Sail the Med for a week for about $700 on Costa

Costa Cruises is offering a variety of week-long eastern and western Mediterranean cruises in 2007 from rates starting at $699 per passenger, double occupancy. Some sailings in October and November are priced at $599 on Costa's website.

Sailing dates range from July 30 until the end of November. You can choose among itineraries visiting various combinations of Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Croatian ports in the eastern Mediterranean, or various combinations of Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Malta, France, and Portugal in the western Mediterranean.

The $599 sailings are on Costa Victoria's itinerary from Italy to Turkey via Greece.

Booking deadline is August 15, but the rates aren't guaranteed until then. To book, visit Costa's website or call 800/462-6782 or a travel agent; ask for discount code ES.

Photo of Costa Serena in Istanbul by Dennis Cox/WorldViews