Great Deals For Brilliance of the Seas Western Caribbean Cruise - Act Fast!

This is a great deal, but you really have to act fast. Brilliance of the Seas rolls out of Tampa on Monday, February 24 and you can be on that ship for a great price. If you’re present or former military or you’re in the police or fire services, the deal is even sweeter.

The Cruise

 

Brilliance of the Seas, a Radiance Class ship of Royal Caribbean, embarks from Tampa, Florida on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 4pm for a five night Western Caribbean cruise. Brilliance returns to Tampa at 7am on Saturday, March 1. Along the way, the ship makes two port calls.

After cruising down the Gulf Coast of Florida, Brilliance of the Seas stops at Key West, Florida on Tuesday, February 25. She is in port from 11:30am until 5:30pm, just enough time to live a little of that Ernest Hemingway lifestyle.

After a full day at sea, crossing above Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico, Brilliance makes her second port call at Cozumel, Mexico. The ship is docked at the Mexican tropical island paradises from 8am until 6pm on Thursday, February 27. She takes another full day at sea before arriving back home in Tampa.

The Price

Going, going but not quite gone. An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $249 per person, based on double occupancy. The government fees and taxes for this cruise are very low at just $68 per person. The total for two for an inside cabin currently costs as low as $634, including taxes. But wait, that’s not all. There is an additional $25 per cabin onboard credit. An outside stateroom with a balcony is priced as low as $749 per person.,

The discounts for former and present members of the armed forces in Canada and the United States bring the inside cabin down to $221 per person. Royal Caribbean honours those heroes in the police and fire services, as well, with the same discount as military.

The Ship 

Brilliance of the Seas was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and made her maiden voyage for Royal Caribbean in July, 2002. Brilliance is the second oldest of the four Radiance Class ships in the RC fleet with Radiance of the Seas as the oldest, along with younger sisters Serenade of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

This is a good sized ship with a gross tonnage of 90,090. Brilliance of the Seas is 292 metres or 958 feet in length and has 12 decks accessible to passengers. The capacity, based on double occupancy, is for 2,501 passengers. There are typically 859 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.

Unbelievable Price For A 11 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise On Norwegian Sun

Given the choice between a Western, Eastern or Southern Caribbean cruise out of Florida, ten times out of ten, I would choose the Southern itinerary. Why? You’re still visiting high traffic tourist traps but those destinations in the Southern Caribbean are just so much more exotic than those within swimming distance of Florida. The problem? Very rarely is there a great priced Southern Caribbean cruise out of Florida.

Well, we found one. The price is awesome and the itinerary aboard Norwegian Sun provides as much variety as possible for a cruise leaving out of Florida, as opposed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The one issue is time. This is an eleven day cruise that may not agree with many people’s rigid vacation schedules.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Sun embarks from Miami, Florida at 4pm on Thursday, March 6, 2014 on an eleven night Southern Caribbean cruise. Sun arrives back in Miami for 8am on Monday, March 17. Along the way, the ship makes five port calls. There are five full days at sea in which to enjoy all this modern ship has to offer.

For this itinerary, Norwegian doesn’t screw around with stops in the Bahamas. Rather, Norwegian Sun charges straight south for two full days through the Atlantic Ocean / Caribbean Sea and arrives at Oranjestad, Aruba on Sunday, March 9. The ship is docked at the ‘A’ of the ‘ABC Islands’ (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) from 8am until 5pm. In fact, NCL makes it very easy for passengers on this cruise with every port of call scheduled from 8am until 5pm.

Skipping Bonaire, Norwegian Sun stops at Willemstad, Curacao on Monday, March 10. After these two full days of near equatorial heat, culture, snorkeling and partying, take a day to relax on the ship before docking at Bridgetown, Barbados on Wednesday, March 12.

The fourth stop occurs on Thursday, March 13 and this is the one that should make your friends ask, “Say again? Where the hell were you?” Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe is the last true southern destination before heading northward.

The final stop occurs on Friday, March 14 at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas is a pivot point in the Caribbean and is included in Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, as well as the Southern cruises. After leaving St. Thomas, you have two more full days at sea to soak in those last rays of tropical sunshine before flying back to the cold, cold north.

