Black Friday, White Gloves: Cunard Puts the World on Sale
An Atlantic crossing, a grand South American adventure, Arctic skies and faraway islands: Cunard’s Black Friday Event invites travelers to think beautifully — and ambitiously — about their next voyage.
Black Friday has acquired a rather elegant dress code. At Cunard, the shopping list includes an Atlantic crossing aboard Queen Mary 2, an extraordinary journey around South America and a monthlong voyage linking Hong Kong with Cape Town. The temptation is to start with a calendar. A globe might be more useful.
The line’s Black Friday Event, running through December 7, advertises savings of up to 40 percent and selected fares from $999 per person.
Cruise & Travel Report’s managing editor and editorial staff highly recommend the legendary Cunard line. In our editorial judgment, these are some of the best Cunard deals we’ve seen, particularly for travelers who appreciate beautiful ships, a distinctive sense of occasion and itineraries with the time and scope to become something memorable.
That recommendation rests on more than a tempting headline discount. A voyage can have enormous appeal because of its route, its rhythm or the opportunity to spend several uninterrupted days enjoying a ship. The strongest choices here offer all three. These 13 itineraries were identified in Cunard’s Black Friday listings; departure dates, duration and itinerary details below come from the line’s voyage pages.
The Atlantic, Taken at Its Most Elegant Pace
Queen Mary 2 — May 12–19, 2027 — 7 nights
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing, M710
For anyone who has ever wondered what it might feel like to arrive in New York by ocean liner, this is an irresistible place to begin. Queen Mary 2 leaves Southampton for seven nights across the Atlantic, with six full days at sea between departure and arrival.
The itinerary’s great luxury is the absence of a daily race ashore. There is time to settle into a book, linger over lunch and make an occasion of the evening. The Atlantic supplies an immense, ever-changing backdrop to a journey whose pleasures unfold aboard the ship.
There is an additional attraction to this particular departure: on Cunard’s current timetable, it follows the liner’s planned return from her 2027 refurbishment on May 9. For admirers of Queen Mary 2, the prospect of an Atlantic crossing shortly after that refresh is especially appealing.
South America, With the Grandeur It Deserves
Queen Anne — January 22–March 19, 2027 — 56 nights
South America Discovery Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, H704B
Some journeys deserve the better part of two months. Queen Anne’s magnificent South America itinerary begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale, connecting Caribbean islands, Brazil’s exuberant coastline, Argentina, Chile and Peru with a full Panama Canal transit.
The highlights arrive in generous succession: Salvador, Búzios and Rio de Janeiro; Montevideo and Buenos Aires; Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia. A sail-by of Cape Horn and scenic cruising among Chilean glaciers bring a dramatic change of scale before the ship continues along South America’s Pacific coast.
Calls at Valparaíso and Callao offer access to Santiago and Lima, respectively. Overnight stays in Rio and Buenos Aires add welcome breathing room. This is our choice for travelers who want to discover South America’s coastal variety over time, with the familiarity of a beautifully appointed ship waiting at the end of each day ashore.
Morocco’s Atlantic Coast, With Islands Along the Way
Queen Elizabeth — January 19–February 4, 2027 — 16 nights
Portugal, Spain and Morocco, Q703N
A particularly alluring winter escape combines the Canary Islands with three Moroccan ports and Lisbon. Sailing roundtrip from Southampton, Queen Elizabeth visits Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria before calling at Agadir, Casablanca and Tangier, then Lisbon.
The pleasure lies in the contrast of landscapes and cultures along a coherent Atlantic route: volcanic islands, Moroccan coastal cities and the Portuguese capital. Three Moroccan calls give the country a substantial presence in the itinerary, rather than reducing it to a fleeting introduction.
For travelers who enjoy discovering a region through several ports, this is an especially satisfying proposition. Sixteen nights also leave room for the ship to become part of the experience — a place to savor the voyage between those vivid days ashore.
The Azores and Canaries: Two Atlantic Worlds in One Voyage
Queen Elizabeth — April 11–25, 2027 — 14 nights
Azores and the Canary Islands, Q709Q
The Atlantic has islands worth lingering over, and this roundtrip Southampton sailing makes an elegant case for exploring them together. Praia da Vitória and Ponta Delgada introduce the Azores before Queen Elizabeth continues to La Palma, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote.
The Azores’ verdant, volcanic scenery sets up a delightful progression toward the Canaries’ rugged landscapes and coastal towns. Four Canary Island calls provide variety within the archipelago, while sea days allow the pace to relax between the two island groups.
This is a lovely choice for travelers drawn to scenery, island life and the pleasure of a substantial voyage without changing hotels. Two weeks give the itinerary room to breathe.
Arctic Drama, With a Chance of Nature’s Greatest Light Show
Queen Elizabeth — February 28–March 12, 2027 — 12 nights
Norway and Northern Lights, Q707N
Norway in late winter offers a magnificent reason to trade the beach bag for a warm coat. This Southampton roundtrip reaches Narvik and includes an overnight call in Tromsø, followed by Bergen and Stavanger.
