Frommers.com Cruise Deals for the Week of July 10, 2008
Early booking credits from MSC, summer savings on Carnival, discounts on Greenland visits, and a host of deals from cruise specialist agents.
By Heidi Sarna July 9, 2008
Cool Credit
MSC Cruises (www.msccruisesusa.com) is offering $50 to $200 per cabin shipboard credits for early bookings made by Aug. 21, 2008. The amount of the shipboard credit will be determined by the type of cabins -- insides get $25 per person (maximum $50 per stateroom); for outside cabins, it's $50 per person (maximum $100 per stateroom); and for suites or balcony cabins it's $100 shipboard credit per person (maximum $200 per stateroom).
The shipboard credit offer is valid on the following sailings:
MSC Lirica, 10-night Deep Caribbean, sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on March 4 & 24 and Apr 13. Rates start at $899 per person.
MSC Orchestra, 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale
March 7. Rates begin at $549 per person.
Cruise-only rates are per person, double occupancy. Plus, children under the age of 17 sail free on all sailings when sharing a cabin with two full-fare-paying adults and guests need only place a deposit of $100 per person.
Cash in on Carnival's Summer Savings
Carnival Cruise Line's
(tel. 800/327-9501; www.carnival.com) new Endless Summer Celebration savings promotion offers different weekly specials on "Fun Ship" cruises booked during the month of July. The deals apply to a wide range of three- to 12-day cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe in 2008-09. Upcoming offers include shipboard credits; stateroom upgrades; special rates for third and fourth guests in a stateroom; holiday offers and regional savings; and discounts on a variety of fall, winter and spring departures. Certain restrictions apply and this offer is not combinable with any other discount offer and applies to new individual bookings only.
Save Greenbacks to Greenland
Hurtigruten (tel. 800/323-7436; www.hurtigruten.us) is offering savings aboard the Sept. 9 sailing of the 318-berth MS Fram on a 16-day expedition cruise-tour in Greenland. Those who book by July 31, 2008 save up to $3,500 per person. The fares, normally $7,099 to $18,499 per person, double, are 18% to 20% lower -- $5,699 to $8,699 for cabins and $9,199 to $14,999 for suites -- during this promotion. Air is offered from dozens of U.S. gateways starting at $949 plus taxes and fuel surcharges. Fares include lectures and guided tours in port by onboard experts and naturalists, hotel nights in Copenhagen and Reykjavik on either end of the cruise, flights between Copenhagen and Greenland, and ship transfers and port charges.
Scenery along the way includes glaciers, icebergs, fjords and wildlife. Ports include the capital town of Nuuk, the oldest town in Greenland, founded in 1728 and home to a university, picturesque old buildings, churches and the Greenland National Museum. On the other end of the spectrum is the port of Ivittuut, the smallest community in Greenland, with about 200 people.
The comfortable ship has an Internet café, observation lounge, oceanview restaurant, gym and spa.
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 for an inside cabin unless otherwise stated, and include port charges. Rates for the ultra-lux lines may also include gratuities and some or all beverages.
Carnival Dream: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Pt. Canaveral. From $669, Dec. 5, 2009 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $449, Feb. 5 sailing. Deal includes $25 onboard credit.
Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas: 6-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Pt. Canaveral. From $769, May 4, sailing. Deal includes $25 onboard credit and bottle of wine.
Celebrity Equinox: 11-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,349, Nov. 23, 2009 sailing. Deal includes $25 onboard credit and a bottle of wine
Celebrity Equinox: 10-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $999, Dec. 4, 2009 sailing.
Celebrity Equinox: 10-night Mediterranean, Southampton to Civitavecchia/Rome. From $2,449, Aug. 8 2009 sailing.
Celebrity Equinox: 13-night Greece, Israel, Egypt, round-trip from Civitavecchia/Rome. From $3,349, Aug. 18, 2009.
Celebrity Solstice: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $759, Nov. 30 sailing.
Carnival Imagination: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $199, Sep. 29 sailing. Deal includes 15% discount on all shore excursions and a $25 onboard credit.
Carnival Victory: 5-night Canada/New England, round-trip from New York. From $479, Sep. 1 sailing. Deal includes $25 to spend onboard.
Celebrity Century: 8-night Europe, Amsterdam to Barcelona. From $899, Aug. 31 sailing.
Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $649, Aug. 31 sailing. Deal includes 15% discount on all shore excursions.
Regent Seven Seas Mariner: 7-night ultra-lux Alaska, Seward/Anchorage to Vancouver. From $2195, Aug. 27 sailing. Deal includes full-day Auke Bay wildlife cruise with lunch shore excursion.
Crystal Symphony: 11-night Canada/New England, New York to Montreal. From $3495, Sep. 16 sailing.
Regent Seven Seas Paul Gaugiun: 11-night ultra-lux Tahiti, round-trip from Papeete. From $3,350, Nov. 1 sailing
Regent Seven Seas Voyager: 16-night Transatlantic, Civatavecchia/Rome to Ft. Lauderdale. From $5,795, Nov. 15 sailing. Deal includes $300 shipboard credit.
Oceania Cruises Insignia: 12-night South America, Rio to Buenos Aires. From $2,999, Dec. 8 sailing.
Regent Seven Seas Voyager: 34-night Transatlantic, Ft. Lauderdale to Auckland. From $14750, Dec. 29 sailing.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
