Black Friday is not only a major retail sales event, but the cruise lines get into the action as well with their own set of deals and promotions.
Royal Caribbean has not revealed what its 2025 Black Friday deals will be, nor if we can expect any kind of Black Friday promotion.
While we wait to see what deals might be offered in 2025 here is a look back at the last few Black Friday offers to get a sense of what has been offered in the past. It is important to note that past promotions are not indicative of what might be coming this year.
What is Black Friday?
If you are unaware, Black Friday is a major sales event in primarily the United States, where there are major sales the day after the Thanksgiving holiday to kick off the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season.
Traditionally, retailers offer their best deals of the year on Black Friday in order to kick-start their best sales times, and you typically see crazy low prices on consumer electronics and other goods.
The cruise lines have gotten into the spirit of the event, by offering their own promotions. Cruise lines typically have their best offers in the early part of the year during Wave Season, but since so many consumers are looking for new sales, Royal Caribbean has offered some too.
Black Friday 2024
Royal Caribbean had a particularly lengthy series of sales that changed names a few times, but was effectively the same promotion.
It began November 8, 2024, and then continued through November 29, 2024.
- Beverage: Up to 50% off
- Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off
- Internet: Up to 55% Off
- Dining: Up to 50% Off
- Spa: Up to 30% Off Select Times
- Gifts & Gear: Up to 45% Off
- Photo Package: Up to 65% Off
- Onboard Activities: Up to 30% off
They also introduced Black Friday Bundles for the first time, which offered a combo deal on drink packages, wifi, and shore excursions.
Full Black Friday 2024 details.
Black Friday 2023
Royal Caribbean offered Black Friday deals in 2023 that began on November 9th and ran through November 24th.
- Beverage: Up to 50% off
- Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off
- Internet: Up to 55% Off
- The Key: Up to 40% Off
- Dining: Up to 45% Off
- Spa: Up to 30% Off
- Gifts & Gear: Up to 45% Off
- Photo Packages: Up to 65% Off
- Onboard Activities: Up to 50% off
Black Friday 2022
Royal Caribbean's Cyber Week Sale in 2022 ran between November 17 - November 22, 2022.
There was a 30% off every guest and Kids Sail Free offer.
The Cruise Planner sale ran between November 18, 2022 and November 25, 2022. It had:
- Up to 30% Off all access tour
- Up to 50% off beverage packages
- Up to 50% off shore excursions
- Up to 35% off internet packages
- Up to 50% off specialty dining
- Up to 20% off gifts and gear
- Up to 65% off photo packages
- Up to 30% off spa
Full 2022 Black Friday offer details
Should you wait until Black Friday to book a cruise?
If you want to get the best possible deal, your best bet is to actually book a cruise or cruise planner purchase now and rebook if the price goes down later.
There is no telling what Royal Caribbean's Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals will be in 2025, but the best strategy for getting the lowest price is to book now at current rates and then compare to thee new prices if/when a deal is announced later.
By booking now, you can lock in the current rates. If there is a better sale between now and Black Friday, you can always get a price adjustment.
Pre-cruise purchases for drink packages or excursions are easy to cancel and rebook to take advantage of a lower price.
Since you can take advantage of price drops later, you do not have to worry that you missed a better deal in the weeks leading up to Black Friday.
