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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

When are Cruises Cheap to Popular Destinations?


    • Off-season cruising can save bargain minded U.S. travelers cash and spare them from the crowds found during peak travel months. Consider taking a cruise during the traditionally rainy month of April and seven-day vacations are available for less than $100 per person, per day. These bargains include travel round trip from popular ports of call like New York, New Orleans,Louisiana; Tampa and Miami Florida; and Baltimore, Maryland on the east coast, and Los Angeles and Long Beach, California in the west.

    Bahamas and Bermuda

    • Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines each have ships dedicated to 7-day sailing to the Bahamas. Carnival Triumph departs from New Orleans, while the Legend leaves from Tampa and the Pride pushes out from Baltimore. Each sailing features 3 ports of call, with at least one stop in the Bahamas. The Carnival Pride also offers select sailings with stops in Bermuda. All 3 Carnival ships received 4-star ratings from the Cruise Outlet. This assures a vacationer receives good food quality, entertainment and service.
      Norwegian's 5-star ranked ships, the Gem and Jewel, both sail to the Bahamas round trip from New York. These ships give a cruise experience focused on enrichment and usually have upscale dining options and a higher average passenger age.
      As of summer 2010, all of these sailings feature prices in April under $600. That translates to less than $86 per person per day based on double occupancy of an interior cabin.
      Carnival Cruise Lines
      3655 NW 87th Avenue
      Miami, FL 33178
      800-227-6482
      carnival.com
      NCL Corporation Ltd.
      7665 Corporate Center Drive
      Miami, Florida 33126
      866-234-7350
      ncl.com

    Caribbean

    • Departing from Florida, 7-day sailings to ports in the islands of the Caribbean are also available in April. Carnival ships Liberty, Glory and Valor all depart from Miami and feature 3 to 4 ports of call, with one stop in the city of Grand Cayman. All 3 ships are also 4-star vessels.
      These vacations are available for less than $500 per person, or $70 per person per day based on double occupancy of an inside cabin. As of summer 2010, April sailings were as low as $389 per person which translates to $50 per day.
      Carnival Cruise Lines
      3655 NW 87th Avenue
      Miami, FL 33178
      800-227-6482
      carnival.com

    Mexico

    • Because of the political situation, sailings to Mexico are deeply discounted. The traditional 7-day Mexican Riviera sailing, which visits the 3 Pacific coast cities of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, are available in April. The Norwegian Star and the Disney Wonder depart from Los Angeles and the Carnival Splendor departs from Long Beach. The Star and Wonder are both 4-star rated ships, while the Splendor is an older, no glitz type which received 3 stars from the Cruise Outlet.
      Trips to Mexico are available for under $500 per person on the Norwegian Star and Carnival Splendor. Because of the attention to family cruising, the Disney Wonder charges a premium, with sailings around $1,000 per person, based on double occupancy.
      NCL Corporation Ltd.
      7665 Corporate Center Drive
      Miami, Florida 33126
      866-234-7350
      ncl.com
      Disney Cruise Vacations
      Guest Communications
      P.O. Box 10238
      Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0238
      800-951-3532
      disneycruise.disney.go.com