What's so special
about cut-rate
cruising of the
waters off Alaska
and Europe? It's a
matter of location
and popularity.
Given the glut of
cruise ships,
it'll be easy this
spring and summer
to find
off-season,
one-week sailings
of the familiar
Caribbean for $599
per person--and
even less. To do
that, you have
only to contact
the cruise
consolidators and
discount brokers
listed in previous
issues of
Budget Travel
or advertised in
this one.
But what if you
want to cruise the
far more heavily
desired summer
locations of
Alaska and Europe?
To achieve savings
in the
Mediterranean, the
North Sea, the
Baltic, or in the
waters off Juneau,
Sitka, and
Skagway, we've
turned to nine
prominent sources
of cruise
discounts and
asked them to
offer up--for our
valued
readers--the few
ships and the
limited dates on
which they can
bring you
guaranteed low
prices and quality
amenities, as
described in their
own words. And
that's what
they've done. The
numbers to call,
or the Web sites
to access,
accompany each
statement; prices
do not include
airfare to and
from the
embarkation port.
Europe
Mediterranean
Shipping Cruises'
Melody
Nominated by
Sheri Langer,
president, Cruise
Away
(800/225-7447)
Departures: May
6, 13, 20, 27;
June 3, 10, 17,
24; July 1, 8;
Sept. 16, 23, 30;
Oct. 7, 14
Itinerary (7
nights): Genoa,
Naples, Palermo,
Tunis, Palma de
Majorca,
Barcelona,
Marseilles, Genoa
Cruise Away has
inside cabins for
$699 per person,
double occupancy
(all departures),
plus airfare and
$99 in port
charges.
"The Melody's
itinerary is
unbeatable this
summer, and the
ship itself is
really delightful.
It's an older
ship, built in
1982, but it was
updated five years
ago and has a
comfortable,
modern feel. And
because it carries
only 1,076
passengers,
there's a good
sense of intimacy
on board. Rooms
are nice-sized,
and I really like
the food, but the
overwhelmingly
positive feedback
we get from our
customers comes
down to the warm,
genial Italian
crew."
Celebrity's
Galaxy
Nominated by
Steven Gelfuso,
owner/president,
Cruise Brothers
(800/827-7779)
Departures: May
19; June 2, 16,
30; July 14
Itinerary (14
nights):
Amsterdam, Oslo,
Stockholm,
Helsinki, St.
Petersburg,
Gdansk, Rostock,
Copenhagen,
Amsterdam (July 14
sailing:
Amsterdam,
Helsinki, St.
Petersburg,
Tallinn, Visby,
Riga, Gdynia,
Rostock,
Copenhagen, Oslo,
Amsterdam)
Cruise Brothers
has inside cabins
for $1,499 per
person, double
occupancy, for all
departure dates,
including port
charges, but plus
airfare.
"I love cruising
in this part of
the world--the
waters and the
landscapes are
just so
beautiful--and
Celebrity has put
together a really
terrific
itinerary. As
experienced
cruisers know, the
food service on
this line is
legendary, and the
Galaxy
lives up to its
billing. It's also
one of the newest
and most elegant
ships Celebrity
has; it was built
in 1996 and
carries 1,870. If
you could compare
a cruise ship to a
hotel chain, I'd
liken the
Galaxy to
staying in a Four
Seasons hotel--at
a little bit over
$100 a day at the
height of the
season including
port charges, this
is a remarkable
price."
Norwegian
Cruise Lines'
Norwegian Dream
Nominated by
Larry Fishkin,
president, Leisure
Link International
(888/801-8808)
Departures:
June 5, July 11
Itinerary (12
days): London,
Dover, Copenhagen,
Tallinn, St.
Petersburg,
Helsinki,
Stockholm, Kalmar,
Warnemunde,
Copenhagen, London
Leisure Link has
inside cabins
starting at $1,649
(June 5) and
$1,749 (July 11)
per person, double
occupancy, plus
airfare and
approximately $260
in port charges.
