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.

7 Night Bermuda Cruise on Celebrity Summit From Just $559

Bermuda. The northern tip of an infamous triangle. Lonely island in the Atlantic, closer to Canada than the Caribbean. Why do people go there? Beaches. Peace. Quiet. Golf. Luxury. Plus, for those lacking will power to follow through with that health food diet, Bermuda has just one KFC, built before a law was passed banning all fast food chains and restaurants.

Surprisingly, a seven night Bermuda cruise out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey can be had for as low as $559 per person. This is a unique itinerary in that there is just one port of call but the ship is docked at Bermuda for two nights and nearly three full days. Your time at sea is spent in total luxury onboard the Celebrity Summit of Celebrity Cruises.

The Cruise

 

Celebrity Summit embarks from Cape Liberty Cruise Port at 4pm on Sunday, May 11, 2014. Cape Liberty is a relatively new cruise port opened in 2004 and located in Bayonne, New Jersey, across from the amazing skyline of Manhattan. A bonus for guests flying in, Cape Liberty is just 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport. The cruise port is currently home to just four ships, the other three, Explorer of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, all belong the Royal Caribbean.

After two full days travelling out into the Atlantic Ocean, Celebrity Summit docks at King’s Wharf in Bermuda at 8:30am on Wednesday, May 14. King’s Wharf, aka Royal Naval Dockyard, was in use as a military base from 1795 to 1958. It is located on Ireland Island at the northwestern point of the Bermudas.

Summit then departs from King’s Wharf at 4:30pm on Friday, May 16. The ship hauls ass back to Cape Liberty, spending just one full day at sea on the return trip. Celebrity Summit arrives back at Bayonne, New Jersey at 7am on Sunday, May 18.

The Price

An inside stateroom on this particular cruise can be had for as low as $559 per person, based on double occupancy. Because of the three day stay in port, government fees and taxes are a bit high at $215 per person. This makes an interior stateroom for two go from $1,548, including taxes.

As the level of stateroom increases on this cruise, the price increases nearly exponentially. An Ocean View stateroom is still quite affordable at $899 per person. However, if you want a balcony, cabins start from $1,249 per person. A suite can be had from $1,919 per person.

The Ship 

Celebrity Summit is one of four Celebrity Cruises Millennium Class cruise ships. She was built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France and entered service for Celebrity in November, 2001. The Millennium Class includes Celebrity Millennium, coming along in 2000, Celebrity Infinity, entering service in 2001 and the youngest is Celebrity Constellation, entering service in 2002.

Summit is a decent sized ship with a gross tonnage of 91,000. She is 294 metres or 965 feet in length. There are eleven decks accessible to a capacity of 2,158 passengers. Typically, there are 999 crew members onboard the 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.

Round Cape Horn Via Luxury Cruise Ship From $997

Heading out of Buenos Aires via luxury cruise ship and rounding Cape Horn and the tip of South America before arriving in Valparaiso, Chile is on the bucket list of the world’s rich and famous. With Holland America Line and their fine ship MS Zaandam, this can be an affordable tick off the bucket list for those not so rich and famous.

The Cruise

 

MS Zaandam embarks on a 13 night South America Cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 6pm. The ship takes nearly two weeks rounding the bottom of the continent and cruising up the western side before arriving at Valparaiso, Chile on Monday, March 17 at 6am. Along the way, Zaandam makes five port calls. There are several other amazing natural features that can be seen from the ship.

Zaandam doesn’t travel far the first night, docking across the Rio de la Plata at Montevideo, Uruguay on Wednesday, March 5 from 8am until 6pm. Two days later, it’s back to Argentina with a stop at Puerto Madryn on Friday, March 7 from 10am until 6pm.

After a weekend at sea, Zaandam stops at Punta Arenas, Chile on Monday, March 10 from 6am until 6pm. She then backtracks a bit to Ushuaia, Argentina for a port call on Tuesday, March 11 from 2pm until 8pm. The final port of call is at Puerto Montt, Chile on Saturday, March 15 from 9:30am until 6pm.

Along the journey, MS Zaandam travels through or around the Strait of Megellan, the Beagle Channel, Chile’s Glacier Alley, Cape Horn, Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords.

The Price

Right now, there is a flash sale with some inside staterooms, large outside staterooms with fully obstructed views and large interior staterooms available for as low as $997 per person, based on double occupancy. This is equal to about $400 off per person.

Government fees and taxes are steep for this cruise with $365.05 tacked onto each guest’s fare. A cabin for two can be had from $2,724.58, including taxes, for this truly once in a lifetime experience. As stipulated with this flash sale, the full price is due at the time of booking.

The Ship 

MS Zaandam is one of four Rotterdam Class (R Class) ships in the Holland America Fleet. She has been in service for HAL since 2000. In May of 2000, Zaandam was christened by the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. The ship was built by Fincantieri in Italy.

This is a small and agile ship, meant for journeys just like this one. Zaandam has a gross tonnage of 61,396 and is 237 metres or 778 feet in length. There are ten decks accessible to the capacity 1,432 guest. There are typically 615 crew members onboard.

The Rotterdam Class consists of four ships built between 1997 and 2000. MS Rotterdam was the first, put in service in 1997. MS Volendam came next in 1999 and MS Amsterdam joined the fleet the same year as Zaandam.

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.

Classic Holland America Transatlantic Dream Cruise From Just $699.80 Per Person

With last minute deals a little thin as we get knee deep in the high season, let’s take another look ahead at a season with some of the lowest priced cruising. Every spring and fall, cruise ships reposition across the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean to Mediterranean or vice versa.

