Metafares' Deal Hunting Blog

You might think that it’s bit early to book cruises for next year, but when an opportunity like this comes up, you should definitely start planning for a spring cruise. For only $499, you can book a cruise to Alaska with the departure at Los Angeles, California, or the month of May. Don’t be alarmed that the temperature might be a bit on the low side, that’s not true at all…the weather in May in Alaska can be surprisingly summery! What you should expect from a cruise in Alaska is to see plenty of wildlife (or example bears and bald eagles from the Mount Roberts Tramway, outside of Skagway), and also the learn a lot of interesting things about Native American culture. You’ll also get to see some amazing landscapes: soaring peaks, glaciers, and the unspoiled wilderness of Alaska. You’ll be able to make several delightful stops on the way, for example at Timberline Bar and Grill on Juneau’s Mount Roberts , where you can sample an Alaskan Brewing Company ale. You can book a cruise ticket and already start traveling in September, but don’t forget to check the cruise calendar and fish for deals, some cruises are cheaper depending on their date (for example $499 from Los Angeles, in May).

Work getting hectic now that everything’s back to normal after the heat of this summer, and you already find yourself missing a long, relaxing vacation? All you need to do is clear out your schedule, because Travelocity does the all the other arrangements for you. Forgetting all about work and day to day life for a week, while sunbathing on the deck of a gorgeous cruiser sounds tempting, right? Well, with these last minute deals you can take your pick of some amazing cruises that will work wonders for your tired self. It can’t possibly get cheaper than this, so this is the perfect time to start planning a cruise. For example, you can choose a 4 nights Bahamas cruise for as little as $150, or a 4 night European Cruise for a paltry $200! Departure ports include Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale or Miami on the East Coast, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco for the West Coast, and Galveston, New Orleans and Tampa for the Gulf Coast (check out the full list here). You can pick a Bahamas, Hawaii or Carribean cruise if you don’t want to stray to far away from home, but there are some more remote cruises as well for those with a taste for adventure: the icy coasts of Alaska, or the distant shores of Europe. You still have time to book a cruise departing within the following 60 days, so don’t waste this chance to experience an incredible, relaxing vacation at sea.

If you haven’t had the chance to go on a cruise yet this year, now is the time to finally pack your bags and sail off on a lovely holiday. And I’m not talking about an ordinary holiday, but a cruise through the blue waters of the Bahamas, aboard a beautifully refurbished cruise ship, the Norwegian Sky. It is youngest ship of Norwegian Cruise Line,  and it can boast of the most balcony staterooms in the three – and four- day Miami market. In addition to this, there are ten bars and lounges, a Second City Comedy show, and a brand-new Monte Carlo Casino. And let’s not forget about the six different restaurants, where you can eat whenever you want, without a fixed schedule. This ship has everything you need to be comfortable during your holiday, and offers more entertainment possibilities and fun activities than any hotel on land. You can choose between a 3 night weekend cruise or a 4 night weekend cruise for some of the best rates on the market, and you will also get $50 onboard credit which you can spend as you see fit. Of course, the rate depend on the type of cabin (inside, oceanview, balcony). The ship is completely family-friendly, and there’s also a teen recreation area and a juice bar, so your kids won’t get bored or a second!

The Bahamas are a great holiday destination almost any time of the year, and here are some enticing offers that will most likely convince you to pack your swimsuit and sunglasses, and go off on a sunkissed vacation. Not on stuffy airplanes or by car, but sailing though the blue waters of the Atlantic. From majestic Charleston to the tropical beauty of the Bahamas, you will enjoy a cruise like no other aboard the refurbished Carnival Fantasy. From Charleston, you will be whisked away to exotic Freeport and Nassau and then back to Charleston again. This great trip won’t tax you pocket too much, seeing as you can book a trip for as little as $269 if you are planning to go in September. There are several other dates as well, throughout the year, well until August 2011. And if you book before August 19 with an American Express card, you can save up to $500. The Carnival Fantasy has two great dining halls with excellent and diverse cuisine, and offers top-notch entertainment every night. Calypso-themed deck parties, passenger talent shows and other colourful and fun activities are available to passenger of all age groups. To all this, add a brand new golf course, a spa, fitness room and sauna, and even yoga and pilates classes.

Fancy a relaxing holiday somewhere with a lot of sun, but you just can’t find the time for it? How about a weekend spent on a refurbished luxury cruise ship, sailing the blue waters around the Bahamas? The Norwegian Sky is the youngest ship of the Norwegian Cruise Lines, and it boasts of some wonderful amenities. Think about it: ten bars and lounges, a casino, six different restaurants, twelve decks, two swimming pools and five hot tubs. The best part about this cruiser is that it is completely family friendly, so you can enjoy a short vacation with your kids. There’s a teen club area and disco with a soft-drinks bar, so the teenagers won’t get bored either. You can choose between a 3 and 4 night package aboard the Norwegian Sky, and if you’re quick enough, you can book a stateroom with a beautiful view. Inside rooms cost only $199, ocean view rooms for $229 and balcony rooms $329. You will also get $50 onboard credit that you can spend however you want. The ship is large and the passenger capacity is comparatively small, which is all the better for you –  you will have more room to tan, and will never have to wait in line for anything. So book your tickets while you still can!

