Vancouverites looking to spend time in the sunshine without breaking the bank have an all-inclusive option at sea.
While you may think that the cheapest option is staying at a resort in Cuba, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic, holidays at sea may cost less per diem than these packages.
Travellers who can hop on a last-minute cruise next month can pair low-cost flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with cruises in ports across the United States, including hot spots such as Los Angeles, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.
A sailing departing from California on Monday, May 6 offers an all-inclusive package.
Carnival Cruise Line, known for its laid-back, joyful onboard experience, has a four-day Baja Mexico cruise from Long Beach (Los Angeles), that visits Catalina Island in California and Ensenada in Mexico before returning to L.A.
The cruise also includes one day at sea for guests to enjoy the onboard activities.
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Monday, May 6 | Los Angeles (Long Beach), CA | 5 p.m. | |
| Tuesday, May 7 | Catalina Island, CA | 8 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 8 | Ensenada, Mexico | 8 a.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Thursday, May 9 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, May 10 | Los Angeles (Long Beach), CA | 7 a.m. |
Cruise with Carnival out of Los Angeles
An interior stateroom for two people costs US$747.30, which converts to roughly C$1,029.11 or C$514.56 per person. The per-diem, per-person cost is about C$128.64 (see slide two)
Not only does that cost include transportation on a beautiful ship, but it also includes meals, entertainment, snacks, and lodging. The only thing it doesn’t factor in is alcohol, but you may opt to purchase a drink package that can reduce the cost of your spending.
Prices for ocean view and balcony staterooms don't cost much more and may provide a more comfortable or pleasurable experience.
Flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles with Flair Airlines
While travellers may prefer to pair their trip with a couple of days in Los Angeles before or after the cruise, Flair Airlines has an itinerary with direct flights that allows Vancouverites to fly the day the cruise disembarks and returns to the city.
Flairs's outbound flight from Vancouver departs at 7 a.m. on May 6 and arrives in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. The return flight departs Los Angeles at 10:45 a.m. and arrives in Vancouver at 1:45 p.m. However, travellers must depart from the ship and immediately catch their flight (see slide three).
The total cost for the non-stop option with Flair is $167 if the tickets are booked separately. With the cruise, the total of the holiday is $681.56.
To provide some time post-cruise, travellers may prefer to catch a flight departing later that night or the following day; these options cost around $100 more.
