Cruise lines have joined the Black Friday rush, with savings of up to 80 per cent now live across a dozen major brands — covering everything from £319 Caribbean escapes to Antarctic expeditions and no-fly sailings from UK ports. The offers typically run until early December, and while the industry's big booking window (wave season) doesn't kick off until January, experts suggest snapping up a deal now rather than waiting.
On the luxury end, Explora Journeys is cutting up to 40 per cent off bookings made by 1 December — its newest ship Explora III has an eight-night Miami to San Juan sailing on 6 December priced at £2,990 per person, down from £4,600. Silversea is offering up to 45 per cent off more than 850 voyages until 7 December, including a 10-night round trip from Southampton in June 2027 from £5,460, with a full day in Newhaven to watch the Tour de France set off. HX Expeditions marks its 130th anniversary with an extra 5 per cent off cabins and 10 per cent off suites, bringing its Highlights of Antarctica sailing down to £7,443 from £10,999 — with meals, drinks, guided activities, tips, wifi and kit all included.
Family-friendly and mainstream lines are where the biggest raw discounts sit. Virgin Voyages is giving 80 per cent off a second passenger plus a $600 bar tab and $300 onboard credit on more than 400 sailings bookable until October 2028 — a 14-night April 2028 transatlantic repositioning from Miami to Morocco and Spain starts at £872. Celebrity Cruises has up to £1,000 off between 19 November and 1 December on departures until April 2029, stacked on top of its existing 75 per cent off the second guest, with an 11-night Greece sailing from £625. MSC is offering up to 30 per cent off (20 per cent in the Yacht Club) until 8 December, including a seven-night Easter 2027 trip from Galveston at £319. Norwegian has fares from £599 across nearly 600 sailings including new ship Norwegian Luna, with its drinks, wifi and dining package from £249 extra.
Closer to home, P&O Cruises is dropping prices by up to £500 per cabin on Caribbean, fjord and Mediterranean sailings booked by 1 December — a 14-night Canary Islands and Madeira fly-cruise on Azura starts at £949. Princess has up to £600 off more than 1,400 voyages in 2027 and 2028 until 2 December, including nine nights on Alaska aboard the new Star Princess from £669. Royal Caribbean is running flash deals worth up to £755 off, with third and fourth guests from £99, on a fleet including new ship Legend of the Seas — a seven-night Med sailing starts at £1,250. Ambassador offers onboard credit tiers scaling from £25 to £800 depending on cabin and trip length, Oceania has up to 50 per cent off 100-plus 2027 sailings, and Riviera Travel is cutting 20 per cent off European river cruises such as an eight-day Douro trip from £1,329.
The practical takeaway: deals vary by line and change often, so check dates (most expire between late November and 8 December), compare second-passenger discounts against flat fare cuts, and book direct alerts if you have a specific ship or route in mind. Deep discounts on 2027 and 2028 sailings make this a good moment to plan well ahead.
