There is more to booking cruise holidays than simply deciding where you want to go. In addition, there is the question of when to book the cruise. Booking early can sometimes mean lower prices or more discounts. However, for those who are prepared to take a risk, booking last minute cruises can be the way to secure a great deal.

If you book early, you will be assured of getting the ship of your choice, the cabin and the sailing date. Many cruise ship brochures offer cruise deals with up to 45 percent discounts for early bookers. On the other hand, if you are going to book last minute cruises, you will need to be more flexible in your choices. Deciding to wait for a last minute cruise can result in some great prices, but it can also mean that there is no space on the particular cruise that you want. You could end up paying more because all the early booking deals are sold out.

Knowing when to book a cruise requires judgement. One important consideration is your cruise destination and how popular it is. Other factors to consider are the number and size of ships that cruise in that region, the type of ship and cabin category.

The best advice is that if you are determined to have a specific ship, sailing date or accommodation, then book early to avoid disappointment.

If you decide to risk a late booking, find out as much as you can about your cruise destination. Caribbean cruises tend to sell out first, particularly around Christmas or New Year, Easter Week, July or August and during school holidays. The best times to find bargains are in September, October, November and early December. Post-holiday sailings in January are also a good bet. On the other hand, for Far East cruises, summer (May to September) is the off-season.

One of the world’s premier cruise lines, Princess Cruises carries over a million passengers each year to exotic destinations across the world.

You can choose between inside cabins or cabins with balconies and ocean views, and if you really feel like pampering yourself you can upgrade to a luxury suite that can compete favourably with the plushest hotels.

There are plenty of stimulating activities such as wine tasting, photography and computer classes as well as the usual array of entertainments, and five star as well as more casual restaurants serving first-class cuisine.

Princess Cruises take you to a range of great destinations from Alaska and Tahiti to the Black Sea, Europe and the South Pacific. On one cruise you’ll get to see more interesting destinations than most people manage in years on more traditional holidays.

Cruise holidays make the ideal getaway, as all your needs are catered for and the price is all inclusive. You can rest assured that the kids are safe and well entertained whilst you enjoy yourself as you deserve.

Get whisked effortlessly from one exotic port of call to another, without a care in the world apart from what to eat next and what fascinating city to explore.

Princess Cruises is renowned for their professionalism and customer care, their every activity geared towards making your holiday a comfortable and supremely enjoyable one.

Try taking a cruise with Princess Cruises and you’ll find the experience so rewarding that you’ll want to come back for more.

If you thought that cruise holidays were only for the rich, famous and wealthily retired you’d be wrong, with millions of tourists increasingly taking the cruise option when it comes to planning their next holiday.

Cruising holidays have many advantages. As well as being affordable, they take all the stresses and strains out of the holiday. Kids in particular are notoriously hard to please, and their attention flags after just a few minutes in many cases. You’re usually hard put to keep them entertained, and holidays often become just one long fight against staving off boredom for them as you struggle to make a bit of space for yourself.

With a cruise holiday you can forget all about looking after the kids because there are numerous on board entertainments and activities designed especially with them in mind, from computer and video games to movies and much more besides. They’ll have a great time without you if you wish, and that frees you up to take care of your own major concerns, like seriously unwinding.

Think of the sheer joy of being wined, dined and entertained aboard a floating luxury hotel as it takes you smoothly from one exotic venue to another in the waters of the Baltic, Mediterranean or Caribbean, waking up to new thrills every morning and knowing that the kids are well taken care of in the meantime.

Cruise holidays with the likes of P&O, Royal Caribbean and Far East Cruises, or any of the other major operators, take all the strain out of holidays, so you can recharge your batteries in style.

Cruise holidays can be the perfect way to get away from it all and relax for a week or more.  But a standard cruise holiday means you will be on the ship visiting various ports for the duration of your holiday.  What do you do if you also want to enjoy staying on land for a few days or more?

The answer lies in cruise and stay holidays.  These are ideal if you want to experience both types of holidays, because you can have one week on a cruise ship (or longer if you wish) and a week or more on land as well. 

