December 11, 2003 -- As always, we've gone in deep to bring up the cheapest, most affordable cruises to help you plan your 2004 vacation year. How's setting sail for under $50 a day sound? Read on.
Notable Cruise Deals of the Week: 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 Cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time.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 (tel. 800/800-9552, www.cruise.com)
- Carnival Paradise: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $479, Feb 1 sailing. Completely non-smoking ship.
- NCL Norwegian Sea: 7-night Mexico/Central America, round-trip from Houston. From $429, Jan 17 sailing.
- Royal Olympia Olympia Explorer: 13-night Hawaii, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $1,374, Jan 5 sailing.
Cruise 411 (tel. 800/553-7090, www.cruise411.com)
- Carnival Victory: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $481, Jan 11 sailing.
- Disney Magic: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $599, Jan 10 sailing.
- Holland America Oosterdam: 7-night southern and western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $529, Jan 4 southern sailing, Jan 11 western.
- Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $624, Jan 25 sailing. Brand-new ship.
- Silversea Silver Whisper: 6-night ultra-luxe southern Caribbean, round-trip from Barbados. From $1,967, Dec 17 sailing. 7-night Antigua-to-Barbados, April 8, from $1,747.
- Silversea Silver Wind: 6-night ultra-luxe eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Antigua. From $1,497, April 15 sailing.
- Windstar Wind Surf: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from St. Thomas. From $1,395, Jan 4 and 11 sailings; from $1,495, Mar 28 sailing.
Expedia (tel. 800/397-3342, www.expedia.com)
- Carnival Ecstasy: 4-night Mexico, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $199, Jan 12 and Jan 26 sailings; from $209, Jan 19 sailing.
- Costa Europa: 11-night Morocco/Spain/Canary Islands, between Barcelona and Genoa. From $1,199, Feb 13 and 24, March 12 and 23 cruises. Airfare included!
- Princess Tahitian Princess: 10-night South Pacific, round-trip from Papeete, Tahiti. From $1,449, Feb 4 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas: 4-night Mexico, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $259, Jan 19 sailing; from $249, Jan 26 sailing.
Icruise (tel. 888/909-6242, www.icruise.com)
- Cunard Queen Mary 2: 11-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,587, Jan 31 sailing.
- Radisson Seven Seas Navigator: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,897, Feb 14 sailing.
Moment's Notice Travel Club (tel. 888/241-3366, www.momentsnoticetravel.com)
- Celebrity Galaxy: 7-night southern Caribbean, San Juan to Baltimore. From $368, March 19 sailing.
- Celebrity Galaxy: 10-night western Mediterranean, Rome to Naples. From $1,068, May 21 sailing.
- Celebrity Millennium: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $508, March 14 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas: 7-ight southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $498, March 21 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round=trip from Miami. From $538, April and May sailings.
- Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $468, Jan, Feb, March, and April sailings.
- Windjammer Mandalay: 13-night eastern/southern Caribbean, Antigua to Grenada. From $1,099, December 15 sailing.
Travelocity (tel. 877/815-5446, www.travelocity.com)
- Celebrity Constellation: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $550, Jan 10, 24, and 31 sailings.
- Celebrity Horizon: 11-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $650, March 22 sailing. 10-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $700, March 2 sailing.
- Celebrity Mercury: 10-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $780, Jan 30 sailing.
- Crystal Harmony: 7-night ultra-luxe Bahamas, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,775, Oct 24 and 31, 2004 sailings.
- NCL Norwegian Sky: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $399, Jan 18 and Feb 1 sailings.
Have you booked a cruise through any of these online agencies? What was your experience like? Tell us on our Cruise Message Boards.