The Price

Don’t expect this price to last. That’s not a car salesman tactic, it’s simply the truth. An inside stateroom for this cruise can be had for as low as $479 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $108.87 per person in government taxes and fees tacked on, an inside cabin for two goes from $1,175.74.

From the inside out and up, the prices go up rapidly. An Ocean View cabin is still reasonable at $599. However, adding a balcony pushes the price to $1,099 per person and a suite is nearly double that at from $2,099 per person.  Present and former military personnel from Canada and the United States should note that discounts apply and an inside stateroom is reduced to from $449 for these heroes.

The Ship 

Norwegian Sun is one of two Sun Class ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. The other is Norwegian Sky, the older sister that was put in service in 1999. Sun was put in service in 2001 and was last refurbed in 2011.

This may have been a large ship in 2001 but is now closer to a medium sized boat. Norwegian Sun has a gross tonnage of 78,309 with a length of 258 metres or 848 feet. There are 13 decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity for 2,002 guests, based on double occupancy. There are typically 968 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.

Quick! Norwegian Star Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise Deals, Right Now!

Not long ago, we looked at the Norwegian Star Transatlantic Repositioning journey she’ll make in October, 2014 from Europe back to Florida for the winter. The price for Star’s journey from Miami to Europe on May 5, 2014 has now dropped in price and is an incredible deal for a once in a lifetime experience.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Star embarks from Miami, Florida on a 14 night Transatlantic Repositioning cruise on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 5pm. Star arrives at Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday, May 19 at 7am. Along the way, she makes three port calls.

After leaving Miami, Norwegian Star spends a week at sea before landing at Ponta Delgada in the Azores Islands. Star is docked at the Portuguese port on the island of Sao Miguel on Monday, May 12 from 10am until 6pm. May is a comfortable month at Ponta Delgada with the average daytime high temperature being 19 Celsius or 66 Fahrenheit.

The rest of the week is spent at sea before arriving at Dover, England on Friday, May 16. Star is docked at the coastal city at the southeast corner of England from 6am until 6pm. Dover is situated facing France at the narrowest point on the English Channel. The city has a population of around 40,000 and is famous for the nearby White Cliffs of Dover.

The last port of call occurs on Sunday, May 18 at Helsingborg, Sweden. Norwegian Star is docked at the city at the southwest tip of Sweden from 8am until 6pm. Helsingborg is located at the closest point that Sweden gets to Denmark with the countries just four kilometres away from each other over the water. The city of 100,000 is deep in history.

The Price

For the time-being, an inside cabin on the Norwegian Star can be had for as low as $549 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $115.89 per person in government taxes and fees tacked on, the total price for two starts from just $1,329.78 for an interior stateroom.

Other levels of stateroom for this Transatlantic Repositioning cruise are reasonable, as well. An ocean view cabin can be had for as low as $699 per person. If you desire a balcony, these cabins start at $929 per person. A suite starts from $1,099 per person.

The Ship

Norwegian Star is barely within Panamax sized limits when it comes to width. Meaning, it just squeaks into the locks of the Panama Canal. Back in 2000, this ship was intended to be dubbed SuperStar Libra in the Star Cruises fleet. Instead, she made her maiden voyage on November 19, 2001 as Norwegian Star.

She is a NCL Dawn Class ship with just one younger sister. Norwegian Dawn came into service in 2002. Star has a gross tonnage of 91,740 and is 294 metres or 965 feet in length. There are 15 decks on board, eleven accessible to passengers. Guest capacity is 2,348 with a staff of 1,083 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.

Amazing 55+ Discounts on Celebrity Century 7 Night Pacific Coastal Cruise

It’s funny, the population is aging and people are living longer and longer. I now consider the middle ages of life the decade where the first digit of your age is a 5 (by the way - I'm still a good half decade from those middle ages!). However, with most luxury cruise lines, if you’re 55 or older, you are considered a senior. Don’t be insulted! The result can be a deep discount in your cruise fare.

For a seven night Pacific Coastal out of Los Angeles, California onboard Celebrity Century, embarking April 19, 2014, the discount for having just one person 55 or over in your stateroom is nothing short of awesome.

