Cruise to Bora Bora After the end of World War II, some American soldiers stationed on Bora Bora didn't want to leave. In fact, they stayed until their families back home began complaining. It's hard to blame the soldiers. James Michener called the island the most beautiful in the world, and used the island as inspiration for his Bali Hai. The island's mountains, beaches, and lagoons are the default when you think "tropical paradise." Cruise visitors can dive into the clear waters of the lagoon, take a jeep tour into the high country, or relax on Matira beach and wonder what would happen if you stayed. Cruise to Hilo The east coast of the island of Hawaii throws out its arms, sticks its face into the moisture-heavy trade winds, and gathers all that wet air in to water its gardens, feed its waterfalls, and quench its volcanoes. Lili'uokalani Gardens, an authentic Japanese garden, sits on the shore of Kuhio Bay and contains 30 acres of pagodas, ponds, and picnic areas. Inland, along the furrowed lower reaches of Mauna Kea, Kolekole stream plunges 442 feet over a cliff at Akaka Falls. Closer in to town cruise travelers can see Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot drop. And it's just a short drive down the road to Kilauea, that fiery rent in the side of Mauna Loa. Cruise to Honolulu The