Cruise the Atlantic with free air and 2-for-1 fares

The premium line Oceania is offering a spring repositioning cruise from Miami to Barcelona on the Regatta for fares starting at $1,299 per passenger -- that's $100 a day for 13 days -- including free airfare from 20 cities across the U.S.

One caveat: this cruise is for people who like to, uh, cruise, because there's only one port stop (seven hours in Funchal, Madeira) and ten full days at sea. In other words, it's a cruise for relaxation, eating, gazing at the sea, and whatever else you might like to do onboard.

Here's how I would look at it: as a relaxing alternative to flying if you have a couple of extra weeks to spare.

You might even want to splurge on a topflight cabin: the upper limit on this cruise, if you book by December 31, 2007, is $2,299 per passenger for a concierge level verandah stateroom. Compare that to first class airfare to Europe these days.

It's possible this special fare will still be offered after December 31, but there are no guarantees. And, in fact, the offer is subject to availability, so it could be withdrawn when cabins are booked up, even before the deadline. Some fees, taxes and surcharges are extra no matter when you book.

Book on the Oceania website or call 800/404-8652 or a travel agent.

Photo from Oceania Cruises.

Avoid some fuel surcharges by booking ASAP

As we reported earlier this month, many cruise lines are adding fuel surcharges to their fares, and in the past two weeks this trend has become a wave.

The fuel surcharges vary between $5 and $12 per day, depending on the cruise line. In most cases, they apply to everyone in a cabin, though some lines are applying them only to the first two passengers in a cabin.

Some lines are also capping the surcharges at a maximum amount (such as the six lines of the Carnival Corporation -- Carnival, Holland America, Cunard, Costa, Princess, and Seabourn --which are capping the amount at $70 per passenger per voyage, applied to the first two passengers in each cabin.)

The other main variable is when the fuel surcharges start.

For some lines, it's already too late. The above-named Carnival Corporation lines will apply the surcharges for cruises departing on or after February 1, 2008, even if you've already booked and paid for them.

The three cruise lines in the Royal Caribbean family -- Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara -- are also applying $5 per passenger per day surcharges to cruises leaving February 1 or after, but are letting passengers off the hook if they fully paid for the cruise by November 15 of this year.

Other lines in which it's too late to act include Cruise West (where surcharges apply to all cruises booked after November 11, though you can still complete payment until December 7); Silversea (where surcharges apply to cruises booked after November 13); and Voyages of Discovery (where surcharges apply to cruises paid for after November 19 and which depart from February 1 until late April, 2008).

However, you can still save on fuel surcharges by booking and fully paying for cruises on the following lines by Friday, November 30:

Oceania (save $7 per day per passenger for cruises departing now through at least April 2009); Norwegian (save $7 per pay per first two passengers and $3 per day for all others on sailings starting December 1); Orient (same as Norwegian); Regent Seven Seas (save $7.50 per passenger per day for 2008 cruises); MSC Cruises (save $6 a day per passenger for cruises departing on February 1, 2008, or later.

On some lines you have a little more time to save:

Majestic America and Windstar (save $8.50 per passenger per day on cruises from now through March 2009 by booking and paying by December 14, 2007); Viking River Cruises (save $7 per person per day for upcoming 2007 and 2008 cruises by booking and paying by December 18); Crystal (save $7 per person per day for 2008 cruises by paying in full by December 31, 2007).

All these surcharges can add up fast, so if you're planning to book a 2008 cruise, now may be the time.

Photo by Dennis Cox/WorldViews

A $600 a day bargain on the MS Europa? Maybe!

Almost exactly a year from now, on November 25, 2008, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' MS Europa, which the 2008 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships has ranked as the top cruise ship in the world, will sail off on a 14-day voyage from Mauritius to Cape Town, South Africa.

The itinerary will include stops in Reunion, Mozambique, and several ports in South Africa, allowing for safaris (not included in the rates) to a number of game reserves and a wine region.

If you book the cruise no later than 210 days prior to departure, you can land an outside cabin guarantee for prices starting at $8,272 per person -- a five percent early booking discount. At nearly $600 a day, this isn't cheap, but the rate does include roundtrip airfare from New York City to Mauritius and back from Cape Town, which might save you around $1200 or more on flights. The rates also include onboard tips, minibar, and fuel surcharges.

The above rate is based on availability, however, so it's best not to wait too long -- especially if you want to sample the offerings of the world's top-ranked cruise ship.

For bookings, click here or call 877-445-7447 or a travel agent.

Photo of MS Europa from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Happy Thanksgiving from Smarter Cruising

To all our U.S. readers, happy Thanksgiving! And to all the rest of our international readers, eat heartily anyway -- and give thanks that we can enjoy the wonderful world of cruising among all our other blessings.

With best wishes,

Clark Norton and Smarter Cruising

Cruise ship buffet photo by Dennis Cox/WorldViews

South America cruises for $50 a day

The Internet discounter CruiseExperts.com is offering three 14-day Norwegian cruises around Cape Horn in South America for prices starting at just $699 per passenger, double occupancy -- a real deal at $50 a day. Ocean view cabins start at just $799 per person.

The cruises, which depart March 2, 16, or 30, 2008, aboard the Norwegian Dream, leave either from Buenos Aires, Argentina (March 2 or 30) or Santiago, Chile (March 16) and travel to the opposite location.

Along the way, they visit ports including Montevideo, Uruguay; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Puerto Montt, Chile.

These prices do not include airfare, though you can ask CruiseExperts.com to set you up for flights for around $800 per person from Miami.

To book, go to the CruiseExperts website or call 888/804-2784. Book by November 29, 2007, and get a coupon book to use aboard the ship.

Photo from Norwegian Cruise Line.

Azamara South America cruise at discount prices

The Internet discounter Cruises-N-More is listing a 12-night Azamara cruise departing December 11, 2007, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay, for $1,799 for an oceanview cabin, $2099 with balcony.

That's starting at about $150 a day per passenger for a premium cruise line (Azamara is Celebrity's new deluxe-premium line). The Azamara Journey carries just 600 passengers and each stateroom has butler service.

Better yet: It includes free airfare and transfers from Miami ($200 if leaving from Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, Newark, New York, or a number of other U.S. cities).

Cruises-N-More is also throwing in onboard credits or free insurance.

The site is also featuring a November 29 departure for a similar but slightly longer (14-night) itinerary for just $1,899 oceanview or $2199 balcony -- with air included from 16 different U.S. cities in the South and Northeast (which makes it an even better deal for most).

If you can make either cruise, jump on this before it's too late. As always, cabins are subject to availability, and these are going for a cheap song.

For bookings or more information, go to Cruises-N-More or call 800/733-2048.

Photo of Azamara Journey by Skip Kreie.

One-day sale today on Costa: kids sail free

Costa Cruise Lines is offering free cruises to the Caribbean for kids 17 and under in winter-spring 2008 -- as long as they are accompanied by two paying adults in the same cabin. The adults must pay the full promotional price (as low as $499 per adult for a week-long sailing) or the early booking fare.

You must book by today, November 15, to take advantage of this offer.

Voyages are all seven nights and depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Port stops (depending on the sailing) may include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Roatan, Honduras; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgins; St. Maarten; and Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, among others. Dates range from early January to late March.

The fine print: this offer is for residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Government taxes are additional for all passengers (that's right, kids, there's no such thing as a completely free lunch!).
Fuel surcharges ($5 per day per passenger) apply to most sailings.

For bookings, click here or call 800/462-6782 or a travel agent.

Photo from Dennis Cox/WorldViews