Cruise lines have launched Black Friday offers to boost sales and support agents.
- APT & Travelmarvel offer discounted fares and onboard credits for early bookings.
- Azamara provides double upgrades and onboard credits in international markets.
- Celebrity Cruises incentivises agents with increased rewards for new bookings.
- Cunard promotes savings on luxury voyages with extra agent rewards.
In a bid to increase sales and assist their agent partners, some of the world’s leading cruise lines have introduced special offers for Black Friday. This global shopping event, originating from the United States as the day following Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the festive shopping season. It’s a unique opportunity for consumers to benefit from reduced prices and various incentives, not only in retail but also in the travel sector.
APT & Travelmarvel is extending a two-week flash sale, which includes discounted rates, free business class upgrades, €100 onboard credits, and the possibility of booking with a low deposit of £99. The eight-day ‘Reflections of the Rhine & Main’ river cruise, running from Amsterdam to Nuremberg, now begins at £1,695 per person, providing a saving of £600.
Azamara, known for its small-ship expeditions, offers double stateroom upgrades, $500 onboard credit, and up to a 15% discount on suites for select 2024 sailings. This offer caters to international markets between 15 November and 1 December 2023, covering exotic destinations across Australia, Asia, Europe, South Africa, and South America.
Celebrity Cruises has rolled out a new incentive programme for agents, timed alongside its Black Friday sales from 16 November to 5 December 2023. Agents stand to double their earnings through Celebrity Rewards when booking new trips. The client-focused deals include up to 75% off the second guest’s fare and a $600 onboard credit per stateroom, valid for bookings on itineraries until April 2025.
Cunard, offering double Shine points to agents, allows customers to enjoy substantial savings on a selection of voyages. This promotion runs from 21 November to 4 December 2023. Highlighted offers include Mediterranean voyages aboard luxury ocean liners like Queen Victoria, with prices starting at £499 per person.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines grants customers up to £300 off per person on a variety of cruises, alongside additional savings on select suites and single cabins. For instance, the 13-night winter cruise to the Canaries priced from £699 per person, available from 21 to 28 November 2023.
Holland America Line’s offer, valid from 17 November to 1 December, includes up to US$250 onboard credit per person on certain voyages departing from December 2023 onward, excluding specific grand voyages and those set for 2025.
Oceania Cruises is advertising what it calls its ‘best-ever’ Black Friday sale, with up to $5,400 savings per stateroom across over 100 itineraries slated for 2024. These voyages span a wide array of destinations, including the Mediterranean and Asia, with bookings taken from 14 November to 5 December 2023.
P&O Cruises entices guests with up to 20% Black Friday discounts on selected Early Saver bookings by 27 November 2023. These deals apply to journeys ranging from the Norwegian fjords to city escapes in Northern Europe, with available travel dates between 15 March and 30 November 2024.
Princess Cruises provides four distinct savings options, including £50 per person deposits and reductions in fares for numerous sailings. Guests may further obtain up to £300 off flights or up to $400 onboard spend per stateroom, applicable from 22 to 27 November 2023.
Seabourn’s Black Friday promotions offer amenities on nearly 400 voyages in 2024, including a two-category veranda suite upgrade and up to $2,000 shipboard credit per suite, valid until 27 November 2023.
Virgin Voyages delivers a sweeping 30% discount on all voyages booked from 16 November to 31 December 2024, with additional bar tab credits based on voyage length available for bookings made between 16 and 30 November 2023.
These Black Friday deals provide significant savings and incentives for travellers, fostering a strong collaboration between cruise lines and their agents.
