Italy: Cruise of Venice and its lagoon starts at $630 per person

If you haven’t tried a river boat in Europe, Italy’s storied Venice lagoon might be a good place to get your feet wet. CroisiEurope offers two short cruises in October with prices as low as $630 per person.

The deal: The trip aboard the MS Michelangelo lasts five days and sails in the Venice lagoon. Meals (wine and beer too) are included with a cabin, or course, and the price is based on double occupancy.

Nights are spent in port in Venice, which means you can explore the city on your own or pay for the cruise line’s optional tours to Murano and Burano. On the fourth day, the ship sails to nearby Chioggia and offers an excursion (which costs extra) to the town of Padua before returning to Venice for a final gala dinner on board.

When: Cruises at the sale price leave Oct. 22 and Oct. 30.

Tested: I checked online and found the same cruise ranging from $832 to $951 per person on dates from September to mid October. Cabins with a double bed or two single beds were available at the $630 per person price (tax and fees excluded).

Although this isn’t a traditional point-to-point cruise, the trip offers a chance to stay on the water and take advantage of activities like cocktail parties and entertainment -- and save money too.

Info: CroisiEurope’s Venice and Its Lagoon, (800) 768-7232, or contact a travel agent