People in the travel biz – including me sometimes – like to go on about how a cruise can be a really money-saving way to travel. Yes, it sounds like a lot of money up front, and it is. But if the total cost of your non-cruise vacation were added up and presented to you to be pre-paid before you even set foot out your door, you might have a heart attack. So I think it’s particularly clever of the folks at Royal Caribbean to not only say their cruises make more financial sense, but to show you they do – by pricing out the total cost on a per-day basis.

Royal Caribbean has a deal going on right now for Mediterranean cruises that are anywhere from 10- to 15-nights and cover various points in the eastern and western Med. The prices vary, too, depending on the destinations and the duration of the cruise, but the prices start at just $83 per day.

The Europe cruise deals available right now from Royal Caribbean include:

• 10 nights on the Brilliance of the Seas including Canary Islands, Morocco, Barcelona – starting at $949
• 10 nights on the Navigator of the Seas including Greece & Turkey – starting at $999
• 11 nights on the Brilliance of the Seas including Egypt & Eastern Mediterranean – starting at $1049
• 12 nights on the Brilliance of the Seas including Venice & Barcelona – starting at $899
• 13 nights on the Legend of the Seas including Italy & Croatia – starting at $1059

These fares are for interior rooms and are per person based on double occupancy. Departure dates run from January through December of 2009. Other taxes, fees & surcharges aren’t included, so be sure to read all the deal details before you buy your sunscreen.