The anticipation leading up to my second cruise—to Alaska—nearly killed me. The day my travel documents arrived from Princess Cruises I raced home, plopped down on my living room couch, and read through them page by page. I booked my shore excursions, memorized Sapphire Princess' deck plan,  and researched our beautiful 49th state online and in travel books.

This trip, I could tell from the start, would be very different from my first cruise, a very typical fun-in-the-sun getaway: a seven-night sailing to the Southern Caribbean.

Alaska certainly met my expectations size-wise (it's huge!), but there were plenty of things that took me by surprise both on and off the ship.

It's Not Always Cold!

Icebergs. Glaciers. Black bears. Brr, it's cold, right? Not always. I'd read that from June through August, average lows and highs in southern Alaska (where the ships are) range from the 40s into the 60s—and that lows as cold as the 20s have been reported. So I duly packed sweaters, sweatshirts, wool socks, and a colorful poncho for the rainfall I was also promised I'd encounter.

And wouldn't you know I visited Alaska during a precipitation-free, record-breaking heat wave! Temperatures soared above 80 degrees every day (that month, in fact, an all-time high temperature of 93 degrees was recorded on Alaska's Annette Island). At least the locals seemed to be as shocked and confused as I was. After a few hours attempting to explore Ketchikan in long-sleeved shirts and pants I felt as if I was about to pass out, so I hoofed it back to the ship for a dip in the pool—a dip in the pool in Alaska, with snowcapped mountains as my backdrop. Unbelievable. Thank goodness I packed a bathing suit.

Admittedly this is uncommon, but it's still wise to be prepared for varying degrees of weather, as the climate can change rapidly here and temperatures plummet in the evenings. Next time, I will pack for all seasons and maybe even see some of that rain!

The Perfect Family Vacation

I'd considered Alaska to be a bit of a "mature" destination (most of the people I knew personally who'd been there were grandparents and/or senior citizens), but the minute I boarded ship I realized I had it all wrong. There were lots of children onboard, mostly school-aged, and they all seemed to be having a grand old time. The biggest surprise was seeing so many multi-generational groups—families, and older folks traveling with their children and grandchildren.

Alaska is a great choice for families who want to introduce their kids to nature and science—something other than the surf-and-sand experience. And it certainly helps that Princess (and other Alaska-going lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival) offer innovative and extensive children's programs and facilities to cater to the one million kids who hit the high seas each year. On my sailing, organized onboard activities for children included a "Wizard of Oz" sing-along, and—more destination-specific—an "Edutainment" whale-watching program.

Land of the Midnight Sun?

Not exactly, unless you are much further north in the state (Denali Park does see some post-midnight sunsets; in Barrow, the northernmost community in the state, the sun shines for 84 straight days during the summer).

Still, the regions regularly visited by mainstream cruise ships see sunsets much later into evening than most folks are used to. In Juneau, for example, the sun generally sets after 10 p.m. It was weird to stroll out on deck after a late-seating dinner, completely stuffed, while it was still light outside! Juneau falls at about the same latitude as northern Scotland, which I learned also sees later sunsets in the summer months.

A word of caution, though: Sunrise is as early as sunset is late—day broke as early as quarter to four in the morning on my cruise. If you have trouble sleeping when it's light outside, pack a sleep mask. Even blackout curtains on cruise ships can let in some light (unless, of course, you are in a pitch-black inside cabin). I love sleep and can do it anywhere, anytime, but I can certainly imagine the brightness being an annoyance to those less fortunate.

Wildlife? What Wildlife?

One of my favorite cruise jokes begins with a passenger asking the captain, "What side of the ship will the whales be on?" Yet as silly as that is, I, too, wished I could stand in some magical spot and see whales breeching, eagles soaring, etc. Unfortunately, nature is unpredictable, and in seven days I saw absolutely nothing.

Surely, there were announcements of the "Whales on starboard side!" variety, but by the time I rushed to the railing, I literally caught the tail end of the action. During my organized hike through Ketchikan's Tongass National Rainforest, the closest encounter I had with wildlife was sighting a stray dog—no bears to be found. Princess also offers a similar excursion entitled Rain Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, which promises a meet-and-feed with Alaska reindeer. (Hmm, I hope they show up!)

If getting up close and personal with nature is important to you, I highly recommend booking an excursion specifically dedicated to whale watching, or another animal-intensive tour. Holland America's excursion roster includes an Alaska Bear Adventure by Floatplane, where cruisers are flown to a more remote area of the rainforest known for abundant wildlife; if you are staying overnight in Juneau, Carnival offers an exciting Evening Whale Quest aboard a high-speed catamaran through Stephen's Passage. There are still no guarantees, but fellow cruisers who took the gamble on Princess' excursions did not return to the ship disappointed.

Spring for the Balcony

On most big ships, there are essentially two Alaska cruise itineraries—the Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska—and both offer opportunities to view glaciers up close, with sail-bys to Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, or College Fjord. Whichever you choose, the scenery is breathtaking. Towering mountains capped with ice and snow set the stage for blue glacial ice and the occasional family of seals (if, of course, you are lucky enough to catch them).