There’s still a bit of time until autumn, but when it comes to travel, it’s always better to plan well in advance. Especially if you want a trip that will capture the autumnal glory of places such as Canada and New England. These northern regions are famous for their dazzling autumns full of golden red foliage, sunshine and blue skies. What better way to profit from the beauties of autumn than on a cruise? New England and Canada cruises are very popular in the autumn, and cruise periods are quite short, so you really have to start planning now if you want to spend part of your autumn on a beautiful cruise ship.

Expedia’s deals, like usual, don’t disappoint. July 20 through August 15 you can book a pass aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a luxurious cruiser with great facilities (indoor pool and spa, a beautiful collection of art and a variety of dining options). The trip starts on October 3, just in time for the Canadian foliage explosion, and sail off on a roundtrip from New York City. At $499 plus onboard credit for 7 nights, this is really a great deal. And since the ship leaves from New York, you won’t have any trouble finding a cheap flight from your home to NYC.

Oh, and depending on your cabin type, you get up to $5oo onboard credit. What more do you need for the perfect cruise holiday?

Summer is nowhere near over yet, but if you were too swamped with work to take a vacation on the hottest days of the year, why not start planning a nice end-of-summer getaway now? Labour Day is just around the corner, and while most cruise tickets for the beginning of September are already sold out, Cruisedeals.com offers you a great opportunity to buy a ticket on a dashing cruiser even now. Cruisedeals have dug up some amazing cruise deals, starting from only $199. Want to enjoy the last warm days of summer on a sunny Caribbean cruise, or maybe you’d prefer a cool holiday sailing the waters of Alaska? You can have your dream vacation now by picking one of the locations on the list.

You can go on a 7 night Caribbean cruise on the board of the Norwegian Epic, and if you book your ticket now, you’ll get $100’s worth of onboard credits. The cruise departs from Miami, but if this location is a bit too far from where you live, there are other great deals with departures from Baltimore, Seattle or Fort Lauderdale. As I said before, interior cabins start from $199 (a great price if you are planning to spend your days tanning on the deck), oceanview cabins from $239 for those of you who like to have a nice view of the ocean at all times, and $289 if you decide to give yourself a treat with a beautiful balcony cabin.

In addition to cruises close to the US, you can offer yourself a romantic Mediterranean cruise and celebrate Labour Day in an Old World fashion (there’s a roundtrip from Barcelona across the waters of the western Mediterranean, and another roundtrip from Rome that will take you as far as Egypt). So book your cruise now and celebrate Labour Day in style!

Taking a break from your day-to-day life always feels good, especially if by break you mean a seven day Caribbean cruise aboard a  luxury ship, but this time you can enjoy yourself and do something good for the people of Haiti who lost their homes in the earthquake. Efforts to rebuild the destroyed homes are ongoing, and your holiday expenses going help a good cause. But just because this deal is a fundraiser, it doesn’t mean that it’s overpriced. You can save over $140 with the Cruise 4 Haiti deal, and you can enjoy the excellent amenities of the Liberty of the Seas, a cruise ship with extensive sports facilities, restaurants and pools.

The cruise starts in November, and departs from Miami. Among the featured port destinations are St. Maarten, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Labadee in Haiti. $75 of your cruise fees will go towards Haiti relief efforts. In addition to the cruise, the fees also include a Bon Voyage Fundraiser in Miami one day before the departure, and a beach barbecue in Labadee. The cruise rate starts from $549 per person, and includes stateroom accommodations, all meals aboard the Liberty of the Seas, onboard entertainment and lots of extras including special group sessions, a free group t-shirt and much more.

Care for a weekend of relaxation aboard a luxury cruise vessel while paying the smallest possible amount of money? Well, you have one day left to make up your mind and decide to book one of Priceline’s last minute cruise deals. $67 per day sounds like a pretty good deal for a hotel room, but what about getting a cozy cabin and 3 meals per day, plus the excitement of traveling among the exotic islands of the Caribbean, all in the same price? And to make things even better, many of these last-minute offers come with all kinds of coupons and gratuities, including the possibility to get a free 7-night hotel stay!

Cruise operators include NCL and Carnival Cruises, both of them offering up to 160$ free on-board credit. As for some of the above mentioned exotic destinations, they refer to Bermuda, the coast of Florida, as well as the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The 7-night Bermuda cruise departing form Boston will cost you only $599 for an ocean view cabin, not to mention all the fun you can buy for the $150 worth of on-board credit and the bonus hotel stay.

While more and more people are getting a taste of the Mexican Riviera, it is hard to make a decision on which of the country’s sunny beaches is the best: the lively Cancun, history-infused Rivera Maya or the picturesque Puerto Vallarta. Luckily, there’s an easy way to find out which Mexican beach is closer to your tastes: just take a cruise.
Among cruisecheap.com’s weekly hot deals you can find some really decent rates. The 7-night cruise aboard Mariner of the Seas departing Los Angeles can cost you as little as $652 for an inside cabin. For longer cruises and more luxurious rooms, you can choose to book a suite on the Oosterdam, whose 12-night journey along the American and Mexican coast starts on the 27th of September in Vancouver. If a last-minute deal is what you are looking for, than the best option would be to go on line at cruisecheap.com and check the itinerary of Carnival Splendor, who is scheduled to leave the port of Long Beach, CA on the 4h of July.