Best cruises for a weekend getaway

Looking for a quick weekend getaway out of Miami? Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,056-passenger Carnival Imagination operates three-night sailings to the Bahamas from the city every Friday.  Carnival Cruise Lines

  Maybe you don't have a full week's vacation coming. Or you want to combine a visit with the relatives with a short cruise. Or you're a first-time cruiser afraid to commit to a full week at sea. Whatever the reason, cruise lines get that some people can't (or don't want to) do a seven-night cruise. As a result, the lines are offering an increasing number of shorter cruise options.

The three-, four- or five-night sailings are often affordably priced, especially this time of year. Do a four-night cruise on the Norwegian Sky or Carnival Imagination from Miami on Nov. 11, for instance, from $149 per person (Click through the carousel above for a glimpse of the ships and others mentioned in this story).

The cruises tend to be on older ships, but that may be changing. Princess Cruises, for instance, has its second-newest ship, the Ruby Princess, cruising on four- and five-night cruises out of Fort Lauderdale this season.

While short cruises have had a past reputation for attracting a more party-hearty crowd than longer cruises, a number of ships these days are targeting families. Disney Cruise Line, for instance, is showing off major refurbishments on the Disney Magic with short cruises from Miami, through December (after that Disney Wonder takes over the route through April). Fares are from $396 per person, for a four-night cruise.

Continue reading at http://www.usatoday.com/experience/cruise/article/best-cruises-for-a-weekend-getaway/3173241/

How to save money on a cruise

The cruise industry is launching its Oct. 20-27 sale week, but if you’re not ready to take the plunge yet, cruise lines also offer discounts during the annual “Wave Season,” which runs from January through March.

You may get a lower price attempting to book at the last minute, but by booking early, during sale periods, you can often get perks such as free airfare to the departure city; an upgraded cabin; or onboard credits to spend on extras like a massage.

Tips on:

• Avoiding peak times - learn when it's the best time to book a cruise
• Sail old school - older ship may be worth the savings
• Repositioning Cruises - they are a great one-way ticket
• Target cheaper itineraries - want cheap, target three-day cruises for a bargain
• Consider a travel agent -  helpful to sort out the details
• Account for extras - calculate your cost before you book. Use this free Travel Budget Calculator (http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-budget-calculator) to get an estimate of your next cruise vacation.

Read more at: http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/2022059834_cruisesavingsxml.html

Travel Experts Say Now is the Time for Cheap Cruises

(NBC News) If you have a little bit of vacation time stashed away, this may be the week you decide what to do with it, because somebody's got a deal you may find difficult to refuse.

It's always much cheaper to take a cruise this time of year, and this year cruise prices are at all-time lows.

In fact, MarketWatch reporter Catey Hill says cruises are cheaper right now than a motel stay.

"It's almost to the point cheaper than the Motel 6 when you consider that on a cruise you get all your food included in that price," Hill says.

Carnival is offering cruises for as low as $35 a night, while Royal Caribbean has taken as much as a thousand dollars off some sailings.

Read more at: http://www.texomashomepage.com/story/travel-experts-say-now-is-the-time-for-cheap-cruises/d/story/T01Oxr6tQUqvRHD_h1HvUg