Cruise deals to airfare: Give the gift of travel this Christmas

Cruise deals and other travel packages make great holiday gifts. Here are the best cruise deals, hotel packages, and airfare deals this week. 

A couple's vacation is the perfect gift for that special someone. That's why today we're highlighting five travel deals that would make great presents. You can go big with the least-expensive Dubai cruise we've seen, opt for fun with 40% off a stay at a Caesars hotel casino, or go local with the least expensive flights to California we've seen; any of these vacations will blow every other gift out of the water.

7-Night Costa Cruises Dubai Cruise for 2
Vendor: Costa Cruises via Dunhill Travel
Price: From $598
Lowest By: $540
Expires: December 9
Is It Worth It?: Whisk your honey away to the Arab world's cosmopolitan hub on a this 7-night Dubai cruise for two. This Editors' Choice gift idea is the least expensive Dubai cruise we've seen from any cruise liner in the past two years, with prices starting at just $598. This roundtrip cruise aboard the Costa neoRiviera departs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 15 and includes stops in Muscat, Oman, and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Click on "Cruise Details" to see this rate. Some restrictions may apply; fees, government taxes, and fuel supplements are additional.

8-Night Vacation Package for 2 to Greece
Vendor: Gate 1 Travel via Dunhill Travel
Price: From $3,358 via coupon code "DHSMA200"
Lowest By: $80
Expires: December 9
Is It Worth It?: If the Middle East isn't romantic enough, take your sweetheart's breath away by giving them this 8-night vacation to Greece. This flight and hotel package will take the two of you all over the Mediterranean country: You'll spend three nights in Santorini, three nights in Mykonos, and two nights in Athens. Prices start at $3,358 when you use coupon code "DHSMA200", which is an $80 savings. Your rate includes roundtrip airfare, flights between cities, daily breakfast, airline taxes, and more.

Enter the coupon code at final checkout. This price is based on departure from Newark, NJ, (EWR) with arrival in Athens, Greece, (ATH) on September 22, 2014; other departure cities are available for an additional cost. Some dates may be excluded and additional fees may apply.

5-Night Celebrity Cruises Caribbean Cruise for 2
Vendor: Direct Line Cruises via Dunhill Travel
Price: From $398
Lowest By: $25
Expires: December 7
Is It Worth It?: Got a picky beloved? No one hates the idea of sailing away to the Caribbean, so gift them this 5-night cruise for as little as $398. It's the second-cheapest 5-night Caribbean cruise we've seen from any cruise line all year, and you'll even bag a $25 onboard credit. This roundtrip cruise aboard the Celebrity Constellation departs from Fort Lauderdale, FL, on December 9 and includes stops in Cozumel, Mexico, and Key West, FL.
Select the first offer on the top row. Some restrictions may apply; fees, government taxes, and fuel supplements are additional.

Stays at Caesars Hotel Casinos
Vendor: Caesars Entertainment via Dunhill Travel
Discount: Up to 40% off via coupon code "CYBER13"
Expires: December 9
Is It Worth It?: If your darling would rather play all day than lay around on a beach, check out this Editors' Choice sale from Caesars Entertainment, which takes 40% off stays at all Caesars hotel casinos. Better yet, select stays qualify for a $50 dining credit. That beats our Cyber Monday 2012 mention, which didn't include the credit, and it's the best sitewide discount we've seen for so many Caesars Entertainment properties. Stays are available at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Caesars Atlantic City, Bally's Atlantic City, and more.
Blackout dates, additional fees, and other restrictions may apply.

United Airlines Roundtrip Flights to California
Vendor: ShermansTravel
Price: From $97.80
Lowest By: $27
Expires: December 15
Is It Worth It?: If all your sweetie wants for Christmas is a ticket to escape the dreary winter weather, then take them to sunny California. United Airlines is offering roundtrip flights to Cali for as little as $98. A clear Editors' Choice pick, that rate beats our Black Friday mention by $20, and it's the best price we've seen for United flights to this state.

Click on "United.com" in the main paragraph to see this sale; all taxes are included. This price is valid on flights departing from Portland, Oregon, (PDX) to San Francisco, CA, (SFO) on January 8, 2014; prices vary depending on the departure cities and dates chosen. Blackout dates may apply. Book this travel deal by December 15 for travel through January 31, 2014.

Marcy Bonebright is a features writer at Dealnews.com, where this article first appeared: