Smart Tips For Black Friday Travel Deals In 2025
Get the Biggest 2025 Black Friday Travel Savings.
By Amanda Mesa | Published on September 23, 2025
Every November, shoppers flock to brick-and-mortar and online shops to take advantage of Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals. Heavily discounted items run the gamut — from clothing, toys and household items to electronics, appliances and even cars. Material goods aside, this iconic day is also an opportunity to score the best Black Friday travel deals for your next vacation getaway. To simplify the process and your search for savings, here's some useful advice for hatching the ultimate cyber travel deals game plan.
Key Takeaways
- ● Black Friday is one of the best times of year to score huge savings on cruises, flights, hotels and vacation packages.
- ● Before booking the best black Friday travel deals, start by defining your travel goals and budget so you can act fast when the right deal appears.
- ● Stay flexible with destinations and dates to unlock extra discounts and hidden value.
- ● Use tools like spreadsheets to compare offers and keep your planning stress-free.
- ● Always read the fine print carefully so you know exactly what’s included before booking.
- ● Look for and secure your favorite Black Friday cruise destination right here.
Black Friday Travel Deals: An Overview
Black Friday isn’t just about snagging flat-screen TVs. It’s also one of the best times of year to score unbeatable travel deals. From cruise lines and airlines to hotels and excursions, discounts can be massive. The only worry is that they disappear fast. If you’re hoping to set sail for less, be ready to pounce the moment you spot a bargain.
The first step in planning a vacation is figuring out how to get to your destination. You'll want to assess what's available, your most affordable options and what makes the most sense for your family. If you're traveling with small kids, for example, you may want to avoid connecting flights. When planning a romantic getaway, you may not want the stress of a long drive. A cruise makes all traveling eventualities easy and fun. After all, you only have to unpack once. This leaves you only having to consider how you'll get to your departure port.
Nabbing great Black Friday travel deals on cruises, flights and car rentals can make the vacation-planning process a breeze so you can focus on the fun stuff. That said, with so many options to choose from, navigating Cyber Monday or Black Friday deals on vacation travel can feel overwhelming. That’s why having a clear game plan before the sales begin can help you spot the best offers without missing a beat.
How To Snag The Best Black Friday Cruise Deals
Scoring the right bargain starts with a little strategy and a clear vision of your perfect getaway. The following three-step process tends to make the planning so much easier and quicker for most travelers:
Step 1: Define Your Vacation Goals Before Diving In
Cruise getaways remove much of the burden of planning, even if you still need flights or car rentals to get to your departure port. The best way to tackle Black Friday deals on travel is to know your goals before diving in. Before the big day, spend some time thinking about your ideal vacation. Ask yourself crucial questions like: Is it a couple's getaway or a family trip? You can usually find specific deals for saving on all kinds of travel vacation experiences.
For example, some cruise lines will sweeten the deal with Black Friday promotions where kids sail free. Others allow onboard credits for value-adding experiences, like a romantic couple's massage or specialty dining. Plus, many cruise lines will offer discounted airfare to and from departure ports.
Step 2: Choose Destinations With Savings in Mind
Next, think about where you want to travel: Are you after an exotic locale or a chillier climate.? Keep in mind that off-the-beaten-path places sometimes offer better value, with just as many interesting attractions or charm. Your mission is to compare a few tried-and-true cruise destinations to ensure perfect value for money.
If you’re set on a particular city, country or region, and even when you’re fairly open to whatever's available for the best price, approach this stage of your cruise planning by scrutinizing your overall savings potential. You may end up falling in love with a place (or places) you wouldn't have typically considered at first.
When dreaming of exploring the Mediterranean, or getting in touch with your adventurous side on a cruise to Alaska, Royal Caribbean offers several itineraries that sail out of different departure ports. The same goes for cruises throughout the Caribbean. All you have to do is pick the port with the cheapest flights and let the cruise take you there.
Step 3: Stay Flexible With Dates To Unlock Extra Discountst.
Once you land on your ideal vacation spot, consider how flexible your dates are. If you have some wiggle room in your travel dates, you may be able to nab more savings. Travel deals for last-minute, shoulder-season and midweek bookings are definitely a thing. Airlines, hotels and cruise lines often lower prices to fill unreserved or hard-to-book seats, suites and staterooms.
Scoring Black Friday Deals: Getting Down To The Business Of Booking
Once you've listed all the boxes your ideal vacation should check, it's time to find those great Black Friday travel deals, and explore your options. I recommend creating a budget and sticking to it while you're shopping for Cyber Monday or Black Friday travel deals.
