Another major cruise line is out with an early Black Friday deal that brings big savings

Celebrity Cruises is the latest cruise line to bring out a Black Friday deal well in advance of the popular shopping day.

The line’s new Black Friday promotion, which debuted Friday, will let you bring a companion on a cruise for just 25% of the amount it would normally cost — as long as you put down a deposit in the next 21 days.

The buy-one-get-one-75%-off promotion brings a 75% discount on the second person staying in a cabin for most Celebrity sailings booked by Dec. 1.

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In addition, as part of the offer, customers can get up to $200 per cabin in onboard credit when booking.

Celebrity’s Black Friday deal

The offer is available for nearly all Celebrity sailings scheduled to depart between December 2022 and April 2025.

Among the caveats:

The offer isn’t available for sailings in the Galapagos.
Only fares that come with a nonrefundable deposit are eligible for the 75%-off savings.

Cruisers who book refundable deposit rates are still eligible for a discount on the fare for the second person in a cabin as part of the promotion but only at a 60% discount.

Note that nonrefundable deposit bookings canceled prior to the date when the final payment is due are eligible for a refund in the form of a future cruise credit, minus a $100-per-person service fee.

Onboard credit

‘The onboard credit available with the promotion is $200 per cabin for cruises of 10 nights or longer. Passengers booking sailings of six to nine nights will get a $100 credit per cabin.

Sailings of three to five nights bring a credit of $50 per cabin.

Related: This single Amex offer could cover half the cost of your cruise

Discounted fares

Including the 75% discount on a second passenger in a room, fares available during the promotion start at $168 per person for a three-night cruise. Seven-night sailings start at $599 per person, including the 75%-off discount.

Celebrity’s Black Friday deal is launching just two days after rival Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled a similar early Black Friday offer that will let you bring a companion on a cruise for free.

The offers come amid heavy discounting by a number of lines for close-in sailings, in particular. Some lines in recent weeks have offered fall cruises for as little as $26 per day, and one line this week was selling seven-night Europe sailings for just $180. That’s not per day, but for the entire cruise.

Other lines have been promoting soon-to-depart cruises in recent weeks by throwing in free tours worth thousands of dollars.

The offers have prompted many travel industry watchers to say cruising is the best value in travel right now.

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