How to find cheap flights for your cruise

Cruising is more popular than ever, and the appeal is obvious: an all-inclusive vacation on a floating resort hotel with great ocean views.

According to the latest figures from trade publication Cruise Industry News, the three busiest cruise ports in the world are in Florida and the absolute busiest, Miami, welcomed 4.8 million passengers in 2016. Rounding out the top 10 are Cozumel, Shanghai, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Italy), Nassau, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands of Spain — but let’s take a closer look at the top-ranked U.S. ports and the best ways to get to them.

No.1: Port Miami. Fly to Miami International (MIA), about 3 miles away.

No. 2: Port Canaveral. Fly to Orlando International (MCO), about 45 miles away.

No. 3: Port Everglades. Fly to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), about 6 miles away.

No. 12: Port of Galveston. Fly to one of two Houston airports: William P. Hobby (HOU), about 40 miles away, or George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), about 72 miles away.

No. 21: Port of New Orleans. Fly to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), about 16 miles away.

Once you choose a cruise, start planning travel to the port:

• Give yourself plenty of time. If the ship departs at 9 a.m., don’t plan to fly in at 7 a.m., even if the port is only a couple of miles from the airport. Flights get delayed all the time (storms, mechanical issues) and if you’re not there when the ship leaves port you’ll be out of luck and, given that cruises are non-refundable, a lot of money. Consider arriving the day before the cruise departs, or even a few days before and make the port city part of a longer vacation. There are plenty of attractions for all ages in southern Florida, and other port cities, too.

• Compare nearby airports. Before you automatically book a flight to the port’s closest airport, check prices to that one plus nearby airports. For example, if your ship departs the Port of Miami, look at fares to Miami but also check Fort Lauderdale, which is only 25 miles farther away and might be significantly cheaper. These round-trip fares — for weekday travel in May — were found late last week on Farecompare.com:

Chicago-Fort Lauderdale, $89
Chicago-Miami, $151

• Fly into one city, depart from another city. Before you book flights, be sure to check your cruise itinerary carefully; the ship may leave from one port but end up in another. This is not uncommon for cruises and here’s where you need a two-pronged strategy to find the best fares.

First, find and compare fares using a "multi-city" itinerary: Depart city A, arrive city B; then depart city C, arrive city A.

Then, find and compare fares for two one-way trips: Trip No. 1 - depart city A and arrive city B; trip No. 2 - depart city C and arrive city A.

Take a look at these May fares for a passenger in Los Angeles who will take an Alaska cruise. The ship departs from the Anchorage area and ends its voyage in Vancouver.

Two separate one-way flights, found on a comparison search site, for travel in May:

Los Angeles-Anchorage. $199
Vancouver-Los Angeles. $112
Total: $311

Multi-city itineraries found on airline websites:

Los Angeles-Anchorage, Vancouver-Los Angeles.
Total: From $366 to $900+

Note that separate one-way flights are not always cheaper; you always have to compare.

• Don’t forget transportation between airport and port. Some cruise lines include an airport shuttle between the terminal and the ship in the overall package price; check to see if your line offers this or gives any options for getting from plane to port. If not, see if the airport offers port shuttles or consider a taxi, Uber or Lyft. If you are entitled to a free shuttle ride, be sure you nail down where to wait for it (and how long you’ll have to wait); some airport websites like Miami’s list shuttle pick-up locations for various cruise lines by terminal.

Happy cruising!

By Rick Seaney, Farecompare.com
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com

Traveling costs money, but there are ways that you can cut back on your expenses and leave more cash for your next trip.

Schedule at the right time: “The best way to save money when traveling is simply to schedule your trip at the right time,” said Anthony Tucker, All Inclusive Outlet. “Your destination may be in the middle of a season that is different from your home, so that can affect the rates for both transportation and accommodations. Seasonal rates vary depending on where you’re headed, so be sure to do your research to determine the best time of year for your chosen destination.”

Book early: “At least nine months in advance if you can,” said Margie Lenau of Wonderland Vacations. “However, do not book until you are sure of your travel plans. There are change fees that can add up and cost you more in the long run.”

