More yacht deals: Why this could be the year to spend winter holidays on a ship

As cruise lines continue to slash fares to boost bookings, the holidays can be a great time to set sail, with deals on cruises coming in 2022 everywhere you look. see — some for as little as $50/person/night.

Travel demand is on the rise in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning airfares have skyrocketed, as have prices for hotels, resorts, and all-inclusive services on the mainland. This means that, with yacht prices still low, a cruise vacation can offer some of the best value if you’re looking to hit the road on vacation.

Whether you’re planning to spend them on your significant other, a group of friends, or your entire extended family, you’d be missing out if you didn’t check out some of the great last-minute travel deals we’ve got. I discovered for Thanksgiving trips, ChristmasHanukkah and New Year.

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model yacht

Here are some examples of fares I saw at three popular tourist destinations during the holidays.

Bahamas

• thanksgiving: 5-night Carnival Sunrise Cruise, round-trip from Miami on November 23, from $479 per person ($96 per night).
• Christmas/Hanukkah: Cruise the Norwegian skies for 3 nights, round-trip from Miami on December 23, from $279 per person ($93 per night).
• New Year: 8 nights Norwegian Getaway, round trip from New York on December 31, from $629 per person ($79 per night).

Caribbean

• thanksgiving: A nine-night, round-trip Celebrity Infinity cruise from Fort Lauderdale on November 19 from $599 per person ($67 per night).
• Christmas/Hanukkah: 16-night Zaandam (US Netherlands) cruise from Fort Lauderdale on December 20, from $1,049 per person ($66 per night).
• New Year: Radiance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) 7-night cruise, round-trip from New Orleans on December 31, from $571 per person ($82 per night).

Mediterranean

• thanksgiving: Princess Regal 15-night boat ride, from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Fort Lauderdale on November 17, from $857 per person ($57 per night).
• Christmas/Hanukkah: 5-night MSC Magnifica Cruise, round-trip from Marseille on December 22, from $299 per person ($60 per night).
• New Year: 4-night MSC Poesia cruise, from Genoa to Rome (Civitavecchia) on December 31, from $243 per person ($61 per night).

Good print

There are some caveats, however. Listed prices are for the most basic windowless cabins, as advertised at VacationsToGo.com. They also have double occupancy, which means they charge per person, not per ride. Solo travelers must pay both fares if they are alone in a double occupancy room. (Some cruise lines provide single cabin.)

Also, taxes and port charges are not usually included in the fare you see initially. Airfare and hotels in advance of your journey can also add to the overall cost of your trip. Look for trips departing from a port you can drive to if you fly on a budget.

While cruise rates for holiday weeks aren’t as low as what we’ve seen during non-holiday weeks this fall – think Carnival fare $26 per day and Royal Caribbean trip for under $100 — they are still affordable, offering a much more economical choice than land-based vacations. (While the prices above are extremely low, anything under $1,000 per person, per ride, is still a bargain on holiday excursions.) Alternatively, you can See multiple locations in one trip.

Not quite ready to sail yet? There are other great bargains coming for rides in 2023 and beyond with this year Black Friday cruise deals. Check out early deals from major cruise lines with discounted fares and extra perks like free airfare, Wi-Fi, wine packages, etc.

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