Caribbean Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Vacations, Destinations, Holidays
Archive for July, 2008
Plan in advance and embark on a seven-night tour of the Mediterranean slated for November 2009 aboardCosta Concordia. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, ports of call on this itinerary include the culturally rich towns of Marseille, France; Tunis; and Naples among others. Though the weather will most likely be a bit nippy, Concordia has accounted for this with retractable roofs hovering over the two main pools areas; this way guests can still take a dip come rain or shine. But the real gem on this ship is the 20,000 square ft. Samsara Spa that spans two-decks and features a thalassotherapy pool, tanning areas and saunas. Perhaps on purpose, the different areas of the spa are designed to transport you to faraway lands, each famous for methods of relaxation and healing like Japan and India. Keep in mind, Costa’s appeal reaches a large cross-section of international travelers. So if mixing and mingling with people from other countries piques your interest, brush up on your Italian and book this cruise starting at $549.
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If you’d like to see the Eastern Caribbean but are wary of mega-ships in crowded ports, try Windstar’s seven-night cruise on the intimate, 150-passenger Wind Spirit. You can enjoy water sports off the back of the ship, fine dining with no long lines, personalized service and the romance of arriving in port under full sail. Fares start at $1,949 per person, and while several of Windstar’s Southern Caribbean cruises may be a few hundred dollars cheaper, you’re still get great value on this exclusive line.
The Southern Caribbean is home to exotic and exclusive islands, so why not visit them on an equally upscale cruise line? A seven-night cruise on Windstar’s Wind Surf may not be the most luxurious or all-inclusive cruise you can choose, but the food is top-notch, cabins are comfortable and impeccably designed, and the service is some of the best we’ve seen at sea. Fares start at $1,799 per person — you won’t find prices much lower on this upscale line — but expect the most popular sail dates to be more expensive.
If you want to visit as many islands as you can in just one week, Windstar’s seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise on Wind Surf may be a good choice for you. The jam-packed itinerary features calls at eight islands and manages to squeeze in a day at sea as well. If you prefer lazier days, look for a cruise with a more leisurely schedule. Fares start at $1,799 per person — you won’t find prices much lower on this upscale line — but expect the most popular sail dates to be more expensive.
Don’t skimp on niceties because the kids are in tow. Luxury line Crystal is letting kids 17 and under sail free as the third passenger in a stateroom on a 10-night Canada and New England cruise onboard Crystal Symphony this fall. Sure, the kids might have to miss some school, but they’ll learn a lot about history in places like Quebec City, Boston and Newport. Fares start at $3,435 per person. At under $350 a night, this is a good price for a luxury line, but you might consider upgrading to a larger cabin if you’re planning on fitting three people in one room.
When the Sapphire Princess repositions from Vancouver to Los Angeles, you can come along for a seven-night cruise down the Pacific Coast. Visit Victoria, San Francisco and San Diego for remarkably low fares — inside cabins start at $599 (that’s $86 a night for a premium cruise line). Even balcony cabins are cheap at $899 per person. Plus if you book by July 20, you’ll pay a reduced deposit of $100 per person and receive $50 onboard credit and a coupon book.
If you’re hesitant to pay deluxe rates for an Azamara cruise (the line is struggling to compete with Oceania’s standards of quality and service) but still want to try Celebrity’s new cruise brand, a 15-night trans-Atlantic repositioning voyage on Azamara Journey may be the right itinerary for you. The voyage offers a bit of everything; the first week is spent cruising Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands, and the second features seven lazy days at sea. But it’s the price that’s the big draw. Outside cabins start at $2,199 and the fare includes roundtrip airfare, transfers, $300 onboard credit per stateroom, prepaid gratuities and a bottle of wine. By the time you factor in all the freebies, you’ll be getting an upscale experience for mainstream rates.
Repositioning cruises can be great values, and Celebrity’s two-week trans-Atlantic sailing on Constellation is no exception. Starting at $799 ($57 a night), this cruise features visits to Spain, Morocco and Portugal, as well as five days in a row at sea. And if that’s not deal enough for you, Cruise Club of America will throw in onboard credit, a casino voucher, prepaid gratuities and a coupon book (perks vary based on cabin category) if you book by July 20.
A seven-night cruise to French Polynesia on Regent’s Paul Gauguin is an immersion in Polynesian culture. Sure, you’re on a ship full of Westerners, but the main restaurant features French cuisine with Polynesian accents, entertainment revolves around local dance troupes, photos of ancient Tahiti line the walls and an onboard museum contains Polynesian artifacts. Fares start at $2,765 per person. At nearly $400 for an outside cabin, these rates aren’t overly cheap, but a Tahiti cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure worth a splurge.
Carnival Cruise Lines is offering several ways for you to stay in that summer state of mind with their Endless Summer Celebration. We’ll be posting these weekly deals through the month of July. This week’s deal offers up to $100 free shipboard credit on select sailings slated for 2009. Shipboard credit can be used onboard to pay for relaxing spa treatments, adventurous shore excursions, refreshing tropical beverages or even pressing your luck in the casino. Be sure to check out Carnival’s Web site linked below to see all of the different itineraries that apply.