PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS LIST 50 CRUISES UNDER $5O PER NIGHT

Many, if not most, industries have been impacted by the economy, and the travel industry is no exception. But what’s bad for the industry is good for the consumer, because as I predicted in the Associated Press, 2009 will be the year of the travel deal. From discounted room rates at hotels to softening airfare, it’s a buyer’s market out there – so take advantage of the silver lining in this economic mess if you’re planning a getaway.

In my opinion, the best deals available right now are found on cruises; after all, a cruise includes your accommodations, all meals, onboard entertainment and transportation between ports. In fact, I was seeing such great pricing in cruises – many under $56 per night – that I asked our cruise team to do a little digging. They did, and what they found was that there are many – more than 50 in fact – cruises to be had for less than $56 per night, per person.

There’s no easy way to organize this information to present to you, but I will give it my best shot. Below are our cruise deals organized by departure month January through September 2009. Pricing on all of these cruises is accurate at time of publication, any fluctuation in pricing is likely due to stateroom categories selling out. But the beauty of a massive list like this is if one cruise sells out, there’s very likely another that will suit your budget. Don’t forget to factor in extras like free stateroom upgrades and onboard ship credits that make a cruise an even better value.

Photo of Carnival Elation courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.

January
1. 1/24/2009: Round-trip 7-night Bahamas cruise from Charleston on Norwegian Majesty from $339 per person.
2. 1/26/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from Los Angeles on the Carnival Paradise from $189 per person.
3. 1/26/2009: Round-trip 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on the Carnival Destiny from $279 per person.
4. 1/26/2009: Round-trip 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami on Carnival Destiny from $279 per person.
5. 1/29/2009: Round-trip 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas from $189 per person.
6. 1/30/2009: Round-trip 3-night Bahamas cruise from Miami on Norwegian Sky from $169 per person.
7. 1/31/2009: Round-trip 7-night Bahamas cruise from Charleston on Norwegian Majesty from $339 per person.

February
8. 2/1/2009: Buenos Aires to Santiago 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $599 per person.
9. 2/2/2009: Round-trip 5-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $229 per person.
10. 2/7/2009: Round-trip 7-night Bahamas cruise from Charleston on Norwegian Majesty from $339 per person.
11. 2/7/2009: Round-trip 5-night Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville on Carnival Fascination from $279 per person.
12. 2/9/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami on Celebrity Century from $219 per person.
13. 2/9/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas from $229 per person.
14. 2/14/2009: Round-trip 7-night Bahamas cruise from Charleston on Norwegian Majesty from $359 per person.
15. 2/15/2009: Round-trip 12-night Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona on Norwegian Jade from $629 per person.
16. 2/15/2009: Santiago to Buenos Aires 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $449 per person.
17. 2/21/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas from $279 per person.

March
18. 3/1/2009: Buenos Aires to Santiago 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $449 per person.
19. 3/1/2009: Buenos Aires to Santiago 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $599 per person OCEANVIEW.
20. 3/2/2009: Round-trip 4-night Bahamas cruise from Orlando on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas from $199 per person.
21. 3/3/2009: Santiago to San Francisco 18-night Transatlantic cruise on Carnival Splendor from $999 per person.
22. 3/14/2009: Fort Lauderdale to Rome 18-night Transatlantic cruise on Holland America Oosterdam from $799 per person.
23. 3/14/2009: Fort Lauderdale to Rome 18-night Transatlantic cruise on Holland America Oosterdam from $899 per person OCEANVIEW.
24. 3/15/2009: Santiago to Buenos Aires 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $449 per person.
25. 3/15/2009: Santiago to Buenos Aires 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $599 per person OCEANVIEW.
26. 3/29/2009: Buenos Aires to Santiago 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $449 per person.
27. 3/29/2009: Buenos Aires to Santiago 14-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $599 per person OCEANVIEW.
28. 3/29/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $179 per person.

April
29. 4/12/2009: Santiago to Los Angeles 18-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $599 per person.
30. 4/12/2009: Santiago to Los Angeles 18-night South America cruise on Norwegian Sun from $799 per person OCEANVIEW.
31. 4/16/2009: Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona 14-night Transatlantic cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas from $649 per person.
32. 4/17/2009: Miami to London 11-night Transatlantic cruise on Norwegian Jewel from $499 per person.
33. 4/19/2009: Santo Domingo to London 14-night Transatlantic cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas from $649 per person.
34. 4/19/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $189 per person.
35. 4/20/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Mobile on Carnival Holiday from $279 per person.
36. 4/25/2009: Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen 18-night Transatlantic cruise on Holland America Eurodam from $999 per person.
37. 4/26/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $189 per person.

May
38. 5/3/2009: London to Oslo 4-night Northern Europe cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas from $199 per person.
39. 5/4/2009: Miami to London 13-night Transatlantic cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas from $649 per person.
40. 5/10/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $199 per person.
41. 5/17/2009: Round-trip 4-night Baja California cruise from San Diego on Carnival Elation from $199 per person.

June
July
42. 9/5/2009: Round-trip 5-night Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville on Carnival Fascination from $249 per person.
43. 9/5/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean from New Orleans on Carnival Fantasy from $259 per person.
44. 9/7/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa on Carnival Inspiration from $269 per person.
45. 9/12/2009: Round-trip 5-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa on Carnival Inspiration from $269 per person.
46. 9/14/2009: Round-trip 5-night Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville on Carnival Fascination from $249 per person.
47. 9/7/2009: Round-trip 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami on Carnival Imagination from $189 per person.
48. 9/14/2009: Round-trip 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami on Carnival Imagination from $189 per person.
49. 9/21/2009: Round-trip 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami on Carnival Imagination from $189 per person.
50. 9/28/2009: Round-trip 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami on Carnival Imagination from $189 per person.

August

September