The Grand Princess. Credit: Princess Cruises
Every month, we ask our friends at AllThingsCruise.com to tell us about the best bargains in cruises at the moment. Here's what they suggested, where to book them, and what, in the opinion of the sellers, makes each one a steal.
We're heading into one of cruising's big bargain seasons in the Caribbean. Even though hurricanes only come along every now and then, even the possibility makes vacationers nervous, so cruise prices plunge and finding a bargain is easier than in most times of year. The major lines will rebook you if a storm threatens your departure, so you can snag these deals with the confidence that your plans won't go to waste.
Unless specified, all prices are the lowest possible for an inside cabin, and they are based on double occupancy. These specials may include other extras such as onboard credits (so ask) and they may sell out—and probably will. Frommer's doesn't share in the sales—we just want to share travel deals with our readers.
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Destination: Caribbean
What: 9-Night Grand Caribbean Sampler on Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess
When: Nov. 1, 2014
Prices: $599 inside, $679 oceanview, per person, based on double occupancy
What Else You'll Have to Pay: $140 per person in taxes/port charges
Where You Go: Round trip from Fort Lauderdale with stops in Princess Cays, Bahamas; Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel
Sold By: Cruises-N-More, 800/733-2048, cruises-n-more.com
Why This is a Deal: Including taxes, that’s $82 per night.
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Destination: U.S. Pacific Coast
What: 4-Night Pacific Coast cruise on Princess Cruises' Golden Princess
When: Oct. 13, 2014
Prices: $279 inside; $299 oceanview, per person, based on double occupancy
What Else You'll Have to Pay: $70 per person in taxes/port charges
Where You Go: Round trip from Los Angeles with stops in San Diego, Calif., and Ensenada, Mexico
Sold By: Cruises-N-More, 800/733-2048, cruises-n-more.com
Why This is a Deal: That's $92 a night for an oceanfront cabin, including fees.
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Destination: Mexico
What: 10-night Mexican cruise aboard Princess’ Star Princess
When: January 3 and 28, 2015
Prices: From $899 per person for an inside cabin, based on double occupancy
What Else You'll Have to Pay: Rates include port charge; government tax additional.
Where you Go: Sail round-trip from San Francisco with Mexican ports of call including Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, La Paz, and Puerto Vallarta.
Sold By: Cruise Brothers, 800/827-7779, www.cruisebrothers.com
Why This is a Deal: Cruise to beautiful Mexico for only $90 per night.
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Destination: December Hawaii from Mainland U.S.
What: 15-night Hawaiian cruise aboard Princess’ Grand Princess
When: December 4, 2014
Prices: From $1,399 per person for an inside cabin
What Else You'll Have to Pay: Rates include port charge; government tax additional.
Where you Go: Sail round-trip from Los Angeles with ports of call in Hilo (Hawaii), Kauai, Lahaina (Maui), Honolulu (Oahu), and Ensenada (Mexico).
Sold By: Cruise Brothers, 800/827-7779, www.cruisebrothers.com
Why This is a Deal: A Hawaiian cruise for only $93 per night!
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Destination: Caribbean
What: 7-Night Western Caribbean aboard Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Dream
When: October 19, 2014
Prices: $429.00 per person for an Interior Stateroom (1A) based on double occupancy
What Else You’ll Have to Pay: An additional $89 per person in taxes and fees
Where you Go: Round Trip from New Orleans, with stops in Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel.
Sold By: Crown Cruise Vacations, 877/283-1114, www.crowncruisevacations.com
Why This is a Deal: At $429 pricing, that’s only $74 per person, per night.
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Destination: Alaska
What: 7-Day Alaska aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun
When: August 18, 2014
Prices: $499 per person for an interior stateroom (IX) based on double occupancy.
What Else You’ll Have to Pay: An additional $198 per person in taxes and fees
Where you Go: Vancouver, Canada, to Whittier, Alaska, with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway; also cruising Inside Passage and Glacier Bay.
Sold By: Crown Cruise Vacations, 877/283-1114, www.crowncruisevacations.com
Why This is a Deal: Including taxes, that's a hair under $100 a night for an Alaskan adventure.
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Destination: Caribbean
What: 7-night Caribbean aboard the MSC Divina
When: Select October and November 2014 sailings
Prices: From $399 per person. Verandas from $679, per person, double occupancy
What Else You'll Have to Pay: Rates include port charge, tax additional
Where you Go: Round-trip from Miami with ports of call in Falmouth, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Costa Maya; and a private beach day in the Bahamas.
Sold By: Cruise Brothers, 800/827-7779, www.cruisebrothers.com
Why This is a Deal: It's a low price for a ship that was launched only two years ago.
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Destination: Caribbean
What: 7 Night Exotic Western Caribbean aboard the Carnival Conquest
When: Dec. 14, 2014
Prices: $334 per person for Interior Upper/Lower Cabin (1A), double occupancy
What Else You’ll Have to Pay: An additional $134 per person in fees and taxes.
Where You Go: Round trip from Miami with stops in Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay, and Grand Cayman.
Sold By: Crown Cruise Vacations, 877/283-1114, www.crowncruisevacations.com
Why This is a Deal: At $334 pricing, that is only $67 per night, per person.
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CruiseCompete.com is also offering some promotions for the month of July. Here's what it says it can do:
AmaWaterways: Receive $1,500 off select river cruises or 5% off any other 2015 river cruise when you book by July 31, 2014. For details and sailings click here.
American Cruise Line: Reserve a select American Cruise Line’s holiday cruise by July 18, 2014 and save $1,000 per stateroom, plus get free pre-cruise hotel stay and free shore excursions. For details click here.
American Queen Steamboat Company: American Queen Steamboat Company is offering early booking savings or up to $600 per stateroom on select 2015 sailings that are 7 days or longer. This offer expires September 19, 2014. Click here for details.
Avalon Waterways: Save $1,000 per couple on select Avalon Waterways Europe River cruises. Booking must be made by September 30, 2014. For more information and sailings click here.
Oceania Cruises: For a limited time Oceania Cruises is offering 2-for-1 cruise fares and free airfare on select summer 2014 Europe sailings. Fares are subject to increase September 3, 2014. For details and sailings click here.
Silversea Cruises: The Silver Select promotion enables a choice of three offers: a two-category suite upgrade, a $500 per-person credit towards the purchase of the Silver Sky air program, or a $500 per-person on-board credit. Silver Select is available on new bookings made by August 31, 2014 for some voyages sailing in the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. For details and sailings click here.
