Cruise deals for 2010

The Norwegian Jewel, with a bowling alley, rock-climbing wall, 10 restaurants and 18 bars and lounges, is just one cruise line offering deals in 2010. Credit: Michel Verdure
When a new mega cruise ship comes online, you might expect to see some really lowball prices in order to fill all those additional staterooms in a sputtering economy.
Not so. Cruising's newest mega ship, Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, is commanding premium prices well above the norm and has been sailing pretty much full since its debut in December.
Most other new ships also charge higher rates - at least for an introductory period - but you often can sail on smaller, older ships on the same itineraries for much less.
So it's a mixed bag. Pay more, and you can enjoy the latest in cruise bells and whistles. Pay less - sometimes a lot less - and you'll sail to the same destinations, perhaps with fewer onboard amenities.
HOW SHIP SIZE FACTORS
"Perhaps" is the key word. While smaller, older ships command lower prices and more bargains, some of these ships aren't that small or that old.
More than a half-dozen ships carrying 3,000-plus passengers and loaded with onboard attractions have made their maiden voyages in the past two years, and nearly all offer good deals.
Check this comparison:
The new Oasis lists fares starting at $1,549 for a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale July 17. The same cruise line's 3,600-passenger Liberty of the Seas (new just three years ago) starts at $749 for a similar seven-nighter leaving Miami July 11.
"The larger ships are doing very well," says cruise expert Stewart Chiron, president of Leisure Pros. "Mega ships offer more options. Older ships are less appealing, so the lines have to adjust pricing on them or move them'' to other ports.
But even some brand-new ships have periods when they drop their prices to meet those of competing vessels. So good deals may still be had on a new ship on certain sailings.
Norwegian's new Norwegian Epic is a case in point. Fares on the new 4,200-passenger behemoth, which enters service out of Miami in July, start at $1,129 on a July 17 one-week Caribbean sailing, but drop to $649 in mid-September, the low season, a level comparable to competing ships.
PRICES UP
That said, prices on all cruise ships, new or old, big or small, are rising today after a year that saw some of the industry's lowest fares ever. Both Carnival and Norwegian announced price increases this spring, and demand remains strong. "We're seeing the end of rock-bottom pricing," says Mike Driscoll, editor of Cruise Week, a respected newsletter.
An exception may be Mexican Riviera cruises, which are depressed because of the Mexican drug violence and dire economic conditions in California, the chief source of passengers on that run.
WHERE THE DEALS ARE
For those looking for good deals in cruising, here is a selection of prices offered by a variety of cruise lines in several cruising locales.
Quoted fares are starting rates on a number of mainstream cruise ships, per person, double occupancy, as of press time. Terms and prices are subject to change without notice.
SEVEN-NIGHT EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISES
Here are six cruise lines with capacity, departure points and rates:
Royal Caribbean (Oasis of the Seas, debuted 2009)
Capacity: 5,400
Departure: Fort Lauderdale
Rates: $949 (mid-May); $1,549 (mid-July); $1,339 (mid-September)
Princess (Emerald Princess, debuted 2007)
Capacity: 3,070
Departure: Fort Lauderdale
Rates: $599 (mid-May); $749 (mid-July); $549 (mid-September)
Norwegian (Epic, debut July 2010)
Capacity: 4,200
Departure: Miami
Rates: $1,129 (mid-July); $649 (mid-September)
Carnival (Liberty, debuted 2005)
Capacity: 2,974
Departure: Miami
Rates: $659 (mid-May); $909 (mid-July); $569 (mid-September)
Royal Caribbean (Liberty of the Seas, debuted 2007)
Capacity: 3,634
Departure: Miami
Rates: $532 (mid-May); $749 (mid-July); $519 (mid-September)
Carnival (Dream, debuted2009)
Capacity: 3,652
Departure: Port Canaveral
Rates: $699 (mid-May); $959 (mid-July); $619 (mid-September)
ALASKA
Here are four cruise lines with length, departure points and rates:
Holland America (Zuiderdam, debuted 2002)
Length: 7-night Inside Passage cruise
Capacity: 1,848
Departure: Vancouver
Rates: $1,099 mid-May
Holland America (Volendam, debuted 1999)
Length: 7-night Inside Passage cruise
Capacity: 1,440
Departure: Vancouver
Rates: $899 mid-July
Princess (Diamond, debuted 2004)
Length: 7-night "Voyage of the Glaciers"
Capacity: 2,670
Departure: Vancouver, ends in Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska
Rates: $549 (mid-May); $799 (mid-July); $599 (mid-September)
Celebrity (Infinity, debuted 2001)
Length: 11-night "Ultimate Alaska"
Capacity: 2,034
Departure: San Francisco, ends in Vancouver
Rates: $749 mid-May
More: Also 7-night Alaska cruises from Seattle from $949 (mid-July); $669 (mid-September)
EUROPE
Here are four cruise lines with length, destination, departure points and rates:
Costa (Victoria, debuted 1996)
Destination: Eastern Mediterranean
Length: 7-night
Capacity: 1,928
Departure: Venice
Rates: $749 (mid-May); $1,499 (mid-July); $779 (mid-September)
Celebrity (Equinox, debuted 2009)
Destination: Mediterranean
Length: 10-night
Capacity: 2,850
Departure: Rome (Civitavecchia)
Rates: $1,699 (mid-May); $2,249 (mid-July)
More: 13-night cruise in mid-September, $2,399
Holland America (Nieuw Amsterdam, debut July 2010)
Destination: Mediterranean
Length: 12-night
Capacity: 2,044
Departure: Venice
Rates: $2,399 (mid-July); $2,599 (mid-September)
Princess (Ruby, debuted 2008)
Destination: Mediterranean
Length: 12-night
Capacity: 3,100
Departure: Venice, ends in Barcelona
Rates: $1,820 (mid-May); $1,999 (mid-July); $1,899 (mid-September)
FROM NEW YORK CITY
Here are six cruise lines with length, destination and rates:
Norweigan (Jewel, debuted 2005)
Destination: Bahamas and Florida
Length: 7-night
Capacity: 2,400
Rates: $529 (mid-May); $879 (mid-July)
Norweigan (Dawn, debuted 2002)
Destination: Bermuda
Length: 7-night
Capacity: 2,000
Rates: $509 (mid-May); $899 (mid-July)
Norweigan (Dawn, debuted 2002)
Destination: New England
Length: 7-night
Capacity: 2,000
Rates: $649 mid-September
Carnival (Miracle, debuted 2004)
Destination: Eastern Caribbean
Length: 8-night
Capacity: 2,100
Rates: $779 (mid-May); $1,249 (mid-July); $769 (mid-September)
Royal Caribbean (Explorer of the Seas, debuted 2000)
Destination: Bermuda and Bahamas
Length: 9-night
Capacity: 3,100
Rates: $759 mid-May
Royal Caribbean (Explorer of the Seas, debuted 2000)
Destination: Canada and New England
Length: 9-night
Capacity: 3,100
Rates: $696 mid-September
CRUISE LINE INFORMATION:
Carnival: 888-227-6482, carnival.com
Celebrity: 800-647-2251, celebritycruises.com
Costa: 877-882-6782, www.costacruise.com
Holland America: 877-932-4259, hollandamerica.com
Norwegian: 866-234-7350, ncl.com
Princess: 800-774-6237, princess.com
Royal Caribbean: 866-562-7625, royalcaribbean.com