Cheap princess cruise

The cruise lines are in the midst of their annual Wave Period sales, and that means bargains abound for winter, spring, summer and fall cruises.

Just click on any Web site that sells cruises and you'll see deals galore. Or call your travel agent (if he doesn't know of any deals, get a new agent).

Among the promotions, Vacation.com (go to www.vacation.com or call 800-876-4581) is teaming up with Princess Cruises to offer discount prices, free amenities and a shipboard credit of up to $100 per person. Plus, you get a one-category upgrade on select cruises.

Expedia.com (go to www.expedia.com or call 800-397-3342) has some really impressive savings, such as a seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise on the CostaVictoria out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on March 16 for only $399 per person. That works out to $57 a day for accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment. That's cheap!

There are also three-day cruises on Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas priced from $259 in March. Expedia.com is also offering up to $125 in shipboard credits on select Holland America sailings.

Over at Travelocity.com (go to www.travelocity.com or call 800- 222-3690), the annual Cruise Super Sale offers up to $250 cash back on select sailings of a number of lines.

Among the bargains is a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles on Carnival's Elation, priced at $599, plus you get $175 cash back ($100 from Travelocity and another $75 if you pay with a MasterCard).

Closer to home, Travelocity has an 11-day cruise on the Norwegian Dream from Boston to New Orleans departing Oct. 22, priced from $989 with $250 cash back if you pay with a MasterCard.

Of course, all offers are subject to availability, and most of the promotions need to be booked by Feb. 20.