By Matt Roseboom
Your alarm clock goes off early. You’re late to work and get reprimanded by your boss, who makes you work late, which makes you get home late, which makes your spouse and kids unhappy. This chain reaction won’t happen every day, but just one of these things may make you think to yourself, “I deserve a cruise.”
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) agrees and it’s teamed up with its cruise line members for the “You Deserve a Cruise” promotion. Most of the top cruise lines are offering special limited-time deals. Here’s a sampling:
Most of the cruise lines are taking part in the “You Deserve a Cruise” promotion. From shipboard credits, to cabin upgrades, to free shore excursions, you’re sure to find some sort of special offer. Photo by Matt Roseboom
Costa: Get a two category cabin upgrade on Caribbean sailings between November and April 2010 aboard the Costa Atlantica and Costa Fortuna.
Crystal: Crystal’s new All Inclusive – As You Wish promotion extends up to $2,000 in shipboard credits to spend any way you choose on nearly every voyage for 2009 and 2010.
Cunard: Thirty percent off early booking fares on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria 2010 World Cruise (Full), Liner and Segment Voyages. The offer equates to sailing one month free when booking the Full World Cruise.
Disney: Book a verandah stateroom and receive up to $700 onboard credit on a seven-night Caribbean cruise. Offer is available on most sailings June 20 to Aug. 8. Book a verandah stateroom during a four-night sailing and receive up to a $400 onboard credit on most sailings June 28 to Aug. 9, or a three-night sailing to receive up to a $300 onboard credit on most sailings June 25 to Aug. 6.
MSC Cruises: European cruise balcony staterooms from $999 per person (savings of 60 percent), plus kids sail free. Offer ends June 30. Caribbean Cruises from $399, plus kids sail free.
Oceania: $2,000 price reduction off two for one cruise fares, with free airfare per stateroom on all 2010 sailings to Europe.
Princess: Enjoy a free upgrade to a balcony stateroom on a wide selection of cruises in 2010.
Regent Seven Seas: In addition to all 2010 voyages featuring two-for-one savings, free airfare and free unlimited shore excursions, you can also save up to an additional $1,000 per guest ($2,000 per suite) when you book by Sept. 30. Plus, guests sailing in upper suite categories (MS-C) receive free round-trip business class airfare.
Royal Caribbean: Book by July 24 and receive up to $100 onboard credit per person for select fall Caribbean sailings.
Silversea: Get a $1,000 onboard spending credit on select 2009 voyages when you make a new booking before July 31. Fly for free or at reduced rates plus transfers with a limited time offer available in both economy and business class on some voyages for guests originating in certain U.S. and Canadian gateways.
These are just some of the “You Deserve a Cruise” offers. For more deals and information, visit www.cruising.org/youdeserveacruise.
