National Cruise Vacation Week Deals

National Cruise Vacation Week is October 21-27.  During this time, you'll find great deals across all cruise categories on all cruise lines.  Picture yourself sailing through a sunny tropical setting in the Caribbean, or through the Denali National Park in Alaska in May.  For the international wayfarer, there are ports of call in Egypt, Spain, Denmark, London, Paris and more.

Here is a partial listing of some of the special offers for cruise week:

Carnival's National Cruise Vacation Week offer features Fun Select Rates, up to $300 cash back per stateroom and 50% reduced deposits for new cruisers on select sailings through December 2013. You can receive $100 cash back per person (up to $200 per stateroom) for 3 to 5 day cruises and $150 cash back per person (up to $300 per stateroom) for cruises 6 days or longer. You can use the cash anywhere onboard…photos, shore excursions, shops and more!  To sweeten the deal for past guests, Carnival has exclusive Past Guest Rates, 50% reduced deposits AND 2 category upgrades on select sailings through December 2013. Want something even sweeter? Book your  Europe or Alaska cruise from February 4 through November 12, 2013 for $0 down! That's a $0 deposit for the first 60 days of the booking...how awesome is that? 

Royal Caribbean:  Book any 2013 European or Transatlantic sailing of 7 nights or longer and receive $50 onboard credit for inside or outside rooms and $100 onboard credit for balcony or suites.

Royal Caribbean:  Book any stateroom category between October 19th - October 26th and receive Pre-Paid Gratuities for the 1st/2nd guests. 

Princess Cruises:  Book a cruise between 10/15/2012 and 10/22/2012 and receive a coupon booklet and reduced deposit of $100 per person.

Celebrity Cruises: A special Onboard Credit offer valid from $50USD to $100USD per stateroom Plus 50% Reduced Deposit.

Viking River Cruises:  Book with Viking before October 31, 2012 and Take advantage of 2013 EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT 2-FOR-1 cruise plus up to 2-FOR-1 air.

Holland America Line: Book a cruise between 10/8/2012 - 10/22/2012 and receive a reduced deposit and Onboard Value Booklet valued at $450.

Beauty in Your Own Backyard

There he is, the weathered Swiss farmer with his cotton pants and suspenders, taking a break at the side of the road, using his sickle handle as a resting prop.  He is daydreaming as he watches a tour bus full of foreigners pressed up against the tour bus windows, marveling at the natural beauty of the Alps.  After his chores, he shuffles in to his little farm house, wiping the sweat from his brow.  His wife is cooking fried polenta and lentils.  He leans over and softly tells her, "Some day I'm going to take you to see America."

Maybe the farmer has not explored the beauty in his own backyard, like fun-loving Munich and the jewels of the Bavarian Alps.  From a glorious cruise through the Wachau Valley to the enthralling Glacier Express, there is an Alpine world of enchantment and unrivaled beauty like no other.  Lucerne, Switzerland is one of Europe's most popular cities.  There you can see the sorrowful sculpture of the dying lion, hewn out of a limestone cliff to commemorate those Swiss Guards who died at the Battle of the Tuileries.  The flavor of the 14th century is all around you with covered wooden bridges, painted gables, and old walls and watch towers of medieval fortifications.  A stroll across the Chapel Bridge takes you to the Jesuit Church.

Oberammergau, Bavaria, has been home since 1634 of the Passion Play, which involves over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, all residents of the village.  Perhaps a scenic cruise along the River Danube through stately Vienna,  or a delightful drive through 'undiscovered' Austria -- through the pine forests and sleepy towns of Styria and Carinthia -- might rekindle some romance.  If all else fails, a two-night getaway in the chic Alpine resort of  St. Moritz and a horse-drawn carriage ride to the foot of a nearby glacier might stir up some magic.  If not, a trip to the wine country in California, and a ride on the Napa Valley wine train might be in order!