#BlackFriday2026 #Cruise #travelinsurance

An update from Jade

We know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from us, so we’re resuming the Flight Sale Elite newsletter.

A quick update: after working remotely in the Philippines last summer, a jam-packed food and rail trip around Taiwan, and a recent Princess cruise in Alaska, I’m back in the office, until an Explora Journeys cruise in the Caribbean takes me away again for a short journey experiencing the luxury side of cruising.

Flight Sale Elite exists to make travel easy for you. As a home-based mobile travel agent, we can book any aspect of your trip, and we’re always happy to meet you for a coffee to discuss your plans. Even when we’re out of the office gathering travel intel for you, we have access to everything we need, wherever we are.

We’re always on the lookout for new places, products and experiences, from meeting suppliers to attending training and product launches. As popular destinations become overcrowded, it’s a great time to rethink what it means to travel sustainably: supporting local economies wherever we go, and choosing companies that take sustainability seriously.

There’s been lots of noise about travel deals and flight sales, but much of it has little substance. To cut through it, we’ll focus on trends: when’s the best time to book, which companies have genuine offers (especially for solo travellers), and new ways to explore the world. Early-bird season came and went with barely a whisper, but Black Friday has brought substantial deals for last-minute 2026 travel and for 2027 and beyond.

Cheers,
Jade Jackson, Chief Pilot (AKA Managing Director)
Flight Sale Elite

Why Book with Flight Sale Elite?

• Australian-owned and operated
• Experts in booking complex itineraries: flights, cruises, tours, accommodation, rail and more
• Support from planning to return

We can book end-to-end itineraries including flights, cruises, hotels, transfers, attractions, tours and day tours, rail tickets, sporting and event tickets, car hire and more. We’re based in Sydney but fully mobile if you’d like to meet for a coffee. Have questions? Just ask, we’re real people. Say hi.

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Black Friday travel deals are here

Expect offers from most travel companies throughout November and into early December, with substantial savings for travellers looking for last-minute 2026 trips or planning travel in 2027 and beyond.

Here’s a taste of the cruise, tour and rail offers available through Flight Sale Elite. If you’re planning a Greenland Arctic expedition, an Alaskan wildlife cruise, Europe in 2027 or Japan for the cherry blossoms, or anything else – register your interest and we’ll let you know as soon as offers are released.

Black Friday Cruise Deals 2026

All cruise links below go to our dedicated cruise booking site, where every enquiry or booking comes directly to us at Flight Sale Elite.

• Explora Journeys: up to 40% off on selected itineraries. View Explora Journeys cruises →
• Regent Seven Seas: up to 40% off plus up to $500 shipboard credit on selected suites and itineraries. View Regent Seven Seas cruises →
• Silversea: up to 45% off on selected itineraries. View Silversea cruises →
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: up to 40% off on selected itineraries. View Hapag-Lloyd cruises →
• HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions): save up to 35% on Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska expeditions. View HX expeditions →
• Emerald Cruises: save an extra $500pp on selected river and yacht cruises. Contact us to book →
• Virgin Voyages: up to $600 in free drinks and 80% off the second sailor, plus up to $300 onboard credit on Mediterranean cruises. View Virgin Voyages cruises →
• MSC Cruises: save up to 30% on selected itineraries. View MSC cruises →
• Princess Cruises: save up to $1,000 per stateroom and enjoy up to $300 onboard credit. View Princess cruises →
• Hurtigruten: 2-for-1 on selected Original Coastal Express voyages. View Hurtigruten voyages →

Black Friday Tour and Rail Deals

• Insight Vacations: buy one, get one 50% off selected tours
• Trafalgar: buy one, get one 50% off selected trips and river cruises
• Topdeck Travel: up to 20% off selected tours
• Alaska Rail and Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer: save on selected journeys

There are lots more offers to come. Interested in any of these? Contact Flight Sale Elite to book today, or register for the Black Friday offers you’re interested in:

Terms and conditions apply to all offers, including limited availability, booking and payment deadlines, and change and cancellation terms. Offers are subject to change and may be withdrawn if sold out earlier or at the supplier’s discretion.

