S. America Cruise, 14 Nights, $829

Sail the Norwegian Dream along the majestic coastline of South America, with chances to visit Chile, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, and Argentina.

The Real Deal Fourteen nights’ accommodations aboard the cruise ship and all meals, from $829 per person—plus $198 in taxes and fuel surcharges.

When Depart Mar. 16, 2008. Add $210 for Feb. 17, 2008, departure.

The Fine Print As noted above, taxes and fuel surcharges of $198 are additional. Airfare is not included. All meals and beverages in the standard dining facilities are part of the package, except for soda and alcoholic beverages. Gratuities are an additional $150. Round-trip airport-pier transfers are $45. Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $769—plus a $196 fuel supplement and government taxes of about $100. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

The Fine Print As noted above, taxes and fuel surcharges of $198 are additional. Airfare is not included. All meals and beverages in the standard dining facilities are part of the package, except for soda and alcoholic beverages. Gratuities are an additional $150. Round-trip airport-pier transfers are $45. Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $769—plus a $196 fuel supplement and government taxes of about $100. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By No deadline; based on availability.

Contact American Discount Cruises & Travel, 866/214-7447, americandiscountcruises.com.

Why It’s a Deal The $829 price breaks down to about $59 a night, which covers accommodations, meals, and activities aboard the ship. This cruise is one of the most affordable ways for an American couple to have an extended, stress-free vacation in a warm-weather climate in early 2008.

Trip Details The 14-Night South America Cruise includes accommodations aboard the 1,754-passenger Norwegian Dream in one of the inside cabins, which average 144 square feet. Upgrades to outside cabins are available for an additional $170-$1,670 per person, plus taxes and fees.

The Dream will sail along the Pacific coast, departing from Valparaíso (75 miles from Santiago, Chile’s capital), and making stops in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, and Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The nighttime summer sky should offer a spectacular display of stars on most nights.

The on-board nightlife should be particularly lively at Smokey Joe’s Café, which hosts musical productions, typically of 50s and 60s hits; at Dazzles Disco; at a sportsbar, where you can watch live broadcasts of major sports events; and in the Monte Carlo casino.

Organized shore excursions are available at additional cost.

You can find the latest exchange rate and the local time at BudgetTravel.com.

Don’t forget that in Latin America, seasons are the opposite of those in the United States. Expect to break out your summer wardrobe for strolling along the deck of the ship or swimming in an outdoor pool. Before you go, check the weather forecasts for the cities you plan to disembark in.

Getting There A recent search on Kayak yielded the following lowest multicity fares, arriving in Santiago/Valparaíso on March 16 and departing from Buenos Aires 15 days later: $872 from Miami and New York City (multiple airlines), $1,085 from Los Angeles (COPA Panama), and $1,134 from Chicago (American Airlines).

What’s the Deal?

The week’s best travel bargains around the globe, by land, sea and air.

LAND

* Passages Inn Gettysburg is offering a package in February to celebrate Black History Month. For $170 per couple, the special includes two nights’ lodging and breakfasts at the Pennsylvania inn, a walking tour and a "Freedom Lies Just North" self-drive tour that focuses on the Underground Railroad. Room alone usually starts at $216 for two nights. Info: 717-334-7010, http://www.passagesinngettysburg.com.

* The Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa, at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura, Fla., is offering $1,000-per-person discounts for stays through March 22. Price after discount starts at $4,724 per single or $6,951 per couple for one week (taxes included) and includes lodging, six meals and snacks daily, comprehensive health evaluation, classes and counseling. Info: 800-327-4914, http://www.pritikin.com.

* Ski free when you stay midweek at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire this winter. The deal, which costs $178 per night per couple (plus 23 percent service fees and taxes), is good through March and includes lodging, breakfasts, lift tickets to the resort’s alpine ski area and trail passes for cross-country skiing. Priced separately, room with breakfast is usually $238 a night, a lift ticket is $33 and a trail pass is $15. Info: 866-380-6798, http://www.thebalsams.com. Request promo code SKIFREE.

SEA

* Canadian Sailing Expeditions is offering savings of $1,000 per person on its seven-night Caribbean sailings. Price starts at $1,106 per person double with shared bathroom or $1,340 for an en suite bathroom on sailings through April. Taxes and port charges are an extra $150. The cruise travels round trip from Guadeloupe with Saturday departures. Info: 877-429-9463, http://www.canadiansailingexpeditions.com.

* Adults save 15 percent and children receive 50 percent off a Between Two Seas: Costa Rica & Panama cruise booked through Expedition Trips. Lowest fare starts at $3,689 per adult and $2,266 per child younger than 18 (including taxes) sharing a cabin and applies to March and April sailings. The 10-day cruise aboard Cruise West’s Pacific Explorer travels from Panama City to San Jose, Costa Rica. Info: 877-412-8527, http://www.expeditiontrips.com.

