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War fears fuel spring ship deals, packages

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Special to The Times

The prospect of war in the Middle East has caused bookings for international travel, especially transatlantic travel, to plummet during March and April. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have put off a trip overseas. Consequently, those willing to travel in March and April will find some of the lowest international airfares and air-and-land packages in recent years.

One would not think war fears would dampen travel to the Caribbean or Mexico or cruises in tropical waters (including the Hawaiian Islands), but they have. Call cruise brokers and tour operators, and you’ll find many eager to offer reduced rates in March and April. Here are some of the top buys for those two months, and a few for May as well:

* A seven-night cruise on the Norway for as little as $412 per person, double occupancy. Cruises aboard the flagship of Norwegian Cruise Line have been sold at low prices before, but I’ve never seen port charges included as they are here. The classic, old-line ship sails from Miami on March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 and April 6, 13, 20 and 27 to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Caribbean island. Contact Cruise Value Center, (800) 231-7447, www.cruisevalue.com.

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* A one-week Hawaii cruise for $547, double occupancy. During April, a seven-night cruise takes you from Honolulu to Kauai, Maui and the Big Island before dipping south to Fanning Island in Kiribati (a stop required by American shipping laws). Seven nights on the Norwegian Star start at $547 on April 6, 13 and 20, and $647 on May 11 and 18. Contact White Travel Service, (800) 547-4790, or e-mail cruises123@aol.com.

* A week’s cruise from New York for $399. This Norwegian Sea cruise goes to New England and Canada, calling at Boston; Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; Newport, R.I.; Bar Harbor, Maine; and Halifax, Canada. The ship is most budget-friendly ($399) on its May 10 and 18 departures; a May 24 sailing is $50 more, and a May 31 sailing (which features a stop in Portland, Maine, and an additional night) is $100 extra. Again, call White Travel Service.

* A 10-night cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico for $899, double occupancy. The Sun Princess visits Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. Contact GalaxSea, (800) 662-5450, www.cruisestar.com. Sailing dates: March 26, April 5 and 25.

* As little as $806 -- airfare and all meals included -- for five nights at a Puerto Plata resort in the Dominican Republic. Five-night all-inclusive stays (three meals daily, beverages and activities) at the Karisma Hacienda Tropical start at $853 in March, declining to $806 in April. Contact Vacation Travel Mart, (800) 288-1435, www.vacmart.com. Tickets must be purchased by March 1.

* A week in Costa Rica for $849. In this air-and-hotel package, spend your first and last nights in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, at the Best Western Irazu Hotel and Casino and five nights at the Best Western Jaco Beach Resort on the coast, with meals and beverages included. Fly midweek from LAX during April and May. Contact Your Travel Service, (888) 877-9131, www.yourtravelservice.com.

* And finally, a week in Belize for $839, including round-trip airfare. Capricorn Leisure, (800) 426-6544, www.capricorn.net, is selling this package at the Corona del Mar Hotel on Ambergris Caye. Included are local air transfers within Belize and a free snorkeling trip to the Hol Chan Marine Preserve. The package costs $937 in April and drops to $839 in May. Departures available from LAX or San Francisco.

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