Cross The Atlantic In Style Onboard Celebrity Equinox From Just $699!

If you’re going to spend the first six days of a 13 night Transatlantic Repositioning cruise at sea, why not sail in luxury? If you can do it at the price of a lower quality cruise ship then it’s even better. Celebrity Equinox crosses the Atlantic Ocean on a 14 night journey in mid-April, 2014. You can be onboard for as low as $699 per person. If you’re 55 or older, take $50 per person off that price. If you qualify as military, fire or police, the savings on an inside stateroom run as high as $115 per person!

The Cruise

 

Celebrity Equinox embarks from Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 5pm for a 13 night crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Equinox arrives at her final destination of Malaga, Spain at 6am on Sunday, April 27. Along the way, the ship makes three port calls, along with a full day transit of the Strait of Gibraltar.

After six full days at sea, Celebrity Equinox arrives at Ponta Delgada in the Azores Islands on Monday, April 21 for her first port of call. Equinox is in port from 9am until 6pm at what is the largest urban centre in Portugal’s Azores.

After two more full days at sea, Equinox reaches the mainland of Portugal. On Thursday, April 24, the ship docks at Lisbon and remains in port from 7am until 5pm. Upon leaving Lisbon, the ship moves down the coast to Sevilla, Spain. Equinox is docked at this Spanish port on Friday, April 25 from 10am to 8pm.

Upon leaving Sevilla, Celebrity Equinox enters the Strait of Gibraltar for a full day of scenic cruising on Saturday, April 26.

The Price

An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $699 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $81 per person in government fees and taxes tacked on, the price for two for an inside cabin starts as low as $1,560. Other levels of stateroom still available include ocean view from $959 per person and balcony cabins from $1,079 per person.

Seniors 55 years or older can have that same inside cabin for as low as $649 per person. Folks who work in the armed forces, fire or police services get a great discount and can have that same room from $584 per person. Remember, just one person per stateroom needs to qualify in order to get the discount.

It should also be noted that an inside stateroom on Celebrity Equinox is not like the same category on other cruise ships. On Equinox, the inside cabins are generally 200 square feet and designed to have a double bed and a sofa. Compare this to 128 square feet for an inside stateroom on the Norwegian Epic and 182 square feet on the Ruby Princess.

The Ship 

Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice Class ship that was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Equinox is a new ship, making her maiden voyage on July 31, 2009. She is also a large ship with a gross tonnage of 121,878 and a length of 317 metres or 1,041 feet. There are 13 decks accessible to passengers.

However, Celebrity Cruises is a luxury line and the size doesn’t mean massive amounts of guests crammed in like sardines. The capacity is for 2,850 guests, based on double occupancy. The passenger to crew ratio reflects a premium cruise ship with 1,250 crew members onboard.

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.

Just $500 PP To Cruise Across The Atlantic On ms Noordam of Holland America!

There’s no time to waste if you want to take advantage of this great deal from Holland America Line. On Friday, March 21, 2014, ms Noordam embarks on her Transatlantic Repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Barcelona, Spain. There is limited space available and an inside cabin can be had for as low as $500 per person for this 14 night journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Cruise

 

Holland America’s ms Noordam leaves Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4pm on Friday, March 21, 2014 for a 14 night cruise to Barcelona, Spain. She arrives at her final destination at 7am on Friday, April 4, 2014. Along the way, she makes four port calls, all on the Eastern end of the journey.

First up is Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores Islands after over a week at sea. Noordam remains at Ponta Delgada from 8am until 4pm on Saturday, March 29. She follows that up by two more full days at sea before her next port of call.

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 it’s no April Fool’s joke, the ship finally arrives on mainland Europe. Noordam docks at Cadiz on the Atlantic Coast of Spain. Cadiz is northwest of Gibraltar and the entrance to the Mediterranean. She is docked her from 8am until 6pm.

The following day, Noordam rounds Gibraltar and enters the Mediterranean Sea. Her next stop is at Malaga, Spain on Wednesday, April 2. Malaga is northeast of Gibraltar, sort of in the mirror position as Cadiz. The ship parks here again from 8am until 6pm.

