Island Princess Alaska Cruise From Just $299 Per Person

Tucked in the back of the bucket lists of most people is an Alaskan Cruise. The season is short and the ships are numbered. However, the price doesn’t have to be equal to many bucket list items. If you act fast, you can be on a seven night Southbound Alaska cruise onboard the Island Princess of Princess Cruises from just $299 per person. The cruise departs Whittier, Alaska on Wednesday, June 11 so this great price will not last much longer.

The Cruise

 

Island Princess embarks on a seven night, one way, southbound Alaska Glacier from Whittier, Alaska at 8:30PM on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. The ship arrives at Vancouver, British Columbia at 7:30am on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Along the way, Island Princess truly discovers the Pacific Coast of Alaska.

On Thursday, June 12, it’s five quality hours viewing the Hubbard Glacier from 3pm until 8pm. The following day, Friday, June 13, Island Princess spends the day at Glacier Bay from 9:15 until 7:30pm.

Civilization returns on Saturday, June 14 with a stop at Skagway, Alaska from 7am until 8:30pm. The following day, it’s a full day at the capital city of Alaska, Juneau. Island Princess is docked in Juneau from 6:30am until 4pm.

On Monday, June 16, Island Princess stops at Ketchikan, Alaska from 10am until 6pm. The following day is the only full day at sea before arriving at Vancouver.

The Price

For a very short period of time, Princess Cruises has flash fares on this itinerary. Right now, an interior stateroom can be had for as low as $299 per person before taxes, based on double occupancy. With the additional $176.33 in government fees per person tacked on, the total price for two for an inside cabin can be had for as low as $950.66.

Other levels of stateroom are still available and the pricing is quite reasonable. An Ocean View stateroom can still be had for as low as $499 per person. Add a balcony and pricing starts at $699 per person.

The Ship 

Island Princess was built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. She made her maiden voyage for Princess Cruises on July 12, 2003. Island Princess is one of two Coral Class ships in the Princess fleet, along with Coral Princess. These are the only two Panamax ships in the fleet, meaning that these are the only two Princess ships that are narrow enough to travel the full length of the Panama Canal.

Island Princess has a gross tonnage of 91,627 and is 294 metres or 964 feet in length. There are 12 decks accessible to the capacity 1,970 passengers. Typically, there will be around 900 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.

Huge Military Discounts For Western Caribbean Cruise On Vision Of The Seas

If you’re a former or present member of the armed forces in North America, pretty much every cruise line offers some sort of discount or bonus on pretty much every cruise, but it varies. For Royal Caribbean and their five night Western Caribbean itinerary onboard Vision of the Seas embarking September 20, the discount cuts really deep.

On a cruise when Joe Civilian will be paying no less than $347 per person, current and former military personnel can have an inside stateroom for as low as $222 per person. The same discount applies to members of the Police and Fire services. This price is based on double occupancy and is subject to an additional $117 per person in taxes.

The Cruise

 

Vision of the Seas embarks from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4:30pm on Saturday, September 20, 2014. She arrives back at Ft. Lauderdale for 7am on Thursday, September 25. In between, Vision of the Seas makes two port calls.

After a short trip around the bottom of Florida, on Sunday, September 21 Vision of the Seas stops at Key West in the Florida Keys. The ship is in this fabulous port from 8am until 5pm. After a full day at sea, she arrives at her second port of call on Tuesday, September 23. The final port call is at Georgetown on Grand Cayman and Vision stays here also from 8am until 5pm. Both Monday and Wednesday are full days at sea as Vision of the Seas rounds the western end of Cuba.

The Price

As mentioned, the military, police and fire rate for an inside stateroom on this ship is just $222 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $117 per person in government fees and taxes tacked on, the total for two for an inside cabin can be had for as low as $678. Unlike many ‘flash’ or ‘super saver’ rates, the full amount is not due on the day of booking. $210 would be due by May 31, 2014 and the balance of $468 would not be due until July 22. It should also be noted that only one person per stateroom needs to be a qualified military member.

