Late Summer Brings Great Cruise Deals

Aug. 18 -- It's only two weeks until Labor Day, but that doesn't mean it's too late to squeeze in an end-of-summer vacation.

Now is one of the best times of the year to get a great deal on a cruise, before sending the kids back to school, according to Stewart Chiron, the president of Leisure Pros, who is also known as "the Cruise Guy."

"Travel starts to slow down around this time of year, so cruise lines are really trying to get you on board. That means they will throw rock bottom prices your way, and give you fantastic incentives like upgraded cabins, or deals for being 55 or older, or for leaving from certain areas of the country," Chiron told Good Morning America.

Plus, the weather is lovely in the Caribbean this time of year, and there are smaller crowds when you dock in the port towns, he said.

One of the cheapest deals around is Carnival Cruise Lines' Fascination or Imagination cruise ships, which are now as low as $249, down from $729. The deal includes a three-night cruise to the Bahamas or Western Caribbean, leaving from Miami.

"It's a great way to learn what a cruise is all about, if you've never been on a cruise before," Chiron said. "Or it's great for busy people, who want to get away but can't take a week off from work."

Most cruise ships usually have three to four pools, seven to 10 Jacuzzis, and a variety of dining experiences. All basic meals are paid for, and additional meals are available.

Shipboard activities range from gambling to classes for your children. Many ships have Internet cafes and some also have connections in cabins. All of the ships have acres of deck space, and transportation to ports of call is included.

Love Boat Lookalikes

For romantics, Princess Cruises have the newest "Love Boats," the Princess line ships that were actually featured on the TV show The Love Boat.

Princess Cruises offer cruises aboard the Golden Princess or Grand Princess, which include 7 nights in the Eastern or Western Caribbean, with cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.Prices were from $1,519 per person, and now they are $549 per person