Like most cruise writers, in January my advice was to book early because the cruise industry expects prices and occupancy to increase in 2011. Europe, especially, was the hot ticket we all said.
But that isn’t what happened. Instead, in short order airline prices climbed astronomically along with the price of fuel; uprisings in Egypt, Tunesia and other popular ports caused cruise lines to revise itineraries; a great deal of publicity about crime in Mexico saw a softening in that destination. Oh yea, the disastrous Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami resulted in cruise lines bypassing this popular country.
The result: cruise lines wound up with a tremendous amount of unfilled capacity, including companies like Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises which typically sell out in January. And you’ve got a lot of terrific bargains.
Bargains Too Good to Pass Up
Cruise deals fluctuate so quickly that these low fares are valid as I type them but may be gone by the time the sentence is finished. Well, not that fast, perhaps, but suffice to say when you find a “too good to pass up cruise deal” pounce, because someone else will. All cruise fares are per person, double occupancy. For reservations and additional information, contact your travel agent.
*** Oceania Cruises offers steep reductions in fall and 2012 cruises, a particularly good deal since fares include round-trip airfare. Starting September 19, 10-day Mediterranean cruises start at $1999. In additions reductions are available on the Sept. 9, 21-day San Francisco to New York sailing; Nov. 22 Dubai to Cape Town voyage (30 days); Nov. 30 Miami to Los Angeles (16 days) cruise; Dec. 10 Rio to Buenos Aires voyage (12 days) and the 12-day round-trip Miami cruise departing Dec. 10, 2011. Visit Oceania Cruises’ website for additional information.
*** Save on a Norwegian Dawn seven night Bermuda cruise sailing round-trip from Boston during peak season. The July 22 and 29 departures start at $849, including a free shore excursion and up to $75 free on board spending. Visit Cruises Only’s website for this exclusive offer.
*** Terrific deal on East Coast repositioning cruise between New York and Miami. MSC Cruises’ Poesia sails from New York on a 12-day voyage that stops in Jamaica; Cristobal, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica and Cozumel at rates starting at $899 (plus $56 government fees and taxes). Visit MSC Cruises website for additional information.
*** Voyages of Discovery’s small ship Discovery makes a 22-day voyage between Mumbai and Bangkok with five overnight stays in port departing Nov. 27. The starting price is $3599 which includes round-trip airfare and a pre/post cruise hotel stay. For itinerary specifics and other details, visit the cruise line’s website.
*** Sail round-trip from New York to the Caribbean on Celebrity Cruises spectacular Silhouette at rates starting at $1299. Sailing from Bayonne, NJ, the ship visits St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maartin, St. Croix, San Juan and Labadee, Haiti. Visit the cruise line’s website for additional details.
