cruise black friday deals 2023

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Cruise Deals on the boldest adventures

Enjoy an unforgettable bucket list trip. The best part? You don’t even need to leave the house. Book online and take advantage of our cruise deals on the boldest adventures, from Caribbean getaways to longer journeys into Alaska, the Mediterranean, Asia and beyond. No matter where in the world your wanderlust takes you, now’s the time to set your sights our latest savings and bold new discoveries. What are you waiting for?

up to $600 Onboard Credit on select cruises

Plus 60% off second guest and kids sail free*

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Our upcoming sailings are packed with dreamy itineraries to awe-inspiring destinations. Cross off your bucket list for good with our best Cyber Week deals, ever.

Snorkel in the warm emerald waters of the tropics. Set your eyes on misty fjords that dare you to deny their majesty in Alaska. Or max out memories like never before on 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean onboard the all-new Icon of the Seas℠   arriving 2024. And in between, fill each sea day with thrilling activities like the FlowRider®* surf simulator, delicious gourmet dining options, and jaw-dropping

Best Black Friday Vacation Deals For Your Next Getaway Make it easy to travel on a budget with the best Black Friday vacation deals...

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The ultimate guide to scoring black friday & cyber monday cruise deals.

Right now’s the time to put an unforgettable bucket list trip on your itinerary — with our best sale of the year. The best part? You don’t even need to leave the house. Book online and take advantage of our Black Friday and Cyber Monday cruise deals on the boldest adventures. From Caribbean getaways to longer journeys into Alaska, the Mediterranean, Asia and beyond. No matter where in the world your wanderlust takes you, now’s the time to set your sights our latest savings and bold new discoveries. What are you waiting for? Keep reading to learn about Thanksgiving season specials, and what to expect from all the savings each cruise offer includes.

Understand What the Cruise Offer Includes

The first step to really taking advantage of specials like our Black Friday cruise deals and Cyber Monday savings is understanding the benefits each promotion includes. Deals like instant savings and onboard credit are often available. Instant savings are deducted directly from your total vacation cost the moment you book. For example, if you see “Up to $200 in instant savings” advertised as part of a cruise offer, that means you’ll enjoy up to $200 off the total cost of your booking. The amount of instant savings you receive usually depends on the stateroom category you book — higher stateroom categories, like suites, enjoy the most savings. On the other hand, if you see “onboard credit” advertised as part of a cruise offer, that means you’ll score money to use onboard the cruise ship or ahead of your cruise on things like shore excursions, drink and dining packages, and more. The next step is making sure you take advantage right now, because our Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers are our best sales of the year. Finally, keep an eye out for resident-only cruise specials. These deals usually apply to folks who live near a departure port, such as Florida, and often include instant savings in the form of a percentage off your cruise fare. Make sure you review the specifics of the deal you’re interested in because they may change every year, and the terms and conditions may also change over time.

Sign Up and be the First to Know About Cruise Deals

You’ll always find the best cruise deals listed on the website, but if you don’t want to be glued to your computer around the Thanksgiving holiday, you can just sign up with the cruise line’s newsletter to receive updates on sales and specials. The rich cruise offers that make up these huge deals often change several times over the course of a few days and can even be extended past their original deadlines, so it definitely pays to stay up to date. By signing up, you’ll also receive notice when certain itineraries go on sale, whether it’s discounts on Caribbean cruises , Alaska cruises , Europe cruises , and beyond. The cruise ship and itinerary length you choose can also determine how much you save. These email updates will help you stay in the travel deals loop without having to hit refresh on your browser every ten minutes

Join Loyalty Programs

While the bulk of your cruise discount and added-value perks will definitely be contained within your Black Friday travel deals, you can supplement your savings by joining a loyalty program. These programs sometimes offer deals on things like drink and dining packages or stateroom category upgrades, and sometimes include freebies like complimentary happy hour in a members-only lounge, vouchers to attend exclusive onboard activities, and other sweet perks you and your family can enjoy during your sailing. Our loyalty program is called Crown & Anchor® Society, and joining is easy. All you have to do is complete a sailing onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and you’ll automatically become a member. The more you cruise, the higher your membership tier and the more offers and perks you’ll get to enjoy.

Take Advantage of Additional Offers Onboard and via Cruise Planner

Once you’ve booked your cruise getaway using a Black Friday cruise deal or our Cyber Monday sale, you can keep the savings going strong by taking advantage of cruise offers on your favorite onboard experiences, which you can book online via Cruise Planner . All inclusive deals, like our Ultimate Beverage Package or our Taste of Royal dining package, are some of our best cruise deals. They’re a great way to rack up the savings on cocktails and delicious food onboard versus paying a la carte. And by booking things like shore excursions and spa treatments online via Cruise Planner ahead of your vacation, you can often score discounts like instant savings. Hopefully by now, you’re feeling a little more confident about navigating the big, wide world of cruise offers and sales — especially when it comes to Black Friday and Cyber Week. No matter which offer you end up using to book, rest assured you’ll be maximizing your value both onboard and ahead of your vacation.

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Princess Cruises Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale Now Available

The love boat unwraps significant savings with 50% off cruises, deposits and 3rd & 4th guests sail for free.