If you like the sound of this you should think about where you would like to go in the world.  Picking the region of the world you want to visit is the best way to start because you will be able to consider different countries you might like to stay in for the land based part of your holiday. 

This should make it easier to find the right cruise and stay holiday for your needs.  You can select a cruise and stay holiday that will end up exactly where you want to be.  Many cruise lines give you a great choice of holidays in this respect, so it might be easier to book your holiday than you think.  If you cannot find the exact cruise and stay holiday you want, most operators will assist in creating just the right holiday to suit your needs.

If you have never been on a cruise holiday, then there are probably many questions that you will have.

In the past cruise holidays have been associated with older travellers, but today there are cruises to suit everyone, whether you are young and single, a family, or an older person. It is important to choose the type of cruise that suits your interests. Most of the major cruise lines, such as Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruises and Thomson Cruises have cruises that are particularly geared towards families, providing children’s clubs and a host of family-oriented activities. Other cruises are geared more towards adults, with cultural tours and activities. They will often have guest speakers who give lectures on a variety of topics, from local history, to wine, to archaeology.

Sea-sickness could ruin a cruise holiday. However, this is rarely a problem with cruise liners, as they have modern stabiliser systems, and they generally cruise in calm waters.

Another common concern is feeling trapped on a ship, which could become boring. Modern cruise liners come equipped with many facilities, including shops, casinos, libraries, cinemas, sports facilities and games equipment. Cruise lines also frequently run activities for children on board, including quizzes and competitions, so it is unlikely that you would ever be bored on a cruise. There are also frequent opportunities to get off the ship and explore on land. Pre-booked excursions are available, or you can choose to explore on your own.

Accommodation is an important part of a holiday, so a common question is what will the cabin be like? Cabins on cruise ships fall into various categories. All of them will have an en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone and hair dryer. Some will have a sea view and others have balconies. Higher grade cabins will be more spacious and often they have lounge areas where you can relax.

The Red Sea lies between Africa and Asia. Its northernmost point forms the Sinai Peninsula, and from here it stretches over a thousand miles to join the Indian Ocean between Yemen and Djibouti. The Red Sea is world-famous for its pristine beaches, clear blue waters and abundant marine life. It has long formed the trade route between East and West. On the African continent it is bordered by Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Djibouti, whilst on the Asian continent it borders Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Jordan.

Red Sea cruises are the ideal cruise for someone who wants a first-time cruise outside the Mediterranean. There are often fantastic deals on Red Sea cruises, and they are a perfect way to soak up some winter sun, whilst visiting some of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world. The great pyramids of Egypt and the lost city of Petra in Jordan number among the great wonders of the world. Enjoy a camel ride, quad bike safari or surf at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

In addition to its archaeological treasures, the Red Sea itself has much to offer, from the spectacular diving at Dahab, to the resort towns of Hurghada, Eliat and El Gouna. Snorkel in pristine waters off the shores of Makadi Bay, go on a liveaboard diving safari, or visit the beautiful dive sites off Lahami Bay and Marsa Alam in the Southern Red Sea.

More adventurous explorers can head off the beaten track in Sudan, where the coast has many reefs, or to Saudi Arabia where diving is becoming increasingly popular. Jordan is another country that offers exceptional diving opportunities at Aqaba in the far south of the country.

Red Sea cruises are offered by many cruise lines, including P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Thomson Cruises and Princess Cruises.

If you’ve never considered taking cruise holidays because you think they’re boring (who wants to be stuck on a ship for days?), or because you believe they’re only for the wealthy, it’s time to shed some illusions. The image of aging millionaires sipping whiskies and sitting on deck playing bridge day after day was always a caricature, and it certainly doesn’t apply today. Big operators like Costa Cruises, Thomson Cruises, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises have been working successfully to attract younger travellers and families with children.

Forget deckchairs and genteel card games. Today, depending on which company you cruise with, you can scale a rock-climbing wall or try some onboard water skiing; plunge down swooping tunnel slides in a water park or play a round of golf; take to the ice rink or visit the gym. You’ll have an en suite cabin with a telephone, television and hairdryer (and even sea views and balconies if you want to pay a little extra), as well as gourmet restaurants and plenty of evening entertainment included in the price.

