Editors' Travel Deal Review

Discounts up to 62% on fall transatlantic crossings

Cruise from Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Italy

By ShermansTravel Staff

October 13, 2008 11:26 am EDT

Book By: ASAP (September 10)

Travel By: November 2008

It’s that time of year again: The kids are off to college, a crispness hangs in the air, and many cruise lines have begun to reposition their fleets, leaving the soon-to-be-colder coasts of Europe for warmer waters. Whether you’re new to cruising or a seasoned pro, you won’t want to miss the grouping we’ve compiled of transatlantic westward crossings this fall. Each features lovely ports of call, relaxing days at sea and discounts as great as 62%. These end-of-season one-way journeys are unique opportunities – not repeating until 2009, so take advantage while you can!

62% off Denmark to Florida odyssey
If you can travel as soon as September 17 from Denmark’s Copenhagen, we suggest this 18-day, eight-country extravaganza from Princess Cruises. The delightful itinerary aboard the Crown Princess includes: Dover, England; Dublin, Ireland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Reykjavik, Iceland; Qagortog, Greenland; St. John’s, Newfoundland; New York; and Fort Lauderdale. Almost every port of call is padded with at least one day of sailing – for a total of 10 at sea. Prices on interior staterooms – which start at $1095 - have been cut by more than $1800. You save 62% off rack rates! Just hurry – September 17 is right around the corner. 

16-night journey on Carnival from $799
Carnival has an end-of-October excursion with whopping discounts up to $1200 per person. Interior cabins on the 16-night trip, which combines visits to Mediterranean and Caribbean ports of call with 10 days of cruising, start at $799. That’s a savings of 60%! Setting sail on October 29 from Civitavecchia (Rome), the Carnival Splendor makes its way to Barcelona, the first stop before the sun-kissed isle of Mallorca. A day in the southern regional capital of Malaga follows. Next the ship passes through the Strait of Gibraltar on its way to the port city of Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira. After five days at sea, you arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, the last port of call before anchoring in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), the final destination.

Save 57% on Norwegian transatlantic cruise 
If you don’t mind coming home to Thanksgiving leftovers, you can save more than half off rack rates on a transatlantic crossing with Norwegian Cruise Line. The 13-night journey sets sail November 16 from Barcelona and tours the Western Mediterranean before arriving in New York on November 29. The Norwegian Gem’s first port of call is Villefranche-Sur-Mer, France. The vessel then heads to Italy’s Livorno (Florence and Pisa) and Civitavecchia (Rome). Ajaccio on Corsica is next, followed by a day on the water. Say adios to Europe from Spain’s Costa del Sol in Malaga, before spending six days on the high seas. Interior staterooms are $649 – a 57% discount off brochure prices of $1499. Ocean views can be had for $150 more; balcony cabins sell for $999.

Luxury for 49% less with Regency
For a taste of luxury cruising, we suggest a ticket on the November 23 jaunt with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Prices have been slashed by 49% and rates on the suite-only eight-day sail start at $2690. The Seven Seas Voyager departs from Funchal, Madeira, the Portuguese island west of Morocco, and cuts a course across the Atlantic to Florida’s Fort Lauderdale. During seven days at sea, guests are treated to amenities such as 24-hour room service; an in-room refrigerator stocked with beverages; bathrobes; and slippers. The suites feature private balconies, walk-in closets and flat screen TVs. The listed fare includes all gratuities and select wine and spirits on the ship.
 

For the Crown Princess cruise, go to www.vacationoutlet.com or call 1-800-TAKEOFF.

For Carnival Splendor’s sailing, visit www.orbitz.com or call 1-800-656-8184. 

For the Norwegian Gem journey, check out www.cruisesonly.com or call 1-800-CRUISES 

For the Seven Seas Voyager excursion, see www.crusesonly.com or call 1-800-CRUSES.