Bring snacks: “I always take packets of instant oatmeal with me,” said Lenau. “It saves money on breakfasts or a snack, and I won't go hungry. All you need is hot water, which is readily available at most places.”

Go all-in: Tucker explained that staying at an all-inclusive property is one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck while traveling abroad. “While some may shy at the initial cost, keep in mind that all-inclusive resorts come with countless amenities to ensure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable,” he said. “An all-inclusive provides not only a great room to stay in, but also most (if not all) of your meals, beverages, and many onsite activities like snorkeling lessons and food tastings. The flat rate for an all-inclusive can be much easier to budget with, rather than having to account for small expenses here and there that can certainly add up.”

Focus on preferences: “You can also save money by focusing on vacation preferences rather than a specific destination while planning,” said Mark Noennig, executive vice president at The Mark Travel Corporation. “Rather than being dead-set on a specific place, explore travel options by activity, theme and culinary preferences.”

Book with a travel agent: “We always advise that people book with a travel agent,” said Noennig. “Contrary to what some people would probably assume, recent research by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) showed that agents could save consumers an average of $452 per trip. Travel agents have the optimal amount of experience and knowledge needed to build the best package possible, regardless of the budget.”

Stick to a budget: “Once your trip is finalized, make sure to decide on a budget and stick to it,” said Noennig. “Planning your activities ahead of the trip through your travel agent can minimize unexpected in-destination expenses. That way you can manage how much money you and your family are willing to spend before you ever step foot on a plane, which can help make trips a lot less stressful. Pre-established budgets and plans let you focus on fun instead of your wallet.”

Article Courtesy Travel Pulse and Seven Sea Journeys/News 

Daunting. That is one word that is often used to describe the process of booking an international vacation. In some cases, this attitude towards the process can often put some people off the idea of getting out and seeing the world all together. Thankfully, Dealchecker has come up with the Cruise Plotter, an all-new tool that features hundreds and hundreds of cruises from a handful of different cruise providers to over 200 international destinations all on one easy to use interactive map!

The idea behind the Cruise Plotter is a simple one – you search the map for a destination that you would like to visit, click, and a number of cruises going either to or through that destination will be displayed to you. All you need to do from then is choose one that best suits your budget. The hardest part of the whole process is deciding where you want to go!

It could be a sight-seeing trip to the Galapagos Islands, a relaxing cruise around the Gulf of Mexico, or even a trip to the subtropical Japanese island of Okinawa – the Cruise Plotter will help you find the best deals on cruises to all of them.

If you have been longing of seeing the world in a relaxing fashion, head on over to the Cruise Plotter today and get hunting for that perfect vacation!

WESTON, Fla. -- cruisefaremonitor.com has just opened its doors to the public. Using state-of-the-art computer technology, combined with instant e-mails and phone alerts, they make available an estimated $3.5 billion in annual cost savings to cruise line customers.

There is a policy in the cruise industry seldom used effectively by travelers to save money. If the price of a cruise drops after deposit is made, cruise passengers are often entitled to rebook at the lower rate without penalty. Travelers aware of this policy may check the cost of their cruise periodically to see if a price drop has occurred, but this tactic is time consuming and requires luck as price decreases are often temporary and may rise again.

Cruise lines do not inform clients that the price of a previously booked stateroom has dropped. As well, travel agents have a financial disincentive to inform clients when a drop in price occurs – their commission decreases each time they rebook at a lower fare. Travel websites have no mechanism for letting clients know that the cost of a cruise booked through them has declined. Until now, cruise passengers had no fast and reliable way of detecting a drop in their cruise fare.

The fact is, cruise lines frequently lower fares multiple times between a passenger’s booking and the final payment date. Often, these decreases occur multiple times in a single day to fill undersold sailings, attract people from certain parts of the country, pull in previous cruise passengers or, to target a certain demographic – such as those aged 55 and over.

This supply-and-demand change in prices offers a unique opportunity for cruise passengers to save money – if only they had access to quick and reliable information on daily rate changes.