The Cruise

 

Celebrity Century embarks from Los Angeles, California at 4pm on Saturday, April 19, 2014 for a seven night Pacific Coastal cruise. She returns to Los Angeles on Saturday, April 26 at 7am. In between, Century makes an incredible five port calls, including an overnight in one of the most romantic cities in the world. With all that action crammed in, there are no full days at sea.

First up is Santa Barbara, California. Century is docked at Santa Barbara on Sunday, April 20 from 7am until 5pm. The next stop is the biggie. The ship docks at San Francisco at 2pm on Monday, April 21 at 2pm. She remains in port until the following day at 8pm. This allows plenty of time to discover San Francisco. Although you can sleep on the ship Monday night, you could arrange to head a bit down the coast and stay at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.

Overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, Celebrity Century makes her way back south down the coast before stopping at Monterey, California at 7am on Wednesday, April 23. She remains docked until 4pm.

For Thursday, Century moves south past her original starting point to stop at Avalon on California’s Catalina Island. The ship is docked from 12pm until 8pm. The final port call is down south in Mexico. The ship docks at Ensenada, Mexico on the Baja Peninsula from 8am until 5pm on Friday, April 25.

The Price

The ‘Best Rate’ provided by Celebrity Cruises for this itinerary is $549 per person for an inside stateroom. With just one person 55 or older in your stateroom, the price is reduced to $369 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $127 per person in government fees and taxes, the total price for two for an inside cabin can be had from just $992, including taxes.

The senior discount also applies to higher level staterooms but the price moves up pretty quickly for this particular cruise. An Ocean View starts at $859 per person. With a balcony included, the price goes up to $1,449 per person. A suite can be had for the low, low price of $1,889 per person.

The Ship 

Celebrity Century is the oldest ship currently in service for Celebrity Cruises. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and made her maiden voyage on December 20, 1995. Century is the only ship in Celebrity’s Century Class of ships.

By today’s standard, this is a small ship with a gross tonnage of just 71,545. Century is 248 metres or 814 feet in length and has eleven decks accessible to passengers. The capacity at double occupancy is for 1,814 guests with 843 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.

Act Fast To Get This Great Norwegian Gem Eastern Caribbean Deal

This cruise is truly last minute and with the weather that’s hammering the Atlantic coast of North America, it could be a real challenge to get to. However, if you can make it to New York City and get on the Norwegian Gem by Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 4pm, you will definitely enjoy a great cruise at a great price.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Gem embarks from New York City at 4pm on Saturday, February 8, 2014 on a nine night Eastern Caribbean cruise. She arrives back in NYC at 10:00am on Monday, February 17. Along the way, the ship makes four port calls with one being rather unique to the Eastern Caribbean cruising world.

After two full days at sea, sailing away from winter, Norwegian Gem makes her first stop on Tuesday, February 11 at San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is docked in the Puerto Rican capital from 3pm until 9pm. The following day, it’s a short trip over to Philipsburg on the island of Sint Maarten. Gem enjoys her longest day in port here, docked from 8am until 6pm.

For Thursday, February 13, Gem shifts over to the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ship will dock at the cruise port in St. Thomas Harbor at Charlotte Amalie from 8am to 5pm.

On her final port of call, Gem visits a location better known to the All-Inclusive Resort crowd and windsurfing enthusiasts. From 8am until 4pm, the ship is parked at Samana, Dominican Republic on Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day. On Eastern Caribbean itineraries in 2014, just Norwegian Gem, Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and the Silversea Silver Spirit use Samana as a port of call.

The Price

Act fast and get an inside cabin for just $449 per person, based on double occupancy. Government fees and taxes are an additional $171.86 per person, bringing the total for a inside stateroom for two to $1,241.72 for this nine night journey.

Other levels of stateroom are also decently prices. An Ocean View cabin starts from $529 per person. A stateroom with a balcony starts at $899 per person. If you are or have been a member of the Canadian or U.S. armed forces, there is an additional discount of $20 person. New England residents get that same discount.

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.

7 Night Western Caribbean on Carnival Glory From $329

Carnival Cruise Lines can pack a lot into a seven night cruise. With their continued support of Canadian residents as the dollar continues to slide, Carnival also packs a lot of value into that seven night cruise. On March 30, 2014, Carnival Glory takes off for a seven night Western Caribbean cruise. You can be on that ship from just $329 per person.