Current Cruise Offers

Browse the latest cruise deals on our CruiseSale.au site, or contact us and we’ll find the right cruise for you. Use the filters to narrow down your ideal cruise. The site has had a revamp and should now be easier to use and book. All bookings and enquiries come directly to Flight Sale Elite.

Last-minute cruise deals

• Explora Journeys, 5 days Bari to Athens (Ocean Terrace) from $2,210pp. Departs 15 November 2026, last cabins available. Call us to book →
• Explora Journeys, 10 nights Spain, Morocco and Portugal (Suite) from $9,999pp
• Royal Caribbean, 4-night Tasmania escape (Balcony) from $1,365pp

Cruise and cruise-and-stay offers for 2027

• Celebrity Cruises, 12-night cruise and stay in Japan (Balcony) from $7,239pp
• Norwegian Cruise Line, inaugural Aura Italy, Croatia and Greece from $4,849pp
• MSC Cruises, 7-night cruise and stay in the Mediterranean (Balcony) from $2,769pp

Prices are a guide only. Terms and conditions apply, including limited availability and change and cancellation fees.

Have questions? Contact us now or browse all cruise deals:

Airline and Aviation Updates

Western Sydney Airport is now open for business. Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have confirmed flights operating from this month, and Qatar Airways will operate flights from next year.

Air Tahiti Nui will operate direct flights from Sydney to Papeete starting in December. This opens up easy new options for exploring the Tahitian Islands, including Bora Bora, and Tahiti is the gateway to Pitcairn Island.

Trinity Airways (formerly T’way Air) offers direct flights to South Korea, plus onward services from Seoul to Barcelona, Paris and Rome. Checked baggage and inflight meals are included in both Economy and Business Class. A great option for those that enjoy peace and quiet – as long as you’re okay with no inflight entertainment!

Philippine Airlines has joined Oneworld, although status benefits won’t apply until 2027. This brings new route options and combined fares with Oman Air and Qatar Airways to Europe, plus additional frequent flyer points seats to Japan and the USA. They fly direct from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Package-only airfares and mixed-class fares

When you book flights and a cruise with us, we can use package-only airfares with Air Canada, Etihad, Air France/KLM, Malaysia Airlines (companion fare), Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines or United, potentially saving you money. These fares must be sold as a package price only.

Many airlines now also offer mixed-class fares combining Economy with Business, or Economy with Premium Economy. Ask us for details.

New routes with Finnair out of Melbourne to Helsinki. Finnair will operate an A350 daily between Melbourne, Bangkok and Helsinki. This allows a single Oneworld flight to Finland with excellent onward connections to the rest of Europe. Helsinki has one of the shortest minimum connecting times in Europe at only 45mins and Helsinki is the gateway to Scandinavia including Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi.

Book your flights with Flight Sale Elite and enjoy support from planning to return.

Taiwan Travel: Explore the Home of Bubble Tea

In the middle of Asia sits an island that many travellers have overlooked for far too long. Welcome to Taiwan.

Taiwan combines clean streets and fast trains, beautiful mountain scenery, hot pools and tranquil coastlines, bustling night food markets and… Strawberry Snickers chocolate bars!

It’s an easy side trip from Hong Kong, the Philippines or Japan. In 2027, Starlux Airlines will increase connectivity between Australia and Taiwan with direct flights from Sydney to Taipei, alongside EVA Air from Brisbane and China Airlines from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Whether you prefer a tour, an independent wander, a cruise or an exploration by rail, we can organise your next trip to Taiwan.

Cruise Curious? Find the Right Cruise for You

Do you love luxury hotels, incredible food and exploring quaint towns? Think of a cruise as a luxury hotel where the view changes daily and all meals are included.