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FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (November 17, 2023) – Princess Cruises has unwrapped its Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, offering cruisers three great savings opportunities including up to 50% off 2024 and 2025 vacations, 50% off deposits, and the opportunity for third and fourth guests to sail for free.

Available now through Thursday, Nov. 30, the 50% off sale applies to all fare types including inclusive packages like Princess Plus and Princess Premier which add popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, desserts, fitness classes, crew gratuities and more at an even greater savings of up 65% when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately.

In addition to the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, guests can book a limited time offer running through Dec. 12, offering guests 50% off cruise fares and 50% off deposits on voyages 45 days or fewer.

Destinations abound with cruises offered to the Mediterranean, Alaska, Japan, Australia & New Zealand, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti, California Coast, Northern Europe, British Isles, Greenland, South America & Antarctica and even World Cruises.

The Princess Cruises Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale ends at 11:59 pm PST on Nov. 30, 2023, and is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda and the District of Columbia. Some restrictions apply, with standard terms and conditions for all bookings. More details about this limited-time offer can be found at www.princess.com .

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com .

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About Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

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Enjoy 75% off your second guest’s cruise fare and get bonus savings of up to $200. Plus, additional guests in your stateroom sail free on select sailings.

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Black Friday Cruise Deals in 2023: Save on Your Next Vacation

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

Although cruise vacations (a.k.a. cruising) suffered during the pandemic, the industry has recovered, and more people than ever are enjoying vacations aboard cruise ships. Whether you love to cruise or are new to this popular travel recreation, finding Black Friday deals can help you hit the high seas for less. 

Black Friday cruise deals offer a range of options from where you want to go to and what you want to do and see on your cruise holiday. 

Our top picks for the best Black Friday cruise deals  

Msc cruises.

This is another free option for cruising with kids; plus, when you book during this Black Friday sale, you can get up to $500 onboard credit to enjoy drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, and spa treatments. Cruise the Caribbean, Bahamas, the Mediterranean, and other locations in 2023 and beyond. 

MSC Cruises - Get up to $500 onboard credit

Hurtigruten cruises.

Get up to 30% off sustainable boating destinations to Antarctica or up to 50% off cruises to the Galapagos Islands. If your family prefers excursions and educational tours to simply lounging by the pool during a cruise, this is the one for you. These expedition-based cruises are a great way for your family to experience being explorers together in an epic adventure. Also, kids are 50% off to help you save on your family’s next memory-making trip.

Hurtigruten Cruises - Get up to 50% off

Princess cruise lines.

This Black Friday, get up to 50% off cruises for 2023 to 2025 on Princess Cruise Lines, plus third and fourth guests are free, which means you can bring friends and family for less. Choose from a wide variety of destinations such as a three-day Pacific Coast cruise (San Francisco, California to Vancouver, Canada) for $223 a night (down from $278), or if you want to travel far, a three-day sea-cation in waters off Australia (from Sydney to Brisbane) is marked down by $100 to $138 a night. 

Princess Cruise Lines - Get up to 50% off cruises

Celebrity cruises.

When you visit Celebrity Cruises' Black Friday sale, you can save 75% on your special someone’s ticket and enjoy up to $300 in onboard credits. Don’t worry if your romance already includes little ones—Celebrity Cruises are great for families, too.

Celebrity Cruises - Get up to $300 in onboard credits

While not a cruise brand, Expedia is offering select cruise deals as part of their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Expedia - Best Cruise Deals

Oceania cruises.

Smaller ships don’t mean small savings—during this Black Friday sale, you can find cruise packages up to $5,400 off. Oceania also offers two-for-one fares on selected cruises, free roundtrip airfare, free shore trips, plus free dining and drinks- because you should absolutely drink free champagne on a luxury cruise. Choose from 100 cruises and make 2024 your year of setting “sail” on open waters.

Oceania Cruises - Find cruise packages up to $5,400 off.

Avalon waterways river cruise.

When you sign up for 2024 river cruises with Avalon, you can save up to $500, plus receive free airfare from select cities and other freebies. 

Avalon Waterways River Cruise - Save up to $500

Holland america .

Kids cruise for free during Black Friday sales at Holland America, and you can receive a $400 shore excursion credit to ensure everyone enjoys their time off and on the water. Plus, inclusive gratuities and 30% off select trips make this a great bargain for families who want to travel by 2025. 

Holland America - Receive a $400 shore excursion credit.

Margaritaville at sea.

Book a couple’s cruise for $89 plus 30% off food and beverage, shore excursions, and more. Jimmy Buffet may be gone, but Margaritaville is forever. 

Margaritaville at Sea - Cruise for $89 plus 30% off food and beverage.

Amazara cruises are considered luxury on the high seas and offer trips around the world from ports in South and West Africa, India and Sri Lanka, Japan, and Norway to the French Riviera. Amazara understands the allure of global travel on luxury ships, where cruisers also want to experience new cultures. This Black Friday, you can find deals on upgrades to staterooms and 20% off suites in select 2024 sailings in Australia, Asia, Europe, South Africa, and South America. Plus, you can get a $1,000 onboard credit to enjoy during your stay. 

Amazara - Get a $1,000 Onboard Credit

What you need to know for black friday, when is black friday.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, which always falls on the fourth Thursday in November. This year, Black Friday is on November 24, 2023, and theoretically ends on Sunday, November 26, 2023. 