The Cruise

 

Carnival Glory embarks from Miami, Florida at 4pm on Sunday, March 30, 2014. She returns to her home port on Sunday, April 6 at 8am. In between, Glory makes four port calls in four different countries.

After a full day at sea, the first port of call is Georgetown, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. Carnival Glory is docked from 7am to 4pm on Tuesday, April 1. The following day, the ship makes its way to the Mexican island of Cozumel. She is docked at the island paradise from 10am until 6pm.

Thursday, April 3 brings a bit more of a cultural destination as Glory docks at Belize City in Belize. The ship is in port from 8am until 5pm. The following day, it’s simply fun and sun with a major lack of culture. On Friday, April 4, Carnival Glory pulls into Mahogany Bay from 8am until 3pm on the Honduras island of Roatan. Mahogany Bay is a newly developed private beach owned by Carnival Cruise Lines with more activities than can possibly be experienced in the short time the ship is in port.

The Price (prices are in U.S. dollars)

The special rate for Canadian residents starts at $329 per person for an inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. This price is $50 off the already low Super Saver rate that non-Canadians must pay. Government fees and taxes result in an additional $121.53 per person tacked on to the price. What results is an inside cabin for two starting from $901.06, including taxes.

The Ship 

Carnival Glory is one of five Conquest Class ships in the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet. She was built by Fincantieri in Italy and made her maiden voyage in July, 2003. Glory is a large ship with a gross tonnage of 110,239. She is 290 metres or 952 feet in length with 13 decks accessible to the capacity 2,974 passengers. Typically, there are 1,150 crew members onboard.

The Conquest Class of ships all entered service for Carnival between 2002 and 2007. Conquest came first in 2002 with Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom coming after Glory.

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.

L.A. to Vancouver on the Norwegian Pearl From Just $299

Sure, if you need to get from Los Angeles, California to Vancouver, British Columbia, you can fly and be to your destination in under three hours. However, if you have a few extra days and want to relax and see the Pacific Coast in luxury, why not hop on the Norwegian Pearl and take a five night cruise between the two cities? You can do it on May 3, 2014 from just $299 per person.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Pearl of Norwegian Cruise Line embarks from Los Angeles, California on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 5pm. The ship arrives in Vancouver on Thursday, May 8 at 8am. Along the way, she makes two excellent port calls.

After a full day at sea, Pearl docks at San Francisco, California on Monday, May 5. She is in port from 8am until 5pm. The fact that the cruise port is centrally located in the downtown area of San Francisco makes this a great chance to explore the city. World famous Alcatraz Island is just off shore.

After another day at sea, passing by the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington, Norwegian Pearl docks at Ogden Point Cruise Port in Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island. This is another port where you simply need to walk off the ship to explore the historic downtown area of the provincial capital. The ship is docked in Victoria from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday, May 7.

The Price

This cruise is hot and the price is rising. A few days ago, an interior cabin was as low as $249 per person. The price has risen to a still great deal of $299 per person for the same inside stateroom. With an additional $149.91 in government fees and taxes, the price for two for an inside cabin, including taxes, starts at just $897.82. An outside stateroom on the Norwegian Pearl is not much more with a starting price of $349 per person.

So, what would it cost to fly between the same two cities and arrive in Vancouver on May 8? Direct flights via Delta Airlines or Alaska Airlines are as low as $131, including taxes. Direct via Westjet, a Canadian carrier, is slightly higher at $136. These flights all arrive at YVR very late in the day.

A true example of how expensive air travel within Canada is. The distance from Los Angeles to Vancouver is roughly 2,053 kilometres. A flight the same day via Westjet from Toronto, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec, just a distance of 542 kilometres, will cost from $224, including taxes.

The Ship

Norwegian Pearl is one of four Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel Class ships. The four ships are nearly identical and were all built between 2005 and 2007. The three sister ships are the Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade.

Pearl is a decent sized ship with a gross tonnage of 93,530. She is 294 metres or 965 feet in length with 12 decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity for 2,394 guests based on double occupancy. There are 1,099 crew members onboard, making for a decent guest to crew ratio for a contemporary ship.

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.

