Here are our favorite cruise travel deals for the week. The economy is not so hot, but hey, that means more hot travel deals for the cruise traveler to choose from!

12 Night Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Lines repositioning route from new Orleans to Boston starts at just  $499 per person with up to a $250 shipboard credit. This cruise caribean route runs April 19th and includes stops in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, and Bermuda. Get the details here.

11 Night Transatlantic

Another Norwegian Cruise Lines repositioning cruise bargain from Miami to Dover, England for an amazing $399 per person. Departure on April 17th with ports of call in Portugal, Spain. This one is for the cruise purist with almost every day at sea, but at an incredible $36 a day this may just be the cheapest floating luxury buffet known to man! Upgrade to oceanview for an additional $200. Check it out now.

10 Night Panama Canal

This Princess Cruise Lines itinerary departs Ft. Lauderdale, Florida March 23rd and travels west through the canal, culminating in Acapulco, Mexico. Ports include Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Huatulco on this fantastic budget cruise. Interior rooms start at just $672 and upgrades to oceanview are just $96 more. Book it here.

14 Day South Pacific

This is one of the cheapest cruise deals we’ve seen for South Pacific voyages. This Celebrity Cruise Lines route starts in gorgeous Auckland, NZ on April 12th and hits Tauranga, NZ, the Cook Islands, Tahiti Islands of Moorea, Bora Bora, and Papeete, then finally Hilo and Honolulu, Hawaii. Get your killer winter tan starting at only $899. Learn more and reserve your cabin now.

18 Night South America

Norwegian Cruise Lines is really cutting prices to beat the economy and this exotic roundtrip bargain cruise from Los Angeles includes one-way airfare to Santiago, Chile and one night hotel before next day departure. Ports of call include 3 stops in Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, then back to LA. Check it out here. (Source - TravelZoo Top 20)

7 Day Caribbean

In the super-cheap category, this cruise travel deal is 7 days aboard the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas. Starting at a mere $319, this cruise caribbean deal runs roundtrip from the Dominican Republic and includes stops in Guadelupe, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Lucia. See all the details now.

4 Day Caribbean

Another one of our Bahamas cruise deals for the ultra tightwad cruise traveller, this Carnival Cruise sails roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida and includes two stops in the Bahamas Islands. Fares start at $249 for inside cabin and only $279 for an oceanview upgrade. That’s 70% off the brochure price for this killer cruise travel deal. Grab your cabin here.

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Wouldn’t it be better if they found you instead? Today’s cruise travel deal tip is about how to become an informed traveler. In this case, knowledge is definitely power, so that when you find that killer cruise bargain, you can seize the opportunity.

How do bargain cruises “find you” exactly? Look, search the internet daily for that cheapest cruise if you like, but do you really think you will find every deal anyway? How much time do you actually have on your hands - seriously? There are a number of companies who provide regular updates on fantastic bargain cruises. Budget cruise notifications are simple to sign up for, and more importantly - FREE!

Discount cruise announcements offer the cheapest cruise deals as well and educate you on industry trends, cruise prices, and common itineraries. In a short time, you will know a great cruise bargain price for a 7 night Alaska route on Carnival Cruise Lines or a 10 day Caribbean sailing on Princess Cruise Lines.

So there are a number of online services that provide email alerts, but one is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. This website currently has over 14 million subscribers and is considered the web’s premier source for travel good deals, including cruise bargains.

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Time to ring in the new year with a bunch of cheapest cruise travel deals. Didn’t get the travel gift you really wanted for Christmas? Well, why not treat yourself with one of these fantastic bargain cruises?

Transatlantic Routes

• 17 Days for $625 - Costa Cruise Lines departing Everglades, FL on March 15th and hitting Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, and Barcelona, as well as several other ports. $747 gets you and oceanview cabin upgrade. Learn more or book it here.
• 11 Days for $474 with up to $100 onboard credit - Norwegian Cruise Lines through CruCon departs Miami enroute to England, Spain, and Azores. Learn more here. Book by 1/12 to get up to $1000 shipboard credit special (varies with room type). *Note: deal souce TravelZoo Top 20 emails.

7 Nights Caribbean from $379

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 8 departure dates in February and March. Itinerary is round-trip from Charleston, SC and stops include Nassau, Grand Bahama, Port Canaveral, and a private island. Step up to oceanview for as little as $429! Reserve your cabin here.

14 Nights South America for $799

Celebrity Cruise Lines departs Buenos Aires, Argentina March 1st and hits 10 ports in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Upgrade to an oceanview room for an additional $99. Get the details here.

7 Nights Mexican Riviera from $349

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 8 departures in February and March with roundtrip itinerary from Los Angeles. Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Find out more here.

12 Days Down-Under for $805

Princess Cruise Lines itinerary departs Sydney February 10th and includes 3 ports in Australia and 5 ports in New Zealand. For $100 more, get an oceanview cabin. Book it today here.

Airfare Specials to Get to the Port of Departure

Fares starting at $39 for US routes via AirTran Airways. Book by 1/15 to take advantage of these specials. Check it out here. *Note: deal souce TravelZoo Top 20 emails.

Technorati Tags: bahamas cruise deals, bargain cruises, caribbean cruise deals, cheapest cruise, cruise european, cruise travel deals

Select military personnel can now snag the ultimate cruise bargain - a no charge cruise as a thank you for their service in the middle east. Any US military who has been in Iraq or Afghanistan currently or in the last year is eligible for a rare freebie.

This one day cruise from Ft Lauderdale, FL to the Grand Bahama island offers soldiers a chance to relax with their family and forget about work for a day. The cruise, run by Discovery Cruise Lines boasts all the amenities of a standard voyage including buffet meals, Vegas-style entertainment, onboard activities like spa and salon services, pools, exercise facilities, and casino.

