There was a terrific response to deals from Cruise Direct that we recommended in an article we published on this site a few weeks back. So we asked them to research similar deals from different ports of departure. The usual ports in Florida (Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and so forth) are fine for most people, but since September 11, many not only want to stay close to home, but also want to depart from closer to home when they do go out to see the world.
So here's what Cruise Direct has put forward as good value cruises out of 13 different US ports for this summer and autumn:
- From Baltimore, an 11-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on July 8, from $1,229, aboard the celebrity Galaxy; and a 7-night cruise to the same part of the world on October 20 on the Celebrity Horizon, from only $571.
- From Boston, a 7-night Bermuda cruise on July 7, aboard the Norwegian Majesty, from $748; and a 7-night trip to Canada/New England on July 13, aboard the Holland America Rotterdam, from $1,081.
- Out of Ft. Lauderdale, you could try the Grand Princess on its 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, departing July 14, from $617; or the Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas on its 7-night trip around the Western Caribbean, departing July 28, from $688.
- From Galveston, consider Carnival's Celebration, on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise, departing August 17, from $511; or Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas on a 7-night Western Caribbean trip, departing August 25 and priced from $688.
- Departing Los Angeles on the Carnival Elation is a 7-night cruise to Mexico, leaving on July 14, from $766; or a 4-night cruise to Mexico on the Ecstasy, departing July 8, from $589.
- Out of Miami, you could take the Norwegian Sun on a 7-Night cruise to the Western Caribbean, departing July 20, from $835; or the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas on its 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, departing July 21, from $835.
- Boarding in New Orleans, you could try Carnival's Holiday on a 4-Night Western Caribbean cruise, departing August 22, from $393; or Carnival's Inspiration on a 7-Night Western Caribbean trip, departing July 14, from $786.
- From New York, try one of these three: On July 14, the Pacific Princess 7-Night Bermuda cruise, from $719; on July 13, the Carnival Triumph 5-Night Canada/New England trip, from $590; or on September 14, the Golden Princess 7-Night Canada/New England cruise, from $783.
- Out of Port Canaveral/Orlando, there's a Royal Caribbean Sovereign of the Seas 3-Night Bahamas cruise on August 8 from $319; or a Carnival Fantasy 4-Night Bahamas trip on August 4 from $344.
- Departing San Diego is the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas 7-Night Mexico trip, leaving on July 28, from $786; or a Holland America Ryndam cruise of 7 nights to Mexico on November 23, from $638.
- From Seattle, consider the Norwegian Sky 7-Night Alaska cruise, departing August 11, from $982; or the Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas 4-Night Pacific Northwest cruise, departing September 30, from $452.
- You leave from Tampa on the Carnival Sensation's 7-Night Western Caribbean cruise, departing July 28, from $623; or on July 13, aboard the Carnival Jubilee for a 5-Night Western Caribbean tour, from $491.
- Finally, if you wish to depart from Vancouver, there's a 7-night Alaska tour on the Celebrity Mercury, departing July 14, from $884; or a 7-Night Alaska cruise departing August 10, from $636, aboard the Ocean Princess.
For any of these cruises, phone Cruise Direct at its 888/407-2784 number, or go to their Web site, www.cruisedirect.com.