Like most Americans, I’ve been in a deep funk about our sinking economy for several months. However my blues suddenly lifted last night when I opened an email from Cruises International with a list of steep cruise discounts as long as my arm.  Even more astonishing was the fact that the fire sale pricing is available on 2008 Christmas and New Year’s cruises.  Add to that the low fares weren’t confined to elderly ships but the newest vessels afloat, including the sparkling new Ruby Princess and Holland America’s Eurodam. 

Since I couldn’t believe my eyes, I emailed Jean Mallory at White Travel to see if this travel agency was offering similar fares.  “Absolutely!  We have a 14-day New York to Miami Caribbean cruise for $319 per person, double occupancy on Norwegian Cruise Line.  And the ports are terrific,” she said.

In a normal year Christmas cruises sell out by October at the highest ticket prices of the year.   By this time of the year you’d have to search very hard to find a stateroom available.   Here is just a sampling of the kind of deals you can score now at Cruises International.

12/20/08 Eurodam 7Nt. E. Caribbean $999 (Inside),$1099 (outside).
12/20/08 Ruby Princess 7 Nt. W. Caribbean $419 Inside) $519 (Outside) $699 (balcony) $879 (Suite)
12/20/08 Carnival Splendor 7 Nt. E. Caribbean $799 (inside) $899 (outside) $1049 (balcony) $2199 (suite)
12/21/08 Adventure of the Seas 7 Nt. S. Caribbean $699 (inside) $749 (outside)$849 (balcony) $1599 (suite)

White Travel’s Jeal Malloy said that lots of experienced cruisers are jumping at these deals and I can see why. The economy isn’t going to be in terrible shape forever, after all. In fact, I predict that the odds of ever seeing holiday cruises priced this low again are between slim and none. I’ll ring out this New Year’s in the Caribbean sitting on my balcony cabin with a glass of champagne.  And if it’s at all possible, I suggest that you do the same thing.

 The discount cruises cited in this article are typically available at most travel agencies.