Oceans, Rivers and Seas: See 'em All from the Deck of a Ship Inexpensively

Here's 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 Cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time.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)

Carnival Fascination: 3-night Bahamas, round-trip from Miami. From $229, Sept 9,16,23; Dec 2 & 9 sailings.
NCL Norwegian Dream: 7-night Caribbean, round-trip from Houston. From $399, Nov 26; Dec 3 & 10 sailings.
Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas: 7-night Alaska, round-trip from Vancouver. From $611, May 27 & Sept 2 sailings.
Celebrity Mercury: 8-night California & Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Francisco. From $725, March 12 sailing.
Holland America Rotterdam: 15-night Transatlantic crossing, Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,349, Nov 9 sailing.

The Cruise Professionals (tel. 800/265-3838; www.cruiseprofessionals.com)

Silversea Silver Cloud: 10-night ultra-luxe Mediterranean, round-trip from Barcelona. From $2,898, April 25 sailing.
Silversea Silver Whisper: 7-night ultra-luxe Mediterranean, Rome/Civitavecchia to Villefranche. From $2,448, May 12 sailing. Deal includes a cocktail reception and special complimentary shore excursion.
Silversea Silver Cloud: 7-night ultra-luxe Mediterranean, Barcelona to Lisbon. From $2,448, May 5 sailing. Deal includes a cocktail reception and special complimentary shore excursion.
Crystal Harmony: 8-night Mexico, Costa Rica to Los Angeles. From $995, Feb 6 sailing. Deal includes $100 per cabin shipboard credit.
Crystal Symphony: 16-night Caribbean/South America, from Ft. Lauderdale to Valparaiso. From $2,995, Jan 5 sailing. Deal includes $100 per cabin shipboard credit.
Radisson Seven Seas Navigator: 6-night Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,498, April 22 sailing.
Radisson Diamond: 8-night ultra-luxe Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $1,998, Feb 15 and Mar 22 sailings. Deal includes $100 per cabin shipboard credit.

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

Carnival Triumph: 7-night Canada/New England, round-trip from New York. From $631, Sept 10 sailing.
Carnival Victory: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip Miami. From $587, May 1 sailing.
Carnival Legend: 8-night southern Caribbean, round-trip Fort Lauderdale. From $746, Mar 11 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas: 7-night Mediterranean, round-trip from Barcelona. From $869, June 4 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $479, Feb 13 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $399, Oct 31 sailing.
Celebrity Horizon: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $600, April 23 sailing.
Celebrity Galaxy: 11-night Transcanal, round-trip from Galveston. From $925, Apr 14 sailing.
Holland America Zaandam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $628, Mar 5 sailing.
Holland America Oosterdam: 7-night Mexico, round-trip from San Diego. From $589, Apr 9 sailing.
Holland America Volendam: 10-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $821, Mar 30 sailing.
Princess Sea Princess: 7-night western Europe, round-trip from Southampton/London. From $829, May 28 sailing.
Princess Dawn Princess: 10-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $784, Apr 19 sailing.

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

Carnival Glory: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $799, Mar 19 sailing.
Carnival Triumph: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $779, Mar 19 sailing.
Holland America Zaandam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $769, Mar 19 sailing.
Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $799, Mar 19 sailing.
Princess Grand Princess: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $874, Mar. 19 sailing
Princess Caribbean Princess: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $874, Ma. 19 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $829, Mar 19 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $849 Mar 19 sailing.
Celebrity Century: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $700, Mar. 19 sailing
MSC Opera: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $595, Mar 19 sailing.
Costa Costa Atlantica: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $749, Mar 20 sailing
Costa Costa Mediterranea: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $649, Mar 20 sailing
MSC Opera: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $545, Jan 8 sailing.

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

Carnival Fantasy: 4-night Bahamas, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $279, Dec 12 sailing.
Disney Wonder: 4-night Bahamas, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $459, Dec 19 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Sovereign of the Seas: 4-night Bahamas, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $399, Dec 20 sailing.
Carnival Sensation: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $479, Dec 16 sailing
Celebrity Constellation: 6-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $720, Dec 18 sailing
Royal Caribbean Splendor of the Seas: 6-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $689, Dec 18 sailing.
Holland America Oosterdam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $689, Dec 19 sailing.
Princess Sun Princess: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $999, Dec 22 sailing.
Carnival Conquest: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $899, Dec 19 sailing.
Carnival Miracle: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $799, Dec 19 sailing.