Many travel companies and cruise ship brands offer markdowns on or near Black Friday to incentivize travelers to purchase trips. Other sales dates to note are Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday, a relatively new addition to the Black Friday shopping season. 

What deals should I expect on cruises?

Cruise deals may include a percentage off the cruise cost, credits to use while onboard, discounted additional excursion activities, or money off the cost of a ticket or a companion ticket. 

What kind of cruise deals did they have last year?

Costa Cruises offered up to $200 onboard credit per customer; Holland America cruisers received up to 40% off select cruises, and Hurtigruten came in with 50% off cruises to Greenland, Iceland, and Alaska, among other destinations. These are just a few of the great deals consumers who love to cruise were able to enjoy last year.  

How to get a good deal on cruises on Black Friday

A great way to get a good deal on cruises is to follow cruise blogs—yes, that's a thing—like Cruise Critic and Cruise and sign up for email alerts from major cruise lines like Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Disney, and others. As with any sale, it also helps to sign up for Google alerts if you are looking for specific brands or destinations for your future cruise. 

How to choose the best cruises for you?

Decide if you want to travel on a giant or smaller cruise ship. Most cruise ships offer off-board excursions, so decide what kind of traveling you want. Are you more of a lounge-by-the-pool type, or do you want a cruise with a learning or adventure component? 

Would you rather pay for an all-inclusive cruise or pick out your meals and activities on an à la carte basis? 

Also, consider where you would like to set sail from. Do you prefer a New York City-based port, or would you rather fly to Florida to catch your boat? Some cruises start in Europe, so make sure you budget for plane tickets for the first leg of the journey. The good news? Hundreds of cruises are available, so you can narrow your choices to find the best fit. 

Where to find Black Friday deals on cruises? 

If you want a general idea of which Black Friday deals are out there for cruises, we recommend checking out and bookmarking the popular travel sites and cruise brands to learn about the best steals for your next adventure or leisure time at sea: Expedia , MSC Cruises , Hurtigruten Cruise Lines , Princess Cruise Lines , and Celebrity Cruises .

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

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Terms & Conditions

Fares are based on Promo(s) N1/U1. Featured fares are per person based on double occupancy and available for 1st/2nd guests only. Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are included. 

Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages, which includes all beverages priced at US$11 or less and beverage service charges. Beverage packages include non-alcoholic beverages such as sodas and specialty coffees. Guests must order beverages one at a time and be 21 years or older for alcoholic beverages. Sharing is not permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the package if misused and refuse service for any reason, including service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Package excludes purchases made in The Shops, from the mini-bar, or through 24-hour room service and beverages on Half Moon Cay.

Specialty Dining is based on cruise duration and ship type. For 6- to 9-day cruises, guests will receive one night at Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto or Tamarind. For ships without Tamarind, guests will receive one night at Pinnacle Grill or Canaletto. For 10- to 20-day cruises, guests will receive two nights: one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto or Tamarind. For ships without Tamarind, guests will receive two nights: one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto. For 21+ day cruises (excluding Grand Voyages), guests will receive three nights: one night at Pinnacle Grill, one night at Tamarind and one night at Canaletto. For ships without Tamarind, guests will receive three nights: two nights at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto. Offer excludes Specialty Dining Events in Pinnacle Grill such as Sel de Mer, A Taste of De Librije and Cellar Master Dinner. Reservations and dining times will be available to pre-reserve. 

Shore Excursion offer is based on cruise duration and is per person, not per stateroom. For Alaska cruisetours and 6- to 9-day cruises, eligible guests will receive US$100 credit per person to apply toward their shore excursion purchase(s). For 10- to 20-day cruises, eligible guests will receive US$200 credit per person to apply toward their shore excursion purchase(s). For 21+ day cruises (excluding Grand Voyages), eligible guests will receive US$300 credit per person to apply toward their shore excursion purchase(s). Shore Excursion credit must be used pre-cruise when applied toward an Alaska Cruisetour Land Excursion purchase. Shore Excursion credit must be used on corresponding cruise and is non-refundable. Shore Excursion credit can neither be redeemed for cash value or airport transfers nor applied to a non–shore excursion item. 

Wi-Fi Surf Package: Surf your favorite sites, including email, sports, news and general browsing. All onboard Internet usage is subject to Holland America Line standard policies, which may limit browsing of some sites due to network security and bandwidth usage. Applications that use high bandwidth may be blocked and offerings are subject to change with or without notice. The plan can be activated on any device, but only one device can be actively connected at a time. Upgrades are available once on board for a single day, the remaining duration of the voyage or adding more devices. Offer applies to 1st/2nd guests in a stateroom only. 

Black Friday Offer: Promotion is based on Promo(s) OG*. Offer is available on select 2023, 2024 and 2025 voyages departing after 1 December 2023. Offer excludes Grand Voyages and cruises lasting less than 5 days. Onboard Credit through this offer is available in the following amounts: US$100 per person (US$200 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 6- to 9-day cruise; US$150 per person (US$300 per stateroom) for guests booked on an Alaska cruisetour or 10- to 20-day cruise; US$200 per person (US$400 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 21+ day cruise; US$250 per person (US$500 per stateroom) for guests booked on a Legendary cruise. 

Offer and/or its terms may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Offer expires on 1 December 2023. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.