Colon, Panama to Ft. Lauderdale Via Vision of the Seas: Unique, Short and Cheap

On April 26, 2014, Vision of the Seas of Royal Caribbean embarks on a short, unique and very affordable cruise that, coupled with, say, a week at a Panama all-inclusive resort, makes for an awesome vacation. Vision leaves its winter home in Colon, Panama to head north to Ft. Lauderdale, a port she’ll call home until November.

The Cruise

 

Vision of the Seas embarks on a very short Repositioning Cruise from Colon, Panama at 3pm on Saturday, April 26, 2014. After two full days at sea, moving north across the Caribbean Sea then around the top of Cuba, she arrives at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Vision reaches her new home at 8am on Tuesday, April 29. There are no additional ports of call on the journey.

Currently, Vision of the Seas is running seven night Southern Caribbean itineraries out of Colon. These cruises are the most affordable way to see the Southern Caribbean with more ports of call in less days. Many ships use Colon as a port call before, or after, transiting the Panama Canal. Vision of the Seas is currently the only major cruise ship that uses the Panama city as a home port.

Once in Ft. Lauderdale, Vision of the Seas runs four and five night Western Caribbean cruises, with the odd ten night Bermuda cruise mixed in, until November. The ship does not return to Colon in 2014. Instead, she moves to the Gulf Coast of Florida to use Tampa as a home port for her seven night Western Caribbean cruises.

The Price

For this three night cruise, an inside stateroom can be had right now for as low as $136 per person, based on double occupancy. The additional government fees and taxes are extremely low at just $49 per person. This makes the price for two for an inside stateroom, including taxes, as low as $370.

The rest of the ship is quite affordable, as well. Ocean View staterooms start at $189 per person. A balcony cabin can be had from $189 per person. Even suites start from as low as $299 per person.

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.

Go On A Transatlantic Adventure With Royal Caribbean From Just $699

15 bars, clubs and lounges onboard Adventure of the Seas should keep passengers comfortable during a 14 night Transatlantic Repositioning cruise embarking from Miami, Florida on Sunday, April 20, 2014. Unique with this cruise is the three Caribbean ports of call before crossing the Atlantic. Often, the port calls are all on the other side of the pond. You can be on this cruise for as low as $699 per person.

The Cruise

 

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas embarks from Miami, Florida at 4:30 pm on Sunday, April 20, 2014 for a 14 night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise to her summer home in Europe. Adventure arrives in Southampton in the United Kingdom at 5:30 am on Sunday, May 4. Along the way, she makes four port calls, three in the Caribbean and one in the Azores Islands of Portugal.

After leaving Miami, Adventure of the Seas doesn’t travel far, docking at Nassau, Bahamas on Monday, April 21. She remains docked at the largest city in the Bahamas from 8am until 5pm. After a day at sea, the ship arrives at San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, April 23 and is docked from 12 noon until 9pm.

The final stop before crossing the Atlantic is at Philipsburg on the island of Sint Maarten. Philipsburg is located on the Dutch side of the two nation island. However, to visit the French side is just a short cab ride away. Adventure of the Seas is docked at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten from 8am until 5pm on Thursday, April 24.

After five full days at sea, Adventure reaches Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. She is docked at the largest port in the islands belonging to Portugal from 7am until 5pm. After leaving Ponta Delgada, the ship spends another three full days at sea before arriving at Southampton.

The Price

Right now, an inside stateroom can be had for as low as $699 per person in Canadian dollars, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $110 per person in government fees and taxes. The total price for two in an interior stateroom starts from $1,618, including taxes.

However, from there, the price goes through the roof. I assume this has to do with the close to a week in the Caribbean before heading across the Atlantic. Ocean View staterooms start at $1,319 per person while a balcony starts at $1,619 per person. The price for a suite starts at $2,829 per person.

Royal Caribbean is trying to sweeten the pot for those wanting a cabin at a higher level than an inside. If booked over the phone before February 28, guests are eligible for up to $300 in credits per stateroom. This does not apply to any online booking.

The Ship 

Adventure of the Seas was built by STX Finland and made her maiden voyage in November, 2001. Adventure is one of five Royal Caribbean Voyager Class ships. The Voyager Class were built between 1999 and 2003. Adventure of the Seas is the middle child with Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas coming before while Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas came after.