The final port of call occurs on Thursday, April 3 from 7am until 1pm at Cartagena, Spain. After this short stop, Noordam overnights to her final destination of Barcelona.

The Price

All that remains are inside staterooms and they may be gone by the end of the day. The price is excellent at from $500 per person, based on double occupancy. The extra government fees and taxes result in an additional $98.81 tacked on per person. The result is a inside cabin for two for as low as $1,197.62, including taxes.

The Ship 

MS Noordam is a Holland America Vista Class ship that was built by Fincantieri in Italy. Noordam was christened in February of 2006. She is a medium sized vessel with a gross tonnage of 82,500 and is 285 metres or 936 feet in length. There are eleven decks accessible to the capacity 1,916 guests. Typically, there are 800 crew members onboard.

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.

$27 Per Night To Cross The Atlantic Ocean Onboard Norwegian Epic!

Back in December, we featured the April 27, 2014 transatlantic repositioning cruise onboard the world’s third largest cruise ship and said it was a great deal at from $499 per person for the 11 night journey. Yes, it was a great deal. However, Norwegian Cruise Line has sweetened the deal for this cruise on the Norwegian Epic by knocking off a further $200 for the stateroom we talked about back in December. This brings the price down to a ridiculous $27 per night per person, before taxes!

The Cruise

 

This eleven night cruise across the Atlantic Ocean embarks from Miami, Florida at 5pm on Sunday, April 27, 2014. Norwegian Epic arrives at Barcelona, Spain at 5am on Thursday, May 8, 2014. The ship is truly the destination on this cruise with just one port call.

On Monday, May 5, 2014, Epic stops at Funchal on the island of Madeira. Madeira belongs to Portugal and is the largest of the islands in the Maderan Archipelago. For soccer fans, this is the birthplace of loved and hated footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Price

Norwegian is calling it a ‘Hot Deal’ and it truly is. An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $299, based on double occupancy. With the $63.88 per person in government taxes and fees tacked on, the total for two on this ‘Epic journey’ is as low as $725.76. You probably can’t live in your own house for that amount of money.

Other levels of staterooms are quite low priced, as well. An outside cabin with a balcony starts at $449 per person and suites start at $599 per person. All guests, regardless of stateroom choice are subject to the same $63.88 in additional taxes.

Each stateroom on this cruise also gets an onboard coupon book valued at up to $300. If the buffet is not for you, NCL also has a $199 per person unlimited specialty dining option on cruises between 10 and 15 nights.

The Ship 

Norwegian Epic is part of the ‘Big 3’ that includes Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. Built by Chantiers de L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France, Epic has been in service for Norwegian Cruise Line since 2010.

A very large ship with a gross tonnage of 155,873, Epic is 329 metres or 1,081 long. There are 15 decks accessible to the capacity 4,100 passengers. Typically, there are 1,753 crew members onboard.

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.

$22 Norwegian Gem Cruise To Nowhere Out of New York City

Why, oh why, would anyone board a cruise ship on Friday evening just to get back off Saturday morning? Because, it’s cheaper than staying at a hotel. Around once a month, Norwegian Cruise Line hosts a one night cruise to nowhere onboard the Norwegian Gem out of the Manhattan Cruise Port in New York City.

For Friday, February 7, 2014, a one night stay at a Manhattan hotel below Central Park starts at $178 before taxes and meals but typically runs from $250 to $300 and beyond. That same night on the Norwegian Gem costs as low as $227.44 for two, taxes included. And, the Gem includes all the food you can stuff down. You will not find a hotel in New York City that includes that in your overnight stay.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Gem embarks from the Manhattan Cruise Port in New York City at 6pm on Friday, February 7, 2014. The Cruise Port is located in lower Manhattan where 12^th Avenue meets the Hudson River. The ship heads out into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, does a wide circle and returns to New York for 7am on Saturday morning.

Of course, the ship docking at 7am doesn’t mean you need to get off the ship at 7am. There is time for a decent breakfast. What else is there to do on Gem? Besides the usual restaurants, bars and casino, Norwegian Gem has a bowling alley, rock climbing wall, hot tubs and ample fitness facilities. I highly doubt the outside pool will be of much use in February.

The Price – In Canadian Dollars

Right now, an inside or ocean view stateroom can be had for as low as $22 per person. A room with a balcony goes for as low as $29 per person and a suite goes as low as $39 per person. Added to that is $91.72 per person in government fees and taxes. As mentioned above, an inside or ocean view stateroom for two can be had from $227.44, including taxes.

The Ship 

Norwegian Gem is the newest of the Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel Class of ships. The Jewel Class consists of four ships put in service between 2005 and 2007. Gem was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and entered service in 2007.

Gem is a decent sized ship with a gross tonnage of 93,530. She is 294 metres or 965 feet in length and has 12 decks accessible to passengers. Capacity onboard is for 2,394 guests, along with 1,101 crew members.

For 2014, Gem calls New York City home, with a selection of itineraries that include the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

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.

Jacksonville: The Other, Other Florida Cruise Port Alternative

Jacksonville, Florida – not just a city you drive through on the way to Spring Break anymore. In 2012, 195,000 people embarked on cruises out of the JAXPORT cruise terminal. The only major ship that calls Jacksonville home is the Carnival Fascination. On January 11, 2014, Fascination embarks on a five night Bahamas cruise. You can be on that boat for as low as $199 per person.

The Cruise

The five night Bahamas itinerary embarks from Jacksonville, Florida at 4pm on Saturday, January 11, 2014. Over the cruise, Fascination makes two port calls. After a day at sea, sailing parallel to the Florida coast, the ship stops at Key West, Florida on Monday, January 13 from 7:30am to 3pm.

The following day, Fascination arrives at Nassau, Bahamas. The ship stays docked at the largest city in the Bahamas from 12pm until 8pm, before starting the journey back north to Jacksonville. She arrives home at 8am on Thursday, January 16.

Why Jacksonville? With just one major cruise ship calling the port home, passengers miss out on the massive crowds found further south at ports like Ft. Lauderdale and Miami where more than a handful of large cruise ships can all be pulling out at the same time. For those from Southern Ontario who aren’t so keen on flying, Jacksonville is around 17 hours of drive time by car. A long time, yes but still doable compared to the extra 5 or 6 hours to the Miami area.

Note: Carnival Fascination will add Little Stirrup Cay as a port of call on the five night Bahamas itinerary in the spring of 2014. Little Stirrup Cay is a private island belonging to Carnival Corp.

The Price (note: Carnival prices are in U.S. Dollars)

For this cruise, Carnival has a Super Saver fare and Canadian Residents fare that both start from $199 per person for an inside stateroom. The difference is that if you qualify as a Canadian Resident, you have a limited choice of stateroom. With the Super Saver, you are stuck with what they give you at the time of check-in.

Choices of staterooms for the Canadian Residents deal are limited to the Riviera Deck. The Riviera Deck is deck number four of 14 on this ship and the lowest of ten decks accessible to passengers.

Government taxes and fees for this cruise are $85.56 per person, regardless of stateroom. For two, an inside stateroom can be had for as low as $558 with taxes and fees included. Keep in mind that although there is a Canadian Residents special rate, all Carnival pricing is in USD.

I often pat Carnival on the back for having the lowest rates for present and former Military. However, on this cruise the rates listed above are actually lower than the Military rate.

The Ship 

Carnival Fascination is the only major cruise ship that will call Jacksonville, Florida home in 2014. She is based in the North Florida city through the end of 2014 and beyond. Fascination has the sole duty to alternate between four and five night Bahamas itineraries.

Fascination has been in service since 1994 and is one of eight Carnival Cruise Lines Fantasy Class ships. The eight ships per put in service between 1990 and 1998. All were built by STX Finland in Helsinki.

The ship is small by today’s standards with a gross tonnage of 70,367. Fascination is 855 feet or 261 metres in length and has ten decks accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 2,056 guest with 920 crew members.

If you’d like to find out all the dirty details of what happens below the Riviera Deck, Joshua Kinser is a former Carnival and Princess crew member that wrote a tell-all book about his experience. Check it out – the Kindle version is just $2.99 – the price of a 2 litre bottle of Pepsi. More info here: Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Crew Member.

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.