Folks that are 55 and over enjoy nearly as great a rate. Seniors pay as low as $233 per person for that same inside stateroom. Of course, these cabins are subject to the same $117 per person in government fees and taxes.

The Ship

Vision of the Seas has been in service since 1998 and is one of six Royal Caribbean Vision Class ships. Vision Class includes Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas, all built between 1995 and 1998 by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Vision is in the smaller range by today’s standards with a gross tonnage of 78,340. She is 279 metres or 915 feet in length and has eleven decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity for 2,435 guests with 765 crew members on board.

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.

Alaska On Norwegian Sun From Just $263.44 Per Person!

The Alaska cruise season is in full swing and sweet deals are starting to appear. A seven night northbound Alaska Glacier cruise out of Vancouver, British Columbia on May 26, 2014 can be had from an amazingly low price of $263.44 per person, based on double occupancy for an inside stateroom.

The Cruise

 

On Monday, May 26, 2014 at 4pm, Norwegian Sun embarks from Vancouver, British Columbia on a seven night Northbound Alaska Glacier cruise. Sun arrives at Whittier, Alaska on Monday, June 2 at 7am. Along the way, the ship makes three port calls added to the non-stop amazing scenery.

After a full day cruising up the coast, Norwegian Sun makes her first stop at Ketchikan, Alaska on Wednesday, May 28 from 7am until 4pm. The following day, it’s further north to Juneau, Alaska. Sun is docked at Juneau on Thursday, May 29 from 10am until 8pm. The final port of call is at Skagway, Alaska on Friday, May 30 from 7am until 8pm.

The Price

An inside cabin can be had right now for as low as $263.44 per person, based on double occupancy. In addition, for that level of stateroom, there is a $107.52 onboard credit per stateroom. Government fees and taxes result in an additional $212.65 per person. The total for two for an inside cabin comes to as low as $960.78.

Other levels of stateroom are decently priced right now. An ocean view room starts as low as $322 per person while a balcony room starts at $644 per person, all based on double occupancy. The same $212.65 in taxes applies to each passenger, regardless of stateroom.

Also available is the great deal Norwegian has for Unlimited Specialty Dining. Per person, unlimited dining at Norwegian Sun’s specialty restaurants can be had for $119 per person.

The Ship 

Norwegian Sun was built by Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. She has been in service for Norwegian Cruise Line since 2001. Sun is one of two Sun Class ships in the NCL fleet, along with the Norwegian Sky.

This is not a large ship. Norwegian Sun has a gross tonnage of 78,309 and is 258 metres or 848 feet in length. The ship has nine decks accessible to the capacity 2,002 passengers. There is typically 968 crew members onboard this vessel.

Sun spends her winters based out of Florida, cruising the Caribbean and the Bahamas. She will be based in Vancouver and Whittier until late September. At that time, she will return to Tampa by way of Los Angeles, California and the Panama Canal.

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.

Eastern Caribbean Cruise On Carnival Glory From $299!

You need a vacation now! Well, maybe you could hold out for another week. For as low as $299 (USD) you could be sailing on Carnival Glory out of Miami, Florida on Sunday, April 20, 2014 on a seven night Eastern Caribbean cruise with four awesome ports of call.

The Cruise

 

Carnival Glory embarks from Miami, Florida at 4pm on Sunday, April 20, 2014 on a seven night Eastern Caribbean cruise. She returns to Miami for 8am on Sunday, April 27. Along the way, Glory makes four port calls on some beautiful tropical islands.

First up is Nassau, Bahamas on Monday, April 21. This stop is short, arriving at 7am and leaving at 2pm. Next up is the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Carnival Glory arrives at St. Thomas Harbour on Wednesday, April 23 at 10am and stays until 6pm, giving plenty of time to enjoy the island’s shopping, beaches and awesome mountaintop views.

