There are a number of cruise lines offering onboard credits, and complimentary shore-excursions and/or prepaid gratuities as a bonus offers. There also air fare-included cruise deals being offered for Europe cruises and cruisetours by various cruise lines. How about an offer of $399 ($479 including port charges) on a seven-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship, the Gem. The ship sails round-trip from Barcelona, Spain, stopping in Valletta, Malta; Naples, Civitavecchia and Livorno in Italy, and Villefranche, France. The special offer is available only on cruises that depart Oct. 25, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.Azamara Cruises, is offering shipboard credits of up to $800 per stateroom on select European sailings.The Yachts of Seabourn has two-for-one offers on business-class air plus a 40-percent savings on many Europe sailings. On a 13-night trans-Atlantic from Ft Lauderdale to Lisbon, Portugal, fares aboard the Seabourn Pride start at $2,998, half off! plus shipboard credit and a complimentary shore excursion. Celebrity Cruises has a 14-night trans-Atlantic sailing November 29th., sailing from Barcelona visiting Malaga, Spain; Madeira, Portugal; Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Palma in the Canary Islands and St. Maarten, ending in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Oceanview staterooms start at $999!
Here are some offers for your consideration.Fares below are per person, double occupancy and include port charges. Space and price availability are subject to change. Suite fares start at $4,925, including round-trip airfare, for Regent Seven Seas' seven-night cruise aboard the Navigator from Athens to Monte Carlo, sails on June 7, 2008.An inside cabin on Cunard Line's June 8th 24-night sailing, Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Mary 2, including round-trip from New York City, begin at $4,759. Plus $150 onboard stateroom credit.Crystal Cruise's seven-night, Athens to Venice aboard Crystal Serenity on June 6 offers ocean-view staterooms for $3,225.Inside cabin prices start at $1,599 for Princess Cruises' 12-night, Barcelona-to-Venice cruise on Emerald Princess on May 24. These low fares also include two windfalls: Free upgrades where available and onboard stateroom credit.Royal Caribbean's 12-night cruise, round-trip from Barcelona on Brilliance of the Seas, sails October 20, 2008, offers inside staterooms for as low as $1,449, including a $200 discount booklet and an onboard stateroom credit.
Prices in U.S. dollars mean cruise travelers get better deal on a Europe cruiseExcerpts from an article we read....To read the entire article, click here.
Explore centuries-old destinations, appreciate different cultures and relish the splendid sights of Europe -- all in U.S. dollars. That's one of the primary perks of a European cruise.
Sure, the dollar is falling in value against the euro. But your airfare, accommodations, food and drink, entertainment and other onboard amenities all are charged in U.S. dollars. Even shore excursions are charged to your shipboard account in American money. Travelers can cruise the Caribbean year-round, but because of the weather, European sailings begin in late spring and barely reach into early fall. Options range from the sunny Mediterranean and the exotic St. Petersburg, Russia, to the rocky cliffs of Ireland. Because there's so much to see and do, European cruises tend to be longer -- 10 to 14 days on average. But shorter sailings still exist.
Here are some of the popular regions and ports.
The Mediterranean
Cruising the Mediterranean lives up to its exotic reputation.
Opt for a European experience onboard and ashore on the Italian Costa Cruise Lines. The modern fleet's ships exude lively Italian hospitality, but ship hosts all speak English.
To celebrate Costa's 60th anniversary, the line is offering up to 60 percent off brochure rates on select Mediterranean sailings on five ships. These fares range from $699 to $1,149 a person. Airfare from Indianapolis to the Rome airport, which is near one of the port cities, Civitavecchia, starts at around $1,000 for a round-trip flight including taxes and fees.
Sightseeing highlights include the Moorish Castle in Gibraltar, the rugged scenery of Corsica, the cradle of civilization in Greece, the vivid reds and yellows that paint Spain, the two souls -- Greek and Turkish -- of Cyprus and France's unendingly picturesque sophistication.