Fleets owned by the big companies also include small, more modestly priced vessels; the service is more personal on these but there are fewer added attractions. Whether you want Far East cruises or Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises or Baltic cruises, there are plenty of choices available and oodles of great cruise deals constantly available, even on last minute cruises. Cruise and stay holidays allow you to mix a week on the beach with a week of cruising. Once you’ve had the cruise experience, you’ll be planning your next one as soon as you arrive home.

It may seem rather a reckless thing to suggest, that in these recessionary times an ideal spirit booster is to take a cruise. And yet, despite popular misconceptions, cruise holidays are often exceptionally reasonable in price, especially with the constant supple of excellent cruise deals on offer.

The big companies like Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises and Thomson Cruises – have worked hard to attract younger cruisers by radically modernising their onboard facilities. You won’t have to sit on a deckchair reading a book; today you’ll be able to choose anything from onboard water skiing, rock wall climbing, golf, ice skating or well-equipped fitness centres. And that’s in addition to staples such as cinema, gourmet restaurants, and evening entertainment.

Families might do well to try to select a larger vessel – there’ll be plenty of pools to keep the children occupied, and services such as kids’ clubs and babysitting so that mum and dad can go to a dance or take in a movie. Whether you’re considering Caribbean cruises or Mediterranean cruises, Baltic cruises or Far East cruises, there’s a bespoke cruise for you out there waiting to be booked. And if you feel like a longer stay in a resort, try one of the many cruise and stay options available – one week on the beach, one week of cruising. Perfect!

If you’re planning to take cruise holidays with young children anytime soon, you’ll probably breathe a sigh of relief that many of the big operators provide not just a range of onboard activities like child-safe shallow pools and kids clubs but even baby-sitting services. If, though, you’re taking your teenage children with you, you might be wondering how on earth you’re going to keep them occupied; in many respects, teenagers are more demanding than smaller kids, with ‘boredom’ being a constant complaint of the adolescent separated from his or her amigos at home. But have no fear – there are plenty of cruises ideally suited to teenagers.

For example, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Voyager Class and Freedom Class ships both come brimming with attractions the most bored of teenagers will find hard to resist. These include rock climbing walls, miniature golf courses, full-sized basketball courts and discos. Some facilities like The Living Room, the Back Deck and Fuel are teen dedicated, allowing youngsters to keep in touch with their friends through numerous internet cafes, and dance till the wee hours (2.00am) drinking mocktails as they go.

Carnival Cruises’ ‘Liberty, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Splendour’ ships each have a large ‘Seaside Theatre’ rising above the pool area, replicating a kind of ‘drive-in movie’ experience. Older teens will enjoy the late night teen discos every evening, but there are also earlier parties for 12 – 14 year olds. Teenagers can even go on their special discounted shore excursion programmes, voting on which tour they like the sound of most. With cruise deals which cure the teenage boredom affliction, cruise holidays could well become your holiday of choice from now on. Cruises, it’s plain to see, are not just for the middle aged and above!

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules to finding the best cruise deals, there are some useful tips to keep in mind. Perhaps the most pressing one is to act now, if you can – cruise prices look set to rise in 2010. There were record bookings for all cruise lines this season, which means that ships are filling up and supply and demand will soon be cranking up the cost of new bookings (Carnival Cruises has already announced price hikes). Most of the lines are, offering price guarantees, so if the price of cruise holidays actually falls, you’ll be compensated (and you’ll also get the pick of the cabins).

Last minute cruises are continuing to catch on (i.e., booking beyond the cruise’s final payment deadline, usually 60 to 90 days before departure). These deals are perhaps easiest to find on Caribbean cruises, but many cruise lines have unsold cabins 60 days before sailing (people sometimes pay a deposit, then fail to come up with the balance, hence the cut-price vacancies).

For families with school-aged children who are tied to peak season periods, the best advice is to book your cruises at least 6 and preferably 12 months in advance. You’ll also have a much better choice of cabins, itineraries and dinner settings. But if you’re bewildered at the prospect of finding the best deals available from big names like P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises, a knowledgeable travel agent can often discover extra savings and facilities. Then all that remains is cruising and relaxing.