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Cruise lines unleash bevy of Black Friday sales

PHOTO: VIRGIN VOYAGES CRUISE_Virgin_Voyages_Thanksgiving.jpg
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are timed to the US Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 26
Cruise lines are rolling out special deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, following the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

Here is a sample selection.

NCL's best deal of the year

Norwegian Cruise Line said its Black Friday sale offers the brand's best deal of the year. In addition to 30% off the fare, passengers will be entitled to all five 'Free at Sea' offers including free open bar, specialty dining, shore excursions credits, Wi-Fi and discounted rates for friends and family. The Black Friday offer is available on all departures, all itineraries and all published voyage dates from 2021 through NCL's newly released 2023 itineraries.

Virgin Voyages' on-board credit

From Nov. 26-30, Virgin Voyages' Thanksgiving promotion offers on-board credit that may be applied to 'splurge-worthy experiences.' The offer is $100 per cabin for sea-view and insider categories, $200 for sea terrace cabins and $400 for rock star and mega rock star quarters.

HAL's free Wi-Fi package and gift card bonus

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 1, Holland America Line will give a free premium Wi-Fi package for all new bookings and a special bonus gift card with all gift card purchases. The free Wi-Fi applies to the first and second passenger in any stateroom category for winter 2021 through summer 2022 itineraries (excluding grand voyages).

Cruisers who purchase a $500 gift card will receive an additional $50 bonus gift card. A $1,000 gift card comes with a $100 bonus card, and the purchase of two $1,000 gift cards means a $200 gift card bonus. Those who book during the Black Friday sale can purchase gift cards and apply them to the booking for greater savings.

The sale also features complimentary specialty dining, beverage package, gratuities and more from the current 'Save Now, Cruise Later' promotion, putting the value of the combined offers at up to $2,300 per stateroom.

MSC Cruises USA

Customers of MSC Cruises USA can get up to $1,400 in value on 2021 cruises in the Bahamas and Caribbean, Mediterranean or Northern Europe, for bookings from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. With up to $600 off the line's best fares, up to $200 on-board credit and up to $600 in additional savings with 'Kids Sail Free,' a family of four can score great value as they plan their 2021 cruise and choose from three-, four- and seven-night sailings in their own backyard or in Europe.

Plus, travelers have the flexibility to cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure with Total CruiseFlex and move their booking to any voyage sailing through Dec. 31, 2021.

Regent's $500 shipboard credit

Regent Seven Seas Cruises travelers can get a $500 shipboard credit per suite when they book select 2021 Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings between Nov. 16 and 30. The credit may be used for Regent Choice shore excursions or treatments at Serene Spa & Wellness.

Azamara's thank you

Azamara's ‘Thank You Sale’ offers up to $1,000 in on-board credit, plus a complimentary two-category stateroom upgrade on select sailings for bookings made between Nov. 19 and Dec. 5. This combines the line's 2020 ‘Double Upgrade’ offer and past summer promotions. Eligible sailings are from March 20 to Sept. 29.

Seabourn savings 

Seabourn is providing savings on select voyages from summer 2021 through winter/spring 2022 on every ship in the fleet, including the line’s first purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Venture.

Travelers who book by Dec. 1 can receive $1,000 shipboard credit per suite for ocean-view and veranda suites, $2,000 per-suite credit for penthouse and premium suites, a veranda for ocean-view suite upgrade and a three-category veranda suite upgrade. Reduced deposits, based on the market, are USD $250, CAD $250, GBP £200, EURO €200 and AUD $350.

The Black Friday offer may be combined with promotions, including 'Early Bonus Savings,' extended to Feb, 1, and travelers who pay in full by Feb. 1 will get an additional 10% off the base cruise fare.

Hurtigruten gives travel advisors the advance

Hurtigruten Americas is giving North American travel advisors the exclusive opportunity to provide clients with early access to their biggest sale of the year, offering up to 50% off select 2021-2022 itineraries. Through Dec. 2, travel advisors can help clients make travel plans with this limited-time deal and a discounted deposit of $500 per person.

Some featured itineraries include 'Alaska and British Columbia — Wilderness, Glaciers and Culture,' departing May 31 and June 24, 2022, 'Disko Bay — The Heart of Greenland,' sailing June 25, July 10 and 25 and Aug. 9, 2022, round-trip Iceland.

Hurtigruten's Book With Confidence program offers risk-free cancellation for new bookings for 2021 and 2022 voyages, and the line has partnered with Uplift to provide travel advisors and their customers with new and more flexible ways to finance their future voyages.

Celestyal savings and 'Hero's Discount'

Celestyal Cruises is offering a discount on select 2021 and 2022 all-inclusive voyages booked through Nov. 30. Fares start as low as $399 per person, double occupancy, and include free COVID-19 medical travel insurance coverage on qualifying dates. Children also sail for free and there is a reduced single supplement of 15% for solo travelers.

For first responders and healthcare workers Celestyal is offering a special 'Hero’s Discount' of up to 30% off current all-inclusive fares for bookings made through March 31, for three-, four-, seven- and 14-night 2021 or 2022 departures. This is available to qualifying first responders such as firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians, healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and pharmacists and back office medical staff and their immediate family members traveling together in the same stateroom.

Scenic $500 bonus savings

At Scenic, North Americans making a new booking between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6 for any 2021 or 2022 European river cruise (except Portugal) will receive an additional $500 per suite/stateroom savings. This may be combined with current offers including free premium economy flights for sailings of 11 or more days and free economy flights on eight- to 10-day itineraries and business class air for only $1,995 per person.

Paying in full within 14 days reduces the fare by $500 and all bookings come with the new Book with Confidence program, providing additional flexibility, and a free Deposit Protection Plan (value $125). Also, deposits are reduced 50%.

Emerald Waterways

Scenic sister company Emerald Waterways’ Black Friday deal applies to all 2021 and 2022 European and Southeast Asia river sailings. Bookings between Nov. 18 and Dec. 4 qualify for an additional $300 per couple savings on cruises of eight to 14 days or $600 per couple on sailings of 15 days or longer.

These savings are combinable with offers including, for all Europe cruises, a choice of up to free, round-trip air or a savings of $2,500 per couple depending on length of sailing. For Southeast Asia, travelers can choose from free, round-trip air or a savings of $2,000 per couple. Travlers get an extra 10% savings when paying in full 12 months before their cruise.

Riviera River Cruises

Riviera River Cruises' North American office is offering deals on 2021 departures of its three newest European itineraries on the Seine, Danube and the Dutch waterways and Rhine River. Departures are available from $1,999 per person, double occupancy, for standard cabins and suites. Bookings must be made between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1.

For example, 'Amsterdam, Cologne and the Best of Holland & Flanders' and 'Vienna, Bohemia & Treasures of the Danube' are priced starting at $1,999 for 2021 departures, while 'The Seine, Paris & Normandy' cruise is available for $1,999, $2,499 or $2,999 depending on 2021 departure date. The offer is capacity-controlled and subject to availability and may not be combined with any other offer.