September 9, 2004 - From Christmas cruises in the tropics to deals for singles, we've got some of the best deals a handful of major travel agencies are advertising this week.
Note that cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time.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-lux lines may also include gratuities and some or all beverages.
CruisesOnly (800/278-4737; www.cruisesonly.com). Click on ship name below for details page.
* Carnival Fascination. 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami.From $229, Dec 13 sailing.
* Celebrity Constellation.7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan.From $610, Jan 8 sailing.
* Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas.7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral.From $661, Dec 12 sailing.
* NCL Norwegian Spirit.9-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami.From $699, Dec 3 sailing.
* Holland America Veendam.8-night Mexico, round-trip from Tampa.From $1,099, Dec 26 sailings.
Cruise Value Center(800/231-7447; www.cruisevalue.com). Click on ship name below for details page.
* NCL Norwegian Spirit. 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip Miami. From $334, Dec 12 sailing.
* NCL Norwegian Sun: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $544, Dec 11 sailing.
* Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas. 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $499, Nov 27, 2005 sailing.
* Carnival Glory. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $499, Oct 1 sailing.
* Carnival Triumph. 5-night Canada, round-trip from New York. From $366, June 18 sailing.
* Celebrity Constellation. 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan. From $477, Nov 27 sailing.
* Celebrity Zenith. 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $325, Nov 5, 2005 sailing.
* Celebrity Mercury. 10-night Mexican Rivera, round-trip from San Diego. From $850, Nov 11, 2005 sailing.
* Holland America Zaandam. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $484, Nov 13 sailing.
* Holland America Zuiderdam. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $504, Dec. 4 sailing.
* Holland America Oosterdam. 7-night Mexico, round-trip from San Diego. From $597, Jan 29 sailing.
Largay Travel (800-322-9481; www.LargayTravel.com)
* Oceania Regatta. 12-night Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $1,999, Dec 9 sailing. Deal includes free round-trip airfare and two-for-one cruise fares.
* Oceania Insignia. 14-night South America, Manaus, Brazil to Bridgetown, Barbados. From $2,799, March 1 sailing. Deal includes $399 round-trip airfare and two-for-one cruise fares.
* Cruise West Spirit of Endeavor: 4-night California Wine Country, round-trip from San Francisco. From $1,149, Nov 1 sailing. Deal includes $50 shipboard credit.
* Radisson Seven Seas Voyager: 7-night ultra-lux Greek Islands, Piraeus (Athens) to Istanbul. From $3,586, Oct 11 sailing. Deal includes free airfare.
* Radisson Seven Seas Navigator: 7-night ultra-lux Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $1,998, Nov 10 sailing. Deal includes $100 shipboard credit.
* Princess Grand Princess. 7-night Canada & New England, round-trip from New York. From $1,790, Oct 10 sailing. Deal includes $25 shipboard credit and two free candid photos.
* Princess Island Princess. 15-night Hawaiian Islands, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $2,095, Nov 5 sailing. Deal includes $100 shipboard credit.
* Crystal Harmony: 8-night Panama Canal, from Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica) to Los Angeles. From $1,395, Feb 6 sailing. Deal includes $100 shipboard credit.
* Crystal Serenity: 12-night Europe, London to Civitavecchia (Rome). From $3,995, Apr 27 sailing. Deal includes with $100 shipboard credit.
Mann Travel & Cruises (800/835-9828; www.123Travel.com)
* Carnival Ecstasy. 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $349, Dec 9 sailing.
* Princess Star Princess. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $699, Nov 14 sailing.
* Carnival Fascination. 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $269, Nov 1 sailing.
* Celebrity Millennium. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $779, Dec 12 sailing.
* Carnival Imagination. 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $209, Oct 21 sailing.
* Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $349, Dec 16 sailing.
* NCL Norwegian Spirit. 5-night western Caribbean, round trip from Miami. From $229, Oct 31 sailing.
* Holland America Westerdam. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $599, Dec 12 sailing.
