Travel deal: L.A.-Mexico cruises for less than $300 a person

Short cruises between Los Angeles and Mexico are one of the most inexpensive cruises around, and January is a month when they get even cheaper. It’s good news for those who want to take a few days to recover from the holiday madness or those who want to experience a starter cruise.

Here are some sample itineraries and prices for interior cabins on sailings from Los Angeles:

Deal 1: Three-day West Coast Getaway cruises aboard the Sapphire Princess spend a day in Ensenada, Mexico, and a day at sea before returning to L.A. Interior staterooms start at $218 per person for a Jan. 13 departure, excluding tax and fees.

Deal 2: Four-day West Coast Getaway cruises aboard the Sapphire Princess offer itineraries that add a day in Santa Barbara -- cabins start at $268 a person for a Jan. 28 sailing -- or San Diego, cabins start at $259 a person for Jan. 9 and 24 sailings (excluding tax and fees).

When: Prices are good until cabins sell out.

Tested: I found availability for cabins on all the sailings listed above, but what you’ll find is all subject to when you buy. Note that fees and taxes add about $170 per cabin or $85 a person to the price of the cruise.

Also, if you can’t make January, shop the same short cruises in March. For example, I found the three-day cruise to Ensenada leaving on March 31 available for $199 to $204 per person excluding tax and fees.

Info: Princess Cruises, (800) 774-6237, or contact a travel agent.

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