Enter cruisefaremonitor.com (CFM) – the brainchild of a University professor and his travel agent. Together, they created and designed a fully automated ingenious method for cruise passengers to quickly and reliably monitor changes in cruise fares – at a surprisingly nominal cost.

Here’s how it works. Clients book their cruise, go to the CFM website and key in their cruise line, ship, sail date, stateroom category, number of people per stateroom, state of residence, whether they’re age 55+ and if they are a past customer with the cruise line. It takes less than a minute to do this. If CFM is monitoring that cruise and stateroom, CFM will provide unlimited e-mail or phone text alerts up until final payment date or until the ship sails.

The unique feature of CFM is that cruise passengers will typically know about a drop in the price of their cruise before anyone else – enabling them to rebook at the lower rate before it disappears.

It’s even possible for savvy travelers who have yet to book a cruise to sign up with CFM to identify a set price or upper limit they’re willing to pay for a specified stateroom category on a given sailing, and let CFM do the daily legwork to determine if the price drops to their limit. If it does, clients are alerted immediately.

CFM’s fees are nominal, with two options: The first is a one-time fixed, prepaid fee, ranging from $10-$15 dollars. Clients may optionally choose a fee that requires payment only if the fare actually drops and clients save money. Cruise lines now being monitored include Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, and Royal Caribbean – a list that may expand in the future. Right now CFM is only available to U.S. citizens.

cruisefaremonitor.com welcomes travelers and travel agents to use their state-of-the-art technology to save money on cruising. Cruise travelers should first book their cruise, then “CFM their cruise vacation.”

___________________________________________________________

About cruisefaremonitor.com (CFM)

CFM is based in Weston, Florida. For more information, please visit cruisefaremonitor.com.

More questions? E-mail admin@cruisefaremonitor.com

Follow CFM alerts on twitter @cruisefaremon

Find us on Facebook: cruisefaremonitor

Recent images of a cruise ship limping back to port after an engine malfunction didn't do the cruise industry any favours heading into the summer vacation season. And cringe-worthy accounts from passengers who had to make do without power or working toilets for five days may have turned some travellers off cruising for good.

But for those undeterred by the mishap that befell the Carnival Triumph in February, nor that of several other headline-grabbing woes that afflicted some of Carnival Corp.'s other ships over the past year, this is a good time to save money on a cruise vacation, experts say.

"A lot of Europe is feeling the pinch of the recession," she says. "There are some low prices and there's a lot of availability."

Ready to set sail? Here are eight tips for saving money on a cruise vacation:

1. BOOK EARLY

The cruise industry touts offer-packed deals during its annual "Wave Season," which runs from January through March. If you know exactly when you want to travel, say specifically in the summer when kids are out of school, it pays to book as soon as possible.

Although you may get a lower price attempting to book at the last minute, by booking early you can often get perks, such as free airfare to the departure city, or on-board credits to spend on extras like a massage, or an upgraded cabin.

In general to take advantage of these added incentives, travellers need to book at least four to six months in advance to get the ship, travel dates and state room of choice, adds Carrie Finley-Bajak, CEO of cruising information site CruiseBuzz.net. Also, if you aren't picky about which cabin you get, you can save by accepting an unspecified cabin guarantee.

2. AVOID PEAK TIMES

High season is generally during the summer and other times of the year when school is out. That includes spring break, around the December holidays, Thanksgiving, etc.

For the best deals, book travel for other times of the year: During the school year. After Thanksgiving and before Christmas. And, incidentally, right now.

"This is the season," Spencer Brown says. "Spring is a great time after the Easter holidays to nab a deal."

At this time of the year, different cruise ship itineraries become more affordable, too.

With summer still a couple months away, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are more affordable, as is an Alaskan voyage, Spencer Brown says.

3. SAIL OLD SCHOOL

Another way to save money: Select a cruise with an older ship. It may not have as many amenities, but it also won't have nearly as many of the cabins with balconies, which are pricier than the smaller, windowless interior cabins.

Finley-Bajak recommends doing some research on the cruise line to find what year a given ship was built.

Many of the older ships tend to run all year long on the three-day itineraries and are more affordable.

4. LOOK FOR REPOSITIONING CRUISES

Cruise lines move their ships from their rotation in one region to another every few months, usually as the high season in one region cools off and before the next destination heats up. For example, a ship will shift from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean for the winter, or vice versa. Or from the Caribbean to Alaska for the summer.

Booking a vacation on one of these repositioning cruises can be significantly cheaper than a regular itinerary that hits several stops before returning to a home port. All told, you could pay from $35 to $65 per person, per day on a repositioning cruise, says Spencer Brown.

However, one should consider that repositioning cruises are only one-way. The voyage also can take 10 days to two weeks, with fewer stops at ports of call along the way.

5. LOOK BEYOND PRICE

When selecting a cruise, price isn't the only consideration, by far.

There are the perks and incentives that could end up making the trip a better value. But a key factor is whether the cruise you select is right for you. That's because cruise lines cater to different niches of travellers. An older traveller looking for a refined cruise probably wouldn't be happy on a party ship festooned with nightclubs, basketball courts and other attractions aimed at younger passengers.

Experts recommend you read up about specific ships and their itineraries to get a sense of whether the cruise fits what you're looking for.

6. TARGET CHEAPER ITENIRARIES

The shorter the voyage, the less costly the cruise. If you're looking for ultra-cheap, go for a three-day cruise, which tend to compete more on price.

The weak economy in Europe makes a seven-day Mediterranean cruise a good value. Plus, as more cruise lines reposition ships there, competition will increase. That's good for the consumer.

Other ways to find deals: Monitor sites that advertise deals. Some of them include Cruisebuzz.net, Cruise.com and Cruisedeals.com

In addition, getting on cruise company mailing lists can tip you off to sales in advance.

7. CONSIDER A TRAVEL AGENT

A cruise vacation has a lot of components to sort out, from air travel to the departure port, to offshore activities that often are not included in your cruise costs. Travel agents can help sort out the details.

"A travel agent will have access to all the ships and current pricing and promotions," says Finley-Bajak.

8. ACCOUNT FOR EXTRAS

The term all-inclusive is often associated with a cruise vacation, but in most cases, it's far from the truth.

"If anybody says cruising is all-inclusive, they're crazy," says Spencer Brown, adding that one always pays extra to gamble in the casino, visit the spa, use the Internet, eat at certain restaurants and onshore excursions.

There may also be a hotel stay before your departure, government taxes, fees and gratuities to cover.

By Alex Veiga, The Associated Press

For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecrazies.com/index.html

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

http://www.cruisecrazies.com

Despite what you may have heard, cruises are not all-inclusive. Sure, for the price of your cruise, you'll get all your meals, a room (maybe even one with a view!), and non-stop entertainment. Just the same, I've read a number of cruise reviews by first-time cruisers who are turned off by frequent onboard sales pitches for everything from spa treatments to a scoop of designer ice cream. Let's face it. This is where cruise lines make their money. With all the extra fees for specialty restaurants, photos, slot machines, art auctions, bingo, alcohol, soda, lattes and shore excursions, what is a cruiser to do? I have three little words for you: "Just...Say...No."

However, let's be realistic. You're on vacation, after all, and we all need to splurge every now and then. To avoid sticker shock when you get your bill at the end of the cruise, here are some ways to reign in that onboard spending:

1. Don’t pre-book spa appointments.

It’s convenient to book in advance, but you’ll save money by waiting until you board, when daily discounted treatments are often advertised, especially treatments scheduled for port days.

2. Bring a refillable water bottle on your cruise.

You will save both money and the environment.

3. Buy a soda card.

An all-you-can drink soda card will save you money – but only if you drink a lot of soda. Better yet, take along travel-size packs of Crystal light and add flavor and variety to your refillable water bottle.

4. Skip the ship excursion - take a cab.

Shore excursions are big wallet busters. In some cases, a ship excursion simply doesn't make sense. Research alternative, less expensive ways to tour, whether by foot, by taxi, or a local guide.