That said, this is one voyage for which you may want to consider splurging on a balcony cabin; although you can always find a spot along the ship's rail for viewing, and many ships line deck chairs with cozy blankets and offer hot cocoa on deck, it's an unbelievable treat to sit on your verandah for a private showing. The night before we were scheduled to cruise Tracy Arm, I hung my breakfast order on the doorknob; the next morning, I bundled up (finally, all those sweaters I packed were put to good use) and sat outside sipping coffee and enjoying my pastries, all while the ship crept through the iceberg-strewn water. (Don't worry about missing what's on the other side—when the ship turns around and heads out, you'll see that from your balcony, too!)

That morning was one of the most memorable parts of the trip, and truly justified the upgrade from an inside or oceanview cabin.

Excursions Make the Trip

In Alaska, more than any other region I've cruised before and since, excursions are truly the way to experience the region. Surely, Alaska's ports of call have their own charm. Ketchikan features totem poles and funky boutiques. Sitka boasts a rich Russian and Tlingit heritage. Skagway has been restored to its Gold Rush roots and has a real Wild West feel—and a population of just 800.

But some things you just can't experience without ditching the crowded streets and made-in-China trinkets for an organized tour. I'll never forget sitting up front with the pilot in a floatplane as we soared over the meringue-like peaks of Taku Glacier, then feasting on a salmon bake at a wilderness lodge reachable only by air.

I also went fishing just outside Skagway. The actual fishing part of the day was a bit of a flop—I caught some seaweed and a suntan, and not one fish (surprise, surprise)—but the lake was exactly what I imagined Alaska to be: peaceful, untarnished beauty.

Did You Know?

• The jet lag's not over yet: Depending on where you sail from, you may cross time zones while at sea! Read your daily bulletin for information on time differences, and be sure to synchronize your watch with the ship's time.

   

   

• A glacier is an accumulation of ice, air, water, and rock debris or sediment; it is a large enough quantity of ice to flow with gravity due to its own mass. Meanwhile, an iceberg is a mass of ice found floating in the ocean or a lake, often formed when ice "calves" or breaks off from glaciers into the water.

   

   

• When a large whale breaches (jumps high out of the water), the "slap" as they come back down can be heard for up to a kilometer!

Cruising with young children is one situation where that catchy phrase "less is more" does not apply. As most new parents learn, traveling with kids does require more ... much more. More luggage. More paraphernalia (think strollers, toys, and Pack 'N Plays). And a definite need for more spacious accommodations.

While many cruise lines have already created innovative programs, facilities, and even shore activities, less attention has been paid to staterooms. Standard cabins, which are typically smaller than their hotel room counterparts, can sleep four to a room with the aid of a convertible sofa bed or bunk beds that fold out from the wall. Still, that scenario can leave some families feeling cramped, with little room to store all those extras—especially if beds are left set up during the day for afternoon naps.

The existing option of booking two connecting cabins has long been the best fallback, and is still a good choice, particularly if you want more privacy from the kids. But even that solution falls flat when child-less cruisers, who can now select their own cabins on the Internet, inadvertently book one-half of a pair of connecting cabins, leaving the other half useless for families who really want them. Sure, a nice presidential suite would solve everything, but what about folks who need family-friendly accommodations at a decent price?

Disney pioneered the concept of family-friendly accommodations when it launched "deluxe family staterooms" aboard Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in the late 1990's. The layout remains superb to this day because of something as simple as a curtain that sections off the main bedroom area from the living room area (and which comes with a twin sofa bed and fold out bed above it). This allows parents to change or read in bed without bothering the young 'uns. The bath-and-a-half system—also unique at the time (and still pretty rare today)—offers one bathroom with a sink and small tub, and another with a sink and toilet.

It may have taken years for other cruise lines to follow but follow they finally did. Others have now begun to create distinct family-oriented spaces with features like privacy partitions, walk-in-closet-sized kid bedrooms, clever bed layouts that don't take up much needed floor space, and, in general, offering more overall space to relax and comfortably spend down time in your cabin. And the best part is you don't have to be a CEO to afford them.

Beyond that, when booking a cabin for your own brood, consider these tips:

• Balconies are a terrific option, especially for those with nap-takers, as they create a quiet (and pleasant) place in which parents or supervisors can relax without waking up the kids.
• At the same time, folks with toddlers and beyond should make sure that balconies are kid-safe and don't have spaces wide enough for the little tykes to slip through. Also ask about locks on the balcony door—they should be too high for a young child to reach.
• One area in which most cruise lines fail to satisfy—particularly for families with younger children—is bathrooms; few have tubs, for instance.
• Since most lines offer connecting cabins, it's prudent to compare the price of purchasing two connecting cabins versus the price of a family stateroom/suite for the line you are interested in. Be sure to factor in the price of your third, fourth, and fifth passengers, etc. While you'll most likely have to pay the higher first- and second-passenger rates on each of the connecting cabins, it is possible that you could save money (and have a better bed configuration for your family) when you're comparing connecting staterooms to a family suite option that has high third- and fourth-passenger rates.
• In most cases (with the exception of Disney and some of Royal Caribbean's middle-aged vessels) the best family accommodations can be found on the newest ships in cruise lines' fleets.