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2023 Veterans Day deals: Free meals and discounts at more than 70 restaurants, businesses

For Veterans Day , restaurants and businesses across the U.S. are recognizing the sacrifice of veterans and active-duty military personnel with free meals, deals and discounts.

The federal holiday, which is Saturday, is held on Nov. 11 to mark the end of World War I when the Allies and Germany signed an armistice agreement on Nov. 11, 1918 – fighting ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

But the date itself is meant to honor all those who served in the military, those who are living and those who have died.

Many of these deals are for Saturday, but some are good on Friday, and others over the weekend. Most discounts require proof of service, such as a form of veteran, military or military-dependent identification. Many offers are limited to dine-in guests as well. Always check with your closest location to confirm participation.

Will stocks trade on Veterans Day? Here's the status of financial markets on the holiday

Office Depot and OfficeMax: 25% discount

From Saturday to Monday, veterans and active-duty and retired military personnel, reservists, and their dependents get 25% off qualifying regular and sale-priced purchases at Office Depot and OfficeMax . (Other terms include not combinable with other discounts such as Rewards Member or Business Select Member pricing.)Throughout the year, Office Depot and OfficeMax also give veterans 20% in-store discount on qualifying regularly-priced purchases.

Pilot Flying J: $12 meal deal

Pilot Flying J travel centers are giving all service members and their families verified through ID.me in the myRewards Plus app a free meal credit valued up to $12. The offer can be claimed Friday to Sunday through the app and redeemed at participating Pilot, Flying J and One9 Fuel Network travel centers. Options include hot and cold deli items, meals at participating on-site restaurants, snacks, fountain drinks, and Pilot coffee.

Also through Sunday, customers can round up purchases to the nearest whole dollar at participating travel centers and Pilot will donate 100% of the roundup proceeds to the Call of Duty Endowment , which helps unemployed veterans get jobs.

Participating Pilot Flying J travel centers also offer year-round deals and discounts for service members verified with ID.me.

IHOP Veterans Day deal: Free pancakes

IHOP will be giving veterans and active-duty military a free Red, White, & Blueberry Pancakes entrée or Pancake Combo on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Dine-in only at participating IHOP restaurants nationwide.)

Dunkin' Veterans Day: Free doughnuts

On Saturday, Dunkin’ will give all retired and active military a free doughnut of their choice at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide.

Lowe's Veterans Day: Collectible pins

On Saturday, Lowe’s will offer a free collectible pin to the first 150 veteran customers at each store.

Lowe's gives a 10% military discount to active-duty and veteran military service members and their families every day on eligible purchases, with no annual limit. The home improvement chain also has dedicated parking spots for veterans at each store. 

Buffalo Wild Wings: Free boneless wings

Veterans and current armed services members with valid ID get a free order of 10 boneless wings and fries on Saturday. (Only available for dine-in; at Buffalo Wild Wings Go locations you can can walk-in and order at the counter.)

Golden Corral: Military Appreciation Night

All Golden Corral locations will give active military and veterans a free Military Appreciation Night dinner (buffet and beverage) on Monday starting at 5 p.m. until closing. (Available for dine-in only; no military ID required; free dinner not available for spouse or family members.)

Krispy Kreme Veterans Day: Free doughnut and coffee

At Krispy Kreme locations on Saturday, veterans and active military personnel can get a free doughnut of their choice and a free small hot or iced coffee (no purchase necessary; one per guest, in-shop and drive-through only).

Chevys Veterans Day: Free meal deal

At participating Chevys Fresh Mex restaurants, veterans and active military personnel can get a free 2-item combo on Saturday. Offer good at locations in California (South San Francisco, Vallejo, Sacramento, Fairfield, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Roseville, Santa Rosa and Union City); Florida (Orlando/Millenia, Miami); O’Fallon, Illinois; Olivette, Missouri; Greenbelt, Maryland; and Arlington, Virginia.

Beef O Brady’s: Free meal

Veterans eat for free (up to $12) at Beef O Brady’s on Veterans Day (each location can decide to extend the offer to active members of the military).

Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin' Onion

Outback Steakhouse is giving all active and retired military personnel a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage with the purchase of an adult entree in-restaurant on Saturday. And any veterans who come to the restaurant on Saturday also get a free $10 bonus (to redeem from Nov. 12 to Dec. 17).

Fazoli’s: Free spaghetti dinner

Veterans and active-duty military can get a free regular spaghetti with meat or marinara entrée at Fazoli’ s on Veterans Day (present military ID or wear military uniform).

Famous Dave's: Free sandwich deal

Famous Dave's will give veterans and active military a free Georgia Chopped Pork Sandwich with side dish on Veterans Day (available all day for dine-in, to go and for online ordering).

Starbucks: Free coffee deal

Starbucks on Saturday will give a free tall 12-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee to veterans, current military service and spouses. Starbucks will also be donating $100,000 each to Team Red, White & Blue and Travis Manion Foundation to support veterans and the military community.

Village Inn: Free breakfast deal

Village Inn will give veterans and active military a free 2-2-2 Breakfast (two eggs, two strips of bacon or two sausage links, and two buttermilk pancakes) on Veterans Day.

Wings and Rings: Free lunch deal

Wings and Rings  will give all veterans a free lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day.

