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.

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.

There is so much to do and see around the state of Florida that the easiest way to make sure you get to see everything is to rent a villa. With its tropical, perpetual sunshine, you will want to get a holiday villa rental so you have a base from which you can visit the many theme parks and adventure playgrounds on offer.

If theme parks are your special interest then Orlando is the ideal location to rent a villa; most of the parks including Epcott Centre, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are within easy reach of the city.

For those who thrive on the open air there is nothing more exhilarating than a ride around the Everglades. This area is a vast wilderness covering much of the south of the state that is a maze of lakes, rivers and canals. You can explore its waterways in canoes, hovercraft, and speedboats or simply cycle through it. There are plenty of opportunities to view the shy manatees and avoid the alligators.

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa are some of the other main population centres around Florida, each with its own unique quality and style. The islands of Key West provide an ideal destination for the culture vultures. These palm lined streets and botanically diverse islands are creative, friendly centres that have a lot to offer tourists looking for the arts, crafts and world cuisine.

Florida has one of the largest ranges of entertainment available anywhere, from intensely commercialised adrenaline rides to tranquil moments of back to nature.

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.

The region of the Caribbean comprises in excess of an astounding 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. However, the most popular holiday destinations of the Caribbean predominantly include the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Collectively, they are also known as the West Indies. The crystal clear waters of the Caribbean are perfect for snorkelling and diving, as they contain many different kinds of pretty coral reef, sea turtles and hundreds of species of fish. The landscapes range from mountains and lush rolling hills to valleys, plains, cloud forests, rainforests and countless palm-fringed beaches. Each Caribbean island has its own distinctive laidback vibe, and every one offers travellers the ultimate place to enjoy an unforgettable holiday of total relaxation, tropical sun, beachside cocktail bars and sparkling blue oceans.

During your stay, you can rent one of a selection of holiday apartments and villas, which vary in price according to size, facilities and location. Many have irresistible extras such as private plunge pool, spa Jacuzzi or stunning balcony sea views. Alternatively there are hundreds of guesthouses, B&Bs and boutique hotels available throughout the Caribbean, ranging from simple and rustic to ultimate five-star luxury.

The weather is glorious whatever the season, although some areas are prone to tropical storms at certain times of the year. If you can’t decide which part of the Caribbean you’d like to visit, an easy way of seeing them all is by taking a Caribbean cruise, which stops at a selection major ports according to an itinerary. One day you could be having fun in the sun at a Jamaican beach barbecue, and the next you could be diving from a tour boat off the shores of the Cayman Islands. From birdwatching in Barbados to diving in Dominica, the Caribbean is a smiley, sunny holiday destination with something special for every visitor.

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.

Flights to Cairo are constantly coming down in price and you can pick up some real bargains these days. The whole of the Middle East is opening up to adventurous travellers and those looking for something a bit different in a holiday. Flights to Amman, flights to Beirut and flights to Damascus are now as regular and accessible as flights to Aberdeen and flights to London.

Cairo is in many ways the archetypal Middle Eastern city, with its mosques, minarets, bazaars and ancient, often crumbling walls and buildings casting a spell over the visitor the moment they are first set eyes on it.

Cairo is nicknamed ‘The Mother of All Cities’ and is a vast, sprawling metropolis where you can easily find yourself being swept along by the crowd to exotic parts of the city you didn’t even know existed, in an Arabian Nights adventure. This is in fact one of the best ways of exploring it if you’re feeling adventurous.

Just outside the city stand the great Pyramids of Giza, wonders of the world not to be missed by any visitor and as likely as not the reason for going there in the first place.

Cairo is an ancient and modern city at the same time, with bazaars and crowded markets sitting easily alongside smart international hotels and restaurants, and you can take breakfast at the Hilton or share strong, sweet coffee with traders in the Khan al-Khalili bazaar as you choose.

The cuisine is traditional Middle Eastern with an emphasis on delicious lamb dishes and other Turkish recipes from the long Ottoman occupation.  

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!