Beginning in May, Cunard's regal Queen Elizabeth 2 plans seven Mediterranean itineraries, varying from 10 to 16 days. All voyages sail round-trip from Southampton, England. A 15-day Mediterranean Odyssey docks in Lisbon, Sardinia, Naples/Capri, Messina, Dubrovnik, Zakinthos, Athens, Gibraltar and Vigo, with pricing from $2,495.
Bask in ultimate pampering aboard the award-winning luxury line Crystal. Special fare savings on the Serenity begin at $3,440, but keep in mind that this is a true upscale cruise.
Take advantage of elegantly appointed staterooms, butler service, complimentary bottled water, soft drinks and specialty coffees, and high-end amenities such as Frette bathrobes.
The Baltic
Especially for those who remember the Cold War, having your feet firmly planted on the square in St. Petersburg, Russia, or in old town Tallinn, Estonia, can be exhilarating.
Making its debut in May with Mediterranean sailings, Carnival's Splendor heads to Northern Europe in July. This marks the first time a Carnival floating resort has plied the waters of the North Sea and the Baltic.
On these 12-day sailings, travel round-trip from London to Copenhagen, Warnemunde (Berlin), Helsinki, Tallinn and Amsterdam, and spend two days in St. Petersburg.
Pick a shore excursion that takes you to Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam or to the windmills and Dutch countryside. In Copenhagen, kayak the canals or stroll Tivoli Gardens.
The enchanting city of St. Petersburg wows with a White Nights Neva River cruise, folkloric performance or a walkabout in the Hermitage, one of the world's premier art museums.
Splendor sailings run from an ocean-view cabin for $1,849 to a balcony spa stateroom at $2,499 per person. Third and fourth guests cost an additional $799 each.
If you'd rather test the waters with a shorter cruise, check out Royal Caribbean's four-nighter, which departs Amsterdam and sails to Copenhagen and Oslo. Terrific savings on the mid-sized Jewel of the Sea can be found starting at $249 for an interior cabin and up to $849 for a deluxe stateroom.
Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to Amsterdam begin at around $1,290, including taxes and fees.
The United Kingdom
Hear an Irish lilt, Scottish brogue or impeccable English accent as you tour the British Isles. Amble down the steep hill from Edinburgh Castle to Old Town, visit literary sites in Dublin, traipse the massive stones at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, or look for that real or imagined monster in Loch Ness.
This summer, Celebrity's Century goes round-trip from Amsterdam to Kirkwall and Inverness, Scotland, the Channel Islands and Norway. An ocean-view stateroom begins at $1,697 and a suite at $3,399. The Century's other nine- and 12-day sailings journey to Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Inverness and St. Peter Port (Guernsey). Inside cabins run $1,599 and a veranda, $2,799. Many cruises sail from Southampton, England, for which round-trip tickets from Indianapolis cost around $1,700, including taxes and fees.
EuropeHow cruising Europe gives you the best valueAre you waffling on whether or not to take a Europe vacation considering the unfavorable Euro exchange rate? Actually, it's a great time to visit "the continent" — on a cruise.Here's why. A cruise cushions you from the unfavorable Euro exchange rate by letting you pay for your vacation in U.S. dollars. That's a big difference compared to a land-based vacation that they'll have to pay for in Euros.How big of a difference? Depending on the cruise, you can save up to $326 per day compared to land-based travel. You can enjoy a Europe cruise for as little as $120 per day, per person, which includes:
Accommodations (includes taxes and fuel supplement)
Transportation between cities
Food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks daily)
Entertainment, and more
What's more, if your clients choose as an example one of Holland America's 12-day ms Zuiderdam itineraries, you can even enjoy overnights onboard in Venice and Barcelona or Istanbul. Altogether, a 12-day cruise visits up to 10 exciting cities compared to four cities on a typical land tour of the same length. Of course, a Europe cruise also means hassle-free traveling that includes spacious staterooms with no unpacking at each new destination.So if you are on the fence about going to Europe this summer, jump off—and onto the cruise ship of your choice.