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A trans-Atlantic cruise on Cunard's iconic Queen Mary 2 can be quite pricey, even for lower-category cabins that tend to be quite small. You're paying more for the line's historic reputation and the upscale amenities on the ship, like a fabulous enrichment program, planetarium, beautiful art in public areas, and impressive ballroom and theater. But cruise on the April 20 six-night sailing from Southampton to New York, and you can nab an inside cabin for $808 per person -- possibly the lowest price we've seen on this itinerary. In addition, you'll receive up to $150 onboard credit per cabin to spend in the spa, souvenir shop and specialty restaurants.

Once the holidays are over, continue the fun with a 12-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean on Azamara Journey. You can shop at outdoor markets in Guadeloupe, enjoy French food in Martinique and relax on the beach in St. Lucia. Onboard, enjoy presentations by destination specialists and other experts, the Elemis Spa, and fine dining in two specialty restaurants featuring steakhouse and Mediterranean cuisine. Fares start at $1,499 per person for a guarantee inside cabin (you can't choose your specific cabin location). It's a reasonable price for a deluxe line, but on this itinerary, you may want to upgrade to a balcony cabin to fully enjoy the sea breezes and island views.

Set sail for the Eastern Caribbean on a ship with real sails, when you cruise on Windstar's Wind Surf. A seven-night sailing this December features only one sea day and multiple ports, such as exclusive St. Barth's, uncrowded Iles des Saintes and lush Nevis. Fares start at $1,674 per person, and include up to $300 onboard credit per cabin. Cabins are on the small side, but make great use of space, so you won't feel crowded. Windstar passengers will appreciate the intimate ship size, excellent service and fine dining, though onboard entertainment options are limited.

Through the end of the month MSC Cruises is holding a "Balcony Blowout" promotion on select seven-night sailings to the Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Western Mediterranean. Balcony cabins start at $999 per person, an excellent price for this type of stateroom. The ships included in the promotion are MSC Poesia,

MSC's special offer saves baby boomers and seniors up to 60 percent off of select 2009 sailings in Europe -- specifically Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries. Cruises start from $599 per person on seven-night itineraries and $999 per person for 11-night itineraries. Plus, cruises on the two newest ships in the MSC fleet -- MSC Fantasia (debuting in December 2008) and MSC Splendida (debuting Spring 2009) are included in this deal. At least one guest must be 50 years of age by the date of embarkation, and bring along the kids or grand kids for even more savings with MSC's "Kids Sale Free" program (up to two children that are 17 years of age or younger cruise for free).

For a limited time, Silversea is offering free roundtrip economy airfare from East Coast cities, and discounted airfare from other North American cities, on select Europe cruises departing in summer 2009. The offer is available for new bookings made by March 31, 2009. Given that summer airfare to Europe can be quite expensive -- often over $1,000 per person -- this promotion offers the potential for huge savings for travelers who don't want to give up a spot of luxury in this weakened economy. Book soon, and you may also be able to take advantage of Silversea's early-booking discounts, ranging from 10 to 50 percent off published fares.

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's on a single cruise when Star Princess sails around South America this December and January. The 14-night sailing begins in Rio de Janeiro, journeys around the tip of the continent at Cape Horn and winds up in Santiago. Onboard holiday celebrations will include latkes and menorah lighting on Hanukkah, a "gingerbread challenge" and a caroling talent show on Christmas, and a champagne party on New Year's -- not to mention, snow flurries in the ship's atrium. Fares start at $995 per person -- a great price for a holiday sailing on Princess, as long as you don't mind staying in an inside cabin.

West Coast residents have a close-to-home option for getting away for the holidays. NCL's Norwegian Star sets sail on December 20 for a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise out of Los Angeles. Indulge in a little Christmas or Hanukkah sunbathing in three Mexican ports, and make merry with festive holiday meals, caroling and seasonal movies onboard. Fares start at $699 for an inside cabin, which is a very reasonable price for a popular holiday sailing.

Spend the holidays in the sunny Eastern Caribbean on a seven-night cruise onboard Carnival Triumph. Visit historic Old San Juan, buy last-minute gifts at St. Thomas' duty-free shops and veg out on St. Thomas' beaches on Christmas Day. Fares start at $529 per person and include a shore excursion discount and coupon book for onboard savings.

For a quick holiday getaway, take a four-night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Imagination. Start your celebrating by savoring key lime pies in Key West and margaritas in Cozumel before spending Christmas Day at sea. Carnival goes all out for the holidays with seasonal decorations, holiday-themed shows, a visit from Santa and a special dinner featuring turkey and pecan pie. Fares start at $299 per person and include a shore excursion discount and coupon book for onboard savings. Book soon -- balcony cabins have already sold out.

Luxury river and canal cruise line French Country Waterways is offering early-booking savings on its 2009 itineraries. You can save 10 - 20 percent off the published fares of six-night sailings along the rivers and canals of France, and the offer is combinable with seasonal discounts as well. French Country Waterways' fleet of luxury barges carry 8 - 12 passengers, and the intimate experience includes daily sightseeing tours, dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant, wine at lunch and dinner, and new for 2009, a lunch ashore on all itineraries. Early-booking fares range from $5,836 to $7,376.

If you've got two weeks for a winter vacation, here's a deal you'll be hard pressed to pass up. You can book a 15-night trans-Atlantic cruise on deluxe ship Azamara Journey for as low as $599 per person. For $40 a night, you'll spend a week in Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands and another week at sea. Onboard, you'll have access to butler service, multiple restaurants and a spa. The downside is that your home for two weeks will be a 158 square-ft. inside cabin, but you can upgrade to an outside or balcony cabin and still pay under $100 a night. Don't forget to factor the price of airfare into your calculations as one-way flights can often be pricey.

How can you visit Mexico, Hawaii and Hong Kong in one trip? Combine two sailings on Crystal Symphony for a 25-night trans-Pacific adventure. You'll depart Los Angeles for a typical three-port visit to the Mexican Riviera, then stop again in Los Angeles before heading across the ocean to Hong Kong via an overnight in Honolulu. Fares start at $6,145 per person. You'll be in an outside cabin with a limited or obstructed view, but you can't beat the price of $245 a night on a luxury cruise ship with all of Crystal's onboard amenities (such as multiple restaurants, top-notch onboard enrichment and, of course, a decadent spa).

Explore Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania on a 10- or 11-night Danube river cruise, offered by Cruise West onboard Amadeus Diamond. You'll see medieval towns, romantic castles and quaint villages. Fares start at $4,899 per person on select departures in July and October 2009. Plus if you book and pay in full by December 19, 2008, you can save up to $1,100 per cabin.

Sail around Japan on Cruise West's most luxurious, all-suite vessel, Spirit of Oceanus. Your in-depth tour will include visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, coastal ports, castle towns and ancient dwellings. Fares start at $6,349 per person for outside cabins on select March and April 2009 departures. Plus, if you book and pay in full by November 21, 2008, you'll save $800 per cabin.

Get up close and personal with whales, bears and glaciers in Alaska on a three- or four-night Glacier Bay cruise on Cruise West's Spirit of Glacier Bay. The 102-passenger ship can cruise up narrow channels where larger ships can't go, and onboard park rangers and cultural interpreter will give interested cruisers details about the area's ecology, wildlife and native culture. Fares start at $1,049 per person, and you can save up to $600 per cabin when you book and pay in full by December 12, 2008.

Leave the beaten Alaska cruise path behind, when you set sail on an 8-night "Whales & Wilderness" cruise or 12-night cruise tour on Cruise West's Spirit of Discovery or Spirit of Alaska. You'll travel to the far reaches of Alaska's Inside Passage to see fjord, glaciers, seals, black bears and whales. Cruise West even guarantees that you'll see a whale, or you'll get $250 refunded to you. If you book and pay in full by December 12, 2008, you can save up to $1,100 per cabin on your 2009 Alaska adventure.

Sail roundtrip from Hamburg on an 11-night Baltic cruise with a bit of an unusual itinerary. Hurtigruten's Fram calls at the typical Baltic ports of Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg, but also throws in visits to Ronne -- a charming town on a Danish island -- and Visby -- a 12th century powerhouse whose stone towers and ruins of medieval churches let visitors step back into the past. Fares start at $3,679 per person.

Explore Western Europe with a Norwegian point of view on a 13-night cruise aboard Hurtigruten's Fram. In port, you can get a little tipsy in Porto, ogle chateaux in Bordeaux, stock up on Belgian chocolate in Antwerp and visit world-class museums in Amsterdam. Onboard, you can dine on northern European delicacies (smoked fish, berry jams), view photos of polar expeditions and buy European wines in Norwegian kroner. Fares start at $3,799 per person.

The time around the holidays can be so stressful, but it doesn't have to be. This seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Dawn allows you to relax during this busy season, and it starts at just $249 per person -- only $35 per night. Visiting four great ports of call, like Tortola and Cayo Levantado, will be a breeze with these super-low fares. With all the money you save, do some holiday shopping when you dock in St. Thomas, which is known for its great selection of duty free shops.