Cruise Deals Abound This Winter

Oasis of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and features a giant theater and even a zip line. Top right is Veranda Suite on Silversea Cruises new Silver Spirit.

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New Cruise Ships

There are plenty of other new ships that have just been launched, or are about to come online this year. Carnival just launched Dream, its longest ship yet, which can accommodate 3,646 passengers. And in August, Celebrity launched Equinox, a 2,850- passenger ship. (That comes less than a year after the launch of sister ship Solstice.)

But not all new ships are giants. The luxury cruise lines are unveiling new, smaller upscale boats.

In December, Silversea Cruises is launching its first new ship in almost 10 years: Silver Spirit. Forgot thousands, this ship only accommodates 540 guests.

A Veranda Suite on Silversea Cruises new Silver Spirit

The Yachts of Seabourn just launched Odyssey in June, the smallest ship to launch this year about one-seventh the size of the Oasis' size. Odyssey holds up to 450 guests in 225 rooms. Seabourn notes that its smaller size will enable the vessel to access to unique ports, from Korea to Uruguay.

And other cruise lines, if not adding ships, are adding new amenities.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has brought in luxury spa developer Canyon Ranch to run the spas, beauty salons and fitness facilities on all three of its ships.

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Busting Cruise Myths

All of these new moves -- many planned pre-recession -- mean savings or added value for travelers, even on the high end. For instance, Seabourn is offering up to 65 percent on its 14-day holiday cruise leaving Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 21 to St. Thomas, Grenada, Mayreau, Barbados, Prickly Pear Island, Jost Van Dyke and Grand Turk. Fares start at $6,999 per person, based on double occupancy.

Travelzoo's cruise specialist Lynn Nugent said that cruises in September through December (excluding the holidays) are normally deeply discounted. This year however, Nugent said, those deals are being extended through January and February. And instead of waiting until the last second to slash prices, the cruise lines are making deals now.

The pool deck on the Silver Spirit

"This year the prices are just getting lower and lower and lower," Nugent said. "I think the ships will be full. I just think the cruise lines are going to have to do a ton of last-minute discounting to get people on those ships."

Nugent suggested that travelers look to the Caribbean for the best deals. If you have flexibility with your travel dates, check back every week for the latest deals.

"The Caribbean is a bloodbath and everybody is having trouble," she said. "It's deeply concerning to the cruise line executives, whether they admit it or not."

Chiron however the discounts are "certainly nowhere near" where they were last year. But the best of the deals out there now, he said, are in Mexico. Every cruise line, in recent earnings calls, has claimed Caribbean is doing better than expected.