Key Aspects:
- Holland America Line’s Black Friday weekend sale saw a major jump in bookings.
- The premium cruise brand beat its best record by 19%, set in 2023.
- Value-added perks include fare discounts, low deposits, and other perks.
Holland America Line has done it again, posting double-digit gains in advance bookings during its 2025 Black Friday weekend sale.
The 11-ship line shattered its all-time record-high set in 2023, recording a robust 19% jump in reservations during the Black Friday weekend promotion, which ran from November 28, 2025 to Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. The sale continues through December 4, 2025.
Offered on most voyages now through October 2027, the special deals include significant fare savings and perks, including up to 30% off base fares, crew gratuities, 50% reduced deposits starting at $25, and free or discounted fares for the third and fourth guests sharing a stateroom.
“This holiday season, we are seeing guests prioritize the experience itself in booking travel, looking for leisurely vacations that build connections and create shared memories,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line.
“Breaking Black Friday records again tells us people value the carefully crafted journeys we create and the award-winning ‘best service’ at sea we deliver,” Bodensteiner added.
Smashing the 2023 record is an accomplishment, but looking back, that year, too, was a record-breaker, with a Black Friday-to-Cyber Monday booking blitz that was 23% higher than 2022.
Equally as impressive, the line in 2022 exceeded pre-pandemic booking levels for Black Friday promotions, receiving 20% more reservations than the same promotion period in 2019.
Cruise Line Says Alaska Is In High-Demand
As the trend toward holiday promotions grows, cruisers in 2025 definitely took full advantage of what Holland America Line, a premium-level Carnival Corporation brand, offered. The cruise line pointed to robust guest enthusiasm for Alaska cruises and cruisetours in 2026.
Read Also: What is the Best Time of Year to Cruise Alaska?
The popular cruisetours combine a sailing with a land stay in Denali National Park.
Looking at some of the Black Friday offerings, a 7-day Alaska Explorer cruise onboard Eurodam offers a starting fare of $1,429 per person for an inside cabin. Departing at the height of the season, on July 11, 2026, the ship sails roundtrip from Seattle and calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point.
Additionally, Black Friday bookings saw gains in Caribbean reservations along with other destinations.
In the line’s 2026 Europe cruise series, for instance, a September 12, 2026 departure onboard Nieuw Statendam offers a 7-day Norwegian fjords and Scandinavia voyage roundtrip from Rotterdam. Port calls include Stavanger, Oslo, and Skjolden, Norway, and Skagen, Denmark. Fares start at $1,319.
Other cruise lines flooded the market with Black Friday sales, too. Another premium brand, Virgin Voyages, offered an 80% reduced fare for the second guest in a stateroom and a bar tab credit up to $400.
Mainstream lines also tempted cruisers with major discounts. Norwegian Cruise Line offered a 50% fare cut on all itineraries, while Royal Caribbean’s Black Friday sale provided free fares for the third and fourth guests in a cabin, plus other savings on cruise extras.
