There’s no better way to ruin your European vacation than by opening your credit card bill upon your return and look at the abysmal exchange rate you got. One great way to avoid that post-holiday shock is by paying for as much as you can up front, in dollars – and a great way to accomplish that is with a European cruise. Taking a cruise is an even better idea right now, when the prices – even in dollars – are excellent.

There are several great Mediterranean cruises on this site, but here are some of the best ones I found:

• 14-night cruise from Venice – $599
• 12-night cruise from Barcelona – $599
• 11-night cruise from Rome – $599
• 13-night cruise from Rome – $649
• 10-night cruise from Barcelona – $649

But if the cruises I’ve highlighted aren’t the ones that appeal to you, no worries – there are plenty more to choose from, with similarly excellent bargain prices. And you can ask about reduced airfare to reach the departure port when you’re booking your cruise – be sure to have checked other cheap airfare search engines before you do that so you know whether the “reduced airfare” is really a better deal than you can get on your own. And don’t forget to read all the rules before you book.

There’s no deadline for booking this deal, but because it’s based on availability and pre-determined sailing dates, you’ll need to book as soon as possible to ensure you get the best prices.