Identifying Your Travel Needs
List the elements you absolutely have to book for your getaway: include airfare, a rental car or hotel accommodations to see what’s fully available to you. In choosing to cruise for your travels, you can likely knock at least two of those items off your list in one go.
Spreadsheets And Clever Budgeting
You could create a spreadsheet to house links to your pricing options. Then, you can quickly compare Black Friday travel deals and choose the one that feels most valuable to you. The spreadsheet can also act as a budget tracker, where you can add up what you've spent as you snag the best cyber travel deals for even more savings. When working with a travel advisor, you’ll enjoy the perks of a professional taking care of all the legwork for you, making deal-getting even easier!
After settling on your budget, draw up a short list of destinations that offer the kinds of experiences you want to have before Black Friday kicks off. This way, you can search for savings on travel to those places first, rather than falling down a rabbit hole of discounts when searching for Black Friday travel deals.
Cruising With The Family: Where More Can Truly Be Merrier
If you're traveling with kids, keep the stress down by choosing destinations you can easily reach on a short, direct flight or a quick drive. Consider the activities you'll enjoy with your kids once you get there, too. For a family with young children, an island-hopping cruise through the Caribbean that offers plenty of outdoor activities might be a better choice than a tour of France's iconic wine regions.
Cruising With A Loved One: Black Friday Deals For Two
This guide’s strategy also applies when planning a couple's getaway. There's nothing overly romantic about spending hours in a car trying to get to your destination, or having to hop from hotel to hotel. So, of course, cruising is a great option for lovebirds, too.
You can choose from scenic sailings across the South Pacific, the Greek Isles or Scandinavia's dreamy, dramatic fjords. There’s also a romantic cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean to consider. Luckily, you can usually find Black Friday travel deals on domestic and international flights, as well as cruises departing from ports around the world.
The Trick To Incorporating Flight Bookings
If you need to reserve flights for your final destination, have a list of booking engines ready to go, especially if you're trying to score Black Friday travel deals.
Alternatively, if you have a specific cruise in mind, call ahead and ask the cruise line about flight-booking services. Sometimes they have access to exclusive Black Friday travel package deals and special rates.
Top Tips For Winning At The Best Black Friday Travel Deals
All Black Friday offers can look amazing at first glance. The real value lies in what’s included and what isn’t. Taking a few extra minutes to understand the details can save you from surprise costs or disappointment later. Read the fine print before you choose your travel deal.
When shopping for Cyber Monday or Black Friday travel deals, pay close attention to any restrictions or limitations before booking. Some deals may include restrictions, such as non-refundable rates or a specific travel window. It's important to know what policies, if any, you're agreeing to before you purchase. Booking a non-refundable rate on airfare or hotels will often earn you heftier savings, as long as you’re aware you could be giving up the flexibility.
If you'd rather have the peace of mind knowing you can change or cancel your plans without penalty, it's worth spending a little more on a refundable option or an option that offers a future travel credit. Royal Caribbean checks all the boxes here. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can usually cancel up to 75 or 90 days prior to your cruise for a full refund outside your initial nonrefundable deposit.
Each cruise line also lays out all its terms and conditions in one easy-to-read FAQ page on its website. Take your time and familiarize yourself with these pages so you don't have to go searching frantically for the fine print when making a quick-fire Black Friday reservation.
Quick Facts To Help You Plan And Book Better This Black Friday
- ● Airlines, cruise lines, hotels and travel platforms typically release limited-time deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, often with some of the deepest discounts of the year.
- ● While not every destination or cruise itinerary is discounted, Black Friday often features flash sales, bonus perks (like onboard credit or free upgrades) and reduced fares that can be cheaper than booking at other times during the year.
- ● Black Friday is great for travel; it’s one of the best times to find deals across the travel industry, especially if you’re flexible with dates, destinations and departure ports.
Make The Most Of Black Friday Travel Savings
This year, consider adding an unforgettable getaway to your Black Friday shopping list. It's hands-down the best time of the year to score savings on airfare, hotels and cruises around the world. Finding the best Black Friday travel deals can be simple and stress-free with these expert tips.
By combining smart planning with a little flexibility, you can turn holiday sales and special Black Friday deals for travel into your dream vacation — for less! Chase sun-soaked Caribbean shores or explore Europe’s coasts; no matter your travel, cruise and destination style, the right Black Friday deal can make it happen. Explore Black Friday cruise deals with Royal Caribbean to make your next holiday a discount-friendly reality.
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