5. Resist the lure of bells, whistles and flashing dollar signs.

Hear that whooshing sound? No it’s not your stateroom toilet. It’s the sound of your hard earned money being flushed away. Stay far away from the casino. Your lungs will thank you, too!

6. Skip the ship photo ops.

The ship's photographer will be lurking around every corner. Simply smile and say no. If there are no photos of you, you won't be tempted to buy any. An exception would be if your travel agent gave you a free photo as part of your cruise package. In that case, smile and twist yourself into that unnaturally ridiculous pose for the guy behind the camera, and get yourself a formal portrait.

7. Say "no" to that souvenir glass with the "drink of the day".

It’s usually cheap plastic and not worth the extra five bucks. Ask for a regular glass instead.

8. Disconnect.

You're on vacation. Your boss and your Facebook friends don't need to know where you are. Unless you have loyalty points that come with free Internet, logging on is going to cost you. Even then, the connection will be so painfully slow, that you’ll become extremely frustrated, possibly leading to flinging your device overboard in anger.

9. Turn off your phone.

See #8. Save the phone for emergency use only. If you do turn it on, be sure to turn off data roaming or you'll be clobbered with a huge bill from your cell phone provider.

10. Drink the free champagne, but leave the artwork at the auction.

Trust me. That masterpiece will arrive at your door, and you’ll wonder what the hell you were thinking. It was the champagne that made you do it.

Finally, to avoid an unpleasant surprise at the end of your cruise, check your account balance daily. On many cruise ships, you can turn on the TV in your cabin and see exactly what you’ve spent. If not, you can go to Guest Services and ask. You may still get nickel & dimed, but at least you'll know whether you can afford another scoop of that gourmet ice cream.

By Janice Neves, CruiseCrazies Contributor

For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html

Cruise travel in 2013 is a done deal for many seasoned cruisers; they bought 2013's sailings more than a year in advance. Cruise travelers on the cutting edge of buying cruise vacations are working on 2014 now. Traditional buying strategies for cruise vacations include buying as far in advance for the best cabin location and often, the best price. But depending on your tolerance for price fluctuations, buying far in advance might not be the best idea in 2013 due to changes in the way cruise lines promote fares.

Make no mistake about it: buying a cruise is getting to be more like buying a commodity or volatile stock. Buying far in advance to get a preferred cabin location – like mid-ship for those prone to motion discomfort – is still a good idea. There are only so many cabins on the ship and the good locations sell first.

Still, buying a flexible fare that allows changes later without penalty can often end up with the best value. Here's how:

Say we buy a seven-night Carnival cruise for two at the lowest possible price, one that has restrictions and charges penalties for changes made after booking. At the time of buying, we're happy because we got our preferred cabin location and the price seemed quite reasonable, a year or more in advance of sailing.

A few years ago, that strategy had a much higher chance of bringing home a win. Odds were that the price paid so far in advance would be the best available and that price stuck.

But that was a few years ago.

On The Cruise Line's Timetable

Today, cruise lines are much more savvy about filling up ships. They have their own strategies in place, designed to have us jump at the chance to book on the cruise line's timetable.

Today, those who purchased their vacation during a cruise line promotion, probably closer to sailing, gained over those who bought far in advance.

Probably not the best buy for the consumer, caught up in the hoopla of a winter sale that touts images of warm beaches on hot Caribbean winter days.

Tips For Getting The Best Value On A Cruise Vacation

Still, in spite of ourselves and our click-to-buy ways, some rock solid buying strategies combined with some critical facts can make for a great 2013-14 cruise bargain.

• Pick A Good Time To Sail- Traditionally, slow season for cruise vacations happens in the fall, after kids go back to school, while hurricane season rages on and expenses of upcoming December holidays force a watchful eye on the family budget. That's not apt to change. If you must sail in the peak summer sailing season, do so at the very beginning or very end of the season, when prices are apt to be best.
  

• Buy A Flexible Fare- Fares with strict rules may sound like quite a bargain, until a change needs to be made and the cruise line charges a fee to do so. Cruise lines are just now beginning to offer restricted fares with fees. Led by Carnival Cruise Lines and their Early Saver Fare, at the time guaranteed to be the lowest fare by the cruise line, look for more cruise lines to follow in 2013 and beyond.
  

