Classic Holland America Transatlantic Dream Cruise From Just $699.80 Per Person

With last minute deals a little thin as we get knee deep in the high season, let’s take another look ahead at a season with some of the lowest priced cruising. Every spring and fall, cruise ships reposition across the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean to Mediterranean or vice versa.

Holland America Line has one of the deepest histories among the present day high seas passenger cruise lines. MS Eurodam is HAL’s second newest ship and the largest in the fleet until 2016. Eurodam makes her Transatlantic Repositioning cruise from Caribbean to Mediterranean on Sunday, March 30, 2014 and a stateroom can be had onboard for as low as $699.80 per person, based on double occupancy.

The Cruise

 

MS Eurodam embarks from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4pm on Sunday, March 30, 2014 for a 14 night journey across the Atlantic. She arrives at Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 7am. Along the way, she makes four port calls, all on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

After six full days at sea, Eurodam makes a stop in Portugal’s Azores Islands at Ponta Delgada on Sunday, April 6. She remains docked from 10am until 6pm.

The next three ports of call are on the European mainland and all three are in Spain. First up is Cadiz on Wednesday, April 9 from 7am until 5pm. The following day, Eurodam stops at Almeria, Spain from 8am until 6pm. The ship’s final stop is at Cartegena, Spain on Friday, April 11 from 8am until 4pm.

The Price

An inside stateroom onboard the MS Eurodam can be had for as low as $699.80 per person, in Canadian dollars. There is an additional $100.27 per person in government fees and taxes. The total for two in an inside stateroom, including taxes, can be as low as $1,600.14 for this 14 night romantic adventure across the Atlantic Ocean.

Upgraded staterooms are still reasonably priced. An Ocean View stateroom goes for as low as $820.24 per person and a Balcony stateroom goes from $1,000.20 per person. These prices are also based on double occupancy and are subject to the same $100.27 in government fees and taxes.

The Ship 

MS Eurodam was built by Fincantieri in Italy and made her maiden voyage on July 5, 2008. Eurodam is one of two Signature Class ships in the Holland America Line fleet. MS Nieuw Amsterdam came into service in 2010.

Although certainly not the largest cruise ship on the high seas, MS Eurodam is currently the largest in the Holland America fleet. In 2016, an as of now unnamed ship will be put in service that is larger than Eurodam by 14,000 gross tons.

Eurodam has a gross tonnage of 86,273, and is 285 metres or 935 feet in length. There are eleven decks accessible to the capacity 2,104 passengers. Running the ship and providing first class service are 929 crew members.

The Small Print

·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.

4 Night Bahamas Cruise From Just $111

The Cruise

Nearly two full weeks before this cruise embarks, this is not so last minute. A four night Bahamas cruise embarking from Miami, Florida on board Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas can be had for as little as $111 per person. That equates to $27.50 per night – much cheaper than your local bug infested motel.

The cruise takes off from Miami on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 4:30 pm. On Tuesday, the ship stops at Nassau, Bahamas. After gambling your money away in Nassau, Wednesday is spent at Coco Cay, a private island leased to Royal Caribbean International. Also known as Little Stirrup Cay, Coco Cay is one of the Berry Islands and is used exclusively by customers of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. You shouldn’t get lost and miss getting back on the ship as the island is just around a kilometre long by 200 metres wide.

Thursday brings an interesting twist as Majesty of the Seas stops at Key West in the Florida Keys. Don’t drink too many Margaritas and Mojitos in Key West as the ship arrives back in Miami at 7:00 am on Friday morning, December 6.

Pricing for this cruise is more than half price for this sailing date. Price and availability are subject to change quickly and without notice – especially at these rates. An interior stateroom can be had for $111 Canadian dollars per person. An Ocean View room is slightly more and worth the investment at just $127 per person. A suite is not so cheap at $649 per person.

Not included in those prices is $98 per person in government fees and taxes. This is pretty much a standard rate, regardless of the length of a cruise. For example, on a 15 night TransAtlantic Repositioning Cruise, you will pay around the same total in fees and taxes.

The Ship

 

Majesty of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest active ships, making her maiden voyage in April, 1992. She was built by Chantiers de L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France, which is now owned by STX Europe. Back in 1992, Majesty was christened by Queen Sonja of Norway. She was last refurbed in 2007.

At a length of 880 feet or 268 metres and 13 decks accessible to passengers, Majesty of the Seas may not be the largest boat on the ocean but she’s of pretty decent size. The ship carries around 2,750 passengers and 833 crew members.

The last remaining ship of Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign Class, Majesty’s two sister ships are still around but sailing for RC’s Spanish subsidiary, Pullmantur Cruises. Sovereign of the Seas is the oldest, put in service in 1988. She switched to Pullmantur after 2008. Monarch of the Seas came into service in 1991 and just switched over in 2013.

The Small Print

·         Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·         Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·         Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·         Also not included are gratuities.

·         Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.