December 24, 2003 -- We're laden with specials for the coming year -- including a gay cruise through Northern Europe, a Caribbean voyage on a 19th century clipper ship and cargo crates of savings all the globe for 2004.
Pied Piper Gay Group Cruise to Scandinavia & Russia
Gay tour specialist Pied Piper Travel (800/874-7312) is offering good air/sea prices for its 14-night Scandinavia/Russia cruise aboard Cunard's beautiful, 679-passenger Caronia, one of the loveliest older ships sailing today. Departing roundtrip from Southampton, England, on June 15, the ship visits Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg (2 nights), Tallinn (Estonia), Warnemunde (Germany), and Amsterdam, with five days cruising in the North Sea and Baltic. Per-person prices start at $2,398 (double-occupancy), including roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to London. Fares for single-person cabins start at 3,298. For details, click on https://home.att.net/~gaygroupcruises/flyers/6-15-04a.htm.
True Sailing in the Caribbean with Star Clippers, from $1,145
Star Clippers offers a casual, hands-on sailing adventure aboard recreation 19th-century clipper ships. On board, ducking under booms, stepping over coils of rope, leaning against railings just feet above the sea, and watching sailors at the winches are constant reminders that you're on a real working ship. Meanwhile, cabins and public rooms are comfortable and almost cushy. It's a nice mix, and in the Caribbean this winter it's a more-than-normally affordable one too. For Star Clipper's Jan 18, Jan 25, and Feb 8 sailings and the cushier Royal Clipper's Jan 17, 24, and 31 sailings, prices start at just $1,145 per person plus $155 port charges. Making it even better, passengers can fly from New York, Atlanta, Miami, and D.C. to the ships' Barbados and St. Maarten homeports for only $95 ($195 from Chicago, Dallas, and Houston). Star Clippers: 800/442-0551, www.starclippers.com.
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 Cruises are capacity-controlled and offers may be withdrawn at any time.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 (800/800/9552, www.cruise.com)
- Carnival Spirit: 7-night Alaska Inside Passage, Vancouver to Seward/Anchorage. From $639, May 19 sailing.
- Celebrity Mercury: 8-night Mexican Riviera, roundtrip from San Francisco. From $580, Mar 13 sailing.
- Cunard Queen Mary 2: 11-night southern Caribbean, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. From $1,554, Jan 31 sailing.
- NCL Norwegian Sky: 7-night southern Caribbean, roundtrip from San Juan. From $389, Jan 25 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Galveston. From $434, Jan 25 sailing.
Cruise 411 (800/553-7090, www.cruise411.com)
- NCL Norwegian Sky: 7-night southern Caribbean, roundtrip from San Juan. From $292, Jan 18 sailing; from $399, all other Jan and Feb sailings. Book before Dec 24 and receive $25 shipboard credit.
- Oceania Regatta: 10-night Los Angeles to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. From $995, Jan 27 sailing. Solo passengers occupying a cabin alone pay only $250 supplement.
- Royal Caribbean Voyager-class ships (the original rock-climbing-wall ships): Adventure of the Seas: 7-night southern Caribbean, roundtrip from San Juan. From $614, Feb 1 sailing. Explorer of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami. From $642, Jan 31 sailing. Mariner of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Port Canaveral. From $632, Jan 25 sailing. Brand-new ship! Navigator of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami. From $614, Jan 24 sailing. Voyager of the Seas: 7-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami. From $567, Jan 25 sailing.
- Silversea Silver Cloud: 7-night ultra-luxe Spain/Portugal, Barcelona to Lisbon. From $2,587, April 21 sailing.
- Silversea Silver Whisper: 10-night ultra-luxe Central America/southern Caribbean, Puntarenas (Costa Rica) to Antigua; from $2,672, Mar 29 sailing. Seven-night southern Caribbean, Antigua to Barbados. From $1,747, April 8 sailing.
- Silversea Silver Wind: 7-night ultra-luxe Southern Caribbean, Barbados to Ft. Lauderdale; from $2,616, Feb 3 sailing. Seven-night California Coast, roundtrip from Sa Diego; from $2,632, Mar 2 sailing. Ten-night Mexican Riviera/Central America, San Diego to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; from $2,497, Mar 9 sailing. 6-night eastern/southern Caribbean, roundtrip from Antigua; from $1,497, April 15 sailing (tax-day savings!).
- Windstar Wind Surf: 7-night eastern/southern Caribbean, roundtrip from St. Thomas. From $1,395, Jan 4 sailing; from $1,595, Feb 1 sailing; from $1,495, Mar 28 sailing.
Cruises Only (888/278-4737, www.cruisesonly.com)
- Carnival Ecstasy: 3-night Baja, roundtrip from Long Beach, CA. From $249, Jan 23 sailing.
- NCL Norwegian Sun: 5-night Pacific Coast, Los Angeles to Vancouver. From $319, April 27 sailing. (Stops in Seattle and Victoria.)
- Princess Dawn Princess: 7-night Inside Passage/Gulf of Alaska, Vancouver to Whittier/Anchorage. From $699, May 10 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas: 4-night Bahamas/Key West, roundtrip from Miami. From $279, Feb 9 sailing.
- Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas: 7-night Mexican Riviera, roundtrip from Los Angeles. From $499, Feb 8 sailing.
Icruise (888/909-6242, www.icruise.com)
- Cunard Queen Mary 2: 8-night eastern/southern Caribbean, roundtrip from New York. From $1,323, June 11 sailing.
- Windstar Wind Surf: 7-night southern Caribbean, roundtrip from St. Thomas. From $1,430, Mar 28 sailing.
Moment's Notice Travel Club (888/241-3366, www.momentsnoticetravel.com)
- Celebrity Galaxy: 7-night western Caribbean, San Juan to Galveston. From $388, Oct 25, 2004 sailing.
- Celebrity Zenith: 12-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Jacksonville. From $718, April 11 sailing.
Travelocity (877/815-5446, www.travelocity.com)
- Celebrity Horizon: 10-night western Caribbean, roundtrip from Tampa; from $700, April 2 sailing. Eleven-night eastern Caribbean, roundtrip from Tampa; from $750, Mar 22 sailing.
- Celebrity Mercury: 10-night Mexican Riviera, roundtrip from San Diego. From $780, Jan 30 sailing.