Plan Ahead for Holiday Sailings
With so many big new cruise ships coming into service, a potential passenger might be excused for thinking that there are plenty of cabins to choose from, even on a last-minute booking.
That's usually true on heavily traveled routes off season, such as spring in Alaska and fall in the Caribbean. But veteran cruisers know there are certain perennial favorites that require booking well ahead of departure to get any cabin at all.
First of all is the Christmas cruise. More and more families are opting to travel during or just after Christmas. Southern Californians flock to Christmas and New Year's cruises sailing from the port of Los Angeles, especially round-trip schedules that let them avoid the holiday crush at airports.
Ships with a home port in Los Angeles and with holiday cruises include Carnival's Jubilee, which sails Dec. 21 and 28 on its regular Mexican Riviera itinerary (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) at rates from $1,459 per person, double occupancy, including port charges and a holiday surcharge.
The same line's Holiday, usually making three- and four-day cruises to Ensenada, will offer special 10- and 11-day cruises along the Mexican Riviera departing on Dec. 19 and 29, and Jan. 9 and 19. Ports of call include Manzanillo, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and, on the 11-day itinerary, Huatulco. Fares begin at $1,589 per person, double occupancy, including port charges. A $150 holiday surcharge is added to the sailings of Dec. 19 and 29.
Royal Caribbean International's Viking Serenade maintains its three- and four-night round-trip sailings from Los Angeles, calling at Ensenada, Mexico, at fares from $658 per person, double occupancy, including port charges. Add $75 surcharge for a holiday sailing. And RCI's Song of America is scheduled for a winter season of seven-night round-trip sailings to the Mexican Riviera beginning Nov. 30 at brochure fares from $1,249 per person, double occupancy, including port charges, plus a surcharge of $150 per person for holiday sailings.
This year's holiday sailings on ships not based here all season include a round-trip cruise to Hawaii aboard Crystal Cruises' Crystal Harmony, leaving Los Angeles Dec. 21 and calling in Ensenada, Maui's port of Lahaina, Nawiliwili in Kauai, Honolulu and Kailua on the Big Island of Hawaii before returning to Los Angeles Jan. 6. Brochure fares start at $5,265 per person, double occupancy, but area residents can deduct $200 air credit (or apply it to the $140 port tax) since they don't need to fly to the ship. For more information, ask a travel agent or call Crystal at (310) 785-9300.
