Norwegian Jade Mediterranean Cruise Out Of Venice, Italy From $590

Summer’s coming and the cruise ships have all gone to Europe. A bit pricier than the Caribbean, there are still deals to be found. Take for instance, Norwegian Jade is running a seven night cruise out of Venice, Italy on Saturday, May 17 and you can be onboard from just $590 per person for an inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Jade leaves my favourite city in the world, Venice, Italy, on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 6pm. Over the next seven nights, Jade basically does an out and back to Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving back in Venice on Saturday, may 24 at 8am. Along the way, the ship stops of four exotic ports of call.

First up is Dubrovnik, Croatia, just down the coast of the Adriatic Sea from Venice. Norwegian Jade stops at this port of call on Sunday, May 18 from 2pm until 9pm.

After a full day at sea, Jade arrives at Piraeus, Greece on Tuesday, May 20 at 7am and stays in port until 5pm. Piraeus is adjacent to Athens and the city centre is just a short distance away. Ten hours is not nearly enough time to explore this world famous and historic city so plan well to take advantage of your time in port.

Jade reaches Kusadasi, Turkey on Wednesday, May 21 at 8am. This is her furthest point from home before turning back towards Venice. After a full day at sea, Norwegian Jade makes her final port call at Split, Croatia on Friday, May 23 from 11am until 6pm.

The Price

Right now, an inside stateroom on this itinerary can be had for as low as $590 per person, based on double occupancy. With the additional $126.69 in government fees and taxes added on, reasonable for a European cruise, the total for two for an inside cabin is as low as $1,434.02. There is a bonus $26.88 onboard credit per inside stateroom. That credit goes up as the level of stateroom goes up.

Moving up in stateroom level, ocean view rooms start at $698 per person. Add a balcony and the fare starts at $1,504 per person. A suite can be had for as low as $1,558 per person.

However, if you want to explore this region in style, you might want to fork for the Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suite with Large Balcony. This is a 1,200 square foot stateroom that currently has a taxes included price of $9,713.58 for two for this cruise. A $322.58 onboard credit comes with this room. This is not the largest stateroom onboard, however. The Haven Garden Villa is an unimaginable 4,700 square feet but is already taken for this cruise.

Also, if the buffet is not for you, Norwegian Cruise Line has an offer for unlimited specialty dining. For $119 per person, you can eat at a specialty restaurant every night.

The Ship 

Norwegian Jade was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was originally named the Pride of Hawaii. In service as the Pride of Hawaii from 2006 to 2008, the ship took on the name Norwegian Jade in 2008.

Jade is one of four Jewel Class ships in the NCL fleet, all put in service between 2005 and 2007 and all basically identical in dimension. The ship has a gross tonnage of 93,558 and is 294 metres or 965 feet in length. There are 12 decks accessible to the capacity 2,224 passengers with 1,100 crew members onboard, as well.

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 Dawn Western Caribbean Cruise From Just $268!

You have to act fast to take advantage of this great deal. Norwegian Dawn leaves Tampa, Florida on Sunday, April 20 for a seven night Western Caribbean cruise and you can be onboard from just $268 per person.

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Dawn embarks Tampa, Florida at 4pm on Sunday, April 20, 2014 for a seven night Western Caribbean cruise. Dawn arrives back at Tampa on Sunday, April 27 at 8am. Along the way, she makes four great stops at ports of call along the coast of Central America and Mexico. The four stops are sandwiched between single full days at sea when guest really get to enjoy all this ship has to offer.

The first stop is at Coxen Hole on Tuesday, April 22 from 9am until 5pm. Coxen Hole is also known as Roatan Town and is the largest urban centre on the island of Roatan, belonging to Honduras.

Belize City, Belize is next up. Norwegian Dawn stops at the coastal city on Wednesday, April 23 and stays in port from 8am until 5pm.

The final two stops are in Mexico. First is Costa Maya on Thursday, April 24 from 8am until 5pm. The final port of call on the itinerary is Cozumel, the tropical island just off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

The Price

An inside stateroom is priced to sell, starting at $268 per person, based on double occupancy. There is an additional $126.96 per person in government fees and taxes added on. The total for two for an inside cabin can be as low as 789.40, including taxes. This cabin comes with a $26.88 onboard credit (for the stateroom and not per person).

If the buffet is not your thing, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a deal for unlimited specialty restaurant dining. For $119 per person, you can eat in style as much as you want.

The Ship 

Norwegian Dawn was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and was originally meant to be the SuperStar Scorpio. When Star Cruises ceased to exist, NCL took over the ship. Dawn’s maiden voyage was on December 7, 2002 and she is a Libra Class ship.

Dawn is a decent sized ship with a gross tonnage of 92,250. She is 292 metres or 958 feet in length and has 11 decks accessible to passengers. Capacity is for 2,340 guests and 1,032 crew members. For a cruise line that offers rock bottom pricing, this is a great ratio of passengers to crew.

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.

$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.

10 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise From $399 Onboard Norwegian Sun

A few weeks ago, we featured an 11 night Southern Caribbean cruise onboard the Norwegian Sun and stated it may be the best deal on a Southern Caribbean itinerary out of Florida you’re going to see this year. Well, Norwegian Cruise Line has stepped it up a bit since then.

Same home port of Miami. Same ship. Slightly different cruise. On March 17, 2014, Norwegian Sun embarks on a 10 night Southern Caribbean cruise. We said the 11 night cruise on March 6 was a steal at $469 per person. Well, the 10 night on March 17 can be had for as low as $399 per person, based on double occupancy.

