USA TODAY Cruise Log with Gene Sloan


Editors' Travel Deal Review

September Mediterranean sailings from $787

50% off Norwegian & Holland America rack rates

By ShermansTravel Staff

July 07, 2008 06:09 pm EDT

Book By: ASAP

Travel By: September 2008

The Deal

While seas may be rocky in the Caribbean, autumn is the perfect time for a Mediterranean cruise. We found a trio of September sailings that rival any land-based tour, all with not-to-be missed ports of call that range from Spain to Turkey. Price tags as low as $787 help make the most of the weak dollar!

$787 for a Norwegian seven-nighter

If you have a week, Expedia has just the deal for you. Sail roundtrip from Barcelona for seven nights for an unbelievably low $787! The Norwegian Gem visits Valletta, Malta; Naples, Italy; Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome); Livorno, Italy (Florence); and Villefranche-sur-Mer, France (Nice). Choose from four departure dates throughout the month. Quote is valid for inside cabins. Expedia is offering additional savings on bookings made through July 31.

10-night sojourn from just $999

Prefer a slightly longer cruise? Opt for the 10-night Holland America Roman Empire voyage and save up to 50% off rack rates! After setting sail on September 4 from Rome (Civitavecchia) on the Noordam, it’s on to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Katakolon (Olympia) and Santorini, Greece; and Kusadesi (Ephesus), Turkey. Valletta on Malta and Messina on Sicily are also stops before the ship returns to port in Rome. Interior cabins are priced at a low $999!

Five countries, 12 nights from $1187

Perhaps you want to experience a bit more? Norwegian Cruise Line offers another tour that takes you to eight cities and five countries in 12 nights. The Norwegian Jade wends its way from Barcelona to Istanbul stopping in Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples and Venice in Italy; Dubrovnik in Croatia; Piraeus, Greece and Izmir, Turkey along the way. Inside rooms on the freestyle cruise embarking September 7 run just $1187! That’s half off brochure prices. Book by July 31 on Expedia and save up to $150 more.

The Dollars

Prices include onboard accommodations, meals, some beverages, port charges, entertainment, and more. Government fees, taxes, and alcohol are not covered.

The Catch

Pricey airfare to departure destinations. And, with only one day in each locale, you’ll have to scramble to explore the cities. If possible, make arrangements ahead of time for must-see sites.

Booking Details

For the Norwegian Gem sail, go to www.expedia.com or call 1-888-249-3978.

For the Holland America cruise, go to www.cruisesonly.com and call 1-800-CRUISES.

For the Norwegian Jade trip, go to www.expedia.com or call 1-888-249-3978.

Terms and Conditions

Check for the best rates on hotels anywhere across the globe with QuickSearch. All prices, dates, and booking details listed above were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.


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