Cruise Lines Slashing Fares in Advance of Summer

PHOTO: Holland America is offering Alaska cruises priced from $499 on the Statendam. (Courtesy of Holland America Line)

Boy, is it a good time to buy a cruise. Many cruise lines are slashing fares, especially on shoulder-season departures and those coming up fairly quickly. Here are some recently announced, limited-time promotions.

Holland America Line is offering “Summer on Sale” specials on select cruises to Europe, Canada/New England and Alaska. Some sailings include free or reduced third- and fourth-berth fares for kids 17 and under. Some also include a $50-per-person beverage card.

A quick check on the line’s website found seven-day Alaska cruises from $499 per person, double occupancy. This price was good on the Statendam’s cruise from Seward to Vancouver departing May 25 for an inside cabin — but including, at least for now, a free upgrade to an obstructed ocean-view stateroom.

The May 10 departure of the Veendam from Quebec to Boston is priced from $399 for an inside and $449 for an obstructed-view window stateroom. Select weeklong Europe cruises start at $699 per person.

Windstar Cruises is offering up to 66 percent savings on new Exotic Destinations voyages to Asia, Arabia and Tahiti booked by April 25 for departures from May 2014 through February 2015. Voyages start at $2,199 per person and are detailed here. These Exotic Destinations cruises feature new complimentary private events, such as dinner on a private motu (island) at Bora Bora and a lion dance performance followed by dinner in a garden in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Azamara Club Cruises is again offering double stateroom upgrades on 60 cruises when booked by May 31. That means when you book an interior stateroom, you’re upgraded for free to a veranda stateroom. Click here for details and a list of eligible voyages.

Princess Cruises is offering Chicagoans, finally emerging from a miserable winter, rates as low as $599 on seven-night Caribbean cruises. That fare is good on the Caribbean Princess departure on Sept. 6 round-trip from Fort Lauderdale.

If you’re interested, act fast. Fares like this won’t last long.