Voyagers will not pay one red cent for the day which starts at 7:45 am and returns to port in Florida at 10:00 pm. In addition, since many are still overseas or not able to take leave in the short term, the offer will be available through December 2010.

Contact Discovery Cruise Lines directly to make a reservation online at or 1-800-93-SHIPS. You will need your reservation receipt, military ID, and a letter from your unit commander confirming dates of service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Technorati Tags: bargain cruises, cruise bargain, cruise bargains, military cruise, military travel

So you want to go on a cruise and you’ve heard that you can save a lot by snagging a last minute cruise deal? Sounds great, but now what? You’ve always heard about the luxury and indulgence of cruising, and now you are seriously considering how to make it happen. I am going to share some valuable information with you about how to take advantage of those cruise travel deals!

Last Minute Cruise Travel Deals Defined

Cruise lines are in business to make money, just like everyone else. Empty rooms = big LOSS of revenue. So as the departure date looms, and a ship is not booked to capacity, the vendor becomes very motivated to fill that space. You are the lucky winner here. If you have the time flexibility to travel within 4 to 12 weeks, then you should have no trouble finding several fantastic cruise travel deals.

TIPS for Finding Last Minute Cruise Travel Deals

Sign up for enews alerts through cruise lines, and bulk cruise vendors so that you get notified immediately of great deals. This will save you tons of time, and ensure that you are one of the first to know about specials. For a complete list of good travel alerts, visit our sister site Travel for Tightwads (scroll to the bottom of the page). This one is my personal favorite travel news alert services.

Be Ready to Act Quickly

Time is of the essence on last minute cruises, so you need to act on the information quickly. Take the time to determine where you might like to go, how long of a trip you want to take, and some regions you want to cruise in. Don’t forget to research airfare costs to the common ports of departure, such as Ft Lauderdale and Miami for Caribbean cruises, San Diego and Houston for Mexican itineraries, and Seattle and Vancouver for Alaskan jaunts.

Take Note of the Fine Print

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement when you find good cruise travel deals. You see a price that is enticing. You are familiar with the cruie lines and the ports of call, the dates fit, now you are ready to book and don’t want to miss out. But now take a few moments to be absolutely sure about what you are signing up for so that there are no regrets later. Read all the fine print! Here are a couple gotchas to check for:

What kind of room are you signing up for? Inside, outside, balcony, etc? Is it on the bottom level of the ship, near the engine room where surprise noise can really ruin your trip? Close to the bow or stearn of the boat where things can get a little bumpy in rough seas?

Are there hidden costs that you will be suprised by? Any fuel taxes or surcharges? Port taxes that weren’t included in the advertised price? How about the tip policy of the cruise lines? Sometimes they are included & prepaid, sometimes tips are expected at the end of the cruise, sometimes they are automatically added to your onboard tab - find out before you go.

To Insure or Not to Insure?

Trip insurance is often overlooked by cruise travelers, but depending on your situation, may be a cheap investment for peace of mind and to protect your investment. Don’t automatically assume it is wasted money.

Cruise vacations can be an adventure of a lifetime, if you take the time to plan in advance. Last minute cruise travel deals can save you a ton of cash and result in a great getaway for you and your family. Just be sure you know what you are getting into before hand.

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Here are the facts about cruise travel deals:

• The economy is tough.
• Everyone is under extra stress.
• We all could use a vacation.
• The vacation budget has shrunk.
• EVERYBODY likes a good deal.

Enter the universal quest to find great cruise travel deals. You’ve always heard about the luxury and indulgence of cruising, and now you are seriously considering how to make it happen. But if you can’t find the real cruise travel deals, it won’t be possible for you and your family. Relax, would-be cruise traveler, I have some valuable information to share with you about how to find those cruise travel deals! Here are 3 insider secrets that your travel agent won’t tell you and the cruise industry really doesn’t want you to know:

Avoid Peak Season

Cruises ships fill up quickly during the most popular early spring and summer travel months and cruise lines have no reason to offer reduced fares. About 38% of cruise industry revenue is generated between January and March when folks in colder climates seek out warmer weather and mid-winter and early spring breaks allow for family vacations. Instead, look for cruise travel deals when ships are not booked to capacity during the off-season. In addition, your airfare to the port of embarkation will also be 10-30% cheaper in the slow months due to the same supply and demand conditions.

Boat Repositioning Cruises

Repositioning cruises are unusual itineraries that result from needing to move a ship from one home port to another. For example, from California to Hawaii, or from Florida to Alaska. These are cruise travel deals because they do not offer as many ports of call, and will run regardless of how many passengers get booked. However, if you love the cruise ship experience and don’t need to visit many exotic ports, this can be a great way to get the pampering without the big-ticket price tag. A repositioning run can easily offer a cruise travel deal of 40-50% less than a regular cruise of the same duration.

Note of Caution: Repositioning cruises are not recommended for first-time cruisers. It’s a lot of time on board if you are not certain that you will like that vacation style.

Skip the Flight

One simple method to really cut down the cost of your cruise travel deal is to look for embarkation ports that are within driving distance of where you live. Of course, most cruises that originate in the US sail from Florida or California, but there are many other sailings out there from cities like New Orleans, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Bayone (New Jersey), New York, Philadelphia, and Mobile. A drive-up port cruise can easily save your family $1,000 on airfare alone. Cruise travel deals can easily be had with just a little bit of inside knowledge and some careful planning. Just remember you don’t have to travel with the herd on a 7-day Caribbean Carnival Cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale over your kids’ spring break. The real cruise travel deals are had by breaking out of the pack!

WATCH THE VIDEO INSTEAD

Check out the video version of this article here VIDEO - 3 Budget Tips for Cruise Travel Deals.

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