With the country in the throes of a recession, travel boards, hotel groups, and other vacation-oriented organizations are faced with a population that doesn't want to spend money on a holiday. Like many other industries, the travel industry is promoting the affordability of a much-needed break. And one area in particular, cruises, promotes itself as the perfect recession getaway option.

“A cruise is the best vacation value, period,” says Steven Hattem, VP of marketing and communications for CruiseOne, a franchise ...