With the autumn fading away, and the cold winter months approaching, we will soon find ourselves sitting at work, daydreaming about the next summer vacation. But why wait until summer? The winter, considered to be the "off season" when it comes to traditional travel and tourism, can be an excellent time to find great deals on beautiful vacations, particularly cruises. And remember, our winter is the southern hemisphere's summer!
For example, you can book a 6-night South American or Black Sea cruise right now for a mere fraction of what a week of hotel accommodations in Europe would cost. Considering the economy, there has never been a better time to take advantage of beautiful vacation destinations by finding affordable cruise deals online. The following cruise packages and destinations are only a small sample of the amazing cruise vacations that are available.
Brazilian Cruises

South America is renowned for its beautiful beaches, European inspired cities that blend new and old architecture, and energetic nightlife. It is also home to one of the most treasured and endangered ecosystems in the world, namely the Amazon Rainforest. If one South American country could encapsulate a little bit of everything this continent has to offer, it would without a doubt be Brazil. Right now, there are amazing deals on 6-night Brazilian cruises aboard Costa Cruises' Costa Concordia, featuring ports of call such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia.

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area in South America. "Rio" is famous for its natural beauty, Carnival celebrations, and beautiful beaches. Among Rio de Janeiro's most stunning natural and outdoor attractions are Cristo Redentor and the Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car. The Cristo Redentor, or Christ Redeemer, is the iconic 123ft. tall statue of Jesus Christ situated on Corcovado Hill, and was completed in 1931. The Sugarloaf Cable Car, opened in 1912, is a major icon of Rio's tourism, and has become forever synonymous with the city's skyline. And of course, no trip to Rio would be complete without visiting the beautiful and exotic beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

Salvador de Bahia is a city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the state capital of Bahia. The city of Salvador is known for its local fare, nightlife and architecture, and its metropolitan area is the wealthiest in Brazil's Northeast. The Salvador coastline is among the largest in Brazil with over 31 miles of brilliant beaches. The beaches are in fact so amazing, that Porto de Barra beach has been voted the third best in the world in some travel magazines.

Black Sea Cruises

The Black Sea region has long been held in high regard as a European vacation destination, and is gaining international popularity as well. Known for its historic cities, rich cultural history, and opulent shopping districts, Eastern Europe is one of the oldest and beautiful regions in the world. Right now, there are surprisingly affordable deals on 11-day Black Sea cruises, featuring ports of call like Belgrade and Bucharest.

Belgrade is the capital and largest city in Serbia, with a population just over 1.6 million. Belgrade is also one of Europe's oldest cities, with archaeological finds dating as far back as 6th millennium BC. The historic areas and buildings of Belgrade are among the city's premier attractions. There are also many parks, monuments, museums, cafés, restaurants and shops on both sides of the Danube River. Additionally, Belgrade has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife, and many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city.

Bucharest is the capital, largest city, and financial hub of Romania. Its diverse architecture is a mix of historical, Communist-era and modern, and is one of its main attractions. Bucharest also has an eclectic mixture of traditionally Romanian buildings and buildings that are influenced by French architects. It is because of this French influence that Bucharest was once called "the Paris of the East." Bucharest has a diverse and growing cultural scene, with cultural life exhibited in a number of various fields, including the visual arts, performing arts and nightlife. Bucharest is internationally renowned for its art museums. One of the most popular is the Zambaccian Museum, which contains works by many well-known Romanian artists as well as international artists such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.

After taking a closer look at these two regions, we can see that they can offer sights and activities that you can't find anywhere else. Whether it's the pristine beaches of Salvador de Bahia, or the many art museums in historic Bucharest, the awe inspiring Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro or the ancient archtitecture of Belgrade, it's never been a better time to go online in search of amazing cruise deals just like these!