* Princess Caribbean Princess. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $649, Oct 30 sailing.
* Holland America Oosterdam. 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $549, Nov 7 sailing.
Vacation Outlet (800/690-2210, www.vacationoutlet.com). Click on ship name below for details page.
* Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas.3-night Baja Mexico, round-trip from Los Angeles.From $379, Dec 27 sailing.
* Celebrity Horizon.7-night Bermuda, round-trip from Norfolk.From $630, Sept 25 sailing.
* Carnival Legend.8-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale.From $699, Feb 23 sailing.
* NCL Norwegian Spirit.9-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami.From $699, Dec 3, 2004 sailing.
* Princess Star Princess.7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale.From $799, Dec 19 sailing.
Carnival Lowers Rates on Holiday Cruises
Personally, I'm still dreaming of a white Christmas, but maybe that doesn't work for you. Maybe you don't want to cook. Maybe you can't put up with your annoying brother-in-law visiting again. Or maybe the idea of Christmas or New Year's in the tropics just floats your boat. Whatever, Carnival Cruise Lines (800-CARNIVAL, www.carnival.com) has some deals for you, with "from" prices as low as $85 per person, per day.
* Carnival Destiny: 7-night southern Caribbean, round-trip from San Juan, Dec. 19 sailing, from $599.
* Fascination: 3-night Bahamas, round-trip from Miami, Dec. 24 sailing, from $349.
* Sensation: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from New Orleans, Dec. 23 sailing, from $429.
* Ecstasy: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston, Texas, Dec. 23 sailing, from $449.
* Holiday: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Mobile, Alabama, Dec. 30 sailing, from $449.
* Carnival Pride: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Long Beach, California, Dec. 19 sailing, from $849.
* Carnival Spirit: 8-night Mexican Rivera, round-trip from San Diego, California, Dec. 19 sailing, from $899.
During the holidays, Carnival's Fun Ships are decorated with wreaths, lights, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. There's also Christmas music, readings of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and other holiday stories, Santa Claus, a traditional Christmas dinner, and holiday shows whose sets feature faux oversized fireplaces and large sofas, with decorations provided by children from the "Camp Carnival" kids program.
Hanukkah is also celebrated with the lighting of a menorah on board.
Personals Ad: Well-to-Do Cruise Line Seeks Singles of Either Sex
Single travelers usually get screwed by the cruise lines, with most being charged "supplements" that add 50% to 100% to the standard per person cruise fare -- a consequence of cruise lines basing their revenue expectations on two people sharing every cabin. Some lines are quietly foregoing or reducing this kind of supplemental charge if a ship isn't filling up for a particular departure date, but there's no way to predict this kind of thing. A few lines (currently HAL and Windjammer barefoot) offer a cabin-share service that matches you with a same-gender roommate.
But, sometimes, deals come along. For instance, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises (866-446-6625, www.crystalcruises.com) has just lowered its supplement to 5% above the normal price on several Caribbean sailings this fall. That means solo passengers can have a cabin to themselves for as little as $75 -- and as an added bonus, the line is also employing "carefully screened" gentlemen hosts to dance and socialize with unescorted women.
The 5% single supplement is available on five different sailings:
* Crystal Harmony: 7-night round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 sailings, visiting Key West, Cozumel, and Nassau and Freeport (Bahamas).
* Crystal Harmony: 10-night round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Nov. 29 sailing, visiting Tortola (British Virgin Islands) Martinique, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.
* Crystal Harmony: 12-night Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans, Dec. 9 sailing, visiting Nassau, Antigua, Martinique, Curacao, and Cozumel.
* Crystal Symphony: 7-night round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Dec. 15 sailing, visiting Key West, Cozumel, and Nassau and Freeport (Bahamas).
Seven-day cruise fares start at $1,495 per person, double occupancy; single travelers add $74.75 to this fare, paying only $1,569.75 for sole stateroom occupancy.