Black Friday travel deals, a brand-new cruise ship the MSC Seascape in Galveston, and a luxury beach escape to Playa Mujeres in Cancun all come together in this Black Friday edition of Inside Travel Talk. In this episode, Patrick Wiscombe and travel advisor Mark Faldmo break down limited-time Black Friday offers from MSC Cruises, Delta Vacations, G Adventures, Globus, and Fiji Airways, then share real-world insight from Mark’s recent stay at the ultra-modern SLS Playa Mujeres. You’ll hear how to stretch your travel budget with Black Friday promos, why Playa Mujeres is one of Cancun’s best kept secrets, and how MSC’s new Seascape sailings from Galveston deliver big-ship fun with authentic European flavor. If you want expert guidance on when to book, where to cruise, and how to maximize value this Black Friday, this episode is your travel playbook.

On this week’s episode

• Playa Mujeres vs Cancun’s hotel zone and Riviera Maya
• Why Playa Mujeres feels private, exclusive, and still close to Cancun’s action
• Mark’s first-hand review of SLS Playa Mujeres and its Miami-meets-Dubai vibe
• Beach quality, seaweed conditions, and the Isla Mujeres “sweet spot”
• Golf, destination weddings, and multi-generational family travel in Playa Mujeres
• Bucket-list whale shark tours and deep-sea fishing from the local marina
• Delta Vacations’ Black Friday deal to Mexico, Hawaii, and SLS Playa Mujeres
• Travel Deal of the Week: G Adventures small-group adventures up to 30% off
• Travel Deal of the Week: Globus escorted tours and Escapes with major savings
• Travel Deal of the Week: Fiji Airways Black Friday airfare to the South Pacific
• Why Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to book travel
• Segment 2: “Just Cruising” with MSC Seascape and Black Friday cruise offers
• MSC Seascape’s move from Miami to Galveston and its “Texified” experience
• Galveston as a drive-market homeport and MSC’s upgraded Pier 16 terminal
• Onboard life on MSC Seascape: European food, fresh pasta, pizza, and gelato
• MSC Seascape’s Western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston in 2026
• Cruise Deal of the Week: MSC Black Friday cruises from $199 per person
• How to use onboard credit for spa, shore excursions, dining, and more

Segment 1: Playa Mujeres & Black Friday land-based travel deals

Playa Mujeres vs Cancun’s hotel zone and Riviera Maya

In this episode, Mark starts with his fresh-off-the-plane impressions of Playa Mujeres, a master-planned community just north of Cancun’s hotel zone. Instead of the high-energy buzz of the hotel strip or the hustle of Riviera Maya, Playa Mujeres feels calm, quiet, and intentionally upscale. It sits close enough to Cancun that you can still reach popular tours and nightlife, yet far enough away to feel like a private beach retreat.

He describes Playa Mujeres as a gated, jungle-framed enclave with its own marina and wide, soft, swimmable beaches. The area was purpose-built for luxury and spa-focused resorts. Because of its position behind Isla Mujeres, it also enjoys some protection from the sargassum seaweed that can affect other parts of the Mexican Caribbean. For travelers who crave serene beachfront but still want easy access to excursions and Cancun highlights, Playa Mujeres hits a perfect sweet spot.

SLS Playa Mujeres: ultra-modern luxury with a boutique feel

Mark’s home base on this quick getaway was SLS Playa Mujeres, which he ranks in his personal top five resorts in the entire Cancun region. The resort feels contemporary and glamorous, with curved buildings and a design aesthetic that reminds him of Miami Beach or Dubai. Although the property is a larger resort, it still feels surprisingly boutique because of the layout and the way the public spaces flow.

