Celebrity's Black Friday Runs Through December 8
Impact
- Booking Window
- Lock in core savings through December 8, with an added early-booking bonus if reserved by November 10
- Savings
- Expect up to 75% off the second guest, plus limited-time dollar-off savings tiers
- Eligible Sailings
- Departures through May 10, 2028 across most itineraries and ships, including Celebrity Xcel
- Not Eligible
- Galapagos and Celebrity River Cruises are excluded
- What To Do
- Compare refundable versus nonrefundable fares, check OBC or instant-savings overlays, and book within your target window
Celebrity Cruises launched a month-long Black Friday promotion that runs now through December 8, offering up to 75 percent off the second guest's cruise fare and limited-time added savings for early bookers. According to the line, the offer spans departures through May 10, 2028 across hundreds of itineraries worldwide, with notable inclusion of voyages on Celebrity Xcel, which debuts later this month in the Caribbean. Travelers should note that Galapagos sailings and Celebrity River Cruises are not eligible.
Celebrity's offer, at a glance
The headline discount is a buy-one, get up to 75 percent off the second guest's fare, a structure Celebrity uses frequently for seasonal events and reprise sales windows. For this year's Black Friday cycle, the line is also layering a short early-booking window that advertises up to $700 in added savings when reservations are made by November 10, after which the core promotion continues through December 8. Travelers should expect the exact benefit to vary by sailing length, date, and stateroom type, and should compare live pricing on their preferred itinerary to confirm the net value on checkout.
Eligible dates, ships, and what's new
Celebrity states the promotion applies to departures from now through May 10, 2028, covering more than 600 voyages to 280-plus destinations. That range captures the inaugural season of Celebrity Xcel, the brand's newest Edge-series ship set to begin Caribbean service in November 2025 from Port Everglades. If you have a sailing in mind on Xcel or other ships, search the same cabin category across nearby dates since dynamic pricing and capacity controls can change the net savings day to day.
Exclusions and fine print that matter
As with other systemwide promos, not every product is included. Celebrity's offer language and current special-offers terms show exclusions for Galapagos itineraries and for Celebrity River Cruises, which operate under different fare structures and benefits. Savings overlays, onboard credit, and second-guest percentages can differ by refundable versus nonrefundable fare, and by region or market site. Read the live "Black Friday" and "Special Offers" terms before paying your deposit, and confirm whether any agency perks you plan to use are combinable.
Analysis
For travelers chasing maximum value, the strategic move is timing. If you are flexible and ready to commit, the early window through November 10 is the moment to target, since that is when the line is advertising the highest added dollar-off savings on top of the second-guest discount. If you need more time to coordinate schedules, you still have the core benefit through December 8, but compare itineraries across a few dates to offset any fare movement. For Xcel's debut season, inventory on marquee holiday and school-break weeks will be tight; booking sooner improves cabin and dining time selection. Background, how it works: cruise lines use promotional overlays that combine a percentage off the second guest with either onboard credit or instant savings. The math can vary by length and cabin, and the best "deal" is the one that lowers your actual checkout total for the itinerary you want, not the largest headline percent.
Final thoughts
Celebrity Cruises' Black Friday promotion is broad, time-boxed, and includes the launch season of Celebrity Xcel. If you want the early-booking cash savings, move by November 10; otherwise aim to finalize plans by December 8 and verify exclusions for Galapagos and river products. This Black Friday sale can meaningfully lower fares when you cross-check refundable versus nonrefundable options and confirm any stackable benefits at checkout.