If you’re planning a tropical cruise, choose Charleston as your cruise port. Not only is it a beautiful city to spend some time in, but also there are a lot of affordable cruise options.

Charleston’s cruise port, which is located in the historic district, is host to the following cruises over the next year and a half:

2009

Carnival Triumph 5 Night Bahamas – sail date: November 2, 2009 – sails to Freeport, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Charleston. Prices for this cruise start at $569 per person, double occupancy, not including gratuities and government fees and taxes. This pricing structure (double occupancy, etc.) will be uniform for all cruises listed below.

2010

* Carnival Glory 5 Night Bahamas – sail dates: May 24, 2010 or November 1, 2010 – sails to Freeport, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Charleston. Prices for these cruises start at $479 per person.
* Celebrity Mercury 10 Night Caribbean – sail date: April 9, 2010 – sails to Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico; and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Charleston. Prices for this cruise start at $899 per person.
* Celebrity Mercury 10 Night Western Caribbean – sail dates: February 26, 2010 or March 19, 2010 – sails to Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico; and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to Charleston. Prices for these cruises start at $789 per person.
* Celebrity Mercury 11 Night Eastern Caribbean – sail dates: February 15, 2010, March 8, 2010 or March 29, 2010 – sails to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands before returning to Charleston. Prices for these cruises start at $999 per person.
* Celebrity Mercury 16 Night Transatlantic – sail date: April 19, 2010 – sails to Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal, Panama; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and ending in Los Angeles, California. Prices for this cruise start at $1,399 per person.

Check out the cruise ships’ Web sites for more information. You could also get in touch with a travel agent who could set up your vacation for you. Either way, bon voyage!