Maybe it’s the current economy, or maybe it’s just a bad year to take a lot of time off, but the question I’ve been asked most frequently is: can I recommend a good, quick, cheap cruise?
As it turns out, I can do just that.
There are some great voyages out there that don’t get a lot of media attention, just because they’re not the biggest or newest itinerary on the block. I’m hoping to change that.
The East Coast is blessed with some fantastic short cruises that leave from ports that are just a quick flight away. They’re also varied, with two-, three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Canadian Maritimes, Bermuda and even the eastern seaboard of the United States.
One of my favourites (that, shockingly, still has some space left) is aboard Cunard’s beautiful flagship, the grand Queen Mary 2, which will be coming fresh out of a multimillion-dollar refit in June If you’ve always wanted to sail aboard this ship, but not overly thrilled by the idea of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, this is the cruise for you.
On July 1, Queen Mary 2 will set sail from her Brooklyn, N.Y., berth to Halifax, followed by an overnight stay in Boston to take in the July 4 U.S. Independence Day celebrations. Voyage M609 — as it’s known in Cunard jargon — is currently going for about $1,199 per person, according to the company’s website (all prices may be subject to change). It also happens to be an annual tradition for the Queen Mary 2, drawing a number of loyal repeat guests each year.
For something more casual, try Royal Caribbean’s five-night cruise from Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, N.B., and Halifax. It departs on Sept. 13 aboard Serenade of the Seas — in my view, one of Royal Caribbean’s most beautiful ships. It’s nothing like the mammoth Harmony of the Seas and her sisters, yet she still manages to have banks of gorgeous glass windows, glass elevators, a multi-storey atrium and a two-storey dining room onboard. Royal Caribbean has this one starting at about $1,217 per person.
Finally, families who long to take a Disney cruise might want to hop aboard the line’s five-night Canadian Coast Cruise aboard Disney Magic. It departs on Oct. 2 from Manhattan and calls on Saint John, N.B., and Halifax. But like everything Disney, this magic doesn’t come cheap: expect to shell out about US$2,764 per person for this quick sailing.
On the West Coast, you can’t beat the repositioning cruises that happen at the end of the Alaska season. Every September and October, dozens of cruise ships bid Vancouver farewell and set sail for the warmer shores of California. These are sometimes called Pacific Northwest or Pacific Coastals, and they’re my absolute favourite pick for a quick getaway cruise. I’ve been taking these for more than a decade now, and I’m never disappointed in these short, relatively inexpensive sailings.
The one I’m eyeing at the moment: the three-day Pacific Northwest cruise aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam that sails round-trip from Vancouver on Oct. 1. Sure, it only sails to Seattle and then spends a day of scenic cruising on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, but starting at $448 per person, it’s one of the most inexpensive multi-day journeys you can take on the West Coast. It’s been a while since Holland America did these short round-trip voyages, and it’s nice to see them back again.
If you just want to get away, hop aboard Princess Cruises’ one-day voyages from Vancouver to Seattle. Crown Princess sails from Canada Place on Sept. 17, and sister-ship Ruby Princess departs the next day, Sept. 18. Starting at just over $100 per person, these are great voyages to test out Princess, try a new ship, or just get that last-minute “cruise fix.”
Norwegian Cruise Line offers something a bit longer: five-day journeys between Vancouver and Los Angeles aboard the super-cool Norwegian Pearl and her sister, Norwegian Jewel. These are really great ships, with plenty of windows, colourful public rooms, and wide open decks. And, of course, Norwegian’s casual, relaxed onboard atmosphere: no stuffy formal nights, no assigned dinner times or tables.
Norwegian Pearl (which even has a bowling alley onboard) sails on Sept. 26 from Vancouver, with calls on Victoria and San Francisco before she arrives at the San Pedro Cruise Terminal in Los Angeles. Sister Norwegian Jewel departs from Canada Place on Sept. 27, and calls on Victoria and Astoria (Ore.) before arriving in L.A. on Oct. 2. Starting prices range from US$329 to US$349.
If you don’t have the time for a full-length cruise to the Caribbean, these short gems are great options for a quick cruise getaway. But we’ll just keep that between us, right?