With some many cruise companies out there and so many cruise trips to so many cruise locations, it can become quite overwhelming to know where you should go and just how much you should spend. Below you will find a few steps which should clarify all this.
1. Time – before you should go hunting for a cruise trip, try and find out how much time you could spare from your work or any other obligations you may have. If you know this, it may save you some time.
2. Money – how much money you intend to spend for your vacation? For instance, maybe you would like to spend less than $3.000, but you can afford even $4.000. Now you should take off 25% for overhead costs such as visas, on board spending or various taxes. That will bring you to a range of around $2.200 for spending on your airfare and on the cruise.
3. Cheap – cheaper is not always better. Take into consideration what class of service you will desire. If you have a lot to spend, you might wish to go on a higher class cruise company. For instance, you can use the services of Cunard Cruise Lines. If you are looking for a cheap cruise deal, you should take a look at Disney Cruise Lines or Carnival Cruises. More than that, you can also use the services of Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Lines or Princess Cruises.
4. Stateroom – in 2011, best cruise deals can be measured in terms of staterooms as well. Your stateroom is another aspect to be taken into account which may be a deal breaker for many travelers. Make a decision about your minimum requirements and then try to go up from there. Here are the general staterooms options: interior stateroom with no window; interior stateroom with a small window; interior stateroom with a window to the atrium; exterior stateroom with an obstructed-small window; exterior stateroom with a window to the outside but (where they may be something blocking in part or even all of your view like a lifeboat); standard exterior stateroom with a small window which will include a perfect view; exterior-deluxe stateroom with a large window which will include a perfect view; exterior stateroom with a balcony (pretty much the same as an exterior stateroom, but will include a balcony); deluxe mini-suite with a balcony; suite with a balcony.
5. Location – make a decision about where you want to go. Try and find a website which will handle more than one cruise company. You should be able to make your search based on class, stateroom, cruise length or available funds. Try and find at least three available options.
6. Shop – write down the exact cruise company, cruise ship, stateroom, desired cruise date as well as the price you think you can afford. You may start with one of your local travel agents and tell him that you saw a good cruise deal which may interest you, but you want to see if he has something close to offer you at a better price. Being travel agents, they can identify if there may be something which you did not see and which may better suit your own needs. As soon as they will offer you some options, narrow down a certain cruise with your travel agent.
7. Booking the Cruise – before you make your booking with your travel agent, for the best family cruise deal, you should check online at a few more websites to see if there are no better prices for the cruise package which you have chosen. Also, you should check with any membership that you may have, such as Costco, American Express or AAA. They often are able to provide great cruise deals as well. When you will be finding the cruise deal which you may think will best suit you, book it.