• Consider Last Minute Buying, The Smart Way- Go ahead and make that booking a year in advance, just be sure that reservation includes two qualities: 1) That you can cancel before the final payment is due and receive a 100% full cash refund and 2) can turn right around and re-book at the lower last-minute rate, if available. That way you have a possibility of having the best of both worlds; excellent cabin location and lowest last-minute price.
  

• Keep Shopping- One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when buying a cruise vacation is not to check occasionally for new promotions that may apply to their booking. This happens all the time and includes some of the most missed opportunities consumers have to help themselves on cost. It's also a good reason to use a travel agent who can research what seems to be a better price. Often, what appears to be a good price is not when all the port charges, taxes and government fees are added in.
  

It's that last part, to keep shopping and use a travel agent that may be new to many readers. As cruise fares become more complicated, having a friend in the business is a good idea and a good cruise-focused travel agent can fill that role nicely.

By Chris Owen

Whether you’re a cruising veteran or a newbie without sea legs, you want to get the biggest bang for your cruising buck. The best tip is to be aware of all the extras charged to your room and to avoid going over budget. Many people do not realize that all-inclusive does not usually include alcoholic beverages, which can be pricey. Especially if you enjoy drinking. Many internet forums discuss ways to smuggle a bottle of their favorite in their luggage but there are much easier ways to stretch a dollar:

Off-Season: You can’t really write about saving money without mentioning that booking during the off-season or shoulder period can save you and your family a bundle. Do your research and choose your dates wisely.

Cell Phones: Bring your cell phone ... You may need it at the airport, but don’t use it on the ship. Unless your cellular plan is very lenient, a phone call here and there could cost you more than the cruise itself. Call your provider for details before you leave dry land.

Laundry: Generally, your ship has a full-service laundry and dry cleaning service to take care of all the passengers’ needs. Convenient, but with a price tag attached. You can avoid this expense buy bringing your favorite detergent, encased in a zip lock bag, as well as a dryer sheet or two. Find the coin laundry on board and get out of the sun for an hour or two.

Excursions: Do your research. You can save a ton of money on many cruise-sponsored shore excursions by booking them yourself. It’s not complicated; in fact, if you can handle booking a cruise, then you can handle booking an excursion.

Coffee: Just like on land, specialty coffee drinks can be an expensive habit. If you still want to treat yourself while on vacation, some cruises offer a “coffee card” for a reduced, set price that can bring the cost of your caffeine fix down considerably. A similar product is also available for soda on many ships.

Upgrades: When you check in and get your room keycard, ask to be upgraded. If there are available rooms (and if you smile nicely), the staff is usually happy to move you to a bigger and better room at no additional charge.

Buy stock: Ok, this is a little out-of-the-ordinary, but if you invest in the stock market, you may want to look into buying shares in a cruise line. The general rule of thumb is that they offer shareholders a discount, which is a nice little perk.

Enjoy your cruise but remember to keep your eyes open for deals as well as for overpriced items. Nothing ruins a trip faster than an empty wallet.

General purpose rewards cards or cruise-line specific cards both can save

Mammoth new ships and good deals are luring travelers to cruises in record numbers this summer, and many are setting sail with the help of credit card reward programs.

For people who amass award points for vacations, cruise rewards are often overshadowed by general travel reward cards or cards that offer plane tickets or hotel stays. But card issuers say cruise reward cards are becoming more popular as the cruise industry grows. More than 16 million people took cruises last year, up about 10 percent from the year before, and 13 new ships are expected to hit the high seas in 2012, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade group.

Rewards can range from as little as $50 in onboard credits -- which could buy a few strawberry daiquiris on the lido deck -- to stateroom upgrades to even a free cruise, if you channel most of your spending onto the right card.

