So what does an unemployed writer from Detroit do with a free plane ticket for vacation? Go on a spur-of-the-moment cruise to the Bahamas! While February may not be the ideal time for cruising, the cheap price (with additional short-cuts) and gorgeous ports-of-call made it all worth while.

EMBARKATION: Port Canaveral, Florida, at 1pm. Rainy, cool. My mother and I drove ourselves from Florida's west coast to an east coast friend's house, who then dropped us off at terminal (saved $75 in parking).

Carry on bags? Not large ones. Left curbside for porters. Line outside terminal moved quickly. Security/x-ray, a snap. Smuggled in 2 sodas and 2 waters with no problem (saving $2-3 a pop). Short line to counter to get Sail & Sign card. Posed for quick picture and we were on board. Read more