Are you looking for a low budget fall vacation? A cruise to tropical beach destinations may be just the answer. Some cruise lines are offering rock-bottom rates for fall sailings. These discounted cruises depart from a wide variety of U.S. ports, which can eliminate the costs and hassles of expensive flights.

Prices are particularly low for select short fall cruises on lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. Base cruise fares on some cruise lines are less than $200 per person for a five-night cruise, making these fall sailings an excellent value. Carnival Cruise Line is currently offering some four-day fall cruises from Miami to the Bahamas from as low as $104 per person. Daily meals, activities, and entertainment are included as well. These fares do not include fees, taxes and port charges, but the rates are still exceptionally low.

Fall cruises visit appealing ports in destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Travelers will quickly see the value of these cruise vacations when comparing the rates to the cost of a land-based resort or hotel getaway. Some fall cruise fares are starting at less than $30 per person per day including meals, which is incredibly cheap. Resort costs have often increased substantially over the last year, and food prices quickly add up as well.

Short fall cruises and other low cost sailings are excellent choices for:

Budget-oriented vacationers. Short cruise vacations are very affordable and provide accommodations, food, and entertainment at a reasonable price. These quick getaways are an excellent value compared to other similar land-based vacation options. To accurately assess your vacation options, do your research to see what's included on a short summer cruise versus a land-based vacation and price out similar trips.

Travelers with limited vacation schedules. Short cruises of three to five nights are an ideal choice for a long weekend getaway or for those with only a few days available for a fall vacation. Although mid-week short cruises are available, most short cruise itineraries are built around long weekends and depart from various coastal cities.

First-time cruisers. Short cruises are an excellent way to try out the cruise experience to see whether it's something you will enjoy. Although these voyages and itineraries are shorter, you'll still get a feel for this vacation lifestyle and see whether you'd enjoy a longer cruise experience. Cruise lines and ships are quite different. It's often wise for new cruisers to consult with a cruise travel specialist to find the best match.

Drive-to-port vacations. Fall cruises depart from many coastal cities, often eliminating the high cost of airfares. Some of these cities include Boston, Massachusetts; New York City, New York; Bayonne, New Jersey; Baltimore, Maryland; Charleston, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Miami, Florida; Port Canaveral, Florida; Galveston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and two ports in the greater Los Angeles, California area.

Type-A travelers. Short cruises are filled with a wide range of activities and diversions. In addition to calling on fun ports, newer ships feature indoor and outdoor pools, spas, fitness centers, children's and teens’ programs, kids’ pools, rock walls and zip lines, discos, casinos, specialty restaurants, bars, theaters, boutiques, and other amenities. It's hard to get bored on these floating resorts at sea.

Cruise buffs. Are you passionate about cruising and just can't get enough time at sea? Short cruises do have a slightly more rushed feel than their longer counterparts but remember - a cruise is still a cruise, even if it's just for a few days. You'll still relish the opportunity to get away, enjoy the beautiful ship, and relax in tropical ports of call.

For more information on getting great rates on a fall cruise vacation, talk to your favorite travel advisor and shop the cruise lines’ websites. Carnival Cruise Line is prominently showcasing some of their cheapest fares on their website.

You can also visit sites such as VacationsToGo.com, CruiseCompete.com, and others to find the best fall cruise vacation options for you. Make sure to ask about special rates for military members, residents of certain states, and other offers.

Some of the many great fall cruise vacation deals include:

Caribbean:

Carnival Cruise Line features four-day, three-night Western Caribbean cruises on Carnival Conquest, departing from Miami and visiting Key West and Cozumel. Advertised rates started at $119 per person, not including taxes, fees and port charges.

Holland America Line features eight-day, seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises on Nieuw Statendam, departing from Fort Lauderdale and visiting Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Key West. Advertised rates started at $261 per person, not including taxes, fees, and port charges.

Bahamas:

Carnival Cruise Line features four-day, three-night cruises on Carnival Conquest, departing from Miami and visiting Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay – depending on the departure date. Advertised rates started at $104, not including taxes, fees and port charges.

Royal Caribbean offers six-day, five-night sailings on Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, departing from Port Canaveral and visiting the CocoCay private island in the Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico. Advertised rates started at $187 per person, not including taxes, fees, and port charges.

Mexico:

Celebrity Cruises features a six-day, five-night Mexico cruise on Celebrity Summit, departing from Miami and visiting Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. Advertised rates started at $198 per person for Florida residents, not including taxes, fees and port charges.

Carnival Cruise Line offers four-day Baja Mexico cruises on Carnival Miracle, departing from Los Angeles and visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. Advertised rates started at $129 per person, not including taxes, fees and port charges.

Royal Caribbean features six-day, five-night cruises on Radiance of the Seas, departing from New Orleans and visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Advertised rates started at $190 per person, not including taxes, fees, and port charges.