The real deal: Seven nights on a cruise ship, all meals on board, 24-hour room service, onboard entertainment and activities, fuel surcharges and port charges, and a $75 credit per reservation, from $499 per person — plus $124 in taxes and fees.
When: Sept. 4, 2009.
The fine print: Does not include $124 in taxes and fees per person. Gratuities are additional and will be about $11 per person per day (you can prepay them when you book). Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $210. The $75 credit per reservation can be used for spa services, alcoholic drinks, shore excursions, or tips and gratuities, but not in the ship's casino. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: Mar. 22, 2009.
Contact: AlaskaCruises.com, 800/201-6937, .
Why it's a deal: The $499 price on is for an inside stateroom and represents a savings of almost 40 percent off regular prices. In addition, you'll get a $75 credit per reservation to use as cash on the boat. Note that this cruise is part of a . Cruises on sale may include onboard credits, discounted cabin upgrades, and airfare add-ons.
Lodging: Your will be the Celebrity Millennium, which holds more than 2,000 guests. Inside staterooms are 170 square feet with two beds, a sitting area, and a bathroom.
The ship has a library, a conservatory with a flourishing garden, a Fun Factory for kids, a jogging track, and a huge pool.
Itinerary: You'll set out from Vancouver, B.C., and end in Seward, Alaska, with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, and a good look at the Inside Passage (between Alaska and coastal British Columbia) and the famous Hubbard Glacier.
More: Add $99 per person for an Oceanview room, $310 per person for a Balcony room, and $1,300 per person for a Suite. Note that in the Balcony category and higher, you can tack on airfare at a reduced cost, from $399 per person out of L.A. (plus taxes and fees).
Before you go: Get some ideas for what to do off the boat on Alaska's .