The prospect of war in the Middle East has negatively affected the pace of bookings for international travel in the months of March and April, especially trans-Atlantic travel. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have simply put off planning a trip overseas at this time. A resulting benefit for those willing to travel in March and April: some of the lowest international air fares and air-and-land packages in recent years.
One would not think that the same fears would dampen travel to the Caribbean or Mexico, or the sale of cruises in tropical waters (including the Hawaiian islands), but they have. Call the various discount cruise brokers and tour operators offering packages to resort hotels, and you’ll find them eager to offer reduced rates for their products in March and April. Here are some of the top buys for those two months, and a few as well for the month of May:
– A seven-night cruise on the Norway for as little as $412 per person. Though the venerable flagship of the Norwegian Cruise Line has been sold at remarkable price levels before, this is the first time in my experience that port charges have been included in the offering, as they have here. For $412 per person, double occupancy, in inside cabins, the classic, old-line (and to us, still impressive) ship sails from Miami on March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, and April 6, 13, 20 and 27 to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and NCL’s private Caribbean island. Contact Cruise Value Center (800-231-7447; www.cruisevalue.com).
– A one-week cruise of Hawaii for as little as $547. This time during the month of April, a seven-night introduction to the Aloha islands takes you from big-city Honolulu to Kauai, Maui and the Big Island before dipping south to touch port in Fanning Island, in the nation of Kiribati (a stop required by American shipping laws). Seven nights on the Norwegian Star are only $547 on April 6, 13 and 20, and $647 on May 11 and 18. The cut-rate vendor: White Travel Service (800-547-4790).
– A week’s cruise from New York for only $399. Another unusually low price, which includes port charges and taxes, buys a full seven springtime nights on the Norwegian Sea. But unlike most cruises, this one heads north instead of south–round-trip out of the Big Apple to New England and Canada, calling at Boston; Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; Newport, R.I.; Bar Harbor, Maine; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship is most budget-friendly ($399) on its May 10 and 18 departures; a May 24 sailing is $50 more, and a May 31 sailing (which features a stop in Portland, Maine, and an additional night) is $100 extra. Again, call White Travel Service at 800-547-4790.
– A 10-night cruise from Los Angeles for only $996. Next comes an unprecedented low price for a 10-day spring break on the Sun Princess, one of four Princess “Grand Class” ships built in the late ’90s, for prices far lower than typical Easter-vacation rates. Leaving the port of Los Angeles, the cruise makes a 10-day festival out of Mexico’s most famous Pacific Coast resorts: Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, plus a few days at sea. The specially reduced price, which amounts to less than $100 a day including fees, is from GalaxSea (800-662-5450; www.cruisestar.com), which also offers a low rate of $350 for a third person sharing the same cabin. Sailing dates: March 26, April 5, 15 and 25.
– A week in Costa Rica from $819, including air from Chicago. In this unusual package, you spend your first and last nights in Costa Rica’s bustling capital city of San Jose, at the modern Best Western Irazu Hotel and Casino (327 rooms, swimming pool, casino, restaurant), with daily breakfast included, then move on to the coast to enjoy five nights in Jaco Beach (transfer included) at the Best Western Jaco Beach Resort (125 rooms, gardens, seaside disco), with all meals and beverages included. Your Travel Service (888-877-9131; www.yourtravelservice.com) provides the package at $859 April/$819 May. Extra nights: $60; single supplement: $410.
And finally, a week in Belize for as little as $775, including air from Chicago. The talented people at Capricorn Leisure (800-426-6544; www.capricorn.net) sell this seven-night stay in spacious, sunset-view rooms at the warm and intimate Corona del Mar Hotel (12 rooms, four apartment suites), 10 minutes by foot from the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. Lowest rate from Chicago and the Midwest is for May; add $99 for April. l Single supplement: $227 April, $175 May.