TL;DR
- Six major cruise lines are running Black Friday campaigns ending between 24 November and 17 December.
- MSC’s kids-from-£99 deal, Celebrity’s 75% off second guests, and Princess’s £1pp deposits are worth knowing about.
- Many clients don’t realise promotions combine loyalty discounts with promotional savings and onboard credit.
- UK cruise passengers hit a record 2.4 million in 2024, market projected to reach £3.55 billion in 2025.
Last week, we covered Black Friday travel deals across the board. This week, we’re zooming in on cruise—because there are quite a few offers running right now, and they work differently than straightforward holiday discounts. Clients often find the options a bit overwhelming, which is where having someone who understands how things combine becomes genuinely helpful.
The Six Campaigns Running Now
MSC Cruises
Up to 50% off 2026-2027 sailings, plus kids from £99pp. Southampton departures are included. £100pp deposits. MSC Voyagers Club members get an additional 5-10% off, so it’s worth checking if a client has sailed with them before.
P&O Cruises
Savings up to £300 per cabin. There’s also a 10% early booking discount, 20% off drinks packages, and third and fourth guests sail free on select sailings. All UK departures, no flights needed.
Princess Cruises
Up to 50% off cruise fares, instant savings up to $800, and complimentary third and fourth guest fares. £1pp deposits available for advance bookings, which can be helpful for clients planning well ahead.
Celebrity Cruises
Up to 75% off second guests and up to $800 extra savings for bookings made by today, 24 November. This covers more than 600 voyages departing through May 2028. The 75% off second guest is one of the steepest couple-focused discounts available right now.
Ambassador Cruise Line
25% off selected 2026-2028 sailings with 15% deposits instead of the usual 20-25%. Adults-only, no-fly cruising from Tilbury, Portsmouth, and Belfast.
Cunard
Up to 40% off and up to £300 onboard credit, plus reduced 50% deposits on 145 voyages. The winter 2027/28 programme includes two full world voyages: 111 nights on Queen Anne and 113 nights on Queen Elizabeth, both departing January 2028.
Worth Knowing: The UK Cruise Market
UK cruise passengers hit 2.4 million in 2024—a 5% increase over 2023 and well above 2019 levels. Three things are driving this:
Younger cruisers: The average age dropped from 57 in 2019 to 54.3 in 2024. Cruise is attracting a broader range of ages than it used to.
First-time cruisers: 31% of passengers in the last two years were sailing for the first time. These clients often appreciate guidance because they’re still working out what questions to ask.
Repeat bookings: 85% of UK cruisers say they’ll cruise again, and 60% plan to within two years. Once you book someone their first cruise, there’s a decent chance they’ll come back to you for the next one.
Growth destinations worth noting: Asia, especially Japan, is up 96% in 2024. The Canary Islands are up 31%. If a client mentions they’ve already done the Mediterranean, these could be fresh suggestions.
How Offers Combine
Many clients don’t realise these promotions layer together. Here’s how it works:
MSC: The Black Friday 50% off combines with MSC Voyagers Club’s 5-10% discount, plus the all-inclusive upgrade option from £29pp per night.
P&O: The 10% early booking discount combines with 20% off drinks packages, free third and fourth guests on select sailings.
Princess: The 50% off cruise fare combines with instant savings up to $800, complimentary third and fourth guest fares, and the £1pp deposit option.
Celebrity: The 75% off second guest combines with up to $800 extra savings if booked by today, 24 November.
When you walk through how these work together, the total value often increases quite a bit—sometimes from around £300 to closer to £600. That kind of clarity tends to build trust with clients.
ATOL Protection Worth Mentioning
With 65 flight cancellations and 1,824 delays across Manchester, Amsterdam, Paris, and Brussels this past weekend, clients have been asking more questions about what happens if things go wrong.
All of these cruise packages are ATOL protected, which means if the cruise line or operator fails, client money is fully protected by the government. Given what happened over the weekend, this kind of reassurance seems to be landing a bit differently than it might have a few weeks ago.
Payment Terms That Help
Lower deposits can make it easier for clients to commit without feeling rushed:
- MSC: £100pp deposits
- Princess: £1pp deposits on select sailings
- Ambassador: 15% deposits instead of the standard 20-25%
- Cunard: 50% deposits, reduced from usual terms
When a client says they need more time to think about it, being able to say “You can secure your cabin today for just £100 per person” often helps move things forward naturally.
A Few Conversation Angles
Here are some ways clients have been responding recently:
“Have you seen the MSC kids-from-£99 offer?”
This one’s been helpful for families. It’s straightforward and ends 7 December.
“Celebrity’s doing 75% off second guests—is there anyone you’ve been wanting to travel with?”
This shifts the conversation from “should I cruise?” to “who should I bring?” which often feels less pressured for clients.
“Cunard just released their 2028 world voyages—are bucket-list trips something you’re thinking about?”
This helps you understand quickly if someone’s interested in premium travel. If they say yes, you’ve found a substantial booking. If they say not yet, shorter European sailings work as a natural alternative.
What the Industry Is Saying
Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises VP of International Sales, called this “by far the best Black Friday offer we’ve ever launched, with savings across thousands of sailings in 2026 and 2027.”
Andy Harmer, CLIA UK Managing Director, noted: “We’ve hit a new milestone. With an increasingly younger demographic onboard and more ships in the global fleet, the future of cruising has never looked brighter.”
Beverley Hindmarsh, Ponant Group Deputy CEO, observed that “luxury sailings are attracting a new strain of clientele,” which aligns with data showing 13% growth in luxury cruise bookings among Advantage members.
Travel Weekly UK spoke with independent agents last week who mentioned that Black Friday 2025 campaigns have been stronger than in previous years, with agents who reach out proactively seeing noticeably better response rates.
Agent Advantage Insight
These Black Friday cruise offers run through mid-December at the latest. The combination of strong discounts, stackable promotions, and record-high client interest in cruising makes the next two weeks worth paying attention to. Clients appreciate when someone takes the time to explain how things actually work, and that kind of care tends to be remembered.
