NCL 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise From $249

There are a few advantages to taking a Western Caribbean cruise out of New Orleans, Louisiana. First, you get to more ports of call than embarking out of Florida. Second, you get to spend time before and/or after your cruise in New Orleans!

The Norwegian Jewel is currently based out of New Orleans until April and is running seven night Western Caribbean itineraries. Right now, these cruises can be had for very little money. You can be on the Jewel when it embarks on December 8, 2013 for as low as $35.57 per person, per night.

The Cruise

 

This seven night Western Caribbean cruise embarks from New Orleans on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 4pm. Norwegian Jewel arrives back in the historical U.S. city at 8am on Sunday, December 15, making four port calls along the way.

The ship spends two full days at seas, on the Monday at the start at Saturday at the end. First stop is at Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it’s down the coast to Belize City, Belize. Thursday marks the third country in three days with a stop at Coxen Hole, Honduras. On Friday, Jewel returns to Mexico but this time it’s on the mainland at Costa Maya.

The Pricing

Using Norwegian Cruise Line’s BestFare rate, an interior stateroom can currently be had for as low as $249 per person. This equals $35.57 per person per night. This price does not include $99.38 in government taxes and fees. Everything included, a couple can have this cruise for the total price of $696.76 which is less than what one person usually pays for a seven night Caribbean cruise.

Rates are decent across the board for this cruise. An Ocean View can be had as low as $399. A balcony room is priced as low as $649. A suite can be had for under a $1,000 at $849. These are per person rates based on double occupancy and are subject to the same $99.38 in government taxes and fees.

The Ship

 

Norwegian Jewel has been in service since 2005 and is the oldest of four Jewel Class ships in the Norwegian fleet. A medium sized ship with a gross tonnage of 93,502, Jewel is 965 feet or 294 metres long. She has 15 decks, 12 that are accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 2,376 passengers and 1,100 crew members.

Other ships in NCL’s Jewel Class include the Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade. All four ships are nearly identical. The Pearl was put in service in 2006. The Gem came next in 2007 and the Jade joined the fleet in 2008. However, the Jade started life as the Pride of Hawaii and was put in service in 2006.

 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.

Carnival Imagation 4 Night Western Caribbean From $149

If you’re not picky about where you’ll be sleeping on a cruise and want to save a lot of money, the Carnival Cruise Lines Super Saver rates are for you. For example, a four night Western Caribbean cruise out of Miami, embarking December 9, 2013, can be had for as low as $149 per person. This equates to about $37.25 per night per person.

The Cruise

 

The Carnival Imagination leaves Miami at 4pm on Monday, December 9, 2013. The following morning, she makes her first of two port calls on this short Western Caribbean journey. From just 7:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon, Imagination will be docked at Key West.

On Wednesday, December 11, Carnival Imagination parks at Cozumel, Mexico at 1:30 in the afternoon and departs at 10pm. This allows for some sun, followed by a nice Mexican dinner and sunset before getting back on board the ship.

After a full day at sea on Thursday, skimming across the top of northwestern Cuba, Imagination arrives back at Miami Friday morning at 8am.

The Pricing

Using the Super Saver plan, an interior stateroom can be had for around $149 per night per person or around $37.25 per person per night. An ocean view room will cost around $200 per person and a suite can be had for $559 per person. This is an older ship without balcony rooms. With the additional $77.71 in government fees and taxes, the all-in price for an interior stateroom is about $225 per person.

What is the Super Saver rate? The Super Saver is a no frills rate that is non-refundable with not upgrades and no price drop protection. You have no choice in what room you choose and it will not be assigned until check-in time. This means, your stateroom could be on any deck at any section of the ship.

The Ship

Carnival Imagination is a Fantasy Class ship that has been in service since 1995. She was last refurbished in 2007. Imagination is the middle child of the eight ship Fantasy Class, being the fifth oldest in a group of identical ships put in service between 1990 and 1998.

Imagination is fairly small by today’s standards with a gross tonnage of 70,397. She is 855 feet or 261 metres long and has ten decks accessible to a capacity 2,056 passengers. 920 crew members make things run smooth at sea. Despite its size and age, Imagination has it all. The standard casino, wellness centre and programs, kids programs and nightlife are available on board.

Interestingly, after calling Miami home for most of her life, she is repositioning in January, 2014 to Long Beach, California. The Panamax ship will depart Miami on January 10 for a 16 night cruise to Long Beach via the Canal. Staterooms for this cruise are still available but fairly expensive at over $1,600 for an interior room. The vessel will make stops in the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico before reaching its California destination.

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.

Ruby Princess 4 Night Western Caribbean From Just $149

At the time this article is being published, the Ruby Princess is still located in the Mediterranean Sea. She will embark on a Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise on November 29, taking 15 nights to reach Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After that, Ruby takes on four and five night cruises out of Ft. Lauderdale for the next little while. It’s Ruby’s first cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale that has great last minute pricing that really isn’t that last minute with more than two weeks from today to prepare.

The Cruise

The Ruby Princess takes a bit of a rest after crossing the Atlantic by embarking on a simple four night Western Caribbean cruise, leaving Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 4pm. This is an easy out and back journey from the Port Everglades cruise port in Ft. Lauderdale, stopping just once.

After a full day at sea, passing just above the north shore of Cuba, Ruby makes her one port call at Cozumel, Mexico. She is docked on the Mexican Island from 8am to 6pm before beginning the journey back home to Florida. Ruby Princess will take another full day at sea, retracing her steps and arriving back at Port Everglades at 7am on Wednesday, December 18.

If the Transatlantic crossing interests you, Ruby leaves Barcelona, Spain on November 19 and staterooms are still available for as low as $699. Along the way, she will make port calls at Toulon, France; Livorno, Italy; Rome, Italy and Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

The Price

Interior staterooms for the 4 night Western Caribbean cruise can be had for as low as $149 per person. That equates to just $37 per day. This is ‘Flash Pricing’, meaning that full payment is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable. This deal expires November 28, 2013 at 6am.

Other flash deals include Ocean View staterooms for $229, Balcony rooms for $299 and Suites for $399. Not included in any of these prices is an additional $70 per person in government taxes and fees. Quite frankly, at $399 per person, this is a great opportunity to experience life at sea in a suite.

The Ship

Ruby Princess is the youngest of the Princess Cruises Grand Class ships. She made her maiden voyage in November of 2008. Like many Princess and Carnival cruise ships, Ruby was built by Fincantieri in Italy, on the northeast shore of the Adriatic Sea.

At a gross tonnage of 113,000, Ruby Princess is not a small ship but reasonable. She is 951 feet or 290 metres long and has 15 decks accessible to passengers. There is room for 3,080 passengers and 1,200 crew members on board.

Ruby is one of three Grand Class ships in the Princess Cruises fleet. Crown Princess is the oldest, put in service in June, 2006. Emerald Princess is the middle child, on the job as of April, 2007. All three are nearly identical.

 

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.