Help choosing a Cruise
Cruises are fun for people of all ages. The best plan is to find the cruise that suits you best. Whether your goal is to relax, meet new people, or simply feast on quality food, there are many cruise lines to look into. This site is dedicated to giving you advice and recommendations from real people. All the content is based on past experiences of cruise members.
In order to find a cruise to suit your needs, you need to consider the following:
1. Where is it easiest for you to start the cruise? It makes more sense to depart from a destination closer to your home. There are cruises that depart from ports in Florida, California, Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Louisiana, Hawaii, and internationally. You can save on air fare cost if you can drive to your destination instead of flying cross country to board.
2. Where would you like to cruise? Itineraries vary for the different cruise lines and departure ports. Carribean cruises depart from South Eastern States while Pacific Coast and Mexican Cruises usually depart from California. Pick a destination that will suit your need.
3. How many days do you want to be on board? Cruise time ranges from over-night to even as long as a month. A typical cruise itinerary ranges from 4-7 nights.
4. How much do you want to pay?
Before you start to look at deals, be aware that there are cruise lines for every budget. The retail cost of the cruise package will determine the luxury status of your Cruise Line/Ship, cabin type, length of voyage, destination, and time of the year. There is no mystery to finding the best deal. Seasonal and Shorter cruises are more likely to have cheaper rates than peak-season packages. Last minute plans are also available due to cancellations and you can often take advantage of those deals.
The internet is the best marketplace to find cruise specials. A key to getting discounts is to book in advance; moreover, you can reserve the exact cruise line, date, cabin, and destination that you want. If you do not have time to do the research and booking, you can always go with a travel agency. Experienced travel agencies regularly book with cruise lines and they usually reserve a group of cabins on each ship and sell them separately. You may find better deals through the agency depending on how far in advance you book your cruise.