• Just want fruit for breakfast? Order it from room service, or grab a bowl from the marketplace and head out on deck.
• Just want a quick wood-fired pizza by the pool? Head to the top deck.
• Craving grilled salmon? Try one of the many main dining areas on board.
• Fancy a hot chocolate and cookie before bed? Duck down to the cafe and sneak back before anyone sees you in your pyjamas and slippers.

All this, and more, is included* (inclusions vary by cruise line, but this was all on offer on my recent Princess cruise in Alaska).

With hundreds of cruise companies and thousands of itineraries across hundreds of ships, it’s no wonder many travellers find cruising overwhelming. However, we’re firm believers there’s a cruise for every traveller. There’s a multitude of cruise experiences to suit all styles of travel, including solo, independent, multi-generational, friends, expedition and luxury small ship.

Whether you prefer a quiet Michelin-level dining experience, a scientific talk on deck with astronomers, the tales of an FBI hostage negotiator, or an all-inclusive holiday, there’s a cruise for you.

We’ve built a quick and easy quiz to help you discover the right experience. In under six clicks, you’ll find your next sea vacation.

*After the quiz, you’ll be directed to our cruise site. If you submit an enquiry or booking, all information is sent directly to us at Flight Sale Elite.

Middle East Update and Travel Insurance

The latest developments in the Middle East have left many travellers uncertain, and we get that. We’re here to find alternative routes and destinations, and to make travel happen.

Whenever disruption happens, we reach out directly to any impacted customers first with the most relevant airline information and current options. Because information in these situations can change hourly, we don’t make broad announcements that can quickly go out of date.

If you have questions or concerns, or just want to know what options are available, we’re happy to chat by phone or WhatsApp, whether you’re in Australia or overseas. Our priority is to help you make informed decisions using current information from reputable sources, including airlines, Australian Government sources such as Smart Traveller, and reputable travel industry media.

Many travel insurance companies have a blanket “war equals no cover” policy. We sell Go Insurance, which offers flexible add-on options, including Cancel for Your Reason, War and Armed Conflict Disruption cover, and cover for selected activities other insurers won’t cover at all. Go Insurance terms and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) online.

We can also offer extraction insurance, which includes high-altitude and disaster extraction should you need it. Contact Flight Sale Elite for your travel insurance needs.

Go Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is necessary for every trip. Go Insurance offers competitive rates and various levels of cover to suit your needs, including annual policies that cover multiple trips so you only have to think about travel insurance once a year. Get a quote or buy your travel insurance policy now.

Credit Card Surcharges

Following the RBA decision, from 1 October 2026 businesses can no longer pass credit card surcharges on as separate fees. However, we still incur these surcharges from our payment provider, so our pricing now reflects this regardless of how you choose to pay. For large-ticket items, we’ll discuss payment options with you first. Paying by EFT is faster and incurs no additional fees for us.

Planning a Trip but Not Yet Booked?

The more we know about where you’re planning to visit, the more easily we can let you know when something pops up. Register your 2026 and 2027 travel plans now:

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Why Book with Flight Sale Elite?

• Australian-owned and operated
• Experts in booking complex itineraries: flights, cruises, tours, accommodation, rail and more
• Support from planning to return

We can book end-to-end itineraries including flights, cruises, hotels, transfers, attractions, tours and day tours, rail tickets, sporting and event tickets, car hire and more. We’re based in Sydney but fully mobile if you’d like to meet for a coffee. Have questions? Just ask, we’re real people. Say hi.

Disclaimer: All prices are a guide only, including airport taxes and service fees. They are subject to availability, may not be available on all travel dates, and are subject to terms and conditions including change and cancellation fees.

Flight Sale Elite | ABN: 17663892528 | TIDS: 96174875 | 209A Robertson St, Guildford NSW 2161 | Ph: +61 470 158 229 | travel@flightsale.com.au