Considering a family cruise?

Here are ten tips to consider:

1) Know your cruise specialist:

According to a report from the

Cruise Lines International Association, 68 percent of cruise vacations

are booked through travel agents.

When researching a travel agent to book your cruise , make sure they are knowledgeable about the

cruise lines and destinations and have access to the best pricing and promotional offers such as onboard cash, spa treatments and reduced

deposits. Make sure your specialist is the right fit for you and your

vacation needs! 

2) Book your cruise early:

The saying "the early bird catches the

worm" certainly applies to booking cruises. Booking early will provide

you with benefits such as more stateroom choices, dining options, special perks and

lower prices.

3) Be cautious about last minute deals:

While the prices may be lower with last minute deals, the room selections are not prime. You must also

remember that airfare is not included in the price of the vacation and

booking last minute airfare can be costly.

4) Carefully review the itinerary:

 If an itinerary doesn't address your needs, it may not be the right cruise for you. For example, if

someone wants to spend more time relaxing onboard, the itinerary should

include more sea days than ports-of-call. To maximize your experience in

every port, each stop should last a minimum of eight to ten hours.

5) Research the identification needed for each country:

While a passport is always needed, visa requirements may be tricky. Some countries require visas, but

others do not. To check visa requirements,

visit www.usvisaconnection.com.

6) Understand what is not included with the cruise:

When booking a family trip that includes a cruise,

vacation goers must pay the government fees. Remember to take

the price of tipping, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, kid’s activities and shore

excursions into consideration, as they are often not included in the

overall price.

7) Be comfortable with your accommodations:

Make sure to research all of the stateroom options before making your ultimate selection.

Accommodation choices on ships include an interior room, which has no

window or natural light, an oceanview room, which has one large window

that cannot be opened, a balcony room, regular suites and a penthouse

suite. Ask about rooms that are best suited for families.

It is also important to know that the cheapest and most expensive options typically sell out first.

8) Get to know your cruise line choices:

Choosing the wrong cruise line for your family vacation is a common mistake.

Sometimes, consumers will make a decision based on their familiarity of the name without investigating the type of people that typically take vacations on that particular line.

For example, some cruise lines cater more towards families with plenty of great programming that will interest your clan, while others cater to seniors or a younger demographic. Make sure you make the right

choice for your vacation needs, suggests Geraldine Ree, Senior Vice

President of Sales and Marketing for Expedia CruiseShipCenters.

9) Take time to see the city you embark and disembark from.

When booking a cruise, people make the mistake of arriving in the city a few hours before the ship sets sail and

making flight arrangements to leave as soon as the ship docks. The embarkation and disembarkation cities are

an important part of the vacation experience and it is worthwhile for you to arrive a day before the cruise leaves

and stay for an extra day after the cruise docks. Your cruise specialist can help you plan your

sightseeing activities.

10) You don't always need the ocean for a cruise:

Consumers can book a cruise to almost any place where there is a body of water. As a matter

of fact, river cruises continue to gain in popularity as the smaller ships offer a more intimate cruising experience.

Popular destinations for river cruises include Danube (Austria),

Rhine (Germany), France and Russia.