Cruise Ship Travel

CruiseMates is a comprehensive cruise information site and community, offering a guide for first-time cruisers. The article takes you step-by-step through the process of boarding the ship, explains what it’s like inside a cabin, details the dining situation, and gives advice for finding fun activities on the ship.

MetropolisMag.com , the online home of Metropolis Magazine, features an article called “The Cruise Ship Diaries,” which is one woman’s account of her two-week cruise off the coast of South America. Read her insider perspective on the sights, sounds and overall atmosphere for one opinion on cruising.

Cruise Lines International Association unites almost every major cruise operation in the United States and Europe. Find all the safety information, rules and regulations you need to know about before embarking on a cruise.

The Globe and Mail published a concise introduction to cruise safety called, “The Dos And Don’ts Of Cruise Safety.” Peruse these simple but important tips on topics like cruising with kids and land excursions during your cruise.

MSNBC has nine thorough tips for cruise safety from a travel columnist. Read about possible issues that might arise, such as infectious disease and impaired judgment due to excessive drinking on board. This article goes a bit more in-depth with the author’s real-life experiences and insights.

MSNBC has tips for “How to Pack for a Cruise,” including insight into customs requirements, what to pack for different times of day and weather conditions at sea, and detailed advice for how to pack your bag abiding by weight standards.

CruiseCritic gives travelers a crash course in “Cruise Packing 101” with insight into which items you may be able to get on the ship, the laundry situation, and level of dress formality for individual cruise lines like Carnival and Celebrity.

eCruises.com offers information on more than 20 cruise lines; select one from the dropdown menu to learn all about it. Use the links on the left of the screen to find weather updates, directions or to ask eCruises.com a question before you go.

Cruise Lines International Association is the official cruise regulation organization that most cruise companies belong to. The Association’s Web site is a veritable library of cruise and ship information. Browse by destination or cruise line, and even get a certified cruise counselor to help you plan.

CruiseMates is a cruising guidebook that features unbiased editorials on cruising and the cruise industry through extensive reviews of cruise lines and ships, articles and active message boards. Take a look at the Cruise Guide to find specialized sections for cruisers of different backgrounds, such as first-time cruisers, singles, families, teens, gay/lesbian cruisers and luxury cruisers, along with a host of other informative resources.

Cruise Critic feels a bit like it’s a club for people who love cruises, but it’s as good for researching your first cruise as it is for posting the stories of your last great experience on the message boards. Research cruises by destination, price, cruise line or lifestyle. Also find cruise reviews, learn how to plan a cruise or stay current on cruise news.

CruisesOnly is a booking site that in addition to all the standard features, boasts a large  collection of consumer cruise reviews.

iCruise.com is a booking agent with an easy-to-use trip-finder that lets you locate cruises by destination, departure port, sail date, cruise line and cruise ship. Browse trips in the “Handpicked Specials” section (scroll down the left) to find special discounted rates or check the list of “Most Popular Requests.”

The Cruise Web has a "Free Quote" option that guarantees the lowest price for a trip that is currently being offered to the public. Fill out a short questionnaire with contact information and vacation details to receive an offer on your trip. Browse around to find extensive cruise listings and special deals.

Cruise411 is a booking and information Web site with destination guides, deal listings and booking options. Search for cruises by destination, departure date, cruise line and length. Also find in-depth reviews for each cruise line and their fleets.

CruiseDirect is another booking site with two features that make it stand out: its clean, simple design, and its “Cruise Near Home” box near the bottom left side of the homepage. Use this feature to find cruises to various coastal cities around the United States.

CruiseCompete takes the hassle out of finding the best price on a cruise. Register with the site and enter your cruise specifications, and more than 300 travel agencies will quote prices, emailed to you from CruiseCompete. There’s no obligation to purchase any cruise, and travel agencies aren’t given your contact information.

Last Minute Travel , as its name indicates, helps you book a trip with little advance planning, and has a page on cruises. Check out the featured deals or the “Speed-Book” on the upper left to find cruise discounts.

Expedia’s “Cruise” page helps you book a cruise and offers a variety of resources that resemble those on cruise-only Web sites. Look for deals divided by cruise line and destination, or sign up for the cruise deals newsletter.

Travelocity’s “Cruise” page, in addition to offering many features similar to the other sites, has quick picks for the “most popular cruises,” which is helpful if you’re undecided about where to go. Also visit the “In the Spotlight” section in the left-hand sidebar for special deals on cruises and destinations.