• Last-Minute Caribbean Cruisesmodern ship for cruising anchored in venice image by Tomo Jesenicnik from Fotolia.com
  
  With the large number of cruise lines promoting Caribbean itineraries, last-minute Caribbean bargains are easy to find. Caribbean cruise prices are highest when kids are out of school, New Year's Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. The least expensive times are the first two weeks of December and the first two weeks of November. Three cruise lines that consistently offer excellent value for last-minute cruises are Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.
  
  

Carnival Cruise Lines - Victory

• Carnival Victory, 893 feet, was inaugurated in 2000 (major refit in 2007) accommodates 2,758 passengers with activities for everyone in your family. Victory has four pools, one with a three-deck high waterslide. Stay active on the nine-hole miniature golf course or walk on the padded jogging track or be pampered in the spa. At night are Broadway-like shows in the Caribbean Lounge or dancing poolside. Camp Kids involves supervised activities for kids two to 11 years old. "Circle C" involves supervised activities for kids 12-14 and teens get together at Club O2.
  
  Representative of Carnival's last-minute Caribbean cruise is a seven-day roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten. Victory is in a different port every day.
  
  Carnival Cruise Lines
  3655 NW 87th Avenue
  Miami, Florida 33178
  305-599-2600
  carnival.com
  
  

Celebrity Cruises - Solstice

• Celebrity Solstice, 1,033 feet, was inaugurated in 2008 and accommodates 2,850 passengers. Noteworthy on the Solstice is the Lawn Club, a freshly manicured lawn on the highest deck. Also of note is the focus on fine wines: Cellar Masters is a large room with wines from around the world; The Grand Epernay Dining Room is elegant and has a two-story glass wine tower, serving world, continental and European cuisine.
  
  Representative of a last-minute Caribbean cruise on Celebrity is the seven-night roundtrip on Solstice from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. There are three days at sea.
  
  Celebrity Cruises
  1050 Caribbean Way
  Miami, Fl 33132
  1-800-256-6649
  celebritycruises.com/
  
  

Royal Caribbean International - Navigator of the Seas

• Navigator of the Seas, 1,020 feet, was inaugurated in 2002, accommodates 3,114 passengers and is one of the largest passenger ships in the world. Noteworthy features include the multi-storied atrium amidships, three-story dining room, wedding chapel, three saltwater pools and six hot tubs, three-story theater and helicopter landing pad. For the active passenger, there is an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, nine-hole miniature golf course, full-size basketball court and Adventure Ocean facilities for supervised youth activities.
  
  Representative of last-minute Caribbean cruise itineraries on Royal Caribbean is the five-night roundtrip excursion from Miami, stopping in Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Navigator of the Seas is at sea for two days.
  
  Royal Caribbean International
  1050 Caribbean Way
  Miami, Florida 33132
  800-256-6649
  royalcaribbean.com/