Photo by Royal Caribbean International
Easy Weekend Getaways
By Heidi Sarna with Ben Lyons
A cruise for under $200? It's possible if you book one of these 2- or 3-night weekend cruises, which typically depart on Thursday or Friday afternoons.
Enjoy the experience for what it is, throw back a drink or two (or three or four), let your hair down, and have a ball. Just don't forget to pack your nice shorts for dinner.
Photo Caption: The pool deck atop the Majesty of the Seas. Courtesy Royal Caribbean International
Photo by Carnival Cruise Lines
3-Night Weekend Cruises from Miami, FL, to the Bahamas
What: A 3-night weekend cruise on board the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination (www. carnival. com ) from round-trip from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. Ship highlights include a 24-hour pizzeria, a sushi bar, a waterslide, a mini-golf course, and an adults-only sunbathing area in the stern.
While the 1997-built ship lacks a large number of balconies and cabins are slightly smaller than what you'd find on Carnival's newer ships, a standard outside cabin is roomy enough for three nights with its large window and ample closet space.
The short cruise leaves you just enough time to indulge in some cruise-ship pampering, followed by an afternoon of sailing and snorkeling in the Bahamas.
Price: 3-night sailings from $179 per person, with Friday departures year-round. Weekend sailings in the summer and holidays cost more, starting at about $300 per person.
Photo Caption: Waterslides on the Lido deck of Carnival Imagination. Courtesy Carnival Cruise Lines
Photo by Carnival Cruise Lines