Casey's: Free coffee or fountain drink

Casey’s will give veterans a free coffee or fountain drink (any size) on Saturday. That free beverage deal is offered all year long at Casey's to active military personnel and on-duty, uniformed first responders – including law enforcement, fire and EMS.

Customers can round up their in-store purchases at their local Casey’s and proceeds will go to Hope For The Warriors and Children of Fallen Patriots . They can also get a special combo of a Mega Slice of pizza, 20 oz. Pepsi, and small Lays or Doritos (price varies by location); Pepsi is making a donation of $25,000 to support the veterans organizations, too.

Another Broken Egg Cafe: Free Patriot French Toast

Another Broken Egg Cafe , which has 90-plus locations in 15 states, on Saturday will give all veterans and active duty or retired military service members free Patriot French Toast, topped with strawberries, blueberries and fresh whipped cream, and coffee (dine-in only, while supplies last).

Applebee's Grill & Bar: Free Veterans Day meal deal

Applebee's will give all veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and reserves a free entrée when they dine-in on Saturday. The Veterans Day menu includes 6 oz. Top Sirloin, Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders Platter, Double Crunch Shrimp, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Oriental Chicken Salad, and Three-Cheese Chicken Penne.

Applebee's will also give veterans and military a $5 Bounce Back Card to redeem for dine-in, to go, or delivery within a three-week redemption window.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille Veterans Day deals

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille has two deals:

• Friday : Veterans and active-duty military can get a free Pork Chop Friday lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., when accompanied with a guest purchasing a lunch or dinner entrée (reservations and military ID are required).
• Saturday : The restaurant is offering a Veterans Day Early Dinner, a 3-course $39 menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (reservations and military ID required).

Pokeworks Veterans Day: 20% off

Pokeworks is giving veterans and service members 20% off any order Saturday and Sunday with valid military ID. In-store only.

Flight Club Social Darts: 25% discount

Flight Club will will active and retired military and first responders a discount of 25% off on Saturday.

Old Hillside Bourbon Co.: A rye whiskey that support veterans

Want to support veterans and toast them at the same time? Old Hillside Bourbon Company , which was co-founded in Durham, North Carolina by a veteran, donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of its Purple Heart Rye Whiskey to Military Missions In Action , a non-profit organization that assists veterans in need. You can order via ReserveBar (104 proof, $93.99, for a 750 milliliter bottle).

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Brass Tap: Free burger deal

Brass Tap Craft Beer Bars will give veterans a free Pub Burger on Veterans Day (each location can decide to extend the offer to active members of the military).

4Patriots: 72-Hour Survival Food Kit deal

Emergency preparedness company 4Patriots is offering all U.S. veterans and active military its $29  72-Hour Survival Food Kit  for free on Veterans Day. To get the deal, complete a shipping form on the 4Patriots Veterans Day Celebration Page (it will be available only on Saturday).

Biggby Coffee: Free 24-ounce coffee

Veterans and active-duty military get a free 24-ounce brewed coffee at Biggby Coffee on Veterans Day.

Buffalo’s Cafe: Free entrée

Buffalo's Cafe will give all dine-in veterans and active-duty military a free entrée from the menu (up to a $17.99 value; just present military ID or wear military uniform).

Hurricane Grill & Wings: Free meal

Hurricane Grill & Wings will give veterans and active-duty military who dine-in on Veterans Day a free entrée from a special menu including 10 bone-in wings, Yuengling Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Steakburger, Chicken Caesar Salad, Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich and Chicken BLT Tacos. (Just present military ID or wear military uniform.)

Legal Sea Foods: Free clam chowder

Legal Sea Foods will give a free cup of clam chowder to veterans and active-duty military in-restaurant on Friday and Saturday (with ID).

Native Grill & Wings: Free meal

Native Grill & Wings will give veterans and active-duty military who dine-in a free meal; choose from a ½-pound combo of wings or boneless wings, or a Native Burger with fries. (Just present military ID or wear military uniform.)

El Torito: Combo meal deal

Veterans and active military can get a free 2-item combo meal on Saturday at El Torito restaurants. (Dine-ins only, show a valid military ID or other form of ID such as being in uniform or a photo of customer in uniform.) 

East Coast Wings + Grill: Special free meal

East Coast Wings + Grill has a Veterans Day free meal special on Saturday at its 60-plus locations across the U.S. Veterans and active military get their choice of a free meal: five boneless wings and a side; five bone-in wings and a side; a cheeseburger and side; or a Buffalo Chicken Salad. All meals include a fountain drink or tea.

Friendly’s Restaurants: Free lunch

Friendly’s will be offering veterans and military personnel with an active military ID a free lunch (free All American Cheeseburger and drink of choice) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m on Veterans Day.

California Pizza Kitchen: Free meal and drink

Veterans and active-duty military members can get a free dine-in entrée from a prix fixe menu and drink on Saturday with proof of service at company-owned California Pizza Kitchen locations (most are company-owned, with the exception of their locations within airports, casinos and stadiums).Another Veterans Day deal: veterans and active-duty military who buy a pizza, pasta or salad get another one free (of equal or lesser value, redeemable from Nov. 12 to Nov. 21).

