Hawaii 7-night cruise, $599

updated 11:30 a.m. ET Oct. 12, 2007

The real deal: A seven-night cruise, including all meals and port charges, from $599 — plus taxes of about $42.

When: Nov. 26, 2007; add $70 for Dec. 15; $80 for Oct. 27, Nov. 24, Dec. 8, 17; $100 for Nov. 19, Dec. 3, 10; $120 for Oct. 22, 29, Dec. 1; $150 for Dec. 1; additional departure dates available through Dec. 31.

The fine print: Meals, 24-hour room service, and nonalcoholic drinks like water, coffee, juices, and tea are included. Port charges are included, but government taxes are an additional $42.20 per person. Shore excursions are at an additional cost. Based on double occupancy; solo travelers pay twice the cost of the rate for whichever date they pick. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book by: No deadline; based on availability.

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

Why it's a deal: The $599 rate breaks down to just about $86 per night for accommodations and meals. Consider, too, that a comparable seven-night cruise in Hawaii could easily start at $900.

Trip details: The Pride of Hawaii, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship with 1,233 staterooms — and amenities that include 12 restaurants, pools, shops, a library, and a video arcade — sets sail from Honolulu, Oahu. The lowest rate is based on an interior cabin, but upgrades are available to an ocean-view cabin, a cabin with a balcony, and a suite. If you are thinking of upgrading, one of the best deals is for the November 17 departure: a cabin with a balcony is only $999 per person (instead of as much as $2,099 for Christmas Eve).

From Honolulu, you'll sail to Hilo, on the Big Island, and then spend two days anchored at Kahului on Maui, followed by a day in Kona, back on the Big Island. The last part of the voyage brings you to Port Allen on Kauai for two days before you return to Honolulu.

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You're free to explore as you please, or to purchase shore excursions at an additional cost directly from Norweigan Cruise Line. One of the most popular is a nearly five-hour excursion to Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island for $49 per person. (You can read up beforehand by checking out our story, Dream Trips: Volcanoes National Park.)

You could easily tack on a hotel stay in Honolulu (or elsewhere) before or after the cruise. For tips on affordable, cute places to stay, consult our Honolulu Snap Guide.

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Before you go, check the weather forecast at BudgetTravel.com.

Getting there: Airfare is not included in the package price. A recent search on Kayak for travel to Honolulu in late October yielded these lowest round-trip fares: $311 from L.A. (US Airways), $346 from Seattle (United), $553 from Chicago (Delta), $632 from Houston (US Airways), $641 from New York City (multiple carriers), and $680 from Boston (multiple carriers).

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