Editors' Travel Deal Review

Sail faraway oceans on top five-star ships

Up to $3175 off exotic odysseys around the world

By ShermansTravel Staff

April 09, 2008 09:36 am EDT

Book By:  ASAP

Travel By: Various through February 2009

Exotic voyages are the stuff of many travelers’ dreams so we’ve done the legwork to make those dreams come true. What we found is a trio of tremendous cruise specials that will be hitting faraway seas in early 2009. All three of these early-bird deals are aboard ultra-fancy vessels, with discounts of up to 34% and savings of $3175. Rates start at just $4639 for a nine-day China cruise aboard the exclusive Seabourn Spirit.

 
Pacific odyssey on Crystal Serenity
In January 2009, the five-star Crystal Serenity sets sail from Los Angeles on a 12-night Pacific odyssey all the way to Papeete, Tahiti. Regularly priced at a wallet-busting $9370, this is not a cruise you’d book on a whim. We found a CruisesOnly offer that reduces this price by 34%! Now oceanview staterooms on this voyage cost just $6195. En route, the ship calls at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Nuku Hiva, Marquesas; as well as three French Polynesian isles – Rangiroa, Moorea and Tahiti. You’ll sail on classy Crystal Serenity which, claims CruiseCritic.com, “features excellent cuisine and polished service that sets the standard in the luxury market.”

 
Sail the Indian Ocean on Silver Wind
We also spotted a fantastic cruise special by Orbitz, at a price that’s as irresistible as the exotic itinerary. The top-rated Silver Wind hits high seas in January 2009 on a nine-night Indian Ocean voyage at a price marked down by 24%. You’ll save $1499 if you book one of the suites on this voyage – these sell for $4721! The ship departs from Mombasa, Kenya, along the way taking in the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania; the spectacular Madagascar; and the archipelago of the Seychelles, where it disembarks. The three days at sea will be a real pleasure aboard this elite vessel described by CruiseCritic.com as “luxurious without being pretentious.”

 
China voyage aboard Seabourn Spirit
We found another unique cruising adventure, on sale by Vacation Outlet. An eight-night China odyssey aboard the stunning Seabourn Spirit now sells from only $4639! This sea journey kicks off next February from Hong Kong toward Shanghai, en route visiting the following ports of call – Xiamen, Jiangyin, and Nanjing – and cruising the Yangtze River. Rack rates for this one-off sailing start at $6185 but you’ll be saving a bundle with this early-bird special. In fact, the savings are $1546 if you book a suite on this ship, of which CruiseCritic.com writes, “The champagne flows liberally, there's opportunity to eat caviar, and all women get the arm of a waiter when they enter the dining room.”

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.

The savings are immense but the sailings still pricey.

For the Crystal Cruises sailing, check out www.cruisesonly.com or call 1-800-CRUISES.

For the cruise aboard Silver Wind, go to www.orbitz.com or call 1-888-656-8184.

For the Seabourn voyage, visit www.vacationoutlet.com or call 1-800-TAKEOFF.