What are you Spending Your Stimulus Check on?

It's May 2008 and you know what that means, it's tax stimulus time. This gift from the government is being provided to get consumers spending. A recent Goldman Sacks report showed that stocks like Royal Caribbean are sure to benefit from these dollars as consumers seek out their next vacation or upgrade from an ocean view stateroom to a private balcony with their new found monies.

There are a lot of places to spend the stimulus monies like on a new sofa, paying down some credit card bills, doing some home repairs or getting away on an exciting cruise vacation. But how about spending it on all or at least some of those things? We have some amazing getaways that won't deplete your whole stimulus check.

Getaway with the whole family this summer for as little as $32 a person, a day (for a family of four). Norwegian Cruise Line just announced they are moving a ship to the Caribbean this summer that will sail 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami and for a limited time, Kids Sail Free. There are a number of other ships and itineraries to choose from for under $50 per person, per day. Sail a 4-night Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Imagination from Miami or sail a 5-night Bahamas cruise on the Carnival Fascination from Jacksonville. For under $60 per day you can sail a 4-night Baja Mexico cruise on the Carnival Paradise from Los Angeles, a 4-night Bahamas cruise on the Carnival Sensation from Port Canaveral, a 4- or 5-night Western Caribbean on the Carnival Holiday from Mobile, a 5-night Baja Mexico cruise on the Carnival Elation from San Diego, a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Fantasy from New Orleans, or a 7-night Florida & Bahamas cruise on the Norwegian Majesty from Charleston. How about sailing in a Balcony stateroom for under $100 per person, per day? You can on a number of 7-night Caribbean cruises on the Carnival Triumph, Liberty or Valor, on Carnival Spirit's 8-night Mexican Riviera cruises or on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas 12-night transatlantic cruise.

There are a ton of deals out there and your Cruise Specialist is just the person to find them for you. So when your stimulus check arrives, go ahead and use some of it to pay down your mortgage, or make a car payment, but be sure to keep just a little to spend on a holiday for yourself and your family. This might be the only time the government pays for your vacation.

Fantastic Opportunity from NCL!!

NCL Corp. will reflag and rename the Pride of Aloha and launch it as Norwegian Sky, offering three-day and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami starting this summer. The 2,002-passenger ship, built in 1999, will be outfitted with Freestyle 2.0 enhancements. The vessel will be the youngest sailing short cruises to the Bahamas from Miami.

To welcome the ship to Miami, NCL is offering a "Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation" promotion for reservations on Norwegian Sky made from May 6 to May 31 for sailings taking place July 14 to September 26, 2008. Children ages six months to 17 years are eligible to sail free, although government taxes and fees and fuel supplement charges apply. Norwegian Sky four-day cruises will depart Miami on Mondays and make full-day stops at Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island. On Fridays, the ship will sail a three-day itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. Monday. These sailings are scheduled through April 17, 2009.

Norwegian Sky will enter a wet dock in Miami during which a casino will be added. In addition, the ship will receive the significant product and hardware upgrades that are part of the company's major fleetwide initiative, Freestyle 2.0. These enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience such as all new menus and Lobster Galore, upgrading the stateroom experience, new onboard activities, and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony and suite guests.

This is a fantastic opportunity for any of you families out there with young children to experience a shorter cruise vacation at an incredible price. The four-day sailings in particular have a great itinerary with stops in the Bahamas and a fabulous stop at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island.

Please remember there are only limited quad and triple cabins available on any ship, so you will need to make your reservations as soon as possible to ensure the availability. And, the program ends for good on May 31 so you will need to make reservations by then to qualify for this tremendous discount.