the Caribbean and other itineraries by Nov. 27, and you can look forward to a 50% reduced deposit, up to $2,000 per cabin in onboard credit (depending on room type) and a two-category Veranda Suite upgrade (subject to availability).

Small-ship operator Sea Cloud, which runs one of the few passenger sailing ships that still operate the sails by hand, is offering up to $2,000 per person ($4,000 per cabin) off a handful of cruises through March 2024 in addition to up to $2,000 per person in flight credit, depending on voyage length. Until further notice, book a sailing on either the line’s Sea Cloud I or Sea Cloud II, and choose from itineraries that include destinations like Martinique, the Dominican Republic, Barbados and St. Maarten. Although the offer isn’t listed on the line’s website, interested travelers who call to book can ask about it or go through a travel agent.

This year, Uniworld’s 12 Days of Christmas event offers passengers discounts and perks, including 50% off cruise fares. A different deal will be announced each business day for 12 days, beginning on Black Friday, Nov. 24. Additionally, under a separate offer running through Jan. 31, 2024, travelers can save up to $3,000 when they book their cruise and air together.

Virgin Voyages

If you’re up for something fresh and lively, consider booking a Virgin Voyages sailing by Nov. 30, and you’ll earn yourself up to 30% off, plus up to $600 in bar credits, depending on sailing length. This offer is valid for all sailings departing through Dec. 31, 2024.

Windstar Cruises, a major player in the French Polynesia cruise space, is presenting cruisers with a “Thankful for Travel” offer, running Nov. 21 through Dec. 1. The promotion will allow you to “pick your perk” from a selection of a free pre- or post-cruise hotel stay with transfers to or from the vessel, up to $1,000 in onboard credit (depending on voyage length and cabin type) or an all-in package that includes Wi-Fi, a drink package and gratuities (for higher-end cabins and suites only).

Check with your favorite travel agency

In addition to booking directly through your cruise line, you can also reach out to a travel adviser. Agents have access to the same great deals the lines are offering, but sometimes they can throw in a few more extras, such as free bottles of wine or onboard credit. Before booking anything directly, it might be worth a phone call.

For any cruise deal, run the numbers to see if you’re better off booking directly with the cruise line, a travel agent or with an airline cruise vacation specialist. United Cruises, for example, frequently offers additional incentives for passengers to book through its portal. At the time of publication, cruisers who have Premier status with United could take advantage of perks like free bottles of wine, spa credit and bonus United miles when they book a sailing with select lines through United Cruises.

American Airlines Cruises has a similar portal that allows you to enjoy perks like waived deposits and bonus AAdvantage miles.

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