Chili's Veterans Day: Free entrée

Chili’s will give all veterans and active military personnel a free entrée on Saturday. Choices include an Oldtimer burger with cheese, a 3-Count Chicken Crispers meal, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, or chili or soup with a side salad.

Round Table Pizza: 15% discount

When you order on Veterans Day, use the code VET15 to get 15% off your order at Round Table Pizza .

Yogurtland: $5 off orders

From Friday through Sunday, Yogurtland is offering $5 off online orders of $30 or more before taxes and fees. Order in the app or online and use the promo code FALL5. (Offer is not good for in-store purchases, gift card purchases, merchandise, or third-party delivery orders, and cannot be combined with any other offers or coupons.)

Grimaldi's Pizzeria: 25% off discount

Grimaldi's Pizzeria is giving all active, veteran and retired military with ID 25% off their order on Friday and Saturday. Also, all military service members and veterans get 15% off every day of the year.

Hard Rock Cafe: Free burger deal

Hard Rock Cafe is giving all active and retired military members with valid ID a free Legendary Burger on Saturday (for dine-in only). The offer can also be redeemed with Hard Rock Cafe’s year-round 15% military discount when dining in.

Sugarfire Smokehouse: Free cheeseburger deal

Sugarfire Smokehouse will give all active and retired-members of the armed forces a “Boots on the Ground Special,” a free cheeseburger special on Saturday.

Veterans and active-duty military can also get 50% off the restaurants' Pork Steak Special, (original price, $12.99). Sugarfire will donate a portion of the proceeds to the non-profit Honor Flight Network which flies U.S. veterans, including those who served in Korea, to the memorials in Washington, D.C. at no charge.

Texas Roadhouse: Free lunch

Texas Roadhouse will give veterans and active military free lunch on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free lunch can be chosen from one of 10 meals including a 6-ounce sirloin with two side dishes, and any Coca-Cola product, sweet tea/iced tea, or coffee. (For details, contact your local Texas Roadhouse. Proof of service is required, which includes military or VA card, or discharge papers.)

PJ’s Coffee: Free coffee

PJ’s Coffee will give veterans and active-duty military a free 12-ounce hot coffee or cold brew iced coffee on Saturday.

Farmer Boys: Free burger deal

Farmer Boys is giving veterans and active duty military a free Big Cheese burger on Veterans Day (one per service member; valid with proof of service, at participating locations, while supplies last; not valid on delivery or mobile orders).

Next Level Burger: 50% discount

Next Level Burger , a veteran-owned 100% plant-based burger chain with 10 locations in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Texas and New York, is giving veterans, active-duty military and their families 50% off their dining tabs on Saturday.

Tim Hortons: Free coffee

Tim Hortons' U.S. locations will give all active military members and veterans a free small hot coffee on Saturday.

Bar Louie's: Burger meal deal

Bar Louie will give veterans and active-duty military a free burger meal with choices including the Bourbon BBQ Burger, GastroBurger all day on Saturday. (Just show a valid military ID; offer good for dine-in only at participating locations. Additional exclusions may apply; please check your local Bar Louie for details.)

Kolache Factory: Breakfast deal

The pastry bakery-café chain is giving veterans and active military personnel a free Kolache and any size coffee on Saturday (in-store or curbside, not online; no purchase necessary; excludes Polish, Croissant varieties and espresso).

Lion's Choice: Free sandwich deal

St. Louis-based Lion's Choice will give active and retired members of the armed forces a free original roast beef sandwich on Saturday. (Customers just state they are a veteran or show a valid ID.) Also, Lion’s Choice has a 20% heroes discount all year long for veterans and active-duty military.

Hooters: Free dinner entrée

Veterans and active-duty military who present proof of service or a military ID on Veterans Day get a free dinner entrée from Hooters' Veterans Day Menu with purchase of a beverage (dine-in only at participating locations). The Hooters Veterans Day Menu includes 10-Piece Boneless Wings, Hooters Burger, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Buffalo Chicken Salad.

Sleep Number: 20% off discount

Sleep Number is giving military and veterans a 20% off discount on most Sleep Number smart beds, bases, furniture, and bedding. Just go to the Sleep Number website for the discount.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Free meal

All veterans and active military personnel who visit Freddy’s on Veterans Day will get a meal card for a free Freddy’s Original Double with Cheese combo. (No purchase is necessary; cards may be redeemed through Nov. 30, 2023.)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store: Free cake

Veterans get a free slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake with an in-store purchase on Saturday at Cracker Barrel . Also, customers can get 25% off U.S. military-themed products, in stores and online .

Sheetz: Free sandwich and car wash

At Sheetz's 700-plus locations, all veterans and active-duty military can get a free half turkey sub and a regular size fountain drink on Saturday. Veterans and military personnel can also get a free $9 car wash at Sheetz stores with a car wash.

Sheetz customers can donate their loyalty points in November towards the company's donation of $50,000 to the USO. Two hundred loyalty points donated will equate to a $1 donation via the Sheetz app .

bb.q Chicken: 25% discount

Korean fried chicken franchise  bb.q Chicken , which has 160 locations in the U.S., is taking 25% off all orders placed by veterans and active-duty military in-store on Saturday (offer good at at participating U.S. locations).

The company is also donating a portion of Veterans Day sales to the Honor Flight Network .

