Viking River Cruises extends early booking discounts to October 15

Viking River Cruises has extended its early booking discounts for 2008 cruises until Monday, October 15, 2007.

That means you can still save up to $1,000 per couple if you book and pay in full for one of several 2008 river cruises by that date.

The selected cruises include the 13-day Waterways of the Czars voyages from St Petersburg to Moscow, Russia, which run from May to October, 2008, with prices starting at $2,799 per passenger before the early booking discount.

Another choice is the 11-day Footsteps of the Cossacks, along the Dnieper River from Kiev to Odessa, Ukraine, with voyages running from June to September 2008, and with prices starting from $2,199 per person before the discount.

A third is the 17-day Silk Road Adventure cruisetour from Shanghai to Beijing, which includes six days on the Yangtze River and runs from May to October, 2008, with prices starting at $4,299 per person before the discount.

Three other discounted cruises take you along other rivers in Russia and Western Europe.

Or, choose any other 2008 cruise and get up to $700 off per couple. All rates are based on double occupancy.

For more information or bookings, click here for Viking's website or call 877/668-4546 before 8 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, October 15, 2007.

Photo from Viking River Cruises.

A day aboard the ms Fram during its epic Arctic to Antarctic cruise

Yesterday I was able to spend a few hours aboard the ms Fram, the newest ship in the Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyage) line, while it
docked for the day in New York City.

The Fram is in the midst of a pioneering voyage -- the first-ever
north-south Arctic to Antarctic world cruise, a fantastic 67-day
voyage that departed Reykjavik, Iceland, in late September and is now making its way down the east coast of the U.S. enroute to Central America, the Panama Canal, South America, and ultimately Antarctica.

The ship had previously sailed through the British Isles and crossed the Atlantic to visit several ports in the Canadian Maritimes. This is the first-ever appearance for a Hurtigruten ship in U.S. waters.

I was part of a group of press and travel professionals aboard. We got to tour the comfortable expedition-style ship -- inaugurated in May 2007 and based in Greenland during the summer -- with a chance to speak with captain, crew, and Hurtigruten executives about the Fram and its innovative itinerary. We also enjoyed a tasty lunch of salmon, reindeer, and other dishes typical of Norway, served in the passenger dining room.

Cabins include some roomy balcony suites, but even if you book an inside cabin, you'll have plenty of chances to gaze at the scenery from the decks or the lounge outfitted with panoramic windows. The Fram has two outdoor heated Jacuzzis, a sauna, a fitness room and a library, and features a variety of onboard lectures by naturalists and other experts. The ship is small enough to provide lots of flexibility in landings. Expect plenty of soft-adventure expeditions in Antarctica, which are included in the price.

While you might not be one of the lucky 300 passengers embarking for Antarctica on this voyage, you can join one of the Fram's shorter Antarctic expeditions this winter -- or book passage on next year's similar Arctic to Antarctic world cruise, which will embark from Reykjavik next September 23 and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, November 26, 2008.

Not surprisingly, a more than two month cruise doesn't come cheap -- 2008 prices start at around $14,000 for the entire journey in an inside cabin. But you can also just book a segment of the cruise if you'd like, on a space available basis. And if we hear about any discounts popping up, we'll let you know ASAP.

To learn more about Hurtigruten, which has been running voyages along the spectacular Norwegian coast for more than a century, go to its website or call 800-323-7436.

Royal Caribbean sweepstakes has grand prize of free seven-night cruise

Royal Caribbean is currently featuring a "Surf's Up" sweepstakes on its Website offering a grand prize of a seven-night Caribbean cruise for a family of four aboard either its ships Freedom of the Seas or the Liberty of the Seas.

The cruise includes roundtrip airfare from the nearest U.S. city to the departure point, as well as transfers to the port and an oceanview cabin.

Just go to the Website and fill out a form by the end of October 22, 2007. (When you get to the Website, click on "Deals and Gifts" and then "Contests and Promotions." No purchase is necessary.

The fine print: Eligible contestants must be 13 years of age or older as of September 17, 2007, and live in any of the 50 U.S. states except Rhode Island, where residents aren't eligible.

Photo of Liberty of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.

Five-night Caribbean cruise on NCL for $50 a day

Cruises-n-More, an Internet discount cruise broker, has a special on three five-night NCL cruises out of Miami this November and December with inside cabins starting at just $249 or $259 per person, depending on the date.

The cruises, which make port stops at Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman, are aboard the Norwegian Pearl or Jewel. Departure dates from Miami are November 25 and December 9, 2007, aboard the Pearl or December 2, 2007, aboard the Jewel. The November 25 and December 2 sailings have inside cabins at $249 per person, while the December 9 sailing costs $10 more.

You can also land an oceanview cabin for $309 per person on any of the cruises or a balcony cabin for $499.

The fine print: these rates are good only for new bookings in double occupancy cabins. Port charges are included, though taxes and fees are additional.

For bookings, go to the Cruises-n-More Website or call 800/733-2048. With this short notice, it's best to act fast.

Photo of Norwegian Jewel from NCL.

Eastern Med for under $500 on Costa

Costa Cruises has a special on its week-long November 5, 2007, eastern Mediterranean cruise roundtrip out of Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, with cabins starting at just $499 per person double occupancy.

This price represents a savings of 70 percent off the brochure rate and works out to a bit over $70 per person per day -- a huge bargain for European travel if you can take advantage of the short notice.

The cruise stops in Catania, Sicily; Patmos, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece; and Izmir, Turkey before returning to Italy.

The fine print: This offer is for U.S. and Canadian residents only. The price is subject to change until booking.

For bookings, go to the Costa website or call 877/88-COSTA or a travel agent.

Photo of Costa Victoria from Costa Cruises.

Extra, Extra: Windjammer cancels sailings

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, which has been experiencing financial difficulties and some sporadic cancellations the past few months, has reportedly cancelled its cruises for the first week of October. Calls to the reservations center and operations office have gone unanswered.

Anyone who is booked for a Windjammer cruise at this time should:

** Call your credit card issuer if you've paid for a cancelled cruise and dispute the charges.

** If you've purchased travel insurance for a cruise that's been cancelled, contact the insurer now. Note: At least one major insurer, Travelex, has just announced it will stop writing policies for Windjammer cruises.

** If you're booked on a future Windjammer cruise, call your travel agent now.

Additional note: This type of situation provides an excellent illustration of why you should not purchase your cruise insurance from the cruise line itself. If the cruise line cancels a sailing because it has financial problems, you may never get reimbursed.

Imperial Majesty Bahamas mini-cruises at under $50 per night

Imperial Majesty Cruise Line is offering inside cabins for two people on its two-night roundtrip cruises from Fort Lauderdale to The Bahamas this month for $178 -- just $44.50 per person per night.

Cruises aboard the mv Regal Empress depart every other day for Nassau's Paradise Island and include cabins, food, and onboard entertainment. The itinerary allows for a day in Nassau before sailing back overnight. The special price applies through October 2007.

For bookings, call Imperial Majesty at 877/772-4625 or 954/453-4625 and ask for Code FALL.

Photo of the mv Regal Empress dining room from Imperial Majesty.