I took a look at lines that really do make an effort to offer comfortable accommodations for families and their accompanying paraphernalia. Here are my best picks.

Editor's note: Whichever family-friendly cabins you decide are best, make sure you book them as far in advance as possible, particularly if you are traveling during school vacations. Family-friendly cabins are limited on all ships, and sell out early on popular cruises.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Why? I love the 230-square-foot family staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that are found on its Conquest-class (Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom) and Carnival Splendor (from the new Splendor class). You get the square footage that would typically be allocated to a balcony right in your stateroom.

Other Positives: Carnival boasts some of the largest standard cabins in the industry with interior staterooms as big as 185 square feet and oceanviews up to 190. These staterooms can accommodate up to five people with two lower beds that convert to a king (on most other lines the smaller-than-normal twins only double to queen size), two upper beds that fold out from the wall, and a rollaway.

If you have very young children, you might want to consider the outside stateroom with verandah instead of the family stateroom, which basically allocates 40 of the 230 square feet to a balcony, leaving less interior space. This way you can have a place to sit, talk, and have a light on when children are asleep.

Nice Touches: Carnival's nightly turndown service—which includes towel animals and chocolate chip cookies on select nights—and the Cartoon Channel, which is available on in-room TVs. All cabins on Spirit- and Conquest-class ships feature refrigerators; and all oceanview cabins come with bathrobes.

Caveat Emptor: When requesting fold-out beds, be sure to inquire where they will be located as some are placed directly above the lower beds instead of at the other end of the cabin (which would give you more privacy and distance from potential snorers).

Details: Visit Carnival's website for floor plans and photos.

Celebrity Cruises

Why? The line's 271-square-foot family oceanview staterooms (available on Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit, and Celebrity Infinity) feature a whopping 242-square-foot verandah that gives you your own little back yard at sea (your inside and outside areas are practically the same size). There are 12 to 15 of these staterooms per ship, and each includes two lower beds that convert to a queen, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, a sitting area with two sofa beds that convert to full-size beds, and a privacy partition between the two sleeping areas. The same cabins on the new Celebrity Solstice are configured differently, but offer tons of space with a 575-square-foot cabin area with balconies ranging from 53 to 105 square feet. The stateroom is effectively a suite with a master bedroom, single bedroom, and a sofa convertible to a trundle bed.

Other Positives: The Sky Suite category (which ranges in size from 244 to 300 square feet, with verandahs that range from 57 to 179 square feet) varies considerably by ship, but is your next best bet for spacious accommodations. The suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen, an entertainment center with TV/VCR, a sitting area with sofa bed that can sleep two, and a lounge chair. In addition, these suites come with butler service that includes a few perks for parents such as priority luggage delivery after boarding, a pillow menu, a private portrait sitting, and a daily fruit selection.

Nice Touches: Celebrity caters to its youngest passengers by offering cribs, in-suite refrigerators, children's menus, and even freshly mashed baby food.

Caveat Emptor: Celebrity's pre-Millennium-class ships also offer family oceanview staterooms with the much appreciated partition; however, sizes vary, and some do not come with a verandah. Also note: There are no privacy partitions in Celebrity's Sky Suites.

Details: Visit Celebrity Cruises' website for floor plans and photos.

Disney Cruise Line

Why? As already noted, Disney Magic and Wonder each have 304-square-foot deluxe family staterooms with verandahs that sleep four to five people with two twin beds that convert to a queen, a single convertible sofa, and one to two pull-down beds. A privacy curtain separates the main sleeping area from the sitting room/sleeping area so you can switch on a light without waking your children. Disney's cabins include a split bathroom design—one side with a toilet and sink, the other with a sink and shower/tub combination. While space is a bit tight in each, the tub is a big plus for bathing little ones.

Other Positives: Disney also has three different types of one- or two-bedroom suites that can sleep five to eight people, and the 268-square-foot deluxe oceanview staterooms withverandah are ideal for families of three to four people. A privacy curtain in these staterooms also separates the converted king bed from sleeping children on the other side. Also, unlike many cruise line sofas that take up precious floor space when they convert to a full-size bed, Disney's converts to a twin with a pull-down bed above, making a bunk-bed set up that can comfortably be left set up all day. This makes it easier for children to take a mid-day rest, yet still have ample floor space to move around.

Nice Touches: Staterooms include dressers that are designed to look like trunks from classic ocean liners and clocks with a nautical motif, plus the Disney Channel is available on stateroom TVs. Suites include children's robes in pink or blue, and turndown service includes towel creations that incorporate things left inside the stateroom like children's sunglasses or slippers.

