Flights to Europe starting at $129. Enjoy 25% off Antarctica Cruises. Here are our top Labor Day travel offers.

As the days become shorter and evenings turn cooler, Labor Day Weekend in the U.S. marks a bittersweet farewell to summer travel.

While it may be summer’s last celebration, you don’t have to stay home. Numerous airlines, cruise lines, and hotels are launching promotions over the long holiday weekend, helping travelers plan their trips into the shoulder season and winter months ahead.

Here are the best Labor Day weekend travel deals we've discovered to inspire your upcoming adventures.

Enjoy a 25% discount on all remaining 2023 departures with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic.

With four months remaining in 2023, booking a sailing with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic before September 15 can earn you a 25% discount on any Category 1 cabin. Additionally, the solo premium fee is waived on select sailings. Notable itineraries include:

• Delfin II in the Upper Amazon
• Patagonia: Exploring Chilean Fjords and Argentina’s Staten Island
• Epic Antarctica: From the Peninsula to the Ross Sea and Beyond
• Journey Across the Remote Pacific

Save up to $3,000 on Mississippi River cruises with American Queen Voyages.

American Queen Voyages invites river cruisers to celebrate the holiday season with them, offering up to $3,000 off, plus a $600 air credit and a $200 onboard credit for those who book. These savings apply to Thanksgiving, Christmas Market, and New Year’s Celebration cruises, mainly traveling between Memphis and New Orleans on the Mississippi River. Use code 2023HOLIDAY to access the deal.

Travel to Europe starting at just $129

Reykjavik-based budget airline Play Airlines offers one-way tickets from the East Coast to Iceland for only $129, and to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, and London for just $159, if you make your reservation by September 4. This promotional fare is valid for flights from October 2023 through March 2024.

Founded in 2019, Play began transatlantic flights in December 2021. This no-frills, budget airline resembles the now-defunct Icelandic carrier Wow Air, with many executives, including CEO Birgir Jónsson, previously involved with Wow. What can you expect when flying with Play? We recently evaluated the experience, featuring bright-red narrow-body Airbus planes arranged in a six-seat configuration with three seats on each side of the aisle. There is one class: economy. The seats come with adjustable padded headrests but lack power outlets, Wi-Fi, or in-flight screens. Expect additional fees, and customer service is accessible online via Facebook, WhatsApp, or email.

Our dedicated airline correspondent Barbara Peterson noted that “if your main goal is to find a budget-friendly flight to Europe, Play will meet your needs. Given the high prices for transatlantic flights this year, this newcomer presents an appealing alternative, plus the chance to visit Iceland or spend a few days there en route to other destinations.” Play flights include a connection through Iceland.

Enjoy a 20 percent discount on accommodations around the globe

Until September 24, Expedia and Hotel.com members (you can easily join by signing up for a free account on these platforms) will receive 20 percent off thousands of hotels and resorts worldwide. Travel must be completed by March 31, 2024.

Save as much as $450 on an EF Go Ahead Tours adventure

EF Go Ahead Tours, a small group travel company, is hosting a Labor Day Sale until September 4, offering discounts of up to $450 on a variety of trips, from Egypt & Nile River Cruises to a Kenya Wildlife SMytouri and a Grand Tour of Ireland. Additionally, there are ongoing last-minute specials where travelers can save up to $600 on trips departing in the coming months.

Enjoy up to 30 percent off your stay at a Kimpton hotel

The Long Weekend Away Sale from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is currently underway and runs until September 4. Guests at participating Kimpton hotels worldwide can save between 15 and 25 percent on bookings of three nights or more.

Hit the slopes all winter at Epic Resorts at a discounted rate

The Epic Pass, granting access to over 80 premier ski resorts around the globe, is available at a special price of $929 (or $473 for children under 12) until September 3. After this date, the price will increase, but Vail Resorts, the provider of the Epic Pass, has not disclosed the new rate yet.

Enjoy significant savings per suite on select ocean and river cruises

Luxury cruise lines Scenic Luxury Cruises and Emerald Cruises, both under the Scenic group, are offering substantial discounts on select voyages in 2023 and 2024.

On river cruises along Europe’s most renowned rivers, including the Bordeaux, Danube, Rhine, and Rhone, Emerald guests can save up to $1,000 per suite, while Scenic passengers can enjoy savings of up to $1,500 per suite.

For ocean cruises, Scenic is offering suites with discounts of up to $4,000. These sailings are aboard the newly launched Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, with destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, and South America.

All reservations must be made by September 8.

Enjoy complimentary nights and onboard credit on select Azamara Cruises sailings

If you’re dreaming of a getaway to the Caribbean, Chile’s fjords, Africa, or Australia and New Zealand, Azamara Cruises has a deal for you—book by September 6 to receive four free nights and $600 in onboard credit for select sailings from November 9, 2023, to March 22, 2024.

Set sail for 45 percent off with Holland America Line

From Thursday, August 31 to Monday, September 11, 2023, guests who book select departures with Holland America Line for fall 2023 through early summer 2024 can enjoy discounts of up to 45 percent off cruise fares, receive up to $300 onboard credit per stateroom (depending on the sailing length), and benefit from reduced deposits of just $99. Additionally, you can pair Holland America’s Labor Day sale with the popular “Have it All” premium package, which includes four extra perks: shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage package, and complimentary Wi-Fi.