Holland America Line has one of the deepest histories among the present day high seas passenger cruise lines. MS Eurodam is HAL’s second newest ship and the largest in the fleet until 2016. Eurodam makes her Transatlantic Repositioning cruise from Caribbean to Mediterranean on Sunday, March 30, 2014 and a stateroom can be had onboard for as low as $699.80 per person, based on double occupancy.

The Cruise

 

MS Eurodam embarks from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4pm on Sunday, March 30, 2014 for a 14 night journey across the Atlantic. She arrives at Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 7am. Along the way, she makes four port calls, all on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

After six full days at sea, Eurodam makes a stop in Portugal’s Azores Islands at Ponta Delgada on Sunday, April 6. She remains docked from 10am until 6pm.

The next three ports of call are on the European mainland and all three are in Spain. First up is Cadiz on Wednesday, April 9 from 7am until 5pm. The following day, Eurodam stops at Almeria, Spain from 8am until 6pm. The ship’s final stop is at Cartegena, Spain on Friday, April 11 from 8am until 4pm.

The Price

An inside stateroom onboard the MS Eurodam can be had for as low as $699.80 per person, in Canadian dollars. There is an additional $100.27 per person in government fees and taxes. The total for two in an inside stateroom, including taxes, can be as low as $1,600.14 for this 14 night romantic adventure across the Atlantic Ocean.

Upgraded staterooms are still reasonably priced. An Ocean View stateroom goes for as low as $820.24 per person and a Balcony stateroom goes from $1,000.20 per person. These prices are also based on double occupancy and are subject to the same $100.27 in government fees and taxes.

The Ship 

MS Eurodam was built by Fincantieri in Italy and made her maiden voyage on July 5, 2008. Eurodam is one of two Signature Class ships in the Holland America Line fleet. MS Nieuw Amsterdam came into service in 2010.

Although certainly not the largest cruise ship on the high seas, MS Eurodam is currently the largest in the Holland America fleet. In 2016, an as of now unnamed ship will be put in service that is larger than Eurodam by 14,000 gross tons.

Eurodam has a gross tonnage of 86,273, and is 285 metres or 935 feet in length. There are eleven decks accessible to the capacity 2,104 passengers. Running the ship and providing first class service are 929 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.

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

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

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

The Cruise

 

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

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

The Price – In Canadian Dollars

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

The Ship 

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

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

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

The Small Print

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

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

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

·Also not included are gratuities.

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

Carnival Still Looking Out For Canadians On This 5 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise

The Canadian dollar has dipped to levels against the greenback not seen in several years. Should this deter you from heading south for your winter vacation? Carnival Cruise Lines doesn’t think so. Carnival is looking out for Canadian residents with special rates on certain itineraries this winter. One of those deals is coming up soon on a five night Eastern Caribbean journey out of Miami, Florida. Canadian residents can be on the ship for as low as $209 each (USD).

The Cruise

 

Carnival Victory embarks from Miami, Florida on Monday, January 20 at 4pm on a five night Eastern Caribbean cruise. The first full day, Tuesday, is spent at sea as Victory powers her way south to her furthest port of call before meandering back home.

On Wednesday, January 22, Carnival Victory docks at Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos. She remains in port from 7am until 2:30pm. A short stay, yes but plenty of time to spend on the beachfront, right next to the ship and to sip margaritas at the adjacent Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.

Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas is the port call for Thursday, January 23. Formerly known as Little San Salvador Island, Victory is anchored offshore from 9:30 to 5:30. The environmentally sensitive island does not have docking facilities and passengers must be tendered via small boat from ship to shore. Half Moon Cay was purchased by Holland America Line (under the Carnival umbrella) in 1996 from Norwegian Cruise Line.

Have a Kindle? If you're heading to Half Moon Cay, you should check out the ebook by uber-cruise expert Bob Haefliger advertised below. Haefliger's guidebooks are highly rated and specialized. At 112 pages long, this is needless to say, a very detailed guide that is up to date. The best part about 'CruisePortInsider Guide to Half Moon Cay' is that at a price of just $4.99, it's about half the price of just one beer at a Toronto Maple Leafs game!

For her last port of call, Carnival Victory travels overnight the great distance of 100 miles to the northwest and docks at Nassau, Bahamas. On Friday, January 24, she hangs out at the largest city in the Bahamas from 7am until 5pm.

Victory returns to Miami on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 8am.

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

Carnival does the best of any cruise line in the Caribbean to take care of Canadian residents and the Military of both the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian Resident rate for this cruise puts an inside stateroom as low as $209 per person. Government fees and taxes are an additional $94.55 per person. This means that an interior stateroom for two can be had for as low as 607.10, including taxes.

The Military rate is slightly more at from $212 per person, based on double occupancy. However, this rate includes a $25 onboard credit per stateroom. Any current or past members of the American or Canadian military qualify for this rate.

Just to compare how great this deal is, the Super Saver rate for the same stateroom is $249. The Super Saver is Carnival’s ultra low rate and usually there is nothing less expensive.

The Ship 

Carnival Victory is one of three Triumph Class ships in the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet. Built by Fincantieri in Italy, Victory made her maiden voyage on October 15, 2000. She is a fairly large ship with a gross tonnage of 101,509 and a length of 272 metres or 896 feet. There are 13 decks accessible to the capacity 2,754 passengers. 1,100 crew members can be found onboard.

Victory is the newest of the three Triumph Class ships. Carnival Sunshine was the first, in service in 1996. Sunshine was known as Carnival Destiny until a major overhaul and name change in 2013. The other ship is the class is the Carnival Triumph, in service since 1999. Triumph is, of course, the ill-fated ship that was stuck at sea in February, 2014. After four months of repairs, Triumph was back on the high seas and is now operating flawlessly.

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.