Black Friday vs Cyber Monday: The cruise deal showdown

Picture this: you’ve just finished your Thanksgiving feast (other dinners are available in other parts of the world), and you’re sitting on the couch in a tryptophan-induced haze. Your pupils are slowly dilating after one helping of pumpkin pie too many. Gravy oozes from your pores. Your brain sets a timer until Christmas Day, when another smorgasbord of fayre will attack the senses.

You’ve had so much coffee that you can practically see through time. An announcement from the television introduces the Star Wars Holiday Special, and there’s a feverish search for the remote to prevent such torture. That’s when your phone pings with the first of a billion notifications: “Black Friday Deals are Here!”

Oh, God. Not again.

You ignore it, promising yourself that no matter how tempting, you don’t need a third air fryer, a Stairmaster 8000 (because your house already has stairs) or a 75-inch TV for the bathroom. But then, another alert pops up: “Cyber Monday Cruise Deals You Can’t Miss!”

Now, that’s something you didn’t expect.

A cruise vacation in the Caribbean at half the price? A heavenly choir sings. Morgan Freeman’s voice begins to narrate your next movements. Forget the leftovers - you grab your laptop and the credit card and inject your eyeballs with Mountain Dew to stay awake. This is serious. Too good to pass up.

So what’s the deal? Where has Cyber Monday come from, and are the cruise deals really any better than Black Friday’s over-saturated mantra? It’s time for an answer.

Cyber Monday: The new kid on the block

Before diving into the cruise deal showdown, let’s take a quick history lesson. While Black Friday has been around since the 1950s as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday is like its younger, tech-savvy sibling. Think William Shatner versus Chris Pine.

The origins can be found in 2005, when the National Retail Federation noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The idea was to give people the opportunity to snag digital purchases and bargains without risking life and limb in the Black Friday stampedes. And let’s face it—who wouldn’t prefer to score a cruise deal in their pyjamas rather than wrestling over a blood-stained Costco toaster at dawn?

The term was coined by savvy marketers who realised that, back in the early 2000s, people were using their high-speed internet at work to shop for deals. This wasn’t down to bunking off, but rather because dial-up connections at home were slower than a manatee on tranquilisers. Ah, the good old days! *dial-up tone*

Black Friday: The original deal maker

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is akin to the World Cup of shopping. It’s been around for decades, originally marking the point at which retailers go “in the black” (start making a profit) for the year. As a cultural staple, it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

While it traditionally focused on in-store bargains - think people camping out in front of Maplin’s for last season’s flat-screen television - it has now evolved into an all-out retail extravaganza, with just as many online deals as in-store fistfights. People really do have Kill Bill-style standoffs over new electronics. While Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu clashed with swords to summon a victory for self-respect and dignity, Brenda and Keith now draw blood over the new PlayStation.

When it comes to cruises, Black Friday deals are often the first to hit the market. Cruise lines know you’ve just endured a holiday with extended family, so they tempt you with discounts that say, “Escape from it all!” or “Sail away into paradise without Aunt Agatha and her interesting odours”.

You might find deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, or package upgrades. It’s all about luring you in while you’re still in the Thanksgiving glow (or food-hangover, depending on how much pumpkin pie you had).

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday: Are the deals any different?

So, do cruise deals on Black Friday differ from those on Cyber Monday? The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might expect.

Black Friday is usually the time when cruise lines roll out their most aggressive offers. A bit like having Oliver Reed and Christopher Walken present QVC’s deal of the day.

These deals often include lower prices, free cabin upgrades, and additional perks; like free drink upgrades and Wi-Fi packages. Cruise lines want to hook you early, so they put their best foot forward.

Cyber Monday, on the other hand, often features a different set of deals. Think of it as the cool cousin who shows up late, but knows where all the good after-parties are. You might see similar discounts, but often with a twist - like discounts on specific itineraries, last-minute deals for upcoming sailings, or exclusive perks like free shore excursions or speciality dining.

It’s less about getting the absolute lowest price and more about added value. So, if you missed out on Black Friday, don’t despair—there’s still plenty to be excited about.

Why do both days exist? It's a marketing masterstroke!

You might be wondering why we need two separate deal days. It’s like having both a birthday and a half-birthday party, or a Royal situation – where King Charles has two birthdays; one for both his human and lizard forms.

The real reason is simple: retailers (and in this case, cruise lines) love an excuse to create urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). Black Friday gets people in the door (or on the website), but Cyber Monday caters to those who either didn’t find what they wanted or are still mulling over their options - like deciding between a balcony cabin or splurging on a suite.

The two days also serve different demographics. Black Friday tends to attract more impulsive buyers who are ready to grab deals on a whim, while Cyber Monday appeals to the more methodical shopper, who likes to compare prices and weigh options before committing.

Cruise lines cleverly exploit this by staggering their offers and launching big ticket deals on Black Friday before focusing on niche promotions on Cyber Monday. It’s all part of a grand strategy to fill cabins and get you the best experience for the lowest cost.

Which day should you pay more attention to?

This is like asking whether you should eat dessert first or save it for later. The answer mostly depends on your priorities.

If you’re a bargain hunter looking for the absolute lowest price on a cruise, Black Friday is your day. This is when you’re likely to see the deepest discounts and the biggest bonuses. It’s also the best time to book if you have specific dates or destinations in mind, as popular itineraries can sell out quickly.

On the other hand, if you’re more flexible and open to different options, Cyber Monday might be the better bet. The deals here can sometimes be more creative and come with added perks that weren’t available on Black Friday.

Plus, you have a couple of extra days to do your research and avoid any impulse-buy regrets - because, let’s be honest, booking a two-week Alaskan cruise might sound like a great idea after a couple of Thanksgiving cocktails, but you’ll want to make sure it fits your vacation plans before you hit “confirm”.

The bottom line: You can’t go wrong

Whether you’re team Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the important thing is that both days offer a chance to snag some great cruise deals. They exist in perfect harmony, much like peanut butter and jelly, Boris Johnson and lying, or Netflix and procrastination.

Together, they ensure that whether you’re a spontaneous shopper or a careful planner, you have an incredible opportunity to score that dream vacation at a fraction of the usual cost.

Monitor the offers on Black Friday, and if you see something that checks all your boxes, go for it. But if nothing catches your eye or you’re not quite ready to commit, keep a close watch on Cyber Monday - you might just find that hidden gem you were hoping for.

After all, when it comes to planning a cruise, the only thing you have to lose is the winter blues.