Top cruise deals of the week

How do you get the best cruise bargain – book early, or leave it until the last minute?
Both schools of thought have their followers. It’s fair to say that those who plan ahead get first choice of itineraries, dates and even cabins. But leave it until later and you may well find yourself bumping into other passengers who paid more for their holiday.
Here’s a selection of deals for the early birds and late booking offers for the next few weeks.
Fly to Barbados on March 19 to board P&O’s Azura as the ship sets off back to Britain after a winter season in the Caribbean. The leisurely 13-night voyage takes in St. Lucia, St Maarten, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and Tenerife before arriving in Southampton. The £999 fare looks good enough, but book through Iglu and collect £300 on-board credit to pay for excursions or settle your bar bill. Upgrade to an outside cabin for £100 or a balcony for £310. Go to www.iglucruise.com or call 020 8544 6447.
Stay four nights in Orlando’s Quality Inn International hotel before joining Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in Fort Lauderdale for a seven-night cruise to the Bahamas, St Thomas and St Maarten before returning for another three nights in the hotel. Fares for the 14-night holiday, flying from the UK on November 30 start at £1,299. Go to www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0871 781 9893.
Take a seven-night Mediterranean cruise on NCL’s Norwegian Sun, flying from London to Genoa on August 7 and sailing to Marseille, Barcelona, Tunis, Malta, Messina and Civitavecchia (for Rome). Fares from £669. Go to www.cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614.
Prefer not to fly? Then join Fred Olsen’s Braemar in Dover on August 7 for a cruise to Gibraltar, Cartagena, Livorno, Ajaccio, Ibiza and Lisbon. Fares from £1,041 with cabins allocated on embarkation. Go to www.fredolsen.co.uk or call 01473 742424.
Sister ship Boudicca sets out from Newcastle-upon-Tyne on September 26 for a nine-night round-UK cruisesailing to Portland in Dorset, St Peter Port, Guernsey; Milford Haven in Wales; Dublin, Tobermory and Invergordon. In addition to some interesting and rarely-visited ports, TV personality Dick Strawbridge will be among the entertaining lecturers on board. Fares from £726. Go to www.fredolsen.co.uk or call 01473 742424.
Finally, a seven-night river cruise departing on September 18 and taking in the cathedrals of Cologne, the vineyards oif Moselle and the gothic castles around Rudesheim. The £774 fare includes travel by coach and via Eurotunnel, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, and travel insurance. Go to www.sagacruises.co.uk or call 0800 056 5880.
New to cruising? For advice on ships and destinations, go to www.discovercruises.co.uk