Sail the Mexican Rivieria from $70 a Day, the Caribbean from $60, Hawaii or Alaska from $100: You Decide

Only 150 Shopping Days Left . . .

It's never too early to plan for the holidays. Windstar (tel. 800/258-7245; www.windstarcruises.com) is offering deals on 10- and 11-night Caribbean cruises in December on its casually elegant motorized sailing yachts. The 308-passenger Wind Surf's 10-night holiday cruise departs Dec 18 round trip from Barbados and visits Tobago; Mayreau and Bequia, Grenadines; St. Lucia; Roseau and Cabrits, Dominica; Gaudeloupe; and lovely Iles des Saintes. Special holiday cruise rates start at $2,695 per person, double occupancy. The Surf's next cruise is an 11-night New Year's sailing departing on Dec 28, round-trip from Barbados. Calls include Nevis, St. Martin, Virgin Gorda, St. Barts, Iles des Saintes, St. Lucia, and Bequia and Mayreau, Grenadines. Special cruise rates start at $3,095 per person, double occupancy.

The 148-passenger Wind Spirit is doing a 10-night cruise departing Dec 17 round-trip from St. Thomas, with calls to Saint John, Saba, Iles des Saintes, Pigeon Island, Bridgetown, Bequia, Roseau, and Virgin Gorda. Cruise rates start at $2,995 per person, double occupancy. The Wind Spirit's 11-night New Year's cruise leaves Dec 27, also round-trip from St. Thomas, and will call on St. John, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts, Iles des Saintes, Pigeon Island, Mayreau and Virgin Gorda. Cruise rates start at $3,295 per person, double occupancy.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, menus will feature traditional dishes, from roast beef to roasted turkey with chestnut dressing, and the ships will be decked out with decorated Christmas trees and garlands.

Bermuda or Bust

Radisson (tel. 877/505-5370; www.rssc.com) is offering discounts on three 7-night cruises to Bermuda in August on the all-suite 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator. This is the ship's final season in Bermuda. The cruises are round-trip from New York and you can take advantage of savings in two ways: choose free economy air plus, before the cruise, two nights at the Waldorf Astoria with NYC theater tickets, or choose a $750 per person discount off the cruise fare. All rates include wine with dinner, stocked mini-bar, all non-alcoholic drinks and all gratuities. On Aug 17, 24 and 31 departures, cruise-only fares start at $2,396 per person; or the free economy air/Waldorf Astoria fares start at $3,146 per person. On the Aug 24 and 31 sailings, kids under 12 sail free (one child per stateroom).

These Rates are a Dream

Live the life of a playboy (or girl) for a song. SeaDream Yacht Club (tel. 800/707-4911; www.seadreamyachtclub.com) is offering some great rates on Caribbean cruises aboard its pair of 110-passenger yachts between October and December. The sporty ships carry along ski jets, mountain bikes, kayaks and Segway Human Transporters, and call on the less touristy islands including Nevis, Les Saintes, Bequia, St. Barts, and the BVIs. All this fun, plus great food and service? Sign me up! Rates dip as low as $1,899 per person for a 7-night sailing between Palm Beach and St. Thomas, with many more 7-night departures priced at $2,199 to $2,999 per person for sailings round trip out of St. Thomas or between San Juan and St. Thomas, St. Thomas and St. Martin or St. Thomas and Barbados. Fares include all wines, spirits, soft drinks, tips and use of the ships' great toys. And if you want some massages to go along with that great cruise, SeaDream is offering a special pre-paid $440 spa package for just $199. Choose four treatments from a menu of 11; the discount applies to all new bookings for sailings between Oct 15 and Dec 18.

What Travel Agencies Are Offering

Here are some of the best deals a handful of major travel agencies are advertising this week. Cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time. Similar deals may be available from competing online and brick-and-mortar agencies. All rates are per person and include port charges. Rates for the ultra-luxe lines may also include gratuities and some or all beverages.

CruisesOnly (tel. 800/278-4737; www.cruisesonly.com)

• Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas: 5-night Bermuda, round-trip from Cape Liberty, NJ. From $499, Sept 4 & 18 sailings.
• Carnival Liberty: 6-night Western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $549, Nov 20 sailing.
• NCL America Pride of America: 7-night Hawaii, round-trip from Honolulu. From $669, Oct 1 sailing.
• Celebrity Mercury: 10-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $700, Oct 21 sailing.
• Holland America Maasdam: 11-night Southern Caribbean, round-trip from Norfolk. From $999, Nov 5 sailing.

