Every Wednesday ShipCritic runs the best cruise bargains of the week.  If you see a terrific bargain, pounce: the best deals go first and, in some cases, only a handful of staterooms are available.  Happy Hunting! 

Caribbean/Bahamas

* Ten-night Caribbean cruise aboard Emerald Princess sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale.  Departing Feb 14, 2008, the ship visits Antigua,  St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Thomas and Princess Cays in the Bahamas. Per person double occupancy fares start at $1099. Additional information and reservations may be obtained by contacting Viva Vacations or calling (866) 408-8482.

* A four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas starts at $269 per person, double occupancy on the January 14, 2008 departure.  Sailing round-trip from Port Canaveral, the ship visits Nassau and Cococay, RCI’s private island.  For additional information and reservations, visit 123 Travel’s web site or call (800) 560-7294. 

* Five night Western Caribbean voyage aboard RCI’s Enchantment of the Seas round trip from Ft. Lauderdale during January and February, 2008.  Ports of call are Belize, Cozumel and Key West with rates starting at $379 per person, double occupancy plus pre-paid gratuities and onboard credit. For additional information and reservations, visit American Discount Cruises & Travel web site or call (866) 214-7447.

Mexico

* Ring in the New Year aboard Carnival’s Elation on a five-night cruise from San Diego departing Dec. 29, 2007. Fares start at $669 per person, double occupancy.  Ports of call are Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. For reservations and additional information call 123 Travel’s web site or call (800) 560-7294. 

Alaska

*  Seven-night May 2, 2008 Holland America cruise aboard the Veendam sailing round-trip from Vancouver.  Ports of call are Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan.  Per person, double occupancy fares start at $826, including taxes, port charges and fuel surcharge. Available exclusively from White Travel; call 800-547-4790 or email info@cruisewizard.com 

Europe

*A 12-night Scandinavia cruise aboard Grand Princess sails round-trip from Southampton U.K. departing June 19, 2008. Ports of call include Stavanger, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Trondheim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Flamm and Bergen with three days at sea, starting at $1962 per person, double occupancy.  Reservations and additional information may be obtained by visiting the Cruise Brothers’ web site or calling (800) 827-7779.

Repositioning Cruises

* Ten-night repositioning cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas from Boston to Miami departing Oct. 28, 2008. Ports of call are San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Aruba with five days at sea.  Per person, double occupancy rates start at $891, available from White Travel. For reservations and additional information call (800) 547-4790 or email Info@cruisewizard.com. 

* Here’s an cruise/air combo on an 18-night repositioning cruise from Sao Paolo, Brazil and Miami aboard Celebrity’s 680-passenger Azamara Journey.  Departing March 22, 2008, the ship visits Rio de Janeiro, Parati, Iiheus, Salvador and Recife in Brazil and the Caribbean ports of Barbados, Dominica and Turks & Caicos with five days at sea. Per person, double occupancy rates for the air/sea package start at $2,499 with paid gratuities and $300 onboard credit.  For additional information and reservations, visit Cruise-club’s web site or call (800) 982-2276.

* A 24-day repositioning cruise from New York to Carthage, Tunesia aboard Holland America’s Noordam, departing April 5, 2008 has fares beginning at $2699 per person, double occupancy.  After departing New York the ship visits Bermuda and crosses the Atlantic to Funchal, Madeira.  Additional ports of call include Lisbon; Cadiz/Seville, Spain; Casablanca; Barcelona; Monte Carlo; Livorno, the port of Florence and Pisa; Civitavecchia (port of Rome); Toulon, France and Tunis. Reservations and information may be obtained by visiting Affordable Tours’ web site or calling (800) 935-2620.