I'm not sure these deals are being offered entirely in the festive spirit - show me a cruise line that is happy to discount and I'll show you a real live fairy on top of a Christmas tree.
But who cares? There are some great offers around for anyone still looking for a great pre or post Xmas getaway.
* French line Compagnie du Ponant is offering mums and dads a free second cabin for two kids aged under 18 on selected sailings this month. They include a one-week cruise around the Arabian Gulf from Dubai departing December 16 and costing from £1,770 per person and a seven-night sailing from Bombay to Cochin departing December 28, priced from £1925 per person. Prices exclude flights. For more details click here or call 0808 234 3802.
* Windstar has cut the price of a seven-night cruise from Barbados on the 312-passenger Wind Surf sailing ship until March 2010. Prices start from £2,207 per person (down from £2,866) for a cruise departing December 13 including return flights. For information, click here or call The Cruise Portfolio on 020 7292 2387.
* Gill's Cruise Centre is offering a five-night Fred Olsen Christmas Markets cruise on Black Watch from Southampton on December 14 2009 from £249 per person. That's for a superior outside cabin. Book here or call 08456 58 23 23.
* Not quite Xmas but perfect for the New Year - a 15-day Caribbean cruise from Barbados with casual cruise line Ocean Village departing January 27 from £1,199 per person for an inside cabin including flights. Contact Gill's again on 08456 58 23 23.
It you'd prefer more time to plan, Costa Cruises has some good deals already lined up for 2010.
* 11-night Colours of Canada cruise from Quebec to New York on Costa Atlantica departing April 24 from £789 per person excluding flights.
* 21-night Alluring East cruise from Mauritius to Singapore on Costa Romantica departing March 27 from £1,479 per person excluding flights.
* 20-night Greenland cruise roundtrip from Amsterdam on Costa Luminosa departing August 1 2010 from £3,359 per person excluding flights.
For details of Costa cruises click here or call 0845 351 0552.
Jane Archer