Twin Peaks: Free lunch deal

Twin Peaks , with more than 105 locations, will be giving veterans a free lunch on Veterans Day. Choices include a cheeseburger, chicken tenders, Caesar salad (chicken or shrimp), or Chicken Street Tacos. Guests can also donate to  Tunnel to Towers , a charity to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families, and get a $5 off card. 

Juice It Up!: Free smoothie

Smoothie, bowl and juice making chain Juice It Up! will be offering veterans and active service members a free medium classic smoothie on Saturday (available in-store only and requires proof of service).

Metro Diner: 50% off discount

Metro Diner is offering 50% off to active and retired military with valid military ID on Veterans Day. The restaurant offers 10% off meals year-round. 

Red Robin: Free burger deal

Red Robin is giving veterans and active military personnel who dine-in at participating Red Robin locations on Saturday a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries (not valid for online or to-go orders, must show proof of service).

Veterans and active military members – and their parents and spouses – can sign up for Red Robin’s military rewards program for special offers all year long.

Carrabba's Italian Grill: Free appetizer or dessert

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is giving veterans and active-duty military a free dine-in appetizer or dessert and a beverage with a show of ID (available all day, no purchase required). Also, Carrabba’s offers a Heroes Discount of 10% off to all service members, veterans and first responders year-round.

Smoothie King: Free smoothie deal

Smoothie King will give all active-duty and military veterans a free 20-ounce smoothie on Saturday; choose from its Cherry X-Treme (red), Slim-N-Trim Vanilla (white) and Blueberry Heaven (blue) smoothies. (Just show a valid military ID. Participating locations and times vary; guests are encouraged to contact their local Smoothie King for more details.)

Bonefish Grill: Free shrimp

Bonefish Grill is giving a free order of Bang Bang Shrimp – crispy shrimp tossed in a signature creamy, spicy sauce – with a soft drink beverage to service members, veterans and first responders with valid ID on Saturday (offer good all day, no purchase required). Also, Bonefish Grill gives a 10% Heroes Discount to service members, veterans and first responders year-round.

Hat Creek Burger Co.: Free burger

Hat Creek will give all veterans a free Big Hat Burger with valid military ID on Veterans Day.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe: 'Gyros for our Heroes' deal

Taziki’s will have a "Gyros for our Heroes" offer giving all veterans a free Chicken Gyro on Saturday.

Bad Daddy's: Free burger meal deal

Bad Daddy’s will give all active and retired military personnel a free All American Burger with a small side of fries, chips or tots from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday (guests must show ID to redeem the offer).

Maverik's: Free coffee deal

Maverik –Adventure’s First Stop convenience store chain with 400 locations in 12 western states will give free coffee to veterans and active-duty military all day (up to a large coffee with valid military ID).

Red Lobster: Shrimp dinner deal

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, Red Lobster will give all veterans, active-duty military and reservists a meal voucher for a Veterans Shrimp & Chips dinner – six hand-breaded, butterflied and lightly fried shrimp, french fries and coleslaw – to be redeemed from Monday, Nov. 13, to Sunday, Dec. 10 for dine-in only. (Guests only need to show a valid military ID or proof of service to redeem.)

Wendy's: Free breakfast combo

At Wendy's, those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military can get a free breakfast combo – breakfast sandwich, seasoned potatoes and coffee or carbonated soft drink – during breakfast hours on Saturday. (Show military ID or a Veterans Advantage card ; not valid for digital or delivery orders.)

Tocaya Modern Mexican: 50% off discount

Tocaya is giving veterans 50% off any purchase all day long Saturday, in-store only. (Just show military ID to get the deal.)

Scooter's Coffee: Free drink

Scooter’s Coffee is giving veterans and military members a free handcrafted drink of any size on Veterans Day. (One per veteran, while supplies last, not available for order ahead in the Scooter’s Coffee Mobile App ).

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream: Free lunch buffet

Happy Joe’s will give all veterans, retired and active-duty U.S. military personnel a free lunch buffet with a drink on Saturday.

The Greene Turtle: Free meal

The Green Turtle will give all active and retired military personnel a free entrée valued at up to $15 all day on Saturday. (Guests must show ID to redeem the offer; offer valid for dine-in only and cannot be combined with any other discounts.)

Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick on Saturday will give all veterans and active-duty military a free Chick Special meal, which includes any scoop or sandwich, plus one scoop, side item, or cup of soup & regular fountain drink.

Potbelly: Free drink and cookie deal

Potbelly will give veterans and active-duty military a fountain drink and cookie free with their order of any entrée including sandwiches, soups and salads on Saturday.

Tractor Supply: 15% discount

On Saturday, Tractor Supply is offering a 15% discount for all service members, veterans and their dependents.

TRX: 20% discount

TRX will give anyone with a military ID an additional 20% off all purchases through Wednesday, Nov. 15. (You get 10% off your first order if you sign up for email alerts, too.) Also, TRX will match those purchases with a 1:1 product donation to the Navy Seal Foundation .

Caribou Coffee: Free coffee

Caribou Coffee  is giving veterans, active-duty military members and spouses with military ID a free small hot brewed or cold press coffee (excluding nitro) on Saturday.

Free Rein Coffee: Donations to veterans

Free Rein Coffee Company , co-founded by actor Cole Hauser ("Yellowstone"), will donate a bag of coffee to veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project  for every order on Friday and Saturday.

