🛳️Alaska cruise line gets record booking, thanks to its Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade float🚢
Having a first-time float in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade this year turned into a blockbuster decision for at least one type of business.
Holland America Line (a division of Carnival Corporation), a major operator of cruises to Alaska, debuted its first-ever float during the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. True to its mission, the float was designed to showcase the beauty and wonders of Alaska with sculptures of glaciers, wildlife and Alaska’s popular Denali National Park.
The float also carried on it some star power with singer-songwriter Jewel, who performed while riding on the float.
Then came Black Friday (or the day after Thanksgiving), one of the biggest shopping and sales day of the year. It’s when bargain-hungry consumers and gift seekers feverishly look for deals on clothing, toys, shoes, coats, holiday decorations and apparently, also cruises.
Holland America Line, on Thursday, said the business this year “broke its Black Friday weekend sales record in the US,” with bookings jumping 19% over the previous record set in the same period from Black Friday to Cyber Monday in 2023.
Moreover, it said record Black Friday bookings came a day after Holland America Line’s float made its appearance during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
“This holiday season, we are seeing guests prioritize the experience itself in booking travel, looking for leisurely vacations that build connections and create shared memories,” Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, said in a statement.
The company said bookings were especially strong among guests planning summer Alaska vacations next year that combine the cruise experience with immersive land tours to Denali National Park.