Rooms at SLS Playa Mujeres are spacious and designed to be lived in, not just slept in. Huge balconies with couches, tables, and chairs create an outdoor living room, whether you face the beach or the private marina. Around the resort, two tranquil pools, beach and pool cabanas, and an uncrowded stretch of sand keep the focus on relaxation. For food lovers, SLS delivers a high-end all-inclusive feel with options like a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and a casual lunch spot where nachos and fajitas become a daily ritual. The team even goes off-menu to create street tacos on request, highlighting the resort’s attentive, personalized service.

Activities, whale sharks, and multi-gen fun in Playa Mujeres

Beyond the resort, Playa Mujeres offers a strong mix of adventure and relaxation. From the adjacent marina, guests can charter deep-sea fishing trips or head out to nearby Isla Mujeres, one of the most popular day trips in the region. Because the island sits right offshore, guests here enjoy a much shorter and easier transfer than travelers staying in the hotel zone or Riviera Maya.

The area also appeals to golfers, destination wedding parties, and multi-generational families. Playa Mujeres features a Greg Norman–designed golf course with rare waterfront holes in the Mexican Caribbean. Resorts in the area host countless romance getaways and family groups by pairing quiet beaches with plenty of activities. And for true bucket-list seekers, Mark highlights the whale shark tours from May through September, one of only a handful of places worldwide where you can get in the water beside these massive, gentle creatures.

Delta Vacations Black Friday deal: Playa Mujeres and beyond

As the conversation moves from destination to deals, Mark and Patrick highlight a standout Black Friday offer from Delta Vacations. Travelers can save up to $250 off the total price of a Delta Vacations flight-and-hotel package, plus earn up to 10,000 bonus SkyMiles. This promotion applies to trips throughout Mexico and Hawaii and can be used for stays in Playa Mujeres, including at SLS Playa Mujeres.

From an advisor perspective, this offer is especially attractive because it layers hard-dollar savings with long-term loyalty value through SkyMiles. Inside Travel Talk emphasizes that these Black Friday promotions are capacity controlled and time sensitive, which means acting quickly matters. Booking through a trusted travel advisor such as Blue Planet Vacations helps you match the right resort and dates to the promo rules so you do not leave money on the table.

Travel Deal of the Week: G Adventures small-group adventures

The Travel Deal of the Week section dives into a cluster of powerful Black Friday offers, starting with G Adventures. This small-group adventure tour company is known for immersive, community-focused itineraries. Their founder, Bruce Poon Tip, even created the documentary The Last Tourist to highlight responsible tourism and its impact on local communities.

For Black Friday, G Adventures is offering up to 30% off more than 400 departures with travel dates through April 30, 2026. There is also an additional offer of up to 10% off for trips departing May through August. Combined with already accessible pricing, these deep discounts make it easier to join a guided adventure that gets off the typical tourist track. For travelers who want local experiences, responsible tourism, and small groups, this G Adventures promotion stands out as one of the strongest adventure travel bargains of the season.

Travel Deal of the Week: Globus escorted tours and Escapes

Next, the show spotlights Globus, a long-established escort tour operator known for comfortable, well-organized itineraries around the world. As Black Friday draws closer, Globus has enhanced its existing promotion to create a “best of the season” deal. Travelers can save up to $1,000 per couple on Globus tours worldwide.

In addition, select 2026 and 2027 Globus Escapes tours are discounted by up to 30%. These Escapes are off-season tours that often deliver remarkable value, with some eight-day Europe itineraries starting around six hundred dollars per person plus airfare. Inside Travel Talk frames this as a prime opportunity for travelers who want to stretch their budget on escorted European vacations, especially those flexible on travel dates and seasons.

Travel Deal of the Week: Fiji Airways Black Friday airfare

Rounding out the land-based Black Friday Travel Deal of the Week, Mark and Patrick call out Fiji Airways. For a very limited booking period, Fiji Airways is offering round-trip economy airfare from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Dallas to Fiji for about $698 per person. For travelers dreaming of emerald islands, overwater bungalows, and warm Pacific waters, that price point is a rare and compelling gateway to the South Pacific.

