Perhaps the cheapest cruise out of Jacksonville is on a river cruise boat, taking you around the Jacksonville area for the day. While it's not quite the same as staying in a stateroom on the open sea, it will get you and your friends out on the water. River Cruises specializes in party boat paddle wheeler cruises that include dinner, dancing and an open bar. Cruises go up and down the St. Johns River on a regular basis for about $40 per person, depending on the event, as of Oct. 2010.
Perhaps the cheapest option for cruising at sea from Jacksonville is the four-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival's Fascination. In 2010, interior suites--those with no windows on the inside hallway of the boat--start between $249 and $299 for the four-night trip. The ship, which features family-friendly activities like waterslides and mini golf, as well as adult treats like a spa and nightclub, stops in Nassau and Freeport before heading back to Jacksonville. Typical sailings are Thursday through Monday.
The next option is a five-day trip to the Bahamas aboard Carnival's Fascination. Interior staterooms for this trip start between $259 and $309 in 2010. This cruise typically goes from Saturday to Thursday, and stops in Nassau and Half Moon Cay before heading back to Jacksonville.
