Norwegian, Celebrity, Cunard, and More Launch Labor Day Cruise Sales
After nearly 20 years of booking my own cruises, I've noticed Labor Day has become almost as competitive on the cruise-deal calendar as Black Friday.
This year is no exception — four major lines rolled out sales within days of each other, and the offers are different enough that it's worth comparing deals before you book.
"Cruise lines typically use holidays and special events like Black Friday and Labor Day to run specials to incentivize people to book. Not all of them are the best deals, but some are good deals," Dennis Post, co-owner of Postcard Travel Planning , told TravelHost's Come Cruise With Me.
"If you're comparing cruise deals, consider working with a travel advisor," Post added. "Our agents verify the best specials that are available at the time you're booking."
Most sales apply to select sailings, and pricing and add-on perks can change day to day. If a specific ship or destination is on your list, it's worth putting a deposit down to lock in your cruise sooner rather than later — and working with a travel advisor who can compare the fine print against other lines' current promotions before you commit.
Here's an overview of the top deals cruise lines are offering around Labor Day 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Second Guest Sails Free on Select Sailings
Norwegian's Labor Day sale kicked off Aug. 28 and lets the second guest in a stateroom sail free on select sailings. It also offers up to $750 off balcony staterooms and above and is stackable with the line's Free at Sea package. That means dining, beverage, WiFi, and excursion credit perks apply on top of fare savings.
The timing lines up with two recent Norwegian updates that enhance value for families and groups : guests three through eight on a reservation now get the Free at Sea specialty dining benefit, and the Unlimited Starbucks Package is open to guests 13 and older instead of just adults.
Itineraries eligible for the sale range from four-day Bahamas getaways from Miami and seven-day Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas and Port Canaveral, Fla., to Alaska voyages, Europe sailings, and transatlantic crossings.
Norwegian's Labor Day sale includes savings on Bahamas cruises to Great Stirrup Cay, where its new Great Tides Waterpark is opening on Sept. 4, 2026.Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises: 75% Off the Second Guest
Celebrity Cruises' summer and Labor Day sale runs through Sept. 21 and applies up to 75% savings on the cruise fare for the second guest in a stateroom on select sailings, plus a per-stateroom savings bonus that scales with cabin category and voyage length. Savings range from $150 for an inside stateroom for a three- to five-night cruise up to $750 for The Retreat on sailings of six nights or longer.
The offer covers select sailings departing through May 10, 2029, across more than 300 destinations, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe , and Japan .
I sailed on one of Celebrity Xcel's inaugural voyages and came away impressed with the line's sophisticated style, relaxing outdoor spaces, high-quality culinary program, and modern entertainment. This sale is worth a look if you're seeking a premium cruise escape.
Margaritaville at Sea: 60% Off Fares Fleetwide
Margaritaville at Sea's Labor Day Flash Sale is available for bookings made Aug. 26 through Sept. 8 and offers 60% off cruise fares across the line's three Florida-based ships. Additional perks on select sailings include $50 per-person deposits, third and fourth guests sail free when sharing a stateroom with two paying guests, and free stateroom selection or upgrades depending on the ship.
The sale also includes 2027 sailings aboard the line's Miami-based ship, Beachcomber — its largest and most ambitious vessel yet. Beachcomber launches in January 2027 with four- to eight-night itineraries from PortMiami to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
Related: Should you cruise with kids on Margaritaville at Sea?
I recently sailed to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico on Margaritaville at Sea Islander from Tampa, and the laid-back, island-inspired vibe was a hit with our multigenerational family.
Cunard: Fares From $999, Plus Onboard Credit
Luxury British cruise line Cunard is running a Labor Day sale from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9 that applies to 158 voyages across the line's four elegant ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne — with fares starting at $999 per person and up to $300 in onboard credit per stateroom.
Eligible sailings span fall 2026 Caribbean, European, and transatlantic departures, plus 2027 itineraries including Canada and New England, the Mediterranean, and segments of Queen Anne's World Voyage. Featured voyages include:
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Queen Elizabeth's 12-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami in December 2026, with balcony fares from $1,499 per person
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Queen Mary 2's seven-night eastbound transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton in June 2027, with balcony stateroom fares from $1,799 per person
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Queen Anne's 17-night World Voyage segment from Fort Lauderdale to Rio de Janeiro, departing in January 2027, with balcony stateroom fares from $2,899 per person
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Queen Victoria's 16-night Iceland voyage, sailing round trip from Southampton in August 2027, with balcony stateroom fares from $4,199 per person
(Paradium.AI will earn a commission if you book a cruise with Postcard Travel Planning.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel Planning , or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Aug 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