Because the sale window is short—roughly one week—the hosts stress the need to move quickly. This is the kind of fare that can make a once-in-a-lifetime destination feel achievable. It also shows why Black Friday and the following “Travel Tuesday” window have become some of the most important dates on the travel booking calendar.

Segment 1 main focus: Why Playa Mujeres deserves your Black Friday attention

Although the Travel Deal of the Week highlights G Adventures, Globus, and Fiji Airways, the emotional heart of Segment 1 is Mark’s Playa Mujeres experience. The show uses Playa Mujeres and SLS Playa Mujeres as a real-world example of how to align a Black Friday promotion with a destination that truly fits your style. Instead of chasing the cheapest deal in Cancun, Mark suggests pinpointing the right vibe first—relaxed, luxurious, and uncrowded—then pairing it with smart promotions like the Delta Vacations Black Friday sale.

For travelers overwhelmed by the choices along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Playa Mujeres stands out as a curated answer. You get all the convenience of Cancun’s airport and excursion network with the feel of a private beach club, modern luxury hotels, minimal seaweed, and easy access to Isla Mujeres and whale shark tours. When you combine that with Black Friday savings and the guidance of a knowledgeable travel advisor, you can level up your vacation without overspending.

Segment 2: Just Cruising – MSC Seascape and Black Friday cruise deals

MSC Seascape moves to Galveston and gets “Texified”

In Segment 2, the show shifts to the “Just Cruising” portion that has built a loyal audience over time. Patrick and Mark welcome special guest Laura Okonowski, Business Development Manager for MSC Cruises, to talk about Black Friday cruise deals and MSC’s growing presence in the Texas market.

Laura shares that MSC Seascape has moved from its original homeport in Miami to Galveston, Texas. To celebrate this shift and better serve its new drive-market guests, MSC has “Texified” parts of the onboard experience. Expect plenty of Dr Pepper, barbecue, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and cornbread, plus pecan pie (or “pee-CAN” pie, depending on your dialect). MSC has also introduced a Lone Star band that plays country music in the atrium and added Texas line dancing sessions to the social program.

The key point: MSC is customizing the onboard experience for Texas guests while still keeping its European roots. You get the familiar comforts of home combined with the brand’s signature international flair.

Galveston’s upgraded terminal and drive-market advantages

The conversation then turns to Galveston itself. MSC partnered with the city to transform an older facility at Pier 16, once the former Del Monte terminal, into a state-of-the-art cruise terminal with a five-tier parking structure. This upgraded terminal makes embarkation smoother and more convenient, especially for guests driving from four, six, or even eight hours away.

For many Texans and travelers from neighboring states, Galveston is a “sneaky great” pre- and post-cruise destination. Think coastal views, charming historic homes, vacation rentals, and golf carts cruising around island neighborhoods. Inside Travel Talk positions Galveston as an ideal launch point for Western Caribbean cruises, especially when you combine drive-and-park simplicity with Black Friday-level cruise pricing.

Life onboard MSC Seascape: European flavor, modern fun

Laura paints a vivid picture of MSC Seascape itself. Launched in 2022, the ship carries around 5,800 guests at full capacity, yet it never feels overwhelmingly crowded. Thoughtful design and a wide variety of venues spread guests throughout the ship. While one group enjoys the pool deck, others may be at trivia, bingo, wine tastings, the spa, or the fitness center.

Food is a major highlight. MSC makes its own pizza, gelato, breads, croissants, desserts, and pastas from scratch onboard. Instead of provisioning pre-made items, the ship brings in flour, sugar, and eggs, then creates everything fresh. That attention to detail produces a distinctly European taste and a cult following for MSC pizza and pasta. Add in iconic Swarovski crystal staircases and stylish public spaces, and you get a ship that feels both glamorous and welcoming.