"Nine years old,
this midsized
vessel (1,754
passengers) offers
a good
introduction for
first-timers--cabins
are smartly
laid-out and
adequate in size,
the quality of
dining is
consistently good
if not epicurean,
the basic
activities are all
on hand, and
amenities such as
its fitness center
and children's
programs are all
professionally
run. As full fares
for these European
cruises generally
start in the
$3,500 range,
these prices
represent
considerable
savings."
Alaska
Celebrity
Cruises'
Mercury
Nominated by
Don Walker, vice
president of
channel marketing,
Cruises Only
(800/895-3771)
Departures: May
18, 25
Itinerary (7
days): Vancouver,
Ketchikan, Juneau,
Skagway, Hubbard
Glacier, Valdez,
Seward
Cruises Only has
inside cabins
starting at $749
(May 18) and $799
(May 25) per
person, double
occupancy,
including port
charges, but plus
airfare.
"It seems as if
this 1,870-cabin
ship has been
around for ages
(such is the
dizzying pace of
construction), but
in fact it has
only been in
service since
1997. Like other
Celebrity vessels,
the focal point of
the Mercury
is its food
service, with not
only fine cuisine
in its dining
rooms and nice
touches such as a
martini bar, but
also 24-hour room
service.
Staterooms are
relatively
spacious and
definitely well
designed, and
public areas are
stylish. This ship
also does a good
job keeping
children well
occupied."
Holland America
Lines'
Statendam
Nominated by
Duke Butler,
president, Spur Of
the Moment Cruises
Departures: May
6, 13, 20, 27
Itinerary (7
days): Vancouver,
Skagway,
Ketchikan, Glacier
Bay
Spur of the Moment
has inside cabins
starting at $799
(May 6 and 13),
$899 (May 20), and
$999 (May 27) per
person, double
occupancy,
including port
charges, but plus
airfare.
"One of four
more-or-less
identical vessels
launched by
Holland America in
1992, the
Statendam
(capacity: 1,266)
is an intimate
ship distinguished
by this cruise
line's
unsurpassable
service. The food
generally exceeds
the quality you'd
expect at this
price, and cabins
are very spacious.
This ship does
tend to attract an
older
crowd--families
might want to
consider other
options. However,
if quiet and
elegance are what
attract you most,
the Statendam
is a solid
choice."
Royal Caribbean
Lines' Rhapsody
of the Seas
Nominated by
Tara Rogers, vice
president, public
relations,
WorldWide Cruises
(800/882-9000)
Departures: May
25; June 1, 8
Itinerary (7
nights):
Vancouver,
Ketchikan,
Skagway, Juneau,
Sitka, Hubbard
Glacier
World Wide has
inside cabins
starting at $649
per person, double
occupancy, not
including port
charges,
government fees,
or airfare.
"At a
2,000-passenger
capacity, this is
close in size to
the brand new
megacruisers, and
with only four
years of service
under its belt,
it's one of the
newest as well.
(Hence, among
other amenities,
there's a
cyber-lounge.)
Don't expect the
world's largest
staterooms, but
they're of
adequate size. The
level of cuisine
is fine if
unspectacular, but
the entertainment
is significantly
better than
average--and so
are the children's
programs."
Carnival
Cruises'
Carnival Spirit
Nominated by
Dan Livergood,
senior director of
cruise center
operations,
Travelbyus
(800/657-2602, ask
for Anna)
Departure: July
25
Itinerary (7
nights):
Anchorage, Sitka,
Skagway, Juneau,
Ketchikan,
Vancouver
Travelbyus has
inside cabins for
$1,271 per person,
double occupancy,
including port
charges and
complimentary
shore excursions
in Juneau,
Skagway, and
Ketchikan, but
plus airfare.
"This is a brand
new ship, highly
desired, and one
that isn't
normally available
at that price
level for a
peak-season
departure. When
you consider that
not only port
charges but free
shore excursions
are included in
our rate, you'll
understand the
purchasing power
of Travelbyus, a
membership group
of 2,200 travel
agencies, one of
which will be
assigned to handle
your booking when
you call"