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Free coffee and 20% discount on merch

Participating Black Rifle Coffee Company stores will give a free 16-ounce coffee to veterans on Saturday. And through Monday, shoppers can get 20% off retail merchandise; veterans get an additional 10% off in participating stores and online.

Call of Duty: New add-on pack benefits veterans

The Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Warrior Pack ($9.99; for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone video games) includes a variety of skins, blueprints, and other in-game items. 100% of the proceeds from the pack – it was inspired by and created in close collaboration with Ben, a decorated retired Navy SEAL – goes to the endowment to help veterans find post-military careers.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads:  @mikesnider  & mikegsnider .

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What to Buy (and Skip) on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023

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Retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart pushed October sales as an early start to the holiday shopping season again this year. But only about a quarter of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days shoppers used the Oct. 10-11 event to buy holiday gifts, according to a survey of verified buyers from market research firm Numerator.

The rest might be waiting for Black Friday (Nov. 24 this year) to get the gift list going.

If that’s you, here’s a short list of what to buy (or skip) during the traditional start to holiday shopping, which is the sale period that includes Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23), Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Nov. 27).

Buy: TVs and big-ticket tech

This one is no secret, but you may be looking for confirmation: Black Friday is still the “sweet spot” for TVs , says Trae Bodge, shopping expert from truetrae.com. “Yes, we saw some TVs on sale over Amazon [Prime Big Deal Days], but I really think that we'll see better deals over Black Friday.”

Expect discounts on electronics like laptops, wireless headphones and soundbars at all the usual big-box stores. And if you need more time to save for the right size and model TV, the next best time to buy is around the Super Bowl.

Skip (for a couple of weeks): Toys and holiday decor

Toys aren’t off limits on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but you may save more if you wait a couple of weeks for when retailers start to sweat. It’s better to hold off on holiday decorations too, if you can.

Bodge says there’ll be better prices on kids' toys and holiday decorations as December wears on. “I like to wait on those things because as we get closer to the Christmas holidays, that's when retailers are going to be scrambling to get rid of that stuff to clear space for the new year,” she says.

Buy: Small kitchen appliances

NerdWallet’s latest holiday sale price-tracking data shows Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring great deals on kitchen gadgets. Prices on the three kitchen items NerdWallet watched since late last year — which included a Ninja air fry oven, KitchenAid mixer and Nespresso coffee machine — hit bottom dollar last Cyber Monday.

The price of the KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, for example, dropped to $220.99 at Target (down from its $329.99 retail price) last Cyber Monday.

Skip: Sporting goods

Some sporting goods are hard to wrap and hide. That may be reason enough to wait until closer to Christmas. Another reason is based on data from software company Adobe’s holiday season forecast for online shopping. The company, which analyzes U.S. e-commerce transactions across many retailers, predicts Dec. 4 will be the best day to get geared up for sports.

“Historically the best pricing for these items tends to be during the first week of December as older inventory clears and new personal fitness equipment and other sporting goods become available,” said Vivek Pandya, group manager at Adobe Digital Insights, in an email.

Buy: Winter apparel

In a bit of a twist, Bodge says Black Friday may bring better buys on winter clothes than are typically expected, possibly due to the weather staying warmer longer in many regions. Retailers fearing they’ll have too much supply could move sales on parkas, beanies and sweaters up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“[It’s] notable because, in my experience, winter apparel is most deeply discounted in December,” says Bodge.

So, look for layers while you’re browsing for clothes with a hot beverage Black Friday morning.

Skip (maybe): Tools and home improvement items

Many major product categories are fair game for good discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but you may want to double-check the price history before you order a new drill or circular saw.

“Tools and home improvement equipment tend to lag behind [other categories] in the percentage of discounts during the holiday season,” said Pandya.

That’s not to say all deals on tools won’t be good enough. If you’re unsure, try a coupon-finding browser extension like PayPal Honey or Rakuten, or a site like Camelcamelcamel.com, which tracks product prices over time.

You can always look to June, around Father’s Day, to buy tools.

Holiday shopping tips

Comparing prices and doing your research will certainly help you save money this holiday season, but make sure you consider how you’ll manage expenses too.

Read up before you buy now, pay later

Many shoppers will rely on credit for their purchases. Adobe’s forecast predicts record use of "buy now, pay later" options — an estimated $17 billion in online spending to fund purchases during the holiday season.

When you can adhere to the payment schedule, Bodge says, BNPL is like “the modern layaway." “It's a great way to spread out your financial outlay for a particular month,” she says.

She also recommends that those newer to the concept read the fine print before signing up, because late payments can lead to late fees, which could negate any discounts realized.

NerdWallet’s 2023 holiday shopping report found 52% of Americans incurred credit card debt when shopping last holiday season and, among them, nearly a third (31%) have still not paid off those balances.

“If you're dragging credit card debt month to month, you should maybe use debit only or just cash,” says Bodge.

Check your feelings at checkout

With the holiday season comes pressure to make others happy, reminds Bodge.

The holiday shopping report found that more than half of 2023 holiday shoppers said holiday shopping stresses them out.

You have to block out the urge to keep up with the Joneses and try to buy within your means, says Bodge.

“Be mindful of your own personal financial situation and gift accordingly.”

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