Jetsettersblog

Member lines of the Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance are offering savings for the 2009-2010 winter season.

Cruise West passengers save $2,000 per cabin when they pay in full for the Feb. 8 departure of the 18-night “Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands” voyage on the 114-guest Corinthian II by July 10.

Prices before the savings start at $13,899 per person and include a one-night stay at the Palacio Duhau in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

The line’s nine-night “Panama & Costa Rica Between Two Seas” and new six-night “Cocos Island” itineraries are priced from $3,999 and $2,799, respectively, but those who pay in full by June 26 can save $800 per double-occupancy cabin for departures between December through April.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering a Dec. 12 seven-night cruise from Dover to Copenhagen, Hamburg and Amsterdam from $757. A 10-day Iberia cruise departing Portsmouth on Nov. 8, visiting ports in Spain and Portugal, is priced from $1,232.

Galapagos Explorer II is offering a “Flightless Cormorant Promotion” from October to December with per-passenger discounts from $315 to $855.

The promotion is restricted to a maximum of six passengers per departure on specified sailings.

Onboard coupons for three soft beverages per day and snorkeling equipment rental are also provided. Reservations will be taken on or after June 1.

Rates are based on FIT passengers only and are not applicable to groups. Orion Expedition Cruises, the Sydney-based luxury line, is offering a 25 percent discount on its 13-night “New Zealand & Sub-Antarctic Islands” sailings departing on Dec. 1 and Dec. 14.

Peter Deilmann EuropAmerica Cruises is offering a $99 business-class air package to guests who join one of four South American departures.

The offer includes roundtrip air from 73 North American gateways and transfers to and from the vessel, or up to $2,500 off the per-passenger price of the cruise.

All guests receive a package of complimentary shore excursions valued at $700 per person.

The four 13- to 20-night voyages, departing in January and February aboard the Deutschland, explore Ecuador, Peru and Chile on the west coast, journey around Cape Horn, take in Antarctica, cruise the Amazon or visit Rio at Carnival time. Cruise fares range from $5,205 to $23,760 per person, double.

Star Clippers is extending its offer of free round-trip air between Tahiti and Los Angeles to most of Star Flyer’s seven-, 10- and 11-night departures through 2009.

For guests needing air from other gateways across the U.S., the line has reduced air fares to $145 to $395 per person.

Fares for the seven-night cruise begin at $2,225 per person, double occupancy, with the free air from Los Angeles offer.

The 10-night cruises with complimentary airfare begin at $3,175 per person, and 11-night cruise fares begin at $3,465. Reservations must be made before June 30, and port charges and an air tax are additional.

Variety Cruises is offering a 10 percent early-booking discount on its Dec. 11, Jan. 8 and Jan. 22 seven-night “Best of Egypt” Red Sea cruises on the Harmony V. Full payment must be received by Aug. 20.

Passengers also receive two complimentary nights at a five-star Cairo hotel, airport-to-city transfers in Cairo, airport-to-port transfers in Hurghada and a half-day sightseeing tour of Cairo.

Rates start at $2,390 per person, based on category B. The offer is valid for cabin categories A and B.

Setting sail for India, Asia and Africa, destination specialist Voyages of Discovery is offering two-for-one pricing with free air on select cruises this winter. Two-for-one fares are available on cruises sailing between Nov. 28 and March 1.

The promotion is capacity controlled and requires a $500 non-refundable deposit. Cruises feature free or low-cost air add-ons from $395 to $795.

The 13 NCMA-member lines have banded together to educate travel agents on the value of concentrating on the sale of specialty cruise products. The alliance provides educational programs, seminar content and trade show exposure for its members. NCMA member lines include American Canadian Caribbean Line, American Cruise Lines, Cruise West, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Galapagos Explorer II, Hurtigruten, Imperial River Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines, Orion Expedition Cruises, Peter Deilmann EuropAmerica Cruises, Star Clippers, Variety Cruises and Voyages of Discovery.

For more information, visit www.NicheCruise.com