Editors' Travel Deal Review

$649+: Transatlantic spring crossings

Cross the big pond for pennies this April

By ShermansTravel Staff

February 13, 2008 10:14 am EST

Book By:  ASAP

Travel By: April 2008

There are some legendary travel experiences one absolutely must have at least once in a lifetime, such as crossing the Atlantic on a cruise ship. As with all such unique trips, the price tag can be daunting, so we’ve done some research to bring these voyages within your reach. What we found is a trio of terrific deals, all scheduled for April departures, with discounts as high as 60% and prices as low as $649.

 
Spring sailing aboard Carnival Freedom
For a transatlantic crossing from Florida to Italy this spring, CruisesOnly offers a fantastic special. The 14-night sailing aboard the new Carnival Freedom now sells at a discount of 61% - just $699 in an inside cabin! The voyage sets sail on April 26 from Miami toward Rome. En route to Europe, the ship calls at St Maarten; the Portuguese island of Madeira; Spain’s Malaga; and Livorno in Italy. There are also nine entire days at sea aboard Carnival’s new Freedom that CruiseCritic.com describes as “an action-packed city at sea”. Oceanview cabins sell for just $1199!

 
Norwegian cruise from Miami to Dover
Another terrific spring option at a discount comes from Orbitz, for a 15-night Atlantic crossing with Norwegian. On April 20, Norwegian Jewel hits high seas from Miami on this voyage that ends in England’s Dover. The stellar savings on this odyssey rise to 60% off the brochure price! Indeed, inside cabins sell for $649 while oceanview staterooms go for just $50 more. The itinerary covers eight days at sea, plus visits to Ponta Delgada in the Portuguese Azores archipelago; Portugal’s capital of Lisbon; Vigo and La Coruña in Spain; Ireland’s Waterford; and Guernsey on the Channel Islands.

 
Cross the Atlantic on Queen Elizabeth 2
Crossing the big pond aboard Cunard’s legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 certainly ranks among the top five cruise experiences. It’s normally way overpriced but we found a Vacation Outlet deal that makes it affordable. You can save $212 off the advertised price if you book an interior cabin on this six-night journey from New York to Southampton. These units now sell for $1199; oceanview staterooms go for $1449. This April voyage isn’t about the itinerary – there are no ports of call – but what counts is the sailing experience aboard the grande dame of the seas.

The rates above are listed per person, based on double occupancy. The cost covers onboard accommodations, meals and entertainment, as well as port charges. You’ll just have to dish out extra for government taxes and fees, as well as any shore excursions you may decide to take.

Try not to think of Titanic when in the middle of the Atlantic.

For the Carnival cruise, check out www.cruisesonly.com or call 1-800-CRUISES and mention ShermansTravel.

For the Norwegian sailing, go to www.orbitz.com or call 1-888-656-8184 and mention ShermansTravel.

For the voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, visit www.vacationoutlet.com or call 1-800-TAKEOFF and mention ShermansTravel.