If it’s Thursday, Carnival Glory must be in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Plan to get up early to discover this historic city. The ship arrives at 7am and has another early departure time of 3:30.

Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos is the last port of call on this cruise. Glory arrives at Grand Turk at 11am on Friday, April 25. She is docked on this tiny island for just 6 ½ hours but that’s plenty of time to enjoy the location. From the upper decks of the ship, you will be able to see clear across Grand Turk to the ocean on the other side. Beach, water sports and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville – there ain’t much more.

The Price (all prices for Carnival are given in USD)

Right now, the Super Saver rate for this cruise starts at $299 per person for an inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $125.52 in government fees and taxes added on per person. With taxes included, an inside cabin for two can be had for as low as $849.04 total.

With Carnival’s Super Saver rates, the stateroom is assigned at the time of boarding. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid in full at the time of booking.

The Ship 

Built by Fincantieri in Italy, Carnival Glory made her maiden voyage in July of 2003. She is one of five Conquest Class ships in the Carnival Cruises fleet. All five are nearly identical and entered service between 2002 and 2007.

This is a large ship with a gross tonnage of 110,000. Glory is 290 metres or 952 feet in length with 13 decks accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 2,974 guests and 1,150 crew members. Carnival Glory is based out of Miami, Florida year round. She does a mix of seven night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Western version typically stops at Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Mohogany Bay on the island of Roatan in Honduras and Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

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.

Pacific Coastal Cruise On MS Statendam From Just $198.34!

On May 14, 2014, ms Statendam of the Holland America Line makes her way north from San Diego, California to her summer home. Statendam repositioning from Southern California to Vancouver, British Columbia results in a one of a kind four night Pacific Coastal cruise. Holland America has a flash special on this cruise right now and an inside stateroom can be had for as low as $198.34 per person.

The Cruise

 

MS Statendam embarks from San Diego, California on Wednesday, May 14 at 4pm for this four night Pacific Coastal cruise. She arrives at Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday, May 18 at 7am. Along the way, she makes one stop. The one port of call will have a special place in the hearts of Denver Broncos fans.

On Saturday, May 17, ms Statendam docks at Port Angeles, Washington. She remains in port from 2pm until 10pm. Port Angeles is on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, within sight of Victoria, British Columbia, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Port Angeles is the birthplace and home of Football Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

Between San Diego and Port Angeles, there are two full days at sea to enjoy the luxury of this Holland America ship as it makes its way up the Pacific Coast, past California and Oregon.

The Price

Much of this ship is already sold out for this Pacific Coastal cruise. However, with the latest flash special, an inside stateroom onboard ms Statendam can be had for as low as $198.34 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $104.72 per person in government fees and taxes, the lowest priced inside cabin goes for $606.12 for two.

There are limited staterooms available for this cruise. The ship is small so space is limited right from the start. However, there are Ocean View cabins still available from $228.17 per person and suites are available for as low as $397.92 per person. The same $104.72 in taxes applies to these rates, as well.

The Ship 

Built by Fincantieri on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, ms Statendam has been in service since 1993 and is Holland America Line’s oldest ship currently sailing the high seas. Statendam is a S Class, or Statendam Class, ship and is the oldest of four S Class vessels.

This is not a large ship with a gross tonnage of just 55,451. Statendam is 219 metres or 719 feet in length and there are ten decks accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 1,258 guests and 557 crew members.

MS Statendam will spend the summer exploring Alaska. She will run seven night, one-way Alaska cruises with Vancouver, British Columbia and Seward, Alaska as her home ports.

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.

Enchantment of the Seas 4 Night Bahamas Cruise From Just $169

Royal Caribbean provides the perfect short getaway to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida. It’s a buyer’s market for the April 14, 2014 sailing on Enchantment of the Seas for the four night Bahamas cruise. An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $169 per person. Hurry, time is running short and all Balcony cabins and suites are already waitlisted.