Cards with cruise rewards aren't for everybody. But if you like to cruise, some of these cards might make sense:

Cruise line cards

Just about every major cruise line offers a credit card in conjunction with a bank (a "co-branded card"). These cards are best for people who want rewards on one particular cruise line and who value having a menu of redemption options on that line, even if there might be better value elsewhere.

These co-branded cruise cards -- which include the Royal Caribbean Visa, the Norwegian Cruise Line MasterCard, the Carnival World MasterCard, the Holland America Line Rewards Visa and the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa -- work pretty much the same way.

Typically, you earn up to 10,000 points when you first use the card then accrue one point per dollar spent, or two points per dollar for purchases with that cruise line. Most have no annual fee. When you're ready to sail, rewards start at as little as 5,000 points, which can get you, for instance, a champagne balcony breakfast for two (Princess), two bathrobes (Royal Caribbean) or $50 worth of casino chips (Norwegian).

The points can also be exchanged for cruise discounts at a rate of about 1 percent for smaller amounts and sometimes up to 2 percent or 2.5 percent for higher amounts. Free cruises start around 50,000 points (Royal Caribbean, three- or four-night cruise for two) or 60,000 points (Norwegian, three- or four-night Bahamas cruise for two), depending on the line (not including airfare).

Cruise lines promote these cards on their ships, so the typical card customer is someone who likes to cruise and enjoys the choices and flexibility the cards offer, says Ann-Marie Archino, director of travel and entertainment partnerships for Barclaycard, which offers cards with Carnival, Holland America and Princess.

"There is no limitation on itineraries or blackout dates," she says. "You know how many points gets you what reward, so you can plan."

Noncruise line travel cards

More general travel cards can also help pay for cruises in the form of statement credits or gift cards. These cards might make sense for cardholders unsure of what cruise line they might like to try and who don't mind using points just for cruise discounts, as opposed to the other perks that cruise-line cards offer.

For instance, Capital One's Venture card offers 2 percent back on travel purchases, including cruises. Chase Ultimate Reward points and Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for gift cards on Carnival and Royal Caribbean, at a rate of $100 off per 10,000 points.

And, of course, cash-back cards offer the ultimate in flexibility. They typically give at least 1 percent back, depending on your spending patterns, but often have annual fees.

Until recently, there was a category of travel cards that offered cruise rewards exclusively. Chase ended its SeaMiles Visa Rewards card, effective April 2012. The card allowed travelers to redeem points on any major cruise line at a rate between 1 percent and 1.25 percent.

When Dan Gallagher, 44, lived in Florida in 1999, he and his wife each signed up for an MBNA Cruise Rewards card. It offered 4 percent of spending back, redeemable on cruises, and the couple used their rewards points for Caribbean cruises each year.

"It truly was a free cruise," says Gallagher, a local government transportation planner. "When you live in Florida, you can go on a weekend during the off-season very easily."

A few years ago, though, MBNA was sold to Bank of America and the reward level fell to 2 percent. Gallagher still uses his card, but the bank no longer accepts new applications for it.

Other card strategies

Even if you don't apply for a card with the goal of redeeming for a cruise, there are ways to take advantage of existing cards to help with your cruise vacation.

Kevin Weisner, vice president of CruiseDeals.com, a cruise-only travel agency, says many people who book cruises are not aware of credit card promotions that could help them save money.

"If you're going to buy a cruise anyhow, why not use the card that accrues some benefit?" he says.

For instance, in December, MasterCard and Royal Caribbean had a promotion that offered up to $100 in onboard credits just for charging a cruise on any MasterCard.

3 top tips for cards, cruises

The best advice to save money on cruises without a new card:

• Ask your travel agent. According to Cruise Lines International Association, three-quarters of all cruises are booked with travel agents, who often know of special card deals.
  
• Watch for promotions. Some lines or card issuers advertise specials -- be on the lookout.
  
• Understand the perks of existing cards. Holders of the super-exclusive American Express Centurion card, for instance, are eligible for $500 in onboard credits and other perks when they charge cruises on certain lines. Many cards also offer trip cancellation insurance, which typically covers cruises. Credit card travel perks make them good vacation partners
  

By Tony Mecia, CreditCards.com