Deal watch: Princess Cruises launches week-long sale

Princess Cruises is the latest line to roll out a promotion for National Cruise Vacation Week — an industry-wide sales event that kicked off Sunday.

The line's Escape Completely Sale, unveiled today, brings discounts on more than 200 cruise departures as well as a free balcony upgrade. The line also is reducing the amount of deposit customers must pay to hold a cabin by 50%.

The eligible sailings include departures between January and July to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii and the Panama Canal.

The discounted fares include:

-- Seven-night Caribbean cruises starting at $784 per person for a balcony cabin (was $1,184); interior cabins start at $584 (was $784).

-- Seven-night Alaska cruises starting at $1,344 per person for a balcony cabin (was $1,544); $894 for an interior cabins (was $944).

-- 12-night Greek Isles cruises starting at $2,479 per person for a balcony cabin (was $3,029); $1,779 for interior cabins (was $2,129).

-- 14-night Hawaiian Island cruises starting at $1,694 per person for a balcony cabin (was $2,690); $1,094 for interior cabins (was $1,790).

Fares are based on double occupancy and include government fees and taxes. The sale runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Oct. 29 and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Other lines that have launched sales for National Cruise Vacation Week include Royal Caribbean and Holland America. The annual sales event is organized by the Cruise Lines International Association.