In addition, Disney provides portable cribs, Diaper Genies, bottle warmers, and bumper rails for the bunk beds; plus room service menus that include several children's specialties from macaroni and cheese to fresh cut fruits and veggies, and Mickey-shaped ice cream bars. Families traveling with babies are given priority cabin service so that little ones can nap undisturbed in the afternoon.

Disney also boasts an online service that allows passengers to pre-order baby supplies and have them delivered to their stateroom (provided by Babies Travel Lite). There are over 1,000 brand-name baby products to choose from, including diapers, baby food, infant formula, and specialty travel items.

Caveat Emptor: The TV is typically located on the bunk bed side of the privacy curtain, so viewing after the kids go to bed can be quite tricky.

Details: Visit Disney Cruises' website for floor plans and photos.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Why? On Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, and Pride of America, ship designers have created 30 to 33 stateroom categories—including several suites and junior suites that can interconnect with other staterooms to create two-, three-, four-, or five-bedroom configurations suitable for families small and large. In particular, I love the 335-square-foot family suites (only found on Pride of America). Here you get a spacious private balcony, living room with double sofa bed and entertainment center, separate (and cozy) den with a single sofa bed, and a private bedroom with two twin beds that convert to a queen. There are also two televisions—which is a nice plus.

Other Positives: Four additional 360-square-foot family suites feature two interconnecting cabins that sleep up to eight people and include two separate bathrooms. The larger cabin has two single beds that convert to a queen and a sitting room with a full-size sofa bed. The connected cabin features two lower single beds and two pull-out upper single beds. Up for a splurge? The 572-square-foot Courtyard Villas feature a bedroom with queen-size bed, separate children's bedroom, and one bedroom with a luxury bath plus whirlpool tub and separate shower.

Nice Touches: Family-friendly amenities include cribs, in-room refrigerators, and towel animals at turndown; the Cartoon Channel is available on stateroom TVs.

Caveat Emptor: NCL's cabin categories can be much harder to decipher given the various combinations and connecting cabins. Be sure to ask for floor plans for each type of cabin that you are booking so that you can determine the best configuration for your family.

Details: Visit Norwegian Cruises Line's website for photos and some floor plans.

Princess Cruises

Why? Princess' larger ships (Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Star Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, and Ruby Princess carry over 2,000 passengers) offer 500- to 600-square-foot family suites that can accommodate six to eight passengers in a dream layout.

Other Positives: Each suite is actually two self-contained staterooms interconnecting through a large living room that leads to an oversized private balcony. Typically, at least one of the bathrooms includes a bathtub.

Nice Touches: Princess provides cribs upon request, in-stateroom refrigerators and chocolates as part of the turndown service. In addition, Boomerang and Cartoon Network are available in staterooms, although availability varies by ship.

Caveat Emptor: Staterooms that can accommodate four passengers are scattered throughout Princess' various inside and oceanview categories and are limited in number. For example, roughly only 14 percent of Diamond Princess' cabins can accommodate quads.

Also, there is very limited availability of family suites—just two per ship. Also, Princess is unusual in that the vast majority of its 323- to 354-square-foot mini suites with balconies accommodate a maximum of three people.

Details: Visit Princess Cruises' website for floor plans and photos.

Royal Caribbean

Why? Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas are offering the most innovative family staterooms I've seen in a long time. First of all, they're available in six different categories from a 600-square-foot royal family suite to a 330-square-foot inside family stateroom. With the exception of the suite, all family staterooms feature a curtained-off sleeping alcove and a sleeper sofa. I also love that families of six can choose from four 335-square-foot promenade family staterooms, featuring a curtained-off sleeping alcove with bunk beds, a sleeper sofa, a bathtub, and window seats overlooking the Royal Promenade; eight 495-square-foot family oceanview staterooms; or two inside family staterooms with sleeper sofa and walk-in closet.

Other Positives: If you're in the mood to splurge, each of the four 600-square-foot royal family suites has two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one with tub), a living area with a sectional sofa, an entertainment center with a 30-inch flat-panel TV, and a large balcony with an al fresco dining table for eight. And while the Freedom-class ships trump all other ships in the fleet for family-related accommodations, Royal Caribbean's Voyager- and Radiance-class ships (as well as Vision of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas) offer 265- to 328-square-foot family oceanview staterooms. These can accommodate up to six guests and typically include two twin beds, which can convert into a queen-size bed, bunk beds in a separate enclosed area, sitting area with sofa bed, and mini bar. Grand and junior suites also offer significantly more room and can sleep three to four guests (but without a privacy curtain, there is less personal space).

Nice Touches: Borrow one of several children's books available in the library to take back for bedtime reading in your cabin. Other family features include in-stateroom refrigerators, cribs, and child-friendly fare from room service including freshly mashed baby food. The Cartoon Network is available on stateroom TVs.

Caveat Emptor: Family staterooms and suites on Royal Caribbean's non-Freedom ships vary in size and layout so be sure to check online and with your travel agent for detailed information on bed configurations.

