The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on Southwest Airlines to L.A.; a round-trip sail from L.A., with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta; seven nights in an inside cabin aboard Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas; meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages; onboard activities and entertainment; and round-trip airport-port transfers; from $692 per person—plus cruise and airport taxes of $99.
When: Depart Nov. 7, 14; add $2 for Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12; $7 for Sept. 5, Oct. 24; $19 for Oct. 31; $39 for Sept. 19; $64 for Oct. 3; $73 for Sept. 26, Oct. 10; $76 for Sept. 12; $186 for Nov. 21, 2010.
Gateways: San Jose; add $30 for Phoenix; $69 for Denver; $130 for Seattle; $170 for Atlanta; $175 for Chicago; $260 for New York City; additional gateways available.
The fine print: Cruise and airport taxes and fees are an additional $99 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $349. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Travel Themes and Dreams, 877/870-7447, travelthemesanddreams.com.
Why it's a deal: The cost of this air-cruise package breaks down to about $113 a night and includes cruise accommodations, all meals, beverages, round-trip airport-port transfers, and taxes. Plus, the total rate of $791 also covers round-trip airfare between San Jose and L.A., which, according to a recent search on Kayak, starts from $143, with taxes, in mid-November (Alaska Airlines).
More: An optional three-port shore excursion package ($161 per person) includes snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas, a treetop canopy adventure in Puerto Vallarta, and a Stone Island Bay tour and beach party in Mazatlán. Add $122 per person to upgrade to an outside cabin and $307 to upgrade to a cabin with a balcony. Pre- or post-cruise nights at the 244-room Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel start at $96 per room per night.