Metafares' Deal Hunting Blog

2009 is over, holidays are over and we are back in business with lots of energy and a new set of expectations.  However, this doesn’t mean that we cannot take another vacation during, let’s say, Valentine weekend or early spring. A glance at Travelzoo’s Top 20 Travel Deals of the week is enough to let us know that affordable traveling is still on in 2010.

We especially liked their selected cruise deals: booking a 7-night cruise in the Caribbean with Cruise-N-More can cost as little as $419 (and you also get $50 onboard credit).  On the other hand, Celebration Cruise Lines is offering an oceanview cabin for only $92, in case you decide to embark their 2-nigh Bahamas journey. If you check out the Travelzoo site, you will also find some pretty decent airfare and hotel deals, including some 45$ international flights offered by United Airlines for a number of specific locations across the US.

Let’s face it! Among all the excessive shopping you do around Christmas, how many of the things you buy have the potential of becoming the holiday of your dreams? But advance planning and smart spending can bring you a bargain cruise in Alaska next summer.  Most cruise operators have prepared special deals for those travelers willing to book early an adventurous summer vacation along Alaska’s scenic coast.

Thus, embarking the Royal Caribbean cruise ship ‘Rhapsody of the Seas’ for a 7-night journey from Seattle to Sawyer Glacier can cost you only $549 – book online with Priceline and you get a free hotel stay for 2 nights. For the Vancouver to Hubbard Glacier trip with Celebrity Cruises, you can pay as low as $649 for an interior cabin; or you can choose to be upgraded to an ocean view and get up to 100$ back from Priceline. Other bonuses include a free discounts booklet or $25 onboard credit – check these cool deals yourself on the Priceline site.

Going to Europe old school can be the perfect way to start the forthcoming year! I mean, why going through all the trouble of planning your trip, making hotel reservations, searching for the best air fare deal when you can take the boat like your ancestors did and see the marvels of Old Europe without headaches?  Not only you will have a relaxing journey, but also you will enjoy all the benefits of a luxury cruise ship, and even save some money!

Norwegian Cruise Line has prepared some special packages for those customers interested in booking a European cruise in advance. Starting from march 2010, the Norwegian Sun can take you for a 15 day journey from Miami through Europe’s northern ports (Le Havre, Brussels, London) for only $648 pp (fare applies for inside cabin). Another good deal would be to take the 9-day Canary Islands & Morocco roundtrip cruise from Barcelona and pay as little as $749 for an ocean view cabin. Other destinations listed in the deals section of the site include Venice, or different parts of the Mediterranean coast.

Winter holidays bring out the best in us but they are also terribly exhausting. Most times, the first days January find us optimistic and tired. Superstitious folks believe that the rhythm of these first days will continue throughout the year and affect everything we do. So why not starting the year with a well deserved vacation? Cruise deals.com comes with some interesting offers for the winter season. Norwegian Cruise Line has special rate for those embarking in an Adventurous Western Caribbean Cruise in January: only $329 pp in an interior cabin. Ad %100 and you’ll get to see the ocean from your window. Another option for January is to hop on the recently updated Celebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Solstice: pay $849 for an ocean view cabin and you’ll get a balcony (offer valid for the 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise departing January 17^th or 24^th).

And one last thing: if you haven’t yet  made plans for Christmas or the New Year’s Eve,  you can find some amazing December cruise deals advertised on the Cruise Deals site. A warm Christmas aboard a Norwegian Sky ship can cost you only $349 (it includes an interior cabin and a three night trip to the Bahamas).

Whether you’re cruising for the cluster of stars in the night sky, for the amazing natural sights you can admire, for the luxurious onboard facilities such as Broadway-like shows, huge pools, fancy restaurant and bars or for the sensation given by the bluster of the ocean waves, you can have it all with Expedia’s latest Northern Europe cruise deal. Plus, with free access to some top-notch ports like Oslo and Amsterdam, this 4-night cruise (with Oslo roundtrip) becomes a lifetime experience.

Contrary to what you might think, sailing with a Royal Caribbean International ship won’t exhaust all your financial resources. In fact, the price starts at $288 per person for an inside cabin while a cabin overlooking an ocean view is worth no more than $382. Moreover, if you want to treat yourself to a balcony, you’ll have to pay around $584. Unfortunately, the additional taxes and fees are not included in these prices. This cruise deal is valid for the departing date April, 27, 2010. Even though well in advance booking comes with certain savings, it’s always a good idea to shop around before booking. For further reference, visit Expedia’s Cruises Page.

