From mega cruise ships to houseboats, and steamboats to windjammers, we’ve got you covered

By ShermansTravel Editorial Staff

There’s little doubt that a cruise craze has swept the nation – some of us were just born with seafaring souls, some love cruising for the popular (or yet-to-be-discovered) ports of call, while still others are simply in it for the hassle-free vacation that a cruise vacation can provide.

The catch, for many of us, however, is finding the time to make our dreams of deck-time a reality. Well, happily your ship’s come in, thanks to these short cruise vacations that will get you just about anywhere from popular islands with turquoise shores to south-of-the border hotspots, or from the banks of the Mississippi to the historic harbors of New England. From mega cruise ships to houseboats, and steamboats to windjammers, we’ve got you covered. Best of all, each of these short sailings – ranging from 1 to 5 nights in duration – depart from ports within the continental U.S., making these quick cruise escapes within easy reach.

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Now, more than ever, travelers are seeking out vacation options that offer the best bang for their buck. And time and time again, cruising from a nearby “homeport” tops this list not only for its tremendous value, but for its sensible convenience, too. With a surplus of cost-conscious cruise lines operating in a healthy state of competition, our editors have seen bargain cruises sell for as little as $99 of late, ranging from one-night dinner-and-dancing “cruises to nowhere” to quickie trips to the Bahamas. Even for more exotic and lengthy sailings to locales like Hawaii or Latin America, it’s rare to see cruise starting rates quoted above triple-digit pricing (there seems to be a psychological barrier that the cruise companies don’t wish to cross by pricing base rates above $999). Good luck stretching your dollar that far – with lodging, meals, transportation, and many activities thrown in – back on land. Plus, save loads of cash by skipping out on the expensive international or long-haul domestic flights and opting for ground transportation or quick flights to nearby homeports instead. Read the rest of this post »