The year's best travel bargain has to be a cruise. Here are just a few that are affordably priced:

• The best cruise values are on transatlantic crossings, or when a cruise line repositions a ship from one sea or ocean to a different spot on the globe. For instance, a 14-night sailing aboard Celebrity Cruise's Galaxy departs Rome (Civitavecchia) on Dec. 5 and is priced from just $509 per person, based on a double occupancy stay in an inside cabin (that's less than $40 a day!). The ship visits Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; La Palma, Lanzarote, and Tenerife, Canary Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands before ending in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Oceanview cabins start from $670. The 11-year-old Galaxy is sophisticated, with caviar service, cigar lounges, champagne and martini bars, pre-dinner cocktails and lavish and entertaining theater productions. The intimate-size ship features a swimming pool with a retractable glass dome (great for those potential rainy days crossing the Atlantic) and a wonderful spa facility and fitness center. www.celebritycruises.com

• You say you can't afford the airfare to Europe? One-week sailings on the newest ship from Naples, Italy-based MSC Cruises, the Poesia (meaning poetry), are priced from $1,949 per person, including round-trip airfare from Atlanta. This lavishly built ship makes an eastern Mediterranean route from Venice, Italy, and calls at Bari, Italy; Katakolon, Greece; Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey and Dubrovnik, Croatia. This air and sea package also includes airport transfers. Round-trip economy-class airfare is also included on other Med sailings as well as select voyages in northern Europe. And, throughout 2008, kids ages 17 and younger sail free as the third or fourth passenger sharing a stateroom. www.msccruisesusa.com

• Peak summer sailings aboard Carnival's Freedom are priced from $1,149 per person, double occupancy, on 12-night voyages to spots in the Mediterranean. The departure dates of Aug. 26 or Sept. 7 call at Naples, Florence, and Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Barcelona, Spain, and Monaco. Rates on an Oct. 13 departure start from $1,199. An Oct. 25 12-night sailing aboard Freedom, and priced from $999 double interior stateroom, visits Naples and Florence, Italy; Marmaris, Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey, and Athens and Katakolon, Greece. The Freedom will appeal to families with its four swimming pools (one with a 214-foot long waterslide), an Internet cafe, a jogging track and lots of duty-free shops. Other features include 22 lounges and bars, a 13,300-square-foot spa, and a nine-deck high atrium. Airfare is additional. Carnival Freedom departs and returns to Civitavecchia (Rome). www.carnival.com

• Closer to home, save on shorter cruises to the Bahamas. In late September, Carnival's Fascination will be based in Jacksonville, Fla., and offering three- and four-night journeys to Nassau and its own private island, Half Moon Cay. Save airfare costs by driving to Jacksonville, about 345 miles, or 5 hours, from Atlanta. Three-night sailings start from $259, four nights from $329. The Fascination recently saw a multi-million dollar makeover and is now part of the lines' Fantasy-class. The re-do added a nine-hole mini golf course, a sushi bar and upgraded staterooms with restyled bathrooms. The ship offers a range of programs for little ones to teens and for the grown-ups, fine facilities for fitness and spa treatments. www.carnival.com

A word of advice: Experienced cruisers know the ease of booking cruise deals via the Internet. But novice cruisers should consult with a travel professional to ensure needs and expectations are filled. Maybe a "deal" isn't such a great one once you realize the ship might be kid-friendly when you seek romantic solitude, or when you consider the ports of call most important and then discover the ship visits a port for just a few hours. A cruise specialist can guide you toward the best ship choices in your price category and might be able to get you a better deal than you can find online. Ask friends who have cruised often for an agent recommendation. Or, find one in your neighborhood at www.cruising.org.

Clara Bosonetto Maerz is a retired travel consultant. Sale fares listed here are subject to change and do not include taxes and fees. Budget Traveler deals appear Monday through Friday at ajc.com/travel, with information about discount airline seats, cruises, rental cars, packages and hotel rooms.