This is a large ship with a gross tonnage of 137,276. Adventure is 311 metres or 1,020 feet in length and has 15 decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity for 3,114 guest and 1,180 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.

Take The Carnival Triumph To The World's Longest Pier

This five night itinerary out of Galveston, Texas, embarking on January 27, 2014 may seem routine on the surface but there are definitely some interesting facets of the cruise. First, the journey is onboard the now infamous Carnival Triumph. Second, the first of two ports of call is Progreso, Mexico. Progreso is on port call where the actual pier might be the attraction.

The Cruise

 

Carnival Triumph embarks from Galveston, Texas on this five night Western Caribbean cruise at 4pm on Monday, January 27, 2014. She arrives back at Galveston on Saturday, February 1 at 8:30am. Along the way, Triumph makes two port calls.

On Wednesday, January 29, Triumph docks at Progreso, Mexico from 7:30am until 4pm. Progeso is located on the northwest shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, not far from Merida. Although there is debate, the pier is known as the longest in the world. The ship will dock some 6.5 km out at sea. La Terminal Remota was built in its present form in 1989. However, there is the argument that much of the 6.5 kilometres is a causeway and that the pier is actually much shorter.

On Thursday, January 30, Triumph moves east around the top of the Yucatan to dock at Cozumel. The ship will stay on the Mexican tropical resort island from 9am until 4pm before making her way back across the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston.

The Price (U.S. Dollars)

Pricing for this cruise is interesting. Just a week away, the Super Saver and Canadian Resident rates for an inside stateroom start from $309 per person, based on double occupancy. This is higher than a similar length Western Caribbean cruise out of Florida. However, the additional $52.49 per person in government fees and taxes is about half of what you’d pay out of Miami, Tampa or Ft. Lauderdale.

The result is an inside cabin for two starting at $722.98, taxes included. As is often the case with Carnival, Military are treated exceptionally well on this cruise. Present and former members of the U.S. and Canadian armed forces can have the same inside stateroom for as low as $269 per person. As an extra bonus, military receive a $25 onboard credit per stateroom.

Too last minute for you? Don't worry, the following two sailings are just $10 more per person.

The Ship 

Carnival Triumph was built by Fincantieri in Italy and entered service in 1999. She is one of three Destiny/Triumph Class ships in the Carnival fleet. Sunshine is the oldest, entering service as Carnival Destiny in 1996. Carnival Victory is the youngest of the three, entering service in 2000.

Triumph is a fairly large vessel with a gross tonnage of 101,509. She is 272 metres or 893 feet in length and has 13 decks accessible to a capacity of 3,143 passengers. There are typically 1,100 crew members onboard.

Yes, this is the ship that was left adrift in the Gulf of Mexico last February. On February 10, 2013, a fire broke out in Triumph’s engine room, leaving the boat incapacitated. After several days, she was finally pulled to Mobile, Alabama.

Carnival Triumph was out of service from February until June, 2013, undergoing extensive repairs. The process was complicated when due to high winds on April 3rd, she broke free of her moorings in the port of Mobile and collided with a U.S. Army Corps ship, sustaining a 20 foot gash.

However, Triumph is all fixed up and has been running four and five night Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston since June. That means, she does about six cruises per month. That means, Triumph has run around 36 itineraries since without incident.

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 Star Transatlantic Cruise: Now Cool With The Backpacking Crowd

What’s this? Our third Transatlantic Repositioning cruise in a row? Right now, with the Caribbean cruise high season well underway, repositioning cruises are the best deals in the business. Besides, this one’s really inexpensive and a bit unique in that it originates in Copenhagen and not Barcelona or ports in the U.K.

With prices as low as $399 per person (based on double occupancy) for an inside stateroom onboard the Norwegian Star on October 6, 2014 for its 14 night Transatlantic journey, it’s no wonder the vagabonding crowd have started to wake up to the idea of travel via cruise ship. After all, that price rivals some big city Europe hostels and is certainly cheaper than most hotels in the civilized world.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Star embarks from Copenhagen, Denmark at 5pm on Monday, October 6, 2014. Before arriving at Miami, Florida on Monday, October 20 at 7am, Star makes just two port calls. There is lots of time at sea to enjoy everything the ship has to offer. Or, you could write a book. I recently read an article by an author who takes these cruises across the ocean for just that reason.