If you have been long dreaming of a short gateway on a floating resort, it’s high time you make it happen! Especially now since the travel agencies have lowered the bar on prices. For example, you can enjoy the on board amenities and the ocean breeze of a great Baja California cruise, without spending a king’s ransom.

More precisely, the 3-Night Baja California cruise with San Diego roundtrip recently posted by Travelocity and stopping in Ensenada, Mexico is an amazing option for both the first-time cruisers and the more experienced ones. Fares start at $109 for an inside cabin and those of you who opt for a cabin overlooking an ocean view will have to pay no more than $129. Plus, the Carnival Elation ship is well-know for the exclusive, top-notch Musical Café and Drama Bar where you can have a wonderful time. These prices are valid for the departing dates October, 26, October, 29, but if you’d like to cruise along there are two more dates: November, 23 and 26 which unfortunately come with slightly higher prices. For further reference, go directly to Travelocity’s Cruises Page.

Travel experts say there’s nothing comparable to the perspective you have on a continent when you’re onboard of a luxurious cruise ship. Indeed, travelling from port to port onboard of a floating resort and discovering vibrant cities and different cultures can turn into a once–in-a-lifetime experience. Even though a cruise usually comes with a salted price, this time around, when the travel agencies have lowered the bar on rates, you can take advantage of the luxurious amenities a cruise offers at affordable prices.

For example, Travelocity has recently posted a new 7-night Mediterranean cruise featuring the following itinerary: Barcelona, Spain, Valetta (Malta), Naples (Italy), Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy), Livorno (Italy), Cannes (France) and Barcelona, Spain. The price starts at $449 for an inside cabin and for one overlooking an ocean view, while for a balcony you won’t have to pay more than $699. The suite has a tad more expensive price that starts at $899.Plus, there’s this additional promotion that can bring you up to $100 onboard credit (depending on the type of cabin you choose) if you make a reservation by October, 12. The departing dates are October 11, 18, 25 and November, 1. For further information, visit Travelocity’s Cruises Page.

The experts in the travel industry revealed that the best time to book a cruise and to travel is during November and at the beginning of December because you can take advantage of top-notch amenities at rock-bottom prices. Indeed, we’ve tracked down an amazing cruise deal valid for the aforementioned period that was recently put forward by Cruises.com.

More exactly, the deal features a 4-day Mexico Pacific Coast cruise with San Diego roundtrip that is scheduled to stop in Santa Catalina and Ensenada’s ports of call. The price for an inside cabin is as low as $189 and if you decide to upgrade to an oceanview cabin you’ll have to pay around $229. Spoiling yourself to a suite won’t have sizable effect on your bank account since the price starts at $499. This offer applies for the period November, 30 (departing date) to December, 4 and does not include the additional taxes and fees. If we managed to pique your curiosity, visit Cruises.com’s Special Cruises Page and make an online reservation.

They say over-planning can turn into a vacation-killer especially when your time for relaxation and fun is limited. However, there are cases when planning well in advance can result into the best deals and can bring you the cheapest rates for top-notch facilities and services. Now, this is a great tip for saving money when it comes to cruising as well therefore, we’ve tracked down an amazing deal put forward by Expedia.

More exactly, it is a new Disney Line Cruise deal that features a 3-night Bahamas cruise with a Disney Wonder ship at a starting price of $399 corresponding to the departing date of February, 4, 2010. Best of all, kids under the age of 17 can sail for free in this magic ship that will be populated by Disney characters. However, in order to take advantage of this deal, you have to call 1-888-249-3978 and to use the promo code KFO. Now, if we managed to pique your curiosity, go directly to Expedia’s Cruises Page to get further information.

After a short summer holiday, the promise of a fall that is packed with new destinations and multiple rounds of sales brings joy and adventures even for the savvier tourists who seek for budget-friendly ways to travel and have fun. But what if you had the chance to rejoice the facilities of a cruise while sticking to your budget? Here’s a value-packed cruise sale put forward by the Norwegian Cruise Line.

More exactly, NCL came up with an incredible 4-day Bahamas and Florida cruise with Miami roundtrip and featuring a price starting at $129 per person for an inside cabin and $159 for a cabin overlooking an ocean view. Booking a balcony won’t empty your pockets right away either as it is worth $329 per person. You’ll be travelling with the Norwegian Sky cruise ships following an itinerary which includes Miami, Grand Bahamas Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. However, this is a hit-or-miss deal available for September, 21. Aside from the rock-bottom prices, NLC launched additional promotions like a 50% off your deposit and up to 75$ on-board credit that you can pick up when making a reservation. For further details go directly to NLC’s Page.