The Cruise

 

Enchantment of the Seas embarks from Port Canaveral, Florida at 4:30pm on Monday, April 14, 2014 for a four night Bahamas cruise. She arrives back at her home port on Friday, April 18 at 7am. Along the way, Enchantment makes two stops, including a full day and night at Nassau.

On Tuesday, April 15, Enchantment of the Seas anchors off Coco Cay at 8am. Guests are tendered ashore to this private island leased by Royal Caribbean. Formerly known as Little Stirrup Cay, the island is part of the Berry Islands of the Bahamas. Chances of getting lost on the island are slim with it being just a kilometre wide from north to south and 190 metres from east to west. The island is used by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. Enchantment of the Seas leaves the island at 5pm.

The following day, Wednesday, April 16, Enchantment docks at Nassau at 7am. She remains in port at the largest city in the Bahamas until midnight. After heading back out to sea, the ship takes her time going back up the coast of Florida with a full day at sea on Thursday, April 17.

The Price

Right now, an inside stateroom can be had for as low as $169 per person, based on double occupancy. With the $72 in government fees and taxes tacked on, the total price for two can be as low as $482. Ocean View staterooms start at $259 per person. As mentioned, balcony cabins and suites are all already spoken for. This price trumps all other rates including military, police and fire and seniors.

The Ship 

Enchantment of the Seas was built at Kvaemer Masa Yards in Helsinki, Finland, now known as STX Finland. She made her maiden voyage on July 13, 1997 and was upgraded for 2005. Enchantment is a Vision Class ship with a gross tonnage of 82,910. She is 301 metres or 989 feet in length. Previous to 2005, the ship was 279 metres or 916 feet in length. There are eleven decks accessible to the capacity 2,449 guests.

Enchantment calls Port Canaveral her home port all year round. She alternates between three and four night Bahamas cruises. The three night has the same two ports of call but she hustles back to Port Canaveral after leaving Nassau and doesn’t have a full day at sea.

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.

Holland America MS Westerdam 3 Night Pacific Coastal Cruise From $148.38!

For those with not a lot of time but who are looking to get on a cruise ship, why not take a three night journey up the Pacific Coast from San Diego, California to Victoria, British Columbia? There are no distracting ports of call along the way, allowing you to fully enjoy all the luxury MS Westerdam of Holland America Line has to offer. Even better, the pricing right now is outstanding!

The Cruise

 

MS Westerdam embarks from San Diego, California on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 on this three night cruise up the coast to Victoria, British Columbia. There are no stops along the way, just the ocean and the coastlines of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Westerdam arrives in Victoria on Friday, May 2 at 12 noon.

Guests board Westerdam at the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal in downtown San Diego. Upon arriving in Victoria, guests get off the ship at Ogden Point Cruise Ship Terminal, right in the centre of the historic Canadian city and the capital of the province of British Columbia.

In essence, this is an extension to a 14 night Panama Canal cruise that originates in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and, in essence, this is Repositioning Cruise. After wintering in the Caribbean, MS Westerdam makes this April journey to her summer home port of Seattle, Washington. After adjusting a bit south from Victoria to Seattle, Westerdam settles into a routine of seven night roundtrip Alaska cruises for the summer months.

The Price

Holland America is having a ‘flash sale’ and an interior stateroom can be had for as low as $148.38 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $63.80 per person in government fees and taxes, which apply to all passengers regardless of stateroom level, an interior cabin for two can be had for $424.36, including taxes.

From there, the prices don’t move up too quickly. You can have an ocean view for as low as $208.25 per person. A balcony stateroom (Deluxe Ocean View Verandah) starts at $248.20 per person. A Superior Verandah Suite will run $937.88 per person.

The Ship 

Built by Fincantieri in Italy, MS Westerdam has been in service since 2004 for Holland America Line. Westerdam is one of four Vista Class ships in the fleet. Together with MS Zuiderdam, MS Oosterdam and MS Noordam, the Vista Class ships are named for the four main compass points.

