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As with any travel opportunity, booking a cruise far in advance can ease your seasickness. Anyone thinking about taking that virgin stroll across a magnificent liner probably dreads arranging the trip (and connecting flights), length, port-of-call and activities.
Even before booking the flight, it is important to select the right cruise atmosphere. The majority of Norwegian cruisers tend to fall between the 40-to-60 age bracket, according to Expedia. Disney cruises are more family-oriented with child-centered activities. Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer cruises for singles and young adults.
Few cruises depart from New York in January, but that doesn’t mean you should give up your goal of walking around an enormous yacht in a drunken haze. January cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean are the best options for the first-timer, especially the short-term cruises that can allow the novice traveler to get his feet wet.
A warning to the cash-strapped student: saving favorites Jet Blue and Southwest don’t fly to popular cruise ports in Miami and Cape Canaveral, but Tampa, Jacksonville and New Orleans serve as useful ports when available.
A travel agent from Best Cruises said that seasonal deals can also come at the last minute, approximately a month or two before departure. Unfortunately, discount cards like Student Advantage or AAA are not accepted by most travel agents. Signing up for online alerts and newsletters can keep you informed of booking deals, sometimes giving you a week’s notice for the beginning of a special price period.
