The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

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Given the skewed the valuation between the U.S. dollar and the Euro, it’s unusual to hear the words “Europe” and “good value” mentioned in the same sentence. But those words were in frequent use on a recent 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Azamara Quest.

There is still time left to reap on-board credits and prepaid gratuities for avid cruisers who book 2009 Europe sailings on Azamara cruises. But hurry. The offers expires end of this month.

The shipboard credit amounts to $150 for each ocean-view or veranda stateroom, and $300 for each suite. Also, Azamara will pay standard gratuities for the first and second passengers in each stateroom.

Given the skewed the valuation between the U.S. dollar and the Euro, it’s unusual to hear the words “Europe” and “good value” mentioned in the same sentence. But those words were in frequent use on a recent 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Azamara Quest.

The reason was twofold: First, a cruise represents a bargain proposition when compared to other modes of travel and accommodations within Europe. The cruise lines’ oft-repeated mantra is that paying in U.S. dollars for goods and services onboard isolates travelers from the higher costs in Euros ashore.