ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I just returned from 21 days in Indonesia and were amazed by the stack of cruise brochures in the accumulated mail. These brochures even surpassed the usual solicitations for credit cards and donations, not an easy feat. I usually rip…toss…tip…toss…but not this time because some of the offerings are quite incredible both for 2009 and 2010!

None of the costs given below include port taxes and government fees. On the more luxurious side:

- Oceania Cruises has a 12-day voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires for $2,299 per guest including Free Airfare for an inside room. If you’ve never considered an inside room, think about it. You are inside the stateroom a minimal amount of time, the inside staterooms are usually larger, and the lower you are in a ship, the more stable the ride. Been there…done it…and it is just fine! You’ll also receive the exact same amenities as those passengers staying in a higher priced room. As long as you’re not claustrophobic, it’s a steal.

NCL Star in port
- Azmara Cruises offers a few great looking summer, 2009 cruises including a Western Europe in August that visits Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Prais, Bordeaux, Gibraltar, Palma and Barcelona with an ocean view room from $2,049. A shipboard credit is included – no air.

- Viking River Cruises has an incredible Waterways of the Czars cruise with guided tours from St. Petersburg to Moscow (no air) in September 2009 for $1,430!

Now, let’s talk what I considered cheap:

- NCL is now cruising around Europe. Escape the crowds in the Fall with a 12-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona with prices not only beginning at $719/person, but an additional guest sails from $299/person! They also have 7-day cruises stretching from June through November beginning at $549/person!

casino on board NCL ship
Times are bad right now for almost everyone and it may be difficult for you to think of spending money vacationing away from home, but the cruise lines (among others) are making it almost irresistible. Try to cash in those air miles for a free ticket and give it some thought.

Carnival.com Four Fabulous Europe Cruises 12 days from as low as $1149!