Why book ahead?
If your heart is set on a particular ship, itinerary or cabin, or if you are tied to certain dates, especially if you have children, early booking is the key. Ventura, P&O’s latest family-orientated ship, hasn’t even set sail yet, but her family-sized cabins are already almost sold out for the 2008 school holidays.

There are good deals if you plan well in advance and don’t mind putting money up front. Cruise ship brochures offer up to 45 per cent off the full price to encourage early booking. Check out advertisements in The Times for bargain fares as far as 15 months ahead.

Why book late?
If you are a floating customer, prepared to consider any cruise line, destination or grade of cabin, and if you are flexible on dates, you can save a huge amount on brochure prices. Find last-minute deals online from cruise agencies (such as www.cruisethomascook.com and www.1st4cruising.com) and cruise line websites. Or look in high street travel shop windows.

Why go to an agent?
Good cruise agents give “added value” perks such as onboard credit, no single supplements, cabin upgrades and chauffeur pick up on selected cruises. For example, Gill’s Cruise Centre (02920 765850, www.gillscruise.com) in Cardiff is offering $200 (about £100) per cabin onboard credit on many Princess cruises next summer.
The Leading Cruise Agents (www.thelca.com) can put you in touch with a cruise agent near you if you need help choosing or wish to discuss your trip face to face.

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BACKGROUND

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Why take a repositioning cruise?
If you know you love life on board and have good sea legs, then a voyage with lots of sea days could be just the ticket. Repositioning cruises, when ships are being relocated at the beginning or end of a season, from the Americas to Europe in spring, or vice versa in autumn, for example, work out less expensive per day than a cruise on the same ship at other times. Cruising from Southampton to the West Indies for two weeks in autumn 2008 with P&O works out about one third cheaper (including the flight home) than a Mediterranean cruise of the same length, on the same ship.

Choosing a cruise

There are dozens of cruise lines, scores of ships, and hundreds of destinations – so do your research.

Read up
The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2008 (£16.99) has detailed descriptions of almost every ship afloat and cruise styles. The Passenger Shipping Association (020-7436 2449, www.discover-cruises.co.uk) has fact sheets on aspects of cruising such as which lines sail where, types of cruise and life on board. Cruise Guide to Europe and the Mediterranean (Eyewitness Travel Guides, £15,99) is useful when choosing itineraries and planning DIY excursions.

See the ship
Before signing up, check out the cabins, spa and lounges on a ship’s visit. Tours, sometimes including lunch, can be arranged through agents such as Mundy Cruising (020-7734 4404, www.mundycruising.co.uk) when ships are in UK ports. This year Mundy offered look-sees on Hapag-Lloyd ship Europa in Portsmouth, Holland America’s Rotterdam in Harwich, and NCL’s Norwegian Dream in Dover, costing £15-£25, including refreshments.

Check out passenger reviews
Websites such as www.cruisecritic.com, www.insidecruise.co.uk and www.cruise.co.uk offer valuable insights. Try to find as many as possible about the same ship to get a balanced view.

Take a taster cruise
Never cruised before and worried that it might not be your sort of holiday? Before committing time and considerable expense to that world cruise your partner is hankering after, book a mini-cruise. P&O (0845 3555333, www.pocruises.co.uk ) and Fred. Olsen (01473 746175, www.fredolsencruises.co.uk) have three-nighters from UK ports for less than £200pp. The Italian line Costa (020-7940 4499, www.costacruises.co.uk) has three-nighters from Savona, near Genoa, from £259pp cruise-only, in April.

1.2 million: number of Britons who took a cruise last year
£1,314: average they paid per person
38: percentage of cruises that went to the Med
Source: Passenger Shipping Association

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