This is an awesome deal for two. However, if you have kids aged seventeen or under, you may want to wait for the April 7 sailing for the same itinerary. Norwegian has just announced a ‘Kids Sail Free’ campaign. The 10 night Southern Caribbean cruise on April 7 is about $25 per person higher but you can take your kids along for just the cost of the taxes ($117.90 per person for this cruise). Norwegian has applied this special to around 250 different cruises over the next year but you must book before March 31, 2014.

For more information, check out this article with a case study comparing the pricing with and without the deal: Norwegian Kids Sail Free

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Sun embarks from Miami, Florida on a ten night Southern Caribbean cruise, leaving Monday March 17, 2014 at 4pm. She returns to Miami on Thursday, March 27 at 8am. Along the way, Sun makes five port calls. The five port days are consecutive with two full days at sea before and after.

Sun docks at Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, March 20 from 8am to 5pm. The following day, she moves south to Roseau, Dominica. She is at Roseau from 9am until 5pm.

Bridgetown, Barbados is the third stop. Norwegian Sun is docked at Bridgetown on Saturday, March 22 from 8am until 5pm. She makes her last true Southern Caribbean port call the following day at Castries, St. Lucia from 8am until 5pm. The final stop is at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten on Monday, March 24. St. Maarten is a pivot point in the Caribbean and is included in Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries. She is docked at Philipsburg from 9am until 5pm.

When comparing to the 11 night Norwegian Sun Southern Caribbean itinerary, there are the same number of port calls with Bridgetown and St. Thomas showing up on both. On the 11 night, Sun also stops at Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao and Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.

The Price

An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $399 per person, based on double occupancy. There is $117.90 per person in government fees and taxes tacked on, no matter the level of stateroom. The total for two for an inside cabin, including taxes, starts at $1,033.80.

Other levels of stateroom include ocean view starting at $799 per person, cabins with a balcony starting at $899 per person and suites starting at $1,849 per person. The military discount can be a real advantage on some cruises but on this itinerary, it results in just $30 off per person.

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.

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.

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.

You Pick - Great Pricing On 2 Different 4 Night Bahamas Cruises

Usually, when considering a last minute deal, there is little choice. That’s not the case on February 10, 2014 if you’re looking for a four night Bahamas cruise out of Miami. Norwegian Sky and Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Sea both leave Miami at pretty much the same time on the 10^th and return at the same time on the 14^th. Each has three port calls and each can be had for nearly the same identical low, low price.

Here’s the details for both. It’s up to you and your personal preferences to decide.

Norwegian Sky

The Cruise

 

Norwegian Sky embarks from Miami, Florida at 5pm on Monday, February 10, 2014 for a four night Bahamas cruise. Sky returns to Miami at 7am on Friday, February 14. She makes three port calls meaning there are no full days at sea.

On Tuesday, Norwegian Sky stops at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island in the Bahamas owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. The ship will be at this location from 8am until 5pm. The following day, it’s off to Nassau, the only shared port between the two cruises we’re looking at today. Sky is docked at Nassau from 8am until 6pm. On Thursday, Norwegian Sky docks at the other major city in the Bahamas, Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. She is in port from 8am until 5pm.

The Price

An inside stateroom for this cruise can be had for as low as $129 per person, based on double occupancy. With $101.07 per person in additional government fees and taxes tacked on, the total price for this cabin for two goes for as low as $460.14. Ocean View rooms start from $159 per person while a balcony cabin starts at $329 per person and a suite can be had for as low as $1,099 per person.

The Ship

Norwegian Sky has had a bit of a broken life. She was originally ordered in 1993 and was to be the Costa Olympia for Costa Cruises. Construction on the ship was started by Bremer Vulkan in Germany. However, the company went out of business in 1997. Bremer Vulkan had been around since 1893 in the ship building biz, mostly cargo ships with just a few passenger cruise ships on the resume.

The ship that would become Norwegian Sky was then towed to Lloyd Werft in Germany where it was completed in 1999. The ship never sailed for Costa and was the Norwegian Sky from 1999 to 2004. She then became the Pride of Hawaii, still under Norwegian Cruise Line. In 2008, she returned to the Norwegian Sky name.

Back in September, 1999, on her inaugural cruise, Sky was at the mouth of the Saguenay River at the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada when she ran aground. The ship was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries.

One of two Sky Class Norwegian Cruise Line ships, Norwegian Sky is a smaller ship with a gross tonnage of 77,104. She is 260 metres or 853 feet in length and has nine decks accessible to passengers. Capacity on the vessel is for 2,004 guests with 934 crew members.

The other Sky Class ship is the Norwegian Sun. Sun is younger and slightly larger. She was put in service for NCL in 2001.

 

Majesty of the Seas

The Cruise 

Majesty of the Seas embarks for her four night Bahamas Cruise out of Miami a half hour before Norwegian Sky. She arrives back at the same time on Friday, 7am. Majesty also makes three port calls but with a slightly more southwest feel.

On Tuesday, Majesty of the Seas is docked at Nassau from 8am until midnight. This is an amazingly long time in port. The following day, passengers can get rested up, lying in the sun at Coco Cay in the Bahamas. Coco Cay is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean and guests have from 8am until 5pm to enjoy it before heading off to the final destination. That final stop is Key West, Florida. Majesty is in Key West on Thursday from 10am until 6pm.

The Price

An inside stateroom on Majesty of the Seas has a slightly higher base price that the equivalent on Norwegian Sky, starting from $133 per person, based on double occupancy. Government fees and taxes are slightly lower at $98 per person. This means an interior cabin for two can be had for as low as $462, including taxes. The difference in price between the two ships is less than two dollars. An Ocean View room on Majesty of the Seas starts at $169 per person and a suite can be had for as low as $929 per person.

The Ship

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

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

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

The Small Print

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

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

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

·Also not included are gratuities.

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

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.

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.