Cruise Value Center (tel. 800-231-7447; www.cruisevaluecenter.com)

• Carnival Ecstasy: 5-night western Caribbean. From $329, Oct. 31 sailing.
• Carnival Conquest 7-night western Caribbean. From $679, Aug 21 sailing.
• Celebrity Horizon: 7-night Bermuda, round-trip Phila, From $750, Aug 6 sailing.
• Celebrity Summit: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip Los Angeles. From $550, Oct 10 sailing.
• Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale. From $ 454, Sept 3 sailing.
• Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale. From $454, Sept 24 sailing.
• Princess Caribbean Princess: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale. From $544 with free upgrades! Aug 27 sailing.
• Princess Regal Princess: 10-night Alaska, round-trip San Francisco. From $1,109 with free upgrades! Aug 26 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip Miami. From $699, Aug 13 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip Port Canaveral. From $599, Aug 14 sailing

Just Cruisin' Plus (tel. 800/888-0922; www.justcruisinplus.com)

• Carnival Elation: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $499, Aug. 28 thru Nov. 8 sailings.
• Carnival Holiday: 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Mobile. From $299, Aug. 29 thru Nov. 12 sailings.
• Carnival Sensation: 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $349, Sep. 5 thru Nov. 14 and Nov. 28 thru Dec. 12 sailings
• Carnival Celebration: 5-night Bahamas and Key West, round-trip from Jacksonville. From $329, Sep. 10 thru Nov. 14 sailings.
• Carnival Inspiration: 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $349, Sep. 12 thru Nov. 12 sailings
• Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $499, Sep. 24 sailing
• Holland America Ryndam: 10-night Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez, round-trip from San Diego. From $899, Sep. 28 sailing.
• Carnival Conquest: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $549, Oct. 2 thru Nov. 13 sailings.
• Carnival Pride: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $549, Oct. 9 thru Nov. 13 sailings.
• Carnival Spirit: 8-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $599, Oct. 31 thru Nov. 6 and Dec. 2 sailings.

Mann Travel & Cruises/123Travel (tel. 800/835-9828; www.123travel.com)

• Celebrity Mercury: 10-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $700, Dec. 2 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Spirit: 7-night Bahamas/Florida, round-trip from New York. From $769, Feb. 26 sailing.
• Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $499, Sep. 24 sailing.
• Carnival Glory: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $499, Dec. 3 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Majesty: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Charleston. From $499, Nov. 26 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip New Orleans. From $499, Dec. 10 sailing.
• Princess Sea Princess: 7-night western Europe, round-trip from London. From $999, May 20 sailing.
• NCL Pride of Aloha: 7-night Hawaii, round-trip from Honolulu. From $849, Dec. 11 sailing.
• Holland America Ryndam: 10-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $899, Sep. 28 sailing.
• Carnival Holiday: 4-night Mexico, round-trip from Mobile. From $299, Nov. 17 sailing.

Vacation Outlet (tel. 800/690-2210; www.vacationoutlet.com)

• Carnival Glory: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral round-trip. From $499, Sept 10,24 & Oct 8 sailings.
• NCL Norwegian Star: 8-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Port Los Angeles. From $629, Nov 25 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $649, Sept 4 sailing.
• Holland America Statendam: 17-night Hawaii, Vancouver to San Diego. From $1,699, Sept 16 sailing.
• Celebrity Galaxy: 11-night Panama Canal, round-trip from Port Galveston. From $900, Nov 24 sailing.

Vacation Shoppe (tel. 866/7-CRUISE; www.vacationshoppe.com)

• Carnival Liberty: 6-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $429, Dec 4 sailing.
• Carnival Glory: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Pt. Canaveral. From $599, Oct 22 sailing.
• Carnival Inspiration: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $379, Jan 12 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas: 10-night eastbound Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu to Ensenada. From $1,299, Oct 5 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas: 12-night Panama Canal, San Diego to San Juan. From $2,759 Balcony, Oct 17 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas: 11-night westbound Transatlantic, Barcelona to Miami. From $799, Nov 11 sailing.
• Holland America Statendam: 13-night China/Japan, Hong Kong to Osaka. From $2,199, March 20 sailing.
• Holland America Maasdam: 11-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Norfolk. From $1,499, Dec 27 sailing.
• Holland America Prinsendam: 15-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $3,649, Dec 20 sailing.
• Oceania Insignia: 14-night Baltic, Dover to Stockholm. From $3,599, July 10 sailing.

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