Plan ahead with these tips for booking the perfect year-end cruise:
Many cruises between Thanksgiving and New Years fill quickly these days, especially the better cabin choices. If you plan to sail for the holidays, you should consult your travel agent or begin your research right away.
Consider purchasing travel insurance if your trip dates or plans could change.
Sometimes, the holidays can throw you a real curve -- you find you can't leave the office on the day you had planned, for example, or a child becomes sick and can't go on the trip after all. If there's any chance your travel plans or dates might change, think about buying a travel insurance.
One caveat: NEVER buy insurance directly from a cruise line or tour operator. If the company shuts down or declares bankruptcy, your coverage will disappear too. Instead, always pick a policy offered by a "third party" travel insurer not connected with the cruise line or tour operator.
Make sure you know ALL of the fees that you'll be paying for the cruise.
In the late 1990s, several major cruise lines were sued by consumers charging that the companies offered ridiculously low cruise prices -- without telling travelers that additional fees (called "noncommissionable fares"), port taxes, and other charges had to be added to the base price. Before you make any deposit on a holiday cruise, ask the travel agent or cruise line to tell you -- in writing -- what the actual final costs will be.
Check the holiday itinerary and schedule thoroughly before you book.
Are religious services on Christmas Day important to your family? Ask ahead about what types of observances will be held on board the ship. Do you want an intimate dinner for two on New Year's Eve? You should ask your agent or the cruise line about reserving dining space for two ahead of time.
Check the cruise line's reputation and sanitation ranking.
You can always ask your travel agent, or check a major cruise guidebook, or consult magazines like "Conde Nast Traveler" for their comments on popular cruise lines.