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Reel' Em In! Low Cost Cruises on the High Seas

January 9, 2004 -- We've trawled long, far and deep to bring you this bountiful catch of savings.

Carnival Offers Sail-and-Stay Packages on Cruises from Jacksonville

In conjunction with its new departures from Jacksonville, Florida, set to begin Feb. 27, Carnival Cruise Lines (800/327-9501; www.carnival.com or www.sawgrassmarriott.com) is offering 2- and 3-night pre- and post-cruise hotel packages at Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Beach Club, from $205 and $310 per person, based on double occupancy and including either a rental car or round-trip ground transfers. The packages are combinable with 3-, 5-, and 6-night cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico aboard the new 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle; 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas and Key West aboard the 1,486-passenger Jubilee or Celebration.

Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Beach Club features 508 guest rooms, six restaurants and lounges, three outdoor pools, a Cabana Beach Club, health club, tennis courts, horseback riding, and five 18-hole championship golf courses, one of which is the site of the PGA Players Championship.

Cruise West Extends Alaska Early-Booking Offer

Because they're so specialized and carry so few passengers, small-ship cruise lines do far less discounting than the big boys. For summer 2004, though, Cruise West (800/888-9378, www.cruisewest.com) has extended an early-booking deal that can save couples up to $1,000 on Alaska cruises. Book by Feb. 27 and you'll save up to $800, plus another $200 if paying the cruise fare in full. Book between Feb. 28 and March 31 and receive up to $400 per couple. The exact amount of the fare reduction depends on the length of the cruise, whether payment is made in full by the deadline, and if the departure takes place by June 15 or after (savings are highest for the earlier deadline, longer cruises, and for sailings departing through June 15). Passengers who take advantage of this deal will receive refunds for the difference if subsequent offers take the base rate of the cruise even lower, so there's no risk in booking early.

What the Online Sellers Are Offering

Here are some of the best deals the major online sellers 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 Cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time.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.

Cruise.com (800/800-9552, www.cruise.com)

  • Carnival Elation: 7-night Yucatan/Central America, round-trip from Galveston. From $414, Feb 8 sailing.
  • Carnival Jubilee: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $324, Jan 24 sailing.
  • Celebrity Mercury: 7-night California/Baja, round-trip from San Francisco. From $530, Mar 21 and 28 sailings.
  • Cunard Queen Mary 2: 10-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from New York. From $1,269, May 10 sailing.
  • NCL Norwegian Sea: 7-night Yucatan/Central America, round-trip from Houston. From $414, Feb 28 sailing.
  • NCL Norwegian Sun: 7-night Alaska Inside Passage, round-trip from Vancouver. From $579, May 9 sailing.
  • Radisson Seven Seas Mariner: 7-night ultra-luxe Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $2,078, Mar 19 sailing.
  • Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $484, Feb 1 sailing.
  • Seabourn Legend: 11-night ultra-luxe transatlantic, St. Thomas to Lisbon. From $2,048, Mar 27 sailing. Almost all at sea (with one stop in Madeira), but that means 10 days of super-luxe pampering.
  • Windstar Wind Surf: 7-night eastern Caribbean by sailing ship, round-trip from St. Thomas. From $1,485, Feb 1 sailing.

Cruise 411 (800/553-7090, www.cruise411.com)

  • Holland America Oosterdam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $549, Feb 1 sailing.
  • Holland America Zaandam: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $529, Jan 17 sailing; from $549, Jan 24 and 31 sailings. Offer ends Jan 11.
  • Princess Dawn Princess: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $499, Feb 8 sailing.
  • Princess Grand Princess and Golden Princess: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale (Grand) and San Juan (Golden). From $549, Sept 11, 12, and 19 sailings.
  • Silversea Silver Whisper: 7-night southern Caribbean, Antigua to Barbados. From $1,747, April 8 sailing.
  • Silversea Silver Wind: 6-night ultra-luxe eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Antigua. From $1,497, April 15 sailing.

Cruises Only (888/278-4737, www.cruisesonly.com)

  • Carnival Fascination: 3-night Bahamas, round-trip from Miami. From $219, Jan 30 sailing.
  • NCL Norwegian Sky: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $399, Feb 1 sailing.
  • Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $599, Jan 31 sailing.
  • Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas: 11-night Panama Canal, round-trip from Galveston. From $799 oceanview cabin, Jan 15 sailing. Last-minute deal!
  • Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $499, Feb 8 sailing.

Expedia (800/397-3342, www.expedia.com)

  • Carnival Ecstasy: 4-night California coast, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $199, Jan 12 and 26 sailings.
  • Celebrity Infinity: 14-night Panama Canal, Valparaiso (Chile) to Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,450, Mar 14 sailing.
  • Celebrity Mercury: 10-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $900 (inside cabin) and $1,000 (outside), Feb 20 sailing.
  • Princess Tahitian Princess: 10-night Tahiti/South Pacific, round-trip from Papeete. From $1,599, Feb 7 sailing.

Icruise (888/909-6242, www.icruise.com)

  • Cunard Queen Mary 2: 10-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from New York. From $1,258, Nov 6 and 26, 2004 sailings.
  • Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas: 9-night western Caribbean, New Orleans to Baltimore. From $473, May 1 sailing.
  • Silversea Silver Whisper: 7-night southern Caribbean, Antigua to Barbados. From $1,747, April 8 sailing.

Moment's Notice Travel Club (888/241-3366, www.momentsnoticetravel.com)

  • Celebrity Galaxy: 7-night western Caribbean, San Juan to Galveston. From $388, Oct 25 sailing.

Travelocity (877/815-5446, www.travelocity.com)

  • Carnival Elation: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $369, Feb 1 sailing.
  • Carnival Jubilee: 7-night eastern/southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $329, Jan 24 and 31 sailings; from $349, Feb 7 sailing. Old ship, but amazing itinerary, visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic. No days at sea!
  • Celebrity Constellation: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $520, Nov 27 and Dec 4 sailings.
  • Celebrity Zenith: 11-night western Caribbean/Central America, round-trip from Jacksonville, FL. From $650, April 11 sailing.
  • Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $519, Nov 27 and Dec 4 sailings. New ship, and port-heavy itinerary, visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

 

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