MSC Seascape’s Western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston

From its new homeport, MSC Seascape will sail seven-night roundtrip Western Caribbean cruises every Sunday throughout 2026. The itinerary includes popular ports such as Roatán, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, with three sea days sprinkled between port calls. Those sea days give guests time to truly explore the ship’s amenities, from water features and lounges to spa treatments and entertainment.

For busy families, couples, and friend groups, this Western Caribbean loop offers a balanced blend of beach time, cultural experiences, and onboard relaxation. The weekly Sunday departures also make it easy to fit into work and school schedules. Inside Travel Talk notes that when you pair these itineraries with Black Friday savings, you create a high-value vacation that works for a wide range of travelers.

Cruise Deal of the Week: MSC Black Friday promotion

The Cruise Deal of the Week is the star of this segment. For Black Friday, MSC Cruises has rolled out one of its strongest offers of the year. Voyages start as low as $199 per person, with the chance to earn substantial onboard credit and kids sailing free on select departures. Exact onboard credit amounts vary depending on cruise length and itinerary, but the message is clear: this is a “get off the fence and book” promotion.

Inside Travel Talk also explains how to use onboard credit strategically. You can invest it in:

• Spa treatments such as massages and facials
• Shore excursions in ports like Roatán, Costa Maya, and Cozumel
• Specialty dining, coffee bars, or wine tastings
• Wi-Fi packages or photo packages
• Even a little fun in the casino, if that is your style

The combination of low lead fares, free kids on select sailings, and flexible onboard credit makes this MSC Black Friday deal especially attractive for families and multi-generational groups. When you apply the offer to a modern ship like MSC Seascape out of a convenient drive-market port like Galveston, you get serious vacation value.

Segment 2 main focus: Why the MSC Black Friday cruise deal is a must-consider

At the heart of Segment 2 is a simple message: Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to book cruises, and MSC’s promotion is a prime example. You can lock in a brand-new ship, a convenient homeport, a strong Western Caribbean itinerary, and generous value adds, all in one booking.

Inside Travel Talk positions MSC Seascape as a smart choice for travelers who want a mix of Texas-friendly touches and European style. The cruise deal of the week is not just about a low headline fare. It is about building a complete vacation experience—ship, itinerary, onboard atmosphere, and value—backed by advisors who understand the fine print and the best sailings for your family.

Conclusion: Black Friday as your travel strategy, not just a sale

This Black Friday edition of Inside Travel Talk does more than list promo codes. Patrick and Mark show how a thoughtful travel advisor uses Black Friday to build smarter, more intentional trips. Segment 1 connects a Delta Vacations Black Friday offer with a resort and destination that truly match a traveler’s style. Playa Mujeres and SLS Playa Mujeres become the case study for how to upgrade your experience while still leveraging promotions and bonus miles.

Segment 1’s Travel Deal of the Week section then expands your options. Maybe your dream looks more like a small-group adventure with G Adventures, a European escorted tour with Globus, or a South Pacific escape to Fiji. By highlighting responsible tourism, incredible off-season pricing, and rare airfare deals, Inside Travel Talk proves that Black Friday is not just about shopping; it is about opening doors to bucket-list travel at better prices.

In Segment 2, the show shifts to cruising and demonstrates how cruise lines like MSC build their best promotions around this season. You see how MSC Seascape’s move to Galveston, its Texified touches, and its European culinary heritage combine with a Black Friday offer that includes low fares, onboard credit, and kids-sail-free perks. When you book with a travel advisor who understands MSC’s product and Galveston’s drive-market advantages, you are not just grabbing a deal—you are designing a seamless cruise vacation from driveway to dock and back again.

The big takeaway is clear: life will always throw curveballs, so travel while you can. Use Black Friday as your moment to move from dreaming to doing. Whether you are planning a Playa Mujeres getaway, a small-group adventure, a European tour, a Fiji escape, or an MSC cruise from Galveston, a trusted travel advisor can help you navigate the options and secure the right trip at the right value.