Taking a cheap cruise today seems a strange thing to say. Why? Basically because the price of cruising has never been more affordable and the number of people cruising for the first time has jumped dramatically in recent years.

The truth is, if you cannot find a discount cruise holiday these days then you are not trying hard enough. In this article, we’ll concentrate on Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines and some of the discount cruises on offer from these two giants.

Carnival Cruise Lines

The Carnival cruise lines company is one that is committed to total guest satisfaction and which strives to ensure that each and every traveler is absolutely satisfied with their trip, from start to finish.

The emphasis on these cruises is round-the-clock fun, and they offer a ton of different activities, from Vegas-style revues to high energy discos and nightlife. Here are some real cruise bargains on offer.

For example, 3 day cruises have become extremely popular and you can grab a cheap cruise to the Bahamas for as low as $350 or Baja, Mexico for under $400. Five day cruises to the Western Caribbean will set you back just under $600 while Carnival has some excellent value in their Eastern Caribbean cruises and with a little due diligence, these can be found for under $900.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Another great discount cruises cruise line is Royal Caribbean International, they are most well known for the grand scale adventure that they offer on their cruises.

If you are looking for new experiences and choices for the whole family, then they are the ideal option for you. They offer discount cruises but they certainly do not skimp on quality, and offer all the possible amenities that you could imagine.

They offer discount cruises to a variety of destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, Bahamas, Bermuda, New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Orient, Panama Canal, and South America. They offer everything you could possibly imagine, including golf courses and rock-climbing walls looming up to 200 feet over the ocean.

Meanwhile, last minute cruise deals through Royal Caribbean offer great value. Holidays for less than $500 to the Caribbean for under $500 are hard to beat while those with a little more adventure should consider Alaska cruises during the summer months starting at under $700.

With a little homework, finding a cheap cruise is not difficult at all particularly if you do a little extra investigative work by checking with a variety of travel agents. You’ll be amazed how much you can get an original quote down just by asking.

When booking a cruise vacation, the experienced cruise traveler knows that the final cost is never truly the final cost. From shore excursions to spa treatments, there a number of additional options and added on activities that can be included in every cruise vacation.

To learn about the basics of shore-side activities, keep reading for great tips on how to enjoy optional side trips and save money on your next cruise.

Getting to Your Cruise

Your first “add-on” is going to be the actual transportation to the ship and the port of departure for your cruise destination. Sometimes, booking a flight as part of a cruise package will save you money and other times, it won’t.

Therefore, it’s important to compare the cost of your cruise with a flight package against your own flight prices and various airline deals. Or if you are geographically close enough, you might consider driving to the port.

Many cruise lines offer a shuttle service from local hotels or airports in their departure city. To save money on a taxi to the actual ship, call ahead and ask.

Port Excursions

Almost every cruise ship offers port excursions at an additional cost. These can range from basic guided tours to fully-outfitted scuba diving expeditions. The majority of these excursions will cost money.

You can review and book these excursions in advance, allowing you to not only budget your activities accordingly, but also to look for destinations and ports-of-call where you can explore on your own.

For example, you may want to indulge in some structured wine-tasting when your boat docks in France, but explore Athens on your own with little more than a guide book and a shuttle back to the ship at the end of the day.

Additional Activities On-Board

Not everything is free on a cruise ship; from spa treatments to rock climbing to golf courses, many of the activities on a cruise ship are available at an extra cost.

To be sure you understand all the costs associated with your next vacation on one of the many cruise lines, read through your passenger materials thoroughly. And read the fine print!

For spa treatments and tee times at the driving range, book early as these tend to fill up fast.

Extra Cabin Amenities

Cruise ships offer a number of additional cabin amenities like a departure gift, champagne on arrival, laundry service and room service. All these extras come at additional cost. Again, before you book and as you budget, be sure to take into consideration the extra expenses associated with additional cabin amenities.

There is little doubt Princess Cruises is one of the most respected cruise lines in the world. There are not too many places on the planet where they can steer a giant cruise liner through that they don’t navigate.

One of the benefits a vacationer has with Princess Cruise holiday is the enormous experience in a company which understands the needs and wants of the cruise vacationer perfectly. But how do they compare to some of the other big names including Carnival and Royal Caribbean?

Well, competition certainly has stiffened amongst the big cruise lines in the last few years with bigger and better ships meaning the need to attract more customers. Princess Cruise Holidays certainly enjoys a large share of the cruise customer base with no signs of slowing down.

Princess Cruises Travel Nearly Everywhere

That’s an understatement. Here’s a shortlist of where Princess cruises spreads its tentacles:

- Alaska
- Asia
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Canada & New England
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Hawaii & Tahiti
- Mexican Riviera
- Panama Canal
- South America

That is just a short list. In fact, they visit up to 40 of the world’s major destinations.

Princess Cruises Fleet

The fleet of ships within the Princess Cruise Holidays banner is as impressive as it’s destination itinerary. The fleet is headed by the Caribbean Princess with over 900 staterooms. It is a 3100 passenger vessel and one of the giants of the sea.

It’s fleet also includes a smaller array of vessels including the 670 passenger Pacific Princess as well as it’s sisters the Tahitian and Royal.

Alaska Cruises

Alaska is a popular cruise destination at this time of the year and Princess Cruises a full itinerary through the summer months to Alaska which is almost unequaled.

Princess Cruises has three great alternatives cruising Alaska headed by the voyage of the glaciers cruise. This seven day cruise will give you a great insight to glaciers and you will get the feeling that you could almost reach out and touch them.

The inside passage experience is one which will stay with you for a lifetime and Princess Cruises has them scheduled about every two weeks through until mid September.

When it comes to cruise vacationing, Princess Cruise Holidays is a cruise line that caters to those who are seeking a true escape from the everyday, who want an experience that they are going to remember forever and that is going to take them away from the stressful routines of daily life.

They really offer the total experience including everything from private balconies to unique and personalized itineraries. Ideal for singles, couples, and even the whole family, the Princess Cruise line is absolutely one of the best.

Cruises are a great way to get out and explore the world. Cruise ships now have every luxury you can think of from fine dining to world-class spas. It is a vacation packaged wrapped up into one neat bundle. There are even cruise ships created specifically with children in mind. The parents can frolic in the sun while the kids are engaged in fabulous activities. The destinations are all over the world and you can decide how long you want to be gone. What more could you ask for in a vacation? Click here to find out more:

Have you given much thought yet to where you want to go on vacation? What do you want to do? What would pick to do? Would you lounge around in the sun all day or have an exciting adventure? Well, why not pick both and have it be the answer to your vacation dilemma? Cruises are great ways to relax and have fun in the sun. There are many different ports around the world that are just calling out you name. The deals are red hot too! Don’t just sit there. Get started on your cruise itinerary now by clicking here:

Cruises are a great way to get out and explore the world. Cruise ships now have every luxury you can think of from fine dining to world-class spas. It is a vacation packaged wrapped up into one neat bundle. There are even cruise ships created specifically with children in mind. The parents can frolic in the sun while the kids are engaged in fabulous activities. The destinations are all over the world and you can decide how long you want to be gone. What more could you ask for in a vacation? Click here to find out more:

Once upon a time a cruise was not that great of a vacation. You had to follow the ship’s itinerary and rarely had much choice in what went on. Even the activities were scheduled and could be incredibly boring. The cruises available now are nothing like their predecessors. These ships have a full range of services ranging from gambling to a luxury spa for those who want to unwind and relax. Your cruise is made exactly like you want it. No more strict schedules for you. You can choose when you want to eat, sleep or play. Click here for more information:

Can you imagine going on vacation and being told when you could eat, sleep or play? Cruises used to be very rigidly scheduled. Dinner was at a certain time and the activities were scheduled rigorously. You had to live your vacation according to someone else’s rules. You do not have to worry about that any more. Cruise ships today are incredibly flexible. You can eat whenever you want, even if it is at 2:00 am. The kitchen is always open. You can swim when you have the urge and play whenever the mood hits you. Plan your vacation now by clicking here:

If you are planning a family vacation and want some flexibility in what you do, you need to check out a cruise. You can sail the high seas to the Caribbean, Mexico or even the Mediterranean. If the destination is on the water, some cruise line will be on its way. Cruises are great vacations for everyone. The kids can find fun activities while the adults are getting away for a little private time. Fun, sun and water are all the ingredients you need to have an incredible vacation.

Taking family cruise holidays can provide some of the best memories you can wish for and there is little doubt they are one of the ultimate family holidays.

Are they expensive? Well, the truth is, they used to be but today, with competition fierce for the cruise dollar it’s hard to determine what expensive really is. Let’s put it this way, you can get some special deals most of the time when it comes to any type of cruise and family cruises are included.

The same rules apply – cruises are more expensive during peak season. In the northern hemisphere, this includes spring, summer and fall but winter time provides some great opportunities at discount prices.

Book Through A Travel Professional

The drawback with family cruises is school holiday times usually means peak season and this is where you should enlist the services of a travel professional. Sure, you can plan a cruise holiday yourself organize bookings on your own but just keep in mind the benefits you’ll fore go not using a travel professional.

The biggest one is peace of mind. A travel professional is someone you can fall back on for help should your schedule strike problems. In effect, they become a sort of security blanket. They can take care of most of the “little things” leaving you to simply head for the cruise departure point and enjoy your vacation.

Family Cruise Tips

Some tips are useful and some are essential when planning for family cruise holidays. Some of the important tips to remember are:

- Be sure that any kids programs are up and running during the dates of your trip;
- check the size and location of the stateroom and the guardrails on the beds;
- know that some ships will have cabins that can sleep five while others have adjoining cabins — some cruise ships will even offer special rates for a second cabin for teenagers.

As well, you should always check that medical service personnel will be available; double-check what kind of documentation is required, and be especially careful if your child or children are crossing borders and only one parent is on the trip.

Don’t forget to budget for gratuities, as this bit of pre-planning is sure to come in incredibly handy during your trip should you encounter any difficulties.

Two of the most popular family cruise holidays are Disney Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. Both offer a wide array of activities and programs for children and teenagers, and Disney cruises even supply the parents with pagers after they drop their children off at certain playgrounds, while babies can get laid back at the Flounder’s Reef Nursery.