On Saturday, October 11, Norwegian Star docks at Ponta Delgada in the Azores Islands of Portugal. She is in port from 8am until 5pm. Ponta Delgada is the capital of the Azores and is located on the island of Sao Miguel. The city is home to around 65,000 residents. This stop will not be a hot, sweaty tropical experience but the average October daytime high of 21.9 Celcius is more than comfortable.

Next stop for Star is in the Caribbean. She docks at Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas Harbor on Friday, October 17 from 8am until 6pm. This, of course, is the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Be sure to hitch a ride to the other side of the island and relax at Magens BayBeach.

The Price

October 6, 2014 is still a long way away. However, the price will most likely not get any better than this. For an inside stateroom on the Norwegian Star, prices start as low as $399 per person in Canadian dollars, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $110.35 per person in government taxes and fees. This means that an inside stateroom for two can be had for as low as $1,018.70, taxes included.

Pricing on higher levels of staterooms is reasonable. An Ocean View stateroom can be had for as low as $549 per person. A Balcony stateroom is priced from $899 per person. Suites start at $1,349 per person. If you book before April 4, 2014, Norwegian Cruise Lines throws in one coupon book per stateroom valued at over $300 in onboard savings.

The Ship

Norwegian Star is barely within Panamax sized limits when it comes to width. Meaning, it just squeaks into the locks of the Panama Canal. Back in 2000, this ship was intended to be dubbed SuperStar Libra in the Star Cruises fleet. Instead, she made her maiden voyage on November 19, 2001 as Norwegian Star.

She is a NCL Dawn Classship with just one younger sister. Norwegian Dawn came into service in 2002. Star has a gross tonnage of 91,740 and is 294 metres or 965 feet in length. There are 15 decks on board, eleven accessible to passengers. Guest capacity is 2,348 with a staff of 1,083 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.

Celebrity Infinity 13 Night Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise From $617 Per Person

Let’s take another look at the Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise. This time, we’re looking at a premium brand that is priced much lower than its value. Along with the price, Celebrity Infinity offers a unique itinerary that differs from the rest of the crowd. On April 29, 2014, you can be on this 13 night journey across the Atlantic Ocean from just $617 per person.

The Cruise

 

Celebrity Infinity embarks from Miami, Florida on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 4:30 for a 13 night Transatlantic Repositioning cruise. Infinity arrives at Harwich, England at 4am on Monday, May 12. Along the way, she makes three unique port calls.

On Friday, May 2, Infinity docks at New York City from 8am until 6pm. She then takes a full day at sea before reaching Halifax, Nova Scotia on Sunday, May 4. Infinity remains docked at Halifax from 7am until 3pm before heading out for nearly a week at sea.

The south coast of Ireland is the next time this ship will see land. Infinity docks at Cobh, Ireland on Saturday, May 10 from 12pm until 8pm. Cobh was known as Queenstown from 1850 until 1920. It was in Queenstown on April 11, 1912 that RMS Titanic last touched land.

As far as the final destination, Harwich is located not far north from the mouth of the Thames River. Celebrity Infinity docks at the Harwich International Port. London Stansted is the closest international airport, just 50 km away. The city of London is just 70 minutes away via rail.

The Price

Right now, an inside stateroom on Celebrity Infinity for this 13 night journey can be had for as low as $617 per person, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $139 per person in government fees and taxes, regardless of level of stateroom. A room for two can be had from $1,512, taxes included.

Other levels of stateroom are decently priced. An Ocean View room starts from $722 per person. A Balcony is not far off at $931 per person. A suite is a bit pricier, starting from $2,429 per person.

The Ship 

Celebrity Infinity of Celebrity Cruises was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. The company is now known as STX France. Infinity went into service in 2001 and is the second oldest of the four Celebrity Cruises Millennium Class of ships. The oldest is the Celebrity Millennium while Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Constellation came along in 2002.

Infinity is a fairly large ship with a gross tonnage of 91,000. She is 294 metres or 965 feet in length and has eleven decks accessible to passengers. Capacity onboard is for 2,170 guest and 999 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.