The northern lights are the headlining possibility, and Cunard explicitly notes that sightings cannot be guaranteed. The itinerary’s appeal, however, also lies in its Arctic setting: mountainous coastlines, wintry landscapes and the opportunity to experience northern Norway during a very different season from the familiar summer cruise.
An overnight in Tromsø is a particularly compelling feature for travelers interested in the night sky. Days ashore and evenings aboard give this sailing a distinctive rhythm, with the promise of returning from the cold to the warmth and elegance of Queen Elizabeth.
Norway, With Michel Roux on the Menu
Queen Anne — May 2–9, 2027 — 7 nights
Norway with Michel Roux, H712
For travelers whose appetite for discovery includes the dining table, Queen Anne’s weeklong Norwegian sailing has an especially delicious attraction: chef Michel Roux.
The itinerary visits Stavanger, Bergen, Ålesund and Haugesund on a roundtrip voyage from Southampton. Cunard’s featured program includes a cooking demonstration, insights into the chef’s life and work, and a book-signing opportunity. The line flags an additional cover charge for its featured culinary offering; reservations and inclusions should be checked when booking.
Norway supplies the scenery, while the culinary program adds another layer of interest to a manageable seven-night escape. It is a particularly attractive introduction to Queen Anne for travelers who like their vacation plans to leave room for a memorable meal.
A Mediterranean Week With an Adriatic Flourish
Queen Elizabeth — July 9–16, 2027 — 7 nights
Malta, Croatia and Montenegro, Q715A
This summer itinerary makes excellent use of a week. Departing Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, Queen Elizabeth calls at Valletta, Kotor, Split and Zadar before arriving in Trieste.
The sequence is wonderfully inviting: Malta’s distinctive island capital, Montenegro’s spectacular coastal setting and two Croatian cities, framed by Italian gateways at either end. The route encourages travelers to extend the holiday with time in Italy before or after sailing.
For those who want a Mediterranean voyage with a strong sense of movement and variety, this is a standout. It also illustrates how much can fit into seven nights when the itinerary is thoughtfully arranged: several countries, handsome waterfronts and the satisfying luxury of unpacking once.
The Baltic, Given a Proper Summer Holiday
Queen Victoria — June 11–27, 2027 — 16 nights
Scandinavia and Northern Europe, V713N
Queen Victoria’s Southampton roundtrip offers an expansive introduction to northern Europe, calling at Skagen, Aarhus, Stockholm, Visby, Riga, Klaipėda and Gdynia, the gateway to Gdańsk. Copenhagen receives an overnight stay.
The attraction is the breadth of the route. Denmark and Sweden share the itinerary with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, giving travelers an opportunity to discover several distinct Baltic destinations within one graceful voyage.
Sixteen nights feel appropriate to that ambition. There are sea days to absorb what has been seen, and the overnight in Copenhagen offers the possibility of an evening ashore. For travelers who relish cities, maritime history and a summer itinerary with substance, this is one of the sale’s most rewarding European choices.
New England and Canada, With a Grand Arrival in Québec
Queen Mary 2 — September 17–24, 2027 — 7 nights
New England and Canada, M726
An elegant North American itinerary begins in New York and ends in Québec City, calling at Boston, Sydney in Nova Scotia and Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island.
The voyage offers a particularly appealing mix of familiar and less frequently visited destinations. Boston supplies a major-city stop; the Canadian calls shift the emphasis toward maritime communities and island life. Québec City provides a memorable destination in which to extend the trip after disembarkation.
September adds its own appeal to the calendar, although the attraction here is the itinerary itself rather than a promise of peak foliage. For travelers seeking a week aboard Queen Mary 2 with several days of exploration ashore, this is an inviting alternative to her pure Atlantic crossings.
Christmas at Sea, With Five Caribbean Islands
Queen Mary 2 — December 21, 2027–January 3, 2028 — 13 nights
Caribbean Celebration, M801
Imagine giving the next festive season an entirely different setting: Christmas aboard Queen Mary 2, followed by a procession of Caribbean islands and New Year’s at sea.
This roundtrip New York voyage visits Basseterre in St. Kitts, Castries in St. Lucia, Bridgetown in Barbados, Roseau in Dominica and Philipsburg in St. Maarten. Cunard describes a Christmas voyage complete with decorated trees, festive activities and celebratory dining.
The itinerary places Christmas Day during the outbound sea passage, with the island visits beginning on December 26. New Year’s Eve falls during the return passage. It is an especially appealing holiday plan for travelers who enjoy dressing for an occasion and letting someone else attend to the festive arrangements. The voyage begins and ends in New York.
