Shopping for a cruise may sound easy, and it's usually a lot of fun at first. But pretty soon it can get confusing, simply because there are so many cruise lines, so many packages, and so many places to go. In some ways, it's hard to find a bad cruise. But it can be hard to find the very best cruise for you and your family this summer.

People generally shop for cruises based on certain determining factors. Unfortunately, what can be a non-negotiable point for one is not necessarily a non-negotiable point for another. The best way to begin is to figure out in your own mind the qualifications a cruise has to meet to be even acceptable.

Determining factors are usually things like length of stay (does your cruise have to be four days or less? Can you manage a 10-day cruise?), price, destination, time of year, port of embarkation (where you get on) or port of debarkation (where you get off).

Ask yourself if it matters where you go (you may be dying to go to the Caribbean), where you leave from (you can save big money on the total package if you live near a cruise port, but you'll have a limited selection of cruises), or how much you want to spend.

Most cruise websites offer ways to find cruises that let you search for 7-day cruises or cruises to Alaska or cruises under $1,200.

Rather than shop blindly, you should start off by getting specific. If you're not sure when you want to go, where you want to go, or how much you're willing to spend, well, good luck finding a cruise. You'll spend all your time shopping.

If you've got some non-negotiable points (I want a 10-day cruise in July or August), that's a good starting point. You should also start to round them out with some desirables. (I want to cruise to Hawaii and leave from Los Angeles.) Then you should start shopping.

Price is important but it's not always a good starting point in cruise shopping. You'll find that cruise prices can vary widely. A good approach is to fix in your mind how much you care to spend and then see what you can buy for that price range.

For instance, not all passengers on the same cruise pay the same price. The reason is not that some people just negotiated a better deal or got lucky or booked at the very last minute. Cruise accommodations vary widely in terms of how much space you get and how much you pay. If you're the type who plans on spending most of the time on deck or doing stuff outside the room, you can probably have a great (and economical) cruise in a bargain inside stateroom. But if you would enjoy the luxury of having a suite, you certainly can indulge yourself if you're willing to pay more.

Look for the destinations that interest you. If you want to sail out of Galveston, for instance, you'll only have some Caribbean and Mexican routes available. But if you're more open about what port you leave from, you can decide: do you want to go to the Caribbean? The Panama Canal Zone? Alaska? Australia? Europe? There are even super cruises to Asia.

If destination is not crucial, think about what general activities interest you. Are you looking for fun in the sun? Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico are all good destinations. Maybe you want to see wildlife. Then consider Alaska. Perhaps you're looking for something very exotic. How about a cruise out of Hong Kong or some of the new Australian routes?

Some cruise fans like a particular line and will only really look for deals from that line; however, cruise shoppers willing to expand their horizon and look at other lines increase their chances of finding a super deal. Now it is true that every cruise line has its own personality of sorts, and all get famous for their little embellishments. Holland America is known for being elegant, even a bit stately, and will have touches of formality. Windjammer is known for being super casual and for its party atmosphere. Royal Caribbean and Disney's Big Red Boat are known for being family friendly. The list goes on.

Shopping across cruise lines gives you the chance to see other offerings and compare prices. For instance, there are lots of lines that can take you to the Eastern Caribbean or Alaska's Inside Passage. Look at what they're offering. When you start to finalize your dream cruise and set some dates and places, then you can begin your hunt for a deal.

The best deal is not necessarily the cheapest deal. If having a larger-than-stateroom kind of accommodation would enhance the experience significantly for you, then it may be worth while to invest one or two hundred more in a room upgrade.

Do cruise vacations go on sale? Yes, but you have to be pretty watchful to catch sales and specials. That's why it's a good idea to know what you're shopping for so that you can be on the lookout for the perfect deal, not just any deal.

To keep tabs on cruise deals, visit cruise line websites as well as the major travel websites. If you have a travel agent, get him or her to scope out bargains; travel agents often hear of things the general public does not know about. There are some websites that offer deals on last-minute cruises. You can get some major bargains there but watch out. You're basically buying leftovers, what the ship couldn't sell. You may not be getting on a prime cruise and you probably aren't booking the greatest space. On top of that, you have to be as flexible as Gumby since you have to accept the dates and destinations they provide. But if you've got the time and temperament, these may work out well for you.

For busy people on tight schedules eager to get as much out of their vacation as possible, it's better to narrow your search and hunt for that perfect cruise.


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Mandy Karlik is a freelance writer who specializes in travel and the cruise industry. She edits the website http://www.thecruise-shopper and tries hard to write regularly in her blog, http://www.cruiselinenews.blogspot.com . The cruise port nearest to Mandy Karlik is Galveston, Texas, yee-haw.