New York Times
November 20, 2025
By Elaine Glusac
The following sections have been excerpted and paraphrased from an article originally published in The New York Times’ Frugal Traveler column. In the piece, writer Elaine Glusac surveys this season’s notable travel savings across hotels, tour operators, and cruise companies. AdventureSmith Explorations was highlighted for offering rare savings on select Alaska small ship cruises.
$100 Hotels, $900 Ocean Crossings: Black Friday Travel Sales Have Begun
For the thrifty and flexible, this year’s crop of seasonal deals is value-packed.
The travel industry wants to turn gift-giving season into wanderlust winter with its wealth of Black Friday and Travel Tuesday sales. Despite being named for the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday sales often start in early November and can stretch to mid-December. That gives travelers time to think about their 2026 plans. Be sure to scrutinize the terms. Beware of prepaid and nonrefundable offers. Expect blackout dates galore and know that starting rates often apply to midweek or off-season travel.
Cruise Discounts and Perks
Last year, AdventureSmith Explorations, which specializes in small-ship adventure cruising, had no discounts in Alaska, but this year it lists more than 30 departures on sale Dec. 1 to 6 at $500 off with a $250 airfare credit per person on eight-day cruises that start at $4,400.