* Hurtigruten is offering discounts on its voyages along the Norwegian coast. Discounts apply to 6-, 7- and 12-day itineraries through April. For example, the 12-day sailing, after the $200-per-person discount, starts at $2,299 per person double and includes airfare to Bergen, Norway. (Taxes and fuel surcharge are $399 per person; add-on from Washington is $60). Priced separately, airfare is typically more than $1,000. Info: 800-323-7436, http://www.hurtigruten.us.

AIR

* Air Jamaica has extended its sale to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Round-trip fare from BWI is $337, including $88 taxes. Deal is good for Tuesday and Wednesday flights through April. Other airlines are matching, but the post-sale fare starts at $509. Purchase by Feb. 5 at 800-523-5585, http://www.airjamaica.com.

* United has extended its military fares for domestic travel through July 31. The discounted fares for active-duty military and spouses and dependent children (proper ID required) have few restrictions. For example, travel is permitted any day of the week, and no blackout dates apply. Airfares from Washington vary by destination: Las Vegas, for example, is about $238 round trip (including taxes), and Los Angeles is $443 round trip (including taxes).Normal sale fares are sometimes cheaper but require at least seven-day advance purchase and are often limited to off-peak days and times. Call 800-241-6522 and request discount code MIL. Info: http://www.united.com.

PACKAGES

* 2Afrika Inc. is offering a couples-only Botswana safari special for Valentine’s Day. The Sensuous Safari, departing Feb. 12, has been discounted an extra $600 per couple; price is $2,590 per person double (plus $295 taxes). Package includes round-trip air from Washington to Johannesburg; round-trip flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; one night’s lodging in Johannesburg; five nights at the Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana; land transportation; meals; and eight safari and cultural activities. Priced separately, package would cost about $800 more per couple. Info: 866-462-2374, http://www.2afrika.com.

– Carol Sottili

Prices were verified and available on Thursday afternoon when the Travel section went to press. However, deals sell out quickly and are not guaranteed to be available. Restrictions such as day of travel, blackout dates and advance-purchase requirements sometimes apply.

Travel plans for procrastinators

If you have landed in the middle of the second semester with nothing organized for spring break, it may not be too late - and STA Travel has some suggestions to get you out of the country and into the sun.

Jennifer Apple, the GW branch manager of STA Travel, a full-service travel agency that specializes in student arrangements, is familiar with difficulties that groups often face when making spring break plans.

"It can be hard," Apple said from the agency’s office at Marvin Center, "because you wait and wait for everyone to get on the same page."

Apple said that it is late in the game, but a mid-March getaway is still doable. She advises students to "get on it" and finalize plans within the next few of weeks.

"There’s no drop-dead date," Apple said of a deadline for booking, "but things will definitely be filling up. It’s been pretty much non-stop since everyone came back from break."

Apple said it is possible to secure a trip in February, but as space decreases in popular locations - such as Cancun and Jamaica - prices increase.

"Some of the less-expensive hotels for traditional spring break have gone up," she said, with certain packages rising in price as early as mid-December.

Although packages for these hotspots and others are dwindling, many are still available at reasonable rates. She said typical charter packages are the best deals.

Pump it: Warm and sunny beach locations are prime for spring breakers looking to party hard in the middle of the semester. Apple listed three of the agency’s best-selling, go-crazy destinations at the following estimated rates: a Cancun beachfront place at $977, and spots in Jamaica and Acapulco at $877 and $1,007, respectively.

Flight fare from Dulles International Airport to Miami International Airport was estimated at $209.50 on United Airlines, a representative said.

Soak it in: A trip to Europe is an ideal choice for jetsetters who want to catch up with friends studying abroad or bask in more culture than sun. "Europe is a great option if you want to balance partying at night and touring during the day," said Kristen Celko, STA vice president of marketing and e-commerce.

The summer months are peak for European tourism, so "this is the least expensive time of year to go, airfare wise," Apple said.

Cities that top the list of European vacation spots are London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam. Webb estimated the price of a flight from a Washington airport to London Gatwick on Northwest Airlines at $493.50.

Get lucky: Since St. Patrick’s Day falls during spring break this year, a jaunt to Ireland offers a fun scene. With over 35 million Americans claiming Irish descent, Dublin will be packed with American tourists and brogue-heavy natives alike on the March 17 national holiday. The official 2008 festival runs in Dublin from March 13 to 17.

Travel with a purpose: Students looking for a service opportunity in a beautiful natural environment can check out "Turtles and Treetops Adventure," an in eco-friendly Costa Rica trip sponsored by STA.

Great "for people looking for something different and manageable," Celko said, the program combines touring the tropical ecosystems of Costa Rica and helping endangered wildlife.

"The treetops piece (of the trip) comes when you go zip-lining through the rainforest," Celko said.

The package, which includes the tour and airfare, is running at a 15 percent discount right now because there is still space left.

"It’s a great deal," said Celko of the $845.75 price tag. She added that STA has "a ton of other volunteer packages in Latin America and Central America."

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