Holiday sale brings upscale cruises for $1,776

Small ship operator Windstar Cruises has dropped prices on 25 sailings to $1,776 per person in a week-long Fourth of July promotion.

The upscale line says the fares are up to 76% lower than brochure rates.

The marked down sailings include summer trips in the Greek Isles and northern Europe; fall voyages in the Mediterranean; and winter trips in the Caribbean.

A handful of sailings are priced below $1,776, including a seven-night sailing from St. Maarten to Colon, Panama in December priced at $976.

Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts that carry 148 to 310 passengers: the Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf. The line also soon will take delivery of the 212-passenger Star Pride, a motorized yacht that formerly sailed for luxury line Seabourn.

More information on Windstar's holiday promotion is online at the line's website.