MSC puts South America on sale

If you're planning to be in South America early next winter or into the spring, you might be able to take advantage of some offers from MSC Cruises on voyages along the Argentine or Brazilian coastlines (or both).

From late November into March, MSC is putting some selected three- to nine-night sailings up for sale, with one three-nighter going for as low as $299 per person, double occupancy. A seven-night cruise goes for as little as $849 per person. Children 17 and under cruise free in the same stateroom as two paying passengers.

Keep in mind that these cruises start and end in either Argentina or Brazil, not in the U.S., though only U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible for these fares. The fares could be withdrawn at any time.

For more information, go to www.msccruises.com or call 800-666-9333 or a travel agent.

Cruise West offers early-booking discounts

Cruise West is offering early booking savings of up to $600 for those who sign up by June 15, 2007, for any of three exotic South Pacific itineraries in 2008 and an additional $200 for those willing to pay in full on that date. If you aren't willing to commit by then, you can still save $300 per person by booking by September 2, 2007, and an extra $100 for paying in full by then.

The cruises, which are scheduled for January through March, 2008, are all on the line's flagship Spirit of Oceanus. The all-suite ship holds a maximum of 120 passengers; each suite has a window, porthole, or balcony. Life on board is informal and well-suited to the South Pacific.

Itineraries are alluring and adventurous. Two 12-night sailings between Fiji and Tahiti, embarking January 23 and February 26, 2008, also visit the Cook Islands and Tonga; prices with the early booking discounts start at $5,049 per person.

An 11-night itinerary with two departures next February goes roundtrip from Tahiti and travels to the Marquesas Islands, among others; prices start at $3,749 with the full savings.

And a 16-night itinerary explores the islands of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, while traveling between Guam and Fiji. Two voyages are offered for this one, leaving January 7 and March 11, 2008. Rates start at $5,999 per person with the maximum discounts.

Contact Cruise West at http://www.cruisewest.com/ or call 888-851-8133.

Costa's one-day Caribbean cruise sale today

Act fast if you're interested -- Costa Cruises is having a one-day sale on selected Caribbean cruises today (June 1), with seven-night voyages starting at just $449, based on double occupancy of an inside cabin.

Sailing dates on the Costa Fortuna or Costa Mediterranea are all on weekends during November and December 2007, with itineraries ranging from the western to the eastern and southern Caribbean.

For bookings or more information, go to http://www.costacruises.com/ or call 1-800-462-6782 or a travel agent, and ask for discount code PG.

And for a free subscription to my monthly Smarter Cruising newsletter, filled with features on saving money on cruises plus lots of late-breaking hot deals, go to http://www.smartercruising.com/ to sign up. The next edition will be arriving shortly.

Photo by Dennis Cox/WorldViews

Carnival's military specials end today

Through May 31, Carnival is offering special deals to military personnel -- deals that extend to friends and family as well. You can book up to two additional cabins at the same sale prices as the member of the military pays in the first cabin.

Eligible sailings through 2007 include three-, four-, five-, seven-, and eight-day cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico, with prices per passenger starting as low as $199 for three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas and Baja Mexico. Eight-day cruises to the western and southern Caribbean can be had for as low as $499 per passenger.

Call Carnival at 888-CARNIVAL or a travel agent today to take advantage of this offer.

Carnival features one-day sale May 24

Carnival Cruise Lines is holding a one-day-only sale Thursday, May 24, 2007, when you can get free upgrades on a variety of Caribbean and Mexico sailings through February 15, 2008.

Prices start at just $229 for three-day Bahamas voyages in September, and many of its three- to five-day sailings start at under $400 per passenger.

For more info, go to www.carnival.com or call 888/CARNIVAL or a travel agent. Remember, you have to book on May 24.

Act fast for Orient Lines upgrades

Orient Lines is offering free upgrades from inside to outside cabins on its itineraries worldwide when you book by Sunday, May 27, 2007. Destinations include the Mediterranean, South America, and Antarctica.

Go to www.orientlines.com for more info or call 800/333-7300 or a travel agent to take advantage of this deal.

eCruises.com offers free travel insurance

Facing fierce competition among Internet cruise sellers, eCruises.com has introduced a new lure: the website now offers free travel insurance for any cruise you book through its site. It claims to be the only cruise retailer making such an offer. The complimentary cruise insurance protects travelers against trip interruption and cancellation, emergency medical and dental expenses, emergency medical evacuation, travel delay, and baggage delays and losses, and does so for all the occupants of a stateroom -- not just the first two.


If you've ever purchased cruise insurance (and you should, unless you get it free) you know that this offer could easily save you upwards of $100 or more per passenger -- not to mention the money you might recover if you have to cancel your trip, etc. etc. Of course, before grabbing this offer, you'll want to note the money you save on insurance versus the money you might or might not save by booking through another Internet discounter or travel agent. But everything else being equal, the free insurance makes for a very nice perk.