Deal: Want to take a cruise but don’t have time? Try a quickie trip

Cruise Line International Assn. sent out some information last week about the value of mini-cruises. What caught my eye was how short and how cheap some of the getaways could be. You can take a West Coast overnight cruise for about $100 per person, less than what you might pay for a nice hotel room.

The deal: Beach lovers who want to go east can find three-day sailings from Florida to the Caribbean at low prices. Short cruise routes in the West include:

--The Norwegian Pearl sails from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, for an overnighter that costs $109 per person. You board at 4 p.m. and arrive in Vancouver at 8 a.m. (Currently available for Sept. 27-28 next year.) Princess Cruises also offers the same route on the Ruby Princess starting at $84 (Sept. 13 and 19 next year).

--Holland America‘s Westerdam sails from San Diego and stops at Victoria, British Columbia, before ending in Vancouver. Four-day trips next spring start at $249.

--The Golden Princess sails on four-day cruises from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, starting at $169. Carnival Inspiration adds Catalina Island to its L.A.-Ensenada four-day sailing, starting at $125.

(Prices are per person, based on double occupancy; tax and fees excluded.)

When: Cruise prices vary based on when you buy; early birds will find the best prices.

Details: I found availability at the prices given above when I checked prices at cruise line websites.

CLIA, as the association is known, finds that short cruises are good for first-timers and millennial travelers who may have little travel time and money. It recently polled 400 travel agents and found that 63% said customers like taking short cruises, especially to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Info: Contact individual cruise lines or a travel agent for more information or to make a reservation.