Largay Travel (tel. 800/322-9481; www.largaytravel.com)

Crystal Harmony: 11-night Panama Canal, Fort Lauderdale to Costa Rica. From $1,995, Jan 26 sailing. Deal includes $100 shipboard credit and a bottle of wine.
Crystal Harmony: 10-night Mexico, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $1,995, Feb 14, sailing. Deal includes full-day city tour with lunch in Puerto Vallarta.
Cunard Queen Mary 2: 6-night Trans-Atlantic, New York to Southampton. From $1,519, Apr 10 sailing.
Seabourn Legend: 7-night ultra-luxe Mediterranean, Barcelona to Monte Carlo. From $2,998, Apr 24 sailing.
Holland America Maasdam: 7-night New England, round-trip from Boston. From $897, Jul 9 sailing.
NCL Norwegian Dawn: 7-night Florida & Bahamas, round-trip from New York. From $729, Apr 17 sailing.

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

Carnival Victory: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $449, Sept 18; Oct 2; Nov 27 & Dec 11, 2005 sailings.
Holland America Oosterdam: 7-night Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez, round-trip from San Diego. From $569, Nov 26; Dec 3 & 10, 2005 sailings.
Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas: 5-night New England & Canada, round-trip from Boston. From $699, Aug 30 sailing.
Celebrity Century: 10-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $720, Nov 7 sailing.
NCL Norwegian Dream: 10-night Alaska, round-trip from Seattle. From $1,099, May 30 sailing.

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

Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans. From $549, Jan 22 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Pt. Canaveral. From $699, Jan 30 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $779, Apr 10 sailing.
NCL Spirit: 9-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $799, Feb 8 sailing.
Celebrity Galaxy: 12-night Panama Canal, round-trip from Galveston. From $999, Mar 21 sailing.
Carnival Liberty: 12-night western Europe, round-trip from Rome/Civitavecchia. From $1,549, Sep 30 sailing.
Carnival Liberty: 8-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $679, Dec 10, 2005 sailing.
Oceania Regatta: 12-night Transatlantic, Miami to Barcelona. From $1,899, Mar 30 sailing.
Holland America Rotterdam: 16-night South America, Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso. From $1,739, Dec 6 sailing.

Sail the Surf to Dealtown

For as low as $1,295 per person, spend a week on Windstar Cruises' (tel. 800/258-7245; www.windstarcruises.com) 308-passenger Wind Surf. The five-masted vessel sports a yachty vibe and offers luxury amenities from a spa to a gym, three restaurants and comfortable cabins with DVD players and flat-screen TVs. Cruise round-trip from Cozumel, and call on ports in Belize, Honduras and Mexico. For sailings departing March 27, rates start at $1,295; for Jan 30 and Feb 6 departures, rates start as low as $1,395; and they start at $1,495 for cruises on Feb 13, 20 & 27, and March 6 and 13.

Follow Lewis & Clark's Trail of Deals

American West Steamboat Company (tel. 800/434-1232; www.americanweststeamboat.com) is offering discounts on two special 7-night river cruises that provide an in-depth look at the last 150 miles of Lewis & Clarke's journey to the Pacific Ocean some two hundred years ago. The trips depart March 5 and 12, 2005 from Portland, Oregon aboard the 161-passenger sternwheeler Queen of the West, and follow the westward journey of the Corps of Discovery, exploring their winter camp at Fort Clatsop and retracing the start of their eastward bound journey home. The Corps of Discovery was an expedition of men, led by Lewis and Clarke, which was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the unchartered West. Historic points of interest along the cruise include Pillar Rock, where the explorers first spotted the Pacific Ocean. Other attractions include Astoria, Oregon, where the ship cruises the Columbia River Gorge and visits to the 620-foot high Multnomah Falls and Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Monument.

Author, historian and contemporary explorer Rex Ziak will sail aboard the ship as a lecturer. In each cabin will be a complimentary copy of Ziak's book, In Full View, detailing the last 30 days of Lewis & Clark's westward journey. Rates range from $1,239 to $3,699 per person and include daily shore excursions, all meals, and live showboat-style entertainment. Book by Feb 26, and save up to $800 per couple.

December Bookings Reap Double Miles

United Cruises (tel. 888/UAL-2-SEA; www.united.com/cruises), a service from United Airlines launched last summer, offers customers the ability to earn and redeem frequent-flier miles and book trips on more than twenty cruise lines, from the majors to several small-ship and ultra-luxury operators. Book any cruise through United Cruises by Dec. 31, 2004, for travel throughout 2005, and you can earn two miles for every dollar spent on the cruise. All year around, Mileage Plus members can continue to earn one mile for every dollar spent on cruises purchased from United Cruises. To enroll in Mileage Plus, visit www.united.com/mileageplus.

Reminder: The Clock is Ticking for Princess Discounts

Book any cabin on any of Princess' Caribbean itineraries through Just Cruisin' Plus (tel. 800/888-0922; www.justcruisinplus.com) between now and year-end, save an extra 5% off the lowest published fare. The booking and cruise must take place before December 31, 2004, and the deal applies to new reservations only. The savings is applied against the fare before port charges and taxes are added on. Space is limited.

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