The South Pacific, With Time to Watch the Horizon
Queen Elizabeth — March 25–April 13, 2028 — 20 nights
Sydney to Los Angeles, Q807
For travelers drawn to the romance of a long ocean passage, this Pacific crossing deserves a close look. Queen Elizabeth departs Sydney for Nukuʻalofa in Tonga, an overnight stay in Honolulu and a call at Hilo before arriving in Los Angeles.
The itinerary is generously supplied with sea days. That is central to its appeal: the opportunity to settle into shipboard life as Australia recedes and the Pacific unfolds ahead. Tonga and Hawaii provide welcome chapters ashore along the way.
Cunard lists the voyage as 20 nights; the route crosses the International Date Line. This is our choice for travelers who want the ocean to occupy a meaningful place in their vacation — long horizons, unhurried mornings and the anticipation of the next island arrival.
Hong Kong to Cape Town: A Month of Magnificent Possibilities
Queen Anne — March 15–April 15, 2028 — 31 nights
Hong Kong to Cape Town, H807
Here is a journey with the scope to make a month feel wonderfully expansive. From Hong Kong, Queen Anne sails toward Laem Chabang, the gateway to Bangkok, and Ko Samui, then Singapore, Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur, and Penang.
An Indian Ocean passage leads to Port Louis in Mauritius and Le Port on Réunion. South Africa follows, with Durban and Gqeberha before the voyage concludes in Cape Town.
The succession of destinations is extraordinary, but the spacing matters just as much. Substantial sea passages create room between the cities and islands, allowing the voyage to develop a rhythm of its own. For travelers who want an ambitious international itinerary without repeatedly packing and moving between hotels, this is a particularly seductive proposition.
The Grand Gesture: Ninety-Nine Nights From Miami to Southampton
Queen Anne — January 23–May 2, 2028 — 99 nights
Miami to Southampton, H804B
For those with the calendar space to match their curiosity, the sale includes this extraordinary world-voyage itinerary. Queen Anne departs Miami for Cartagena and a full Panama Canal transit, continuing through Central America and Mexico to Los Angeles.
Hawaii and Fiji lead onward to Australia. Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia follow, before Mauritius, Réunion and South Africa. The final Atlantic stretch includes Cape Verde, Gran Canaria and Madeira on the way to Southampton.
It is a remarkable collection of destinations to encounter from one ship, with several overnight stays built into the wider journey. Ninety-nine nights also change the nature of a vacation: favorite corners of the ship can become familiar places, and the next arrival becomes part of a much larger story. For the right traveler, this is the grandest invitation in the sale.
The Ship Is Part of the Reward
Cunard’s appeal is easy to understand when considering what fills the hours between ports. Main-restaurant meals, traditional Afternoon Tea and a broad entertainment program give the voyage a reassuring sense of structure. There are mornings for doing very little and evenings that reward a little effort with the wardrobe.
The accommodation choices allow travelers to shape the experience. Britannia provides an inviting starting point; Britannia Club adds its own restaurant setting. Princess Grill and Queens Grill take the journey further into the realm of spacious suites and dedicated dining, with butler service in Queens Grill.
That range matters when evaluating a sale. An inside stateroom can be an excellent way to enjoy the wider ship; a balcony adds a private place to contemplate the sea; a Grill Suite can make a long itinerary feel wonderfully residential. The most rewarding choice is the one that fits how you intend to spend your days aboard.
What the Black Friday Offer Includes
The offer provides a 10 percent refundable deposit, due within three days, and onboard credit as follows, per person for the first two guests:
| Accommodation | Up to 9 nights | 10 nights or longer |
| Queens Grill | $100 | $200 |
| Princess Grill | $75 | $150 |
| Balcony, including Britannia Club | $50 | $100 |
| Oceanview | $25 | $50 |
| Inside | $25 | $50 |
Eligible Grill bookings include the $19-per-person daily Hotel Charge for the first two guests; other service charges remain additional. Eligible guests can also save 15 percent on White Star Luggage Service with code CUNARDBF, booking the voyage and luggage service by December 7.
Savings reference launch cruise fares, excluding taxes and specified fees; launch fares may differ from recent selling prices. Advertised totals include taxes and fees and assume double occupancy. Offers are capacity-controlled, for new bookings November 10–December 7, 2026. Standard cancellation terms apply. Ask for promotion RD1.
When comparing prices, check that the selected fare includes the Black Friday benefits: Cunard’s separately advertised Value Fare can exclude the limited-time offer and use a nonrefundable deposit.
For travel advisors, the opportunity is to match the traveler to the voyage’s character: a first ocean crossing, a richly varied European holiday, a festive Caribbean escape or the long-dreamed-of journey that finally merits a month or more away. Obtain a current quote for the chosen sailing and accommodation, including flights and any additional arrangements needed.
Our recommendation is enthusiastic. Cunard offers a distinctive way to see the world, with ships and traditions that make the journey itself feel worth celebrating. This Black Friday, the most exciting purchase may be a date in the diary — followed by a very long look at the map.