For Holland America, Westerdam is a large ship with a gross tonnage of 82,500. She is 285 metres or 936 feet in length and has eleven decks accessible to passengers. There is a capacity for 1,916 guests and 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.

Norwegian Epic Western Caribbean Cruise From Just $329 (Military and AARP even less!)

Here’s your chance to be part of something epic. The world’s third largest cruise ship embarks from Miami, Florida on a seven night Western Caribbean cruise on April 6, 2014 and you can be onboard for as low as $329 per person. Norwegian Epic is a behemoth with just Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas of the Royal Caribbean fleet being larger. Take note: If you’re a member of AARP or a current or former member of the military, the price is even better.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Epic embarks from Miami, Florida on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 4pm for a seven night Western Caribbean itinerary. Epic arrives back at Miami on Sunday, April 13 at 8am. Along the way, she makes three port calls.

After a full day at sea, Epic arrives at Ocho Rios, Jamaica on Tuesday, April 8 and stays from 9am until 5pm. Guests can easily visit nearby Dunn’s River Falls from this location on the north central coast of Jamaica. James Bond fans will revel in the fact that this is the location of Dr. No, the first ever Bond film, released in 1962. This also featured the first bond girl, the amazing Ursula Andress as Honey Rider – the girl who never really put much more than a bikini on.

After another full day at sea, Epic arrives at Costa Maya on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico. The ship is docked here from 8am until 5pm on Thursday, April 10. Costa Maya is on the mainland of Mexico and close to the Belize border. This port was shut down for over a year after Hurricane Dean devastated the area in August, 2007.

On Friday, April 11, Norwegian Epic makes her final stop at the tropical paradise island of Cozumel, Mexico. She is in port from 8am until 5pm on Friday, April 11 before heading back across the Gulf of Mexico to her home port.

The Price

An inside stateroom onboard this cruise can be had for as low as $329 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $114.51 per person in government fees and taxes added on, the total for two for an inside cabin is as low as $887.02.

If you are a member of the AARP, the same cabin can be had from $279 person. To be a member, you must be 50 or older and registered with the organization. For Canadians, the annual fee is just $17 per person.

For military, there is a discount but it doesn’t cut too deep. Former and present members of the armed forces in Canada and the United States would get the same inside stateroom for $309 per person, plus taxes.

This cruise is not applicable for Norwegian’s current promotion where the third and fourth in a stateroom sail for free. However, they do offer one coupon book per stateroom that is valued at $300 in onboard savings. NCL also has a $119 per person Ultimate Dining Package that allows unlimited dining at the onboard specialty restaurants.

 

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.

Cross The Atlantic On Liberty Of The Seas From Just $509

What would entice someone to spend the first eight full days at sea on a 13 night cruise across the Atlantic Ocean? First, the cruise is onboard Liberty of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. This is one of the largest ships on the high seas and probably has more to do onboard than there is to do in your own town. Second, for this May 1, 2014 sailing, Royal Caribbean has dropped the price of an inside cabin as low as $509 per person! For military, police and fire, the deal is even sweeter.

The Cruise

 

Liberty of the Seas embarks from Port Everglades at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4:30pm on Thursday, May 1, 2014 on a 13 night journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Barcelona, Spain. She arrives at her final destination at 6am on Wednesday, May 14. Along the way, Liberty of the Seas makes three port calls, all on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

After eight full days at sea, Liberty of the Seas makes her first stop on Saturday, May 10 at Lisbon, Portugal. Typically, cruise ships repositioning from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean will stop either in the Azores or Canary Islands. Liberty motors right past these rest stops in the middle of the Atlantic to reach continental Europe. She is docked at the capital of Portugal from 7am until 5pm.

The following day, Liberty of the Seas stops at Sevilla, Spain, still on the Atlantic side of the country. She is in port at Sevilla from 9am until 6pm on Sunday, May 11.

After a full day at sea, meandering past Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean Sea, Liberty of the Seas finds her final port of call on Tuesday, May 13 at Palma de Mallorca. She is parked at the main city of Spain’s Balearic Islands from 8am until 5pm on Tuesday, May 13.

The Price

Right now, an inside stateroom onboard Liberty of the Seas starts at $509 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $86 per person in government fees and taxes tacked on, the total price for two for an inside cabin is $1,190.

Prices don’t go up too rapidly from there. Ocean view cabins start at $709 per person. With a balcony, staterooms start at $1,179 per person. A suite starts at $1,659 per person. Regardless of stateroom, each guest is subject to the $86 in government fees and taxes.

Royal Caribbean offers much more than free donuts and coffee to current and former members of the North American armed forces and those who work in the police and fire service. Those who qualify pay $450 each for that same lowest priced inside cabin. For an ocean view stateroom, prices start as low as $582 per person. A cabin with a balcony is a great savings, starting at $845 per person.

The Ship

Liberty of the Seas began service in May, 2007. She was renovated in 2011 with the DreamWorks Experience integrated. Liberty is one of three Freedom Class ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet with sisters Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas being nearly identical.

At a gross tonnage of 154,407, all three Freedom Class ships tie as the fourth largest cruise ship currently on the high seas. Only Royal Caribbean’s twin Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, along with the Norwegian Epic are larger. Liberty of the Seas is heavier but not quite as long as the Queen Mary 2 of the Cunard Line.

Liberty is 1,112 feet long or 339 metres in length. Using the old standard, she is the length of three NFL football fields. There are 15 decks accessible to the capacity 4,600 passengers. The crew numbers around 1,300.

As mentioned, the ship is a destination. Liberty of the Seas is fully integrated with the DreamWorks Experience, making it great for smaller children. Also included is FlowRider, a surf simulator. For added enjoyment, there are two hot tubs cantilevered over the edge of the boat, giving great views of the ocean around.

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.

Great Deals For Norwegian Pearl Panama Canal Cruise Are Going Fast!

This cruise is more than a month down the road. However, cabins are going incredibly fast because there are incredible deals on said cabins. Staterooms start at just $709 per person on the Norwegian Pearl as she cruises from Miami, Florida to Los Angeles, California via the Panama Canal, starting April 18, 2014. This cruise qualifies for Norwegian’s Kids Sail Free promotion, meaning the 3^rd and 4^th guest in a cabin pay only the taxes.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Pearl embarks from Miami, Florida on her 15 night Panama Canal cruise at 4pm on Friday, April 18, 2014. She arrives at Los Angeles, California at 8am on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Along the way, Pearl transits the full Panama Canal with an additional six ports of call.

Cartegena, Colombia is the first stop and the only port of call in the Caribbean. Pearl stops on Monday, April 21 from 7am until 3pm. The following day, she makes her transit of the famous Panama Canal.

Once on the Pacific Ocean, Norwegian Pearl makes her next port call at Puntarenas, Costa Rica on Thursday, April 24 from 7am until 6pm. She follows that up with three stops along the Pacific coast of Mexico.

On Saturday, April 26, Pearl stops at Puerto Chiapas, Mexico from 8am until 4pm. The following day, it’s a little further up the coast to Huatulco, Mexico from 8am until 4pm. After a full day at sea, Norwegian Pearl makes her final Mexican stop at Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday, April 29 from 8am until 5pm.

Before she arrives at her final destination of Los Angeles, Pearl makes one last stop at San Diego, California on Friday, May 2 from 7am until 6pm.

The Price

I hesitated about even publishing this article because staterooms seem to be disappearing at a remarkable rate. As of Monday morning (March 10, 2014) there were still some interior cabins from $709 per person. Outside cabins were a little less scarce and start at $949 per person. The Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suite was still available, as well. This little piece of luxury starts at just $9,499 per person.

Because this is a full transit of the Panama Canal, government fees and taxes are higher than most cruises. Afterall, it’s not cheap to lift a 100,000 ton ship over land. Each passenger has an additional $318.14 in taxes tacked on to their fare.

If booked before March 31, 2014, this cruise qualifies for Norwegian’s Kids Sail Free promo. The ‘Kids’ is just suggested as the 3^rd and 4^th guest in a stateroom pay just the taxes, regardless of age. For a family (or group) of four to get an inside cabin on the ship, it can be had for as low as $2,690.56, including taxes.

Norwegian has some other perks in effect right now, as well. For $199 per person on cruises 10 to 15 nights in length, passengers can have unlimited meals at the onboard specialty restaurants. Also, each stateroom gets a coupon book worth up to $300 in onboard savings.

The Ship 

Norwegian Pearl was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and has been in service since November 30, 2006. She is a Jewel Class ship with a gross tonnage of 93,530. The ship is 294 metres or 965 feet in length and has 12 decks accessible to passengers. Capacity onboard is for 2,394 guests at double occupancy. There are typically 1,100 crew members onboard.

Currently, Pearl is running Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami. After she reaches Los Angeles on this 15 night Panama Canal cruise, Pearl makes her way up the Pacific coast to spend the summer doing roundtrip Alaska cruises, mostly out of Seattle, Washington.

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.

Great Pricing On April Western Caribbean Cruises Onboard Caribbean Princess

If you’re pretty much anywhere in North America, you wouldn’t know it by looking out your window but spring is coming. It’s just having a hard time poking through the many feet of snow. With spring, the high season of cruising begins to make its way towards the door and the great pricing starts to enter.

Princess Cruises has announced some flash pricing rates and you have some time and flexibility to find your right cruise. Their seven night Western Caribbean cruises out of Houston, Texas, onboard the Caribbean Princess have been reduced to as low as $349 per person for an inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. The great thing is that the rate applies to the April 5, April 12 and April 19 sailings in 2014.

The Cruise

 

Choose your Saturday in April (except the 26^th...) and it’s the same great price to get on the Caribbean Princess. The ship embarks from Houston at 4pm on a Saturday and makes three port calls in the Western Caribbean before returning home to Houston at 7am the following Saturday.

The first stop for Caribbean Princess is on Monday at the tropical island of Cozumel off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ship is docked here from 8am until 6pm. The following day brings another island, this one belonging to Honduras. On Tuesday, Caribbean Princess docks at Roatan, the island belonging to Honduras. She is in port from 9am until 6pm.

Wednesday brings the only mainland port of call. The ship arrives at Belize City in Belize at 7am and departs at 5pm. The three port days are sandwiched by one full day at sea, crossing the Gulf of Mexico, at the start and two full days on the return trip from Belize.

The Price

An inside stateroom onboard the Caribbean Princess for any of these three sailings can be had for as low as $349 per person, based on double occupancy. Adding in the $75 per person in government fees and taxes, the total for two would be $848.

Other levels of stateroom on the ship are quite reasonable. An outside cabin without a view starts at $379 per person. $499 per person will get you an ocean view while $649 per person gets a balcony included. Even some suites can be had for as low as $849 per person. Of course, these prices are also based on double occupancy and the same $75 per person in taxes applies.

Princess doesn’t offer a military discount for these cruises but they do offer an excellent perk. Current and former members of the Canadian and U.S. armed forces receive an onboard credit of $100 per person, regardless of the level of stateroom.

The Ship 

Caribbean Princess is a Grand Class ship built by Fincantieri on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea in Italy. She made her maiden voyage in April of 2004. This is a large ship with a gross tonnage of 112,894. The Caribbean is 290 metres or 951 feet in length and has 15 decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity of 3,080 guests and typically has around 1,200 crew members onboard.

These three dates are pretty much the last to enjoy this itinerary out of Houston. After April 26, the ship repositions to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. For the rest of 2014, Caribbean Princess will alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of her new home port of Port Everglades.

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.