Details: Visit Royal Caribbean's website for wonderfully detailed floor plans and photos by ship and category.

On my first cruise to the Mediterranean in the summer, I discovered a very important fact: It's really, incredibly, super-duper hot! Whether in urban Florence, beachy Nice or out-of-the-way Elba, temperatures hovered in the 90s, and the thick air was oppressive. It was the kind of heat that wears a person down—instead of racing around each city like I usually do, I ambled sluggishly through town, sitting down on every available bench, stopping often for drinks or gelatos, and returning to the ship earlier than expected.

At first, I was disappointed. I clearly was not going to make it to the Chagall Museum in Nice or find the strength to go shopping in Palma de Mallorca. But then, I discovered the fun of taking it slow—lingering over wine-tasting and local lunch in Provence, eating a gelato on a bench in a Florentine piazza and taking my time everywhere I went, rather than rushing from one attraction to another.

Don't Overdo It

If you're typically a "go, go, go!" kind of traveler, consider slowing the pace down when it's 90 degrees outside. Instead of jam-packing your day in order to see everything a port has to offer, schedule breaks to sit on a park bench or in a cafe between sightseeing stops. Your body just can't handle a breakneck pace when it's so hot out, and if you pick two or three must-sees to visit, you'll be a lot more satisfied with your day than if you try to do six things and don't make it to all of them (or are so tired afterward that you can't possibly get up early and do it again in the next port).

Another way to slow down your pace is to alternate between what my European travel companion calls "culture days" and "beach days." On a culture day, you can do your hardcore sight-seeing and get your fill of museums, cathedrals, and cultural attractions. But make the following day a beach day, when you sleep in a bit, then camp out in a park, beach, or cafe and people-watch or read a book—in short, take it easy. You'll be better able to handle the summer heat.

Listen to Your Body

Now is not the time for machismo or stinginess. If you're thirsty, get a drink—even if that means lugging a huge water bottle through Rome or buying over-priced drinks at snack stands. At the first signs of hunger, find a place for lunch—don't put it off until you're ravenous and cranky and wilting from the midday sun. And forget about your diet—a cool gelato is just what the doctor ordered on a hot summer day. Not only will these steps keep you from dehydrating and feeling sick, but they will prevent you and your travel companions from getting snippy with each other and causing tension in the group. And don't eat on the go—sit down and relish your snack because it's a good excuse for a break.

Get Tickets in Advance

On my summer trip, we pre-booked tickets to Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia (the one with Michelangelo's David). Instead of waiting in the long, round-the-corner, outdoors-in-the-sun line, we waited in a very short, fast-moving line and were whisked inside at our appointed entrance time. Even though you'll pay a few euros more to book tickets in advance, it's well worth it, as you won't have to spend your day in town waiting in long lines in the brutal heat.

Take the Bus

Or a cab or a tourist train or a horse and buggy if you must. But when the sun is at its summer zenith, you do not want to walk three miles to that attraction on the outskirts of town, when a perfectly good (and possibly, though not necessarily, air-conditioned) vehicle can get you there faster. Look for hop-on, hop-off buses and tourist trams—they might be a little cheesy, but they'll take you to all the places you want to go without your having to hoof it or struggle to navigate with a map.

Head Indoors

Seek out air-conditioning whenever possible! Skew your hot-day itineraries toward museums, shops, and cafes, rather than outdoor markets or out-of-doors athletic activities (biking, hiking, walking tours). You'll get a full day of culture and sightseeing without overheating.

Siesta

Avoid the heat of the day, and ensure some downtime by working a siesta into your day if the ship's docked relatively close to town. Leave the ship first thing in the morning for sightseeing or shopping; then return for lunch—or after—and take a nap, or go for a swim in the ship's pool. Then, head back out for a few hours before all-aboard—the perfect time to grab a gelato before setting sail.

Expect Crowds

In summer, Europe's city streets become packed with foreign tourists, and—in July and August specifically—the locals head for the beaches and other vacation hotspots for multi-week getaways. Before you leave the ship, prepare yourself for throngs of people wherever you go—whether that includes long lines to get inside the Coliseum or slow-going up Barcelona's Las Ramblas. Then, if you find an empty street or quiet corner of a museum, the surprise will make the experience all the more enjoyable. Remember, too—pick-pockets love crowded areas, so be extra careful with your belongings when you travel in summer.

Use Sea Days to Rest Up

Sea days are a godsend on jam-packed summer itineraries. When you're going nonstop in the heat for two or three days in a row, you need a day at sea to sleep in, lounge by the pool and maybe get a foot massage for your tired tootsies—it will help you recharge for two to three more days of hardcore vacationing. Look for itineraries with several sea days if you're cruising the Mediterranean in the summer. If your itinerary is destination-intensive, consider creating your own sea day by not leaving the ship on one or two port days. You'll have the pool to yourself (no fighting for prime lounge chair locations), and you might even snag a deal on a port-day spa treatment.

So, you've decided to go on a cruise—perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea—and you're a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you're willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions, and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job.

In the age of the Internet, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent may be just what you need. In fact, according to the Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) 2008 Cruise Market Profile Study, nearly 75 percent of cruise travelers book their cruises through travel agents.

One of the most important things to know is that agents—in particular, cruise specialists—have been onboard the ships and can really give you first-hand advice about different cruise options. They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise-line seminars, so you don't have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks—or know best where to find them—and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don't pay more for their services and expertise.

Still undecided, or unsure where to find an agent to help you? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Reasons to Consider a Travel Agent

If you're used to booking travel independently, consider these reasons why you might want to make use of a travel agent to book your next holiday at sea.

Choosing a Cruise: For your first cruise, you may need help in matching your lifestyle and budget with a cruise line and destination. Choosing a cruise is not the same as picking a hotel or flight, as there are many more options to consider.

For example, do you want to cruise close to home from ports like New York, Miami, Galveston, or Seattle, or are you willing to fly to Europe for Mediterranean and Baltic sailings? Would you be happier on a large ship—such as Royal Caribbean's 154,407-ton, 3,634-passenger Freedom of the Seas—or on a smaller, more intimate ship—like Seabourn's 10,000-ton, 208-passenger Seabourn Pride? Do you prefer a casual and lively vibe, as is found on Carnival Cruise Lines, or a more formal atmosphere, such as Silversea's?

Remember, you won't just be using the ship as a home base, like you do with a hotel; it will be your home, restaurant, and entertainment venue for a week or more. The right ship and itinerary can make your vacation that much more enjoyable—and an agent can help you determine the best selection for your tastes. In addition, an agent can answer any questions or assuage any apprehensions you might have about taking a cruise for the first time.

Shopping for Great Deals: Contrary to what you might expect, travel agents may actually be able to get you better deals than Internet retailers or even the cruise lines themselves. The best travel agents have access to discounted group rates and exclusive cruise pricing that's not found anywhere else. In addition, agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking—such as prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of Champagne, or onboard credit—to sweeten the deal. And if the price of your cruise drops after you book, a good agent will notice and refund you the difference in fare. Finally, as cruise lines pay agent commissions, you don't have to worry about paying extra for their planning services.

Booking the Trip: Once you've chosen your cruise and, with the agent's help, matched your style with your vacation goals, you've got to book the trip. Again, it's a bit more complex than you might think, but a good agent will make the process go smoothly—from securing the right cabin type and location to booking the dinner seating that will suit you and your party. Your agent will also be able to sort out travel insurance, if required, and will collect payment for the cruise (usually a deposit at the time of booking and the full amount 60 to 90 days before departure). In addition, the agent can help you with the rest of your travel plans, such as pre- or post-cruise stays, airfare, and transfers.

Special Requirements: If you have special needs of any kind—whether it's help in arranging a wedding ceremony onboard, ordering gluten-free or kosher meals, or dealing with accessibility issues—a qualified agent should be able to make the proper arrangements for you or advise you on how to handle the issue yourself.

Establishing Relationships: Booking with a travel agent gives your transaction a personal touch—you have a resource for asking questions and someone to contact if something goes wrong during your travels. But your relationship with an agent doesn't tend to end after one trip. The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales, and can even suggest future trip ideas.

How to Select a Travel Agent

So how do you find the right travel agent for you? Look for the following:

Training and Credentials: Many agents become accredited cruise counselors through CLIA's Cruise Academy or take courses through the different cruise lines to become more expert at selling their products. Inquire whether the agent has attended any of these training programs. In addition, you can look for affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), or even the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Cruising Experience and Knowledge: Question the agents on cruising trends or up-and-coming destinations, and ask them to explain the differences between cruise lines. Find out how many cruises they've taken that year and with which lines they've personally cruised. The more knowledgeable an agent is, the better advice you'll get. If the agent has rarely cruised, you might want to take your business elsewhere. In addition, you might want to look for an agent who is a cruise specialist—either at a cruise-dedicated agency or within a larger general agency—to get the best service.

Inventory/Niche: If you're interested in a specific type of cruising (such as river cruising or luxury travel), look for agencies that specialize in the line or type of cruising you prefer. They'll often have more complete knowledge of your choices than a generalist. For example, if you want to cruise one of Europe's rivers in an intimate barge or riverboat, you may not want to book with an agent who specializes in selling holidays on 3,000-person mega-ships.

Interview: The best cruise agents will do a thorough job of interviewing potential clients to find out which ship, line, and itinerary would be the best fit. In that initial interview, they should ask you what kind of vacation you normally take (beach, city, active, for example), who is going (family, couple, singles), your travel style (entertainment and activity preferences, dining habits), and your budget.

Cruise Line Connections: Find out if the travel agent has preferred status with any cruise lines or whether he or she belongs to travel consortiums that would enable him or her to get you better deals, upgrades, etc. But watch out—some agents will push a particular line too aggressively for your tastes. You don't want to get caught in an agent's agenda if the cruise line isn't right for you.

Special Offers: Look for agents offering discounts, free perks, and other incentives. If you don't see a sign or advertisement, always ask—the agent may have fabulous offers the cruise lines won't let him or her publicize. In addition, ask if the agent can meet or beat the best price you've seen elsewhere.

Size: You can book a cruise through a huge travel retailer with branches around the country, a local cruise agency, or even a home-based agent who will talk cruising with you at your local coffee shop. You'll find pros and cons of working with the different types of agencies; for example, you might get more personal service from an independent agent but better deals from a large company with a high volume of bookings. Shop around and see what size fits your needs best.

How to Locate an Agent

If you'd like to book a cruise through a travel agent, you can pop into a downtown storefront or search for cruise sellers online. If you want to look for agents registered with travel organizations, here are some resources for finding agencies near you.

Cruise Lines International Association: You can search for a CLIA-certified travel agent on the organization's website. Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training.

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA): Use ASTA's consumer website to locate a travel agent who has agreed to conduct their business activities in accordance with the organization's code of ethics.

These days, cruising might be the least stressful way to travel and see the world, but it pays to revisit ways to reduce your tension and make the most of your days at sea.

Here are some tips and observations garnered over the years that might save you time and trouble.

•Trip cancellation and travel insurance is a small price to pay if you must cancel a cruise because of a crisis, especially now when losing a job looms large for many. Also with medical-evacuation costs often running into the tens of thousands of dollars, travel insurance could be a smart investment if, for nothing else, peace of mind.

•Never pack anything in your luggage you couldn't stand losing forever, and, to save space, don't pack anything you don't intend to wear at least twice or that isn't readily washable. Most ships (especially mega-vessels) provide self-service laundry facilities onboard, so don't be afraid to pack on the light side.

•Tape your name, address, phone and cell numbers inside your luggage. Outside labels are as abused as the suitcases themselves and might not survive the journey. Inside, they will.

•Always carry your cruise and airline documents on your person and not in your luggage or carry-on bag, which might easily be misplaced or lost in the confusion and hurry of travel.

•Stuff an extra collapsible duffel bag or two into your suitcase. At the end of your vacation, you'll be glad to have additional luggage to store your dirty laundry or those never-thought-you'd-buy mementos.

•Before your trip, take a snapshot of your luggage inside and out. This will make it easier for airline or cruise personnel to identify your belongings if they are lost. The photos also might prove useful for insurance purposes.

•In these tight times, penny-pinching makes sense. For instance, before heading off to the beach or excursion, consider packing a lunch. Either ask your ship's waiter or room service to prepare something for you, or head to the buffet and pile on your own favorites for the day's outing. Not only will this save you money and time in scouting for a place to eat, but, in a foreign country, also dealing with currency exchanges.

•Are you or the kids hooked on sodas? Instead of running up a large tab for pop, consider purchasing the cruise line's all-you-can-drink sales. Prices vary, but anticipate anything from around $35 and up for a week's worth of never-ending fizzy beverages.

•Hate noise and prefer a calm cabin? Avoid staterooms next to triple and quad cabins, especially during summer and holiday sailings, when you're more likely to find your neighbors are not singles or couples but families with kids. Also keep away from rooms near elevators and utility rooms (such as the laundry) or those above or below the show lounge, casino or pool deck.

•Not all private balconies are private. Check out the printed deck plan in the line's brochure to see if your neighbor above has a bird's-eye view of you and your veranda.

•Wash those hands! Norwalk virus has ruined many a passenger's cruise, and the best way to avoid a few days confined to your cabin is to soap your hands meticulously. Just as important, when you dine at the buffet, either wear gloves or use a napkin to ladle your food into your plate. Don't be embarrassed. Your neighbor on line might smirk inside, but you'll have the last laugh if others wind up nursing the Norwalk.

•One shrewd shopper we know never buys any mementos from the ship's gift shop until the last day of the cruise, when many T-shirts and novelty items are mostly half off.

•You might find cheaper excursion bargains ashore than onboard. Lots of savvy cruisers simply step off the gangway and sign up for excursions with the myriad tour operators that typically line the pier.

• If you want to sightsee in the Caribbean, consider renting a car or hiring a taxi for a guided tour of the island. You'll probably save a bunch over the ship's shore excursions and have a lot more say on how long you want to stay at the beach or linger over lunch.

•If you are the go-it-alone type, you might find a cruise guidebook, a book on ports of call and, of course, the Internet invaluable in planning your own adventures. Cruise-specific Web sites abound and are chock-full of firsthand advice.

•Lastly, onboard art auctions have been taking a rap in the media recently. You might want to think twice before you shell out hard-earned money for the pitch about a Dali print or any other painting or lithograph. Of course, you're always welcome to attend these auctions just for the entertainment. No purchases are necessary.
 

Recession Bonus

“Cruise lines are offering never-before-seen promotions during these extraordinary times,” says Liz Sutton of Alabama World Travel, in Montgomery. At press time, Regent Seven Seas Cruises had two bookings for the price of one, plus free plane tickets to select destinations. Crystal Cruises was touting a $1,000 onboard credit on its European sailings valid for spa services, shore excursions, and gift shops.

Agent Expertise

A good travel agent will keep track of price drops (rebooking you if the cruise line doesn’t automatically credit the difference), advise on whether to buy airfare with the cruise line or independently, and analyze deals. If an offer seems too good to be true, it might be—does the room look out onto a lifeboat or sit right below the disco?

The Right Timing

“Booking six months or more in advance typically brings the biggest discounts, as does the pre-holiday period in December,” says Ruth Turpin of Fort Worth’s Cruises Etc. Travel. And cruising during shoulder season could save you 20 to 30 percent off peak prices.

Home Advantage

“Home-port cruising has been gaining momentum since 9/11,” says Bob Sharak, executive vice president at Cruise Lines International Association. Cruisers can avoid airfare and bypass airport hassles. Starting this month, Carnival Cruise Lines will depart year-round from Baltimore. Celebrity will set up operations in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2010.

Quality Control

Don’t book a cruise based on price alone, says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of cruisecritic.com: “You’re not always comparing apples to apples.” Repositioning cruises—the seasonal relocation of ships—don’t run round-trip, which means that you have to factor in an expensive open ticket. And if you want to go the last-minute route, “make sure you can secure a corresponding flight,” adds Lorenzo Surianello of Valerie Wilson Travel. “You could wind up with an undesirable flight schedule if you buy air through the cruise line.”

If you're heading out of the country and expect to return after June 1, it's time now to make sure your documents comply with the tightened requirements that will apply. Those tightened requirements focus on re-entry by land or sea from countries participating in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) program (Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, and Mexico). To enter those countries and cross the border back to the United States you will need either:

• A U.S. passport—the traditional, all-purpose document for international travel.
• A passport card—the new credit-card-size ID, valid for travel to/from only countries in the WHTI program. It is issued by the U.S. State Department; it's a less expensive alternative for travelers interested mainly on cross-border travel by car or foot.
• An enhanced driver's license (EDL)—the updated, high-tech version of a conventional driver's license that requires proof of citizenship as a condition of issue.
• An ID from one of the Trusted Traveler Programs.

• Children under age 18 without the documents required for adults will be able to enter or return from WHTI participating countries with any accepted proof of citizenship, including birth certificate (original or copy), or citizenship card.
• Cruise ship passengers on closed loop itineraries (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) can enter or leave with a birth certificate or government-issued photo ID. (You may, however, need a U.S. passport to debark at some ports.)

This column was prompted, in part, by a news release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency touting its new high-tech facilities at the Tijuana/San Ysidro border crossing, the nation's busiest. By scanning the radio frequency ID (RFID) chips in the latest high-tech travel documents, U.S. agents can speed the flow of traffic through the checkpoint and (they hope) reduce the long lines of vehicles that currently clog the border crossing. All passports, passport cards, and EDLs contain chips, which provide instant access by agents to the government's passport database, and all future passports will contain them.

EDLs are new: For now, only New York and Washington issue them, with Arizona, Michigan, and Vermont listed as "coming soon." Currently, they're issued as an optional extra-cost ($15 to $30) enhancement to a conventional license.

But EDLs are the likely wave of the future for drivers' licenses throughout the United States. Already, several states—including my home state of Oregon—are starting to require proof of citizenship or legal resident status as a condition of issuing any sort of driver's license. I expect that states will find the ability to scan licenses to be as enticing as it is to the border agents. The current nationwide budget crunch may slow the process a bit, but I fully expect all drivers' licenses to incorporate EDL features within three to five years. Parenthetically, I believe RFID chips will also soon become standard in credit cards, as they already are in parts of Europe.

As you might expect, some folks are worried that hackers will be able to extract personal data from EDLs and other chip-enabled cards. The people who make these systems—and the government—say that a metal sleeve will prevent unauthorized reading. However, nobody should underestimate the ingenuity of hackers. Stay tuned for developments.

To complete the picture, it's worth repeating that air travelers arriving from any foreign country, including those in the WHTI program, will see no changes: You need a passport; the passport card won't do. This requirement applies to travelers of any age, including children and even infants. The only exceptions are for active-duty military personnel, merchant mariners, travelers with NEXUS cards, and permanent residents—groups with their own specific ID requirements.

For more detail on any border crossing documentation issues, log onto the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. And if you think you'll need a passport, apply now: I'm sure that a short-staffed State Department will again be slow in filling applications.

At what time of year can you score the best cruise deals—those that include free upgrades, onboard credit and other perks?

The time is now. The cruise industry's "wave season," which takes place between January and March, is when cruise lines showcase their very best offers for the year to come. All include major sales during this time frame, and if you're a savvy shopper, you can take advantage of these promotions to get a great deal on your next cruise vacation. We'll show you how.