All Hands on Deck: Deals to Let you Cruise for Far Less

Meander the Med for Half the Price

Oceania Cruises (tel. 800/531-5658; www.oceaniacruises.com) is offering two-for-one rates and free airfare from 20 U.S. gateways on a variety of Mediterranean, Western and Northern European cruises aboard its casually elegant 684-passenger Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. The discounted fares start at $2,299 per person and bookings must be made by March 31, 2006. Here are the 12 itineraries that apply.

• Barcelona to Lisbon: 12 nights; departs May 21; and calls on Barcelona, Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, Taormina, Valletta, La Goulette, Gibraltar, Casablanca and Lisbon. Fares start at $2,599 per person.
• Barcelona to Stockholm: 16 nights; departs May 21; and calls on Barcelona, Gibraltar, La Coruña, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam, Kiel Canal, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Stockholm. Fares start at $3,599 per person.
• London to Stockholm: 14 nights; departs July 10, August 1, 13, 15 & 29, calls on: London, Bruges, Amsterdam, Kiel Canal, Berlin, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Stockholm. Fares from $3,599 per person.
• London to Barcelona: 14 nights; departs August 27; and calls on London, Saint-Malo, Bilbao, La Coruña, Oporto, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Port-Vendres, Saint-Tropez, Provence and Barcelona. Fares from $3,299 per person.
• London to Rome: 14 nights; September 12; and calls on London, Saint-Malo, La Coruña, Seville, Casablanca, Malaga, Barcelona, Provence, Monte Carlo, Florence, Portofino and Rome. Fares from $3,299 per person.
• Barcelona to Rome: 10 nights; October 20; and calls on Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Sete, Provence, Nice, Florence, Naples and Rome. Fares from $2,299 per person.
• Venice to Lisbon: 14 nights; November 11; and calls on Venice, Umbria, Dubrovnik, Rome, Florence, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Provence, Barcelona, Seville and Lisbon. Fares from $2,999 per person.

Carnival Makes the (Up)Grade

Carnival (tel. 866/299-5698; www.carnival.com) is doling out free cabin upgrades on booking made today, March 9, during a special one-day sale. The deal applies to most Carnival cruises departing through December 15, 2006. Mention promotion code CPIS when booking. Full deposits are required at time of booking and deal is combinable with Supersaver rates only. Free upgrades apply to like cabin categories (if you book an inside cabin, you get upgraded to a better inside cabin category, likewise outside to outside, balcony to balcony). Other restrictions may apply.

If you're a past Carnival guest, make a booking by March 31 and reap 2-category cabin upgrades on a slew of mostly fall sailings (September through early December), including 4-night Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral (starting at $249 and $269); 5-night western Caribbean cruises from Tampa and Miami (starting at $329); 7-night eastern and western Caribbean sailings (starting at $429); and 8-night eastern Caribbean cruises from New York (starting at $629).

Offer is valid for Carnival past guests only, bookings must be made by March 31 for select 2006 ships and departures, and fares can not be combined with other discounts or promotions. Mention fare code CDP3. The two-category upgrades apply to the like cabin categories (inside to inside, outside to outside, balcony to balcony).

Who Knew? Darwin Deals

Hop aboard a small ship in the Galapagos Islands this spring with AdventureSmith Explorations (tel. 800/728-2875; www.adventuresmithexplorations.com) and save $1,200 per couple on 11-night Galapagos cruise tours aboard the 12- to 32-passenger Evolution, Lammer Law, Alta or Parranda. Itineraries vary slightly depending on the vessel, but each features an 8-night cruise, plus three nights' hotel stay in Quito (the beautiful colonial capital of Ecuador), a Quito city tour, and round-trip flights between the mainland and the islands. Mingle with sea lions, blue-footed boobies and other animal life while snorkeling and hiking with a team of naturalist guides.

With the savings, cruises start at $2,750 per person for trips scheduled before May 31, 2006.

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 and include port charges. Rates for the ultra-luxe lines may also include gratuities and some or all beverages.

Cruise Brothers (tel. 800/827/7779; www.cruisebrothers.com)

• NCL Norwegian Jewel: 7-night Europe, round-trip from Barcelona. From $899, May 21 sailing.
• Celebrity Mercury: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from San Diego. From $620, December 1 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas: 5-night Canada/New England, round-trip from Boston. From $549, October 21 sailing.
• Oceania Insignia: 12-night Europe, Barcelona to Lisbon. From $2,599, May 21 sailing.
• Cunard Queen Mary 2: 6-night Scandinavia, round-trip from Southampton. From $799, May 11 sailing.
• Princess Caribbean Princess: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft Lauderdale. From $899, July 29 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Jewel: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $564, November 5 sailing.
• Carnival Holiday: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Mobile, Alabama. From $379, May 4 sailing.
• Crystal Serenity: 11-night Mediterranean, Monte Carlo to Venice. From $3,865, September 21 sailing.
• Holland America Veendam: 7-night Western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa. From $699, January 28, 2006 sailing.

CruisesOnly (tel. 800/278-4737; www.cruisesonly.com)

• Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $349, April 6 sailing.
• Carnival Glory: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $599, April 22 sailing.
• Carnival Legend: 8-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from New York. From $599, September 17 & 25 sailings.
• Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas: 7-night Riviera & Italy, round-trip from Barcelona. From $699, November 4 sailing.
• NCL Pride of Hawaii: 7-night Hawaii, round-trip from Honolulu. From $849, November 27, December 4, & December 11 sailings.

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

• Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $849, October 10¿sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas: 7-night Mediterranean, round-trip from Barcelona. From $699, November 4¿sailing.
• Carnival¿Triumph: 7-night¿eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $799,¿June 3¿sailing.
• Carnival¿Legend: 8-night¿eastern Caribbean, round-trip from¿New York City.¿From $599, September 17¿sailing.
• Celebrity¿Zenith: 7-night¿Bermuda, round-trip from Cape Liberty. From $650, October 7¿sailing.
• Celebrity¿Mercury: 7-night¿Alaska, round-trip from Seattle. From $850,¿May 26¿sailing.
• Princess¿Crown Princess: 9-night¿eastern Caribbean, round-trip from New York. From $737, September 21¿sailing.
• Princess¿Caribbean Princess: 7-night¿western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $824,¿July 1¿sailing.
• Holland America¿Oosterdam: 7-night¿Alaska, round-trip from Seattle. From $888,¿June 3¿sailing.

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

• Holland America Veendam: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Tampa.¿From $599, March 18 and Apr. 1 sailings.
• Holland America Zuiderdam: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $599, March 18 and March 25 sailings.
• Costa Mediterranea: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $499, March 19 and April 2 sailings.
• NCL Norwegian Jewel: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami.¿From $549, March 19 and Apr. 2 sailings.
• NCL Norwegian Majesty: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Charleston.¿From $649, April 1 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Star: 8-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Los Angeles.¿From $699, April 18 and April 26 sailings.
• Princess Golden Princess: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $549, April 29 sailing.
• Princess Sapphire Princess: 7-night Mexican Riviera, round-trip from Los Angeles. From $699, April 15, April 29 and May 6 sailings.
• Holland America Zaandam: 7-night Alaska, round-trip from Seattle.¿From $699, May 12 sailing
• NCL Norwegian Dawn: 7-night Bahamas/Florida, round-trip from New York.¿From $879, May 13 sailing
• Holland America Maasdam: 7-night Canada/New England, Montreal to Boston.¿From $799, May 13 sailing.
• Holland America Veendam: 7-night Alaska, Anchorage to Vancouver.¿From $549, May 21 sailing.
• NCL Pride of Hawai'i: 7-night Hawaii, round-trip from Honolulu.¿From $999, June 19, June 26, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, and July 29 sailings.
• Princess Caribbean Princess: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $549, July 1, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, and Sep. 23 sailings.
• Princess Caribbean Princess: 7-night eastern Caribbean round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. From $549, July 8, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, and Sep.¿30 sailings.
• Carnival Triumph: 7-night eastern Caribbean round-trip from Miami. From $499, Aug. 26, Sep. 9, Sep. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, and Nov. 4 sailings.
• Carnival Glory: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $499, Sep. 2, Sep. 16, Sep. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28, and Nov. 11 sailings.
• Carnival Glory: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Port Canaveral. From $499, Sep. 9, Sep. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, and Nov. 4 sailings.
• Carnival Valor: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $499, Sep. 10, Sep. 24, and Dec. 3 sailings.
• Carnival Triumph: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $499, Sep. 2, Sep. 16, Sep. 30, Oct. 14, Oct. 28, and Nov. 11 sailings.
• Princess Star Princess: 7-night Canada/New England, round-trip from New York City. From $799, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 sailings.

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

• Carnival Fascination: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $319, April 24 & May 1 sailings.
• Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $599, April 1 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Spirit: 7-night Bahamas & Florida, round-trip from New York. From $629, April 2 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Majesty: 7-night Bermuda, round-trip from Boston. From $749, May 14 sailing.
• Celebrity Century: 9-night Europe, Barcelona to London. From $990, May 30 sailing.

Vacation Shoppe (tel. 866/727-8473; www.vacationshoppe.com)

• NCL Norwegian Majesty: 13-night Bermuda and southern Caribbean, Boston to Charleston. From $899, October 8 sailing.
• NCL Norwegian Jewel: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $599, April 16 sailing.
• Carnival Liberty: 8-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $699, March 18 sailing.
• Carnival Imagination: 4-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $329, March 23 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Pt. Canaveral. From $529, April 16 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Galveston. From $499, April 30 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Explorer v: 7-night eastern Caribbean, round-trip from Miami. From $549, April 16 sailing.
• Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas: 5-night western Caribbean, round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $399, March 18 sailing.
• Seabourn Spirit: 7-night ultra-luxe Mediterranean, from Rome to Athens. From $2,998, August 12 sailing.
• Seabourn Legend: 7-night ultra-luxe Italian Riviera, from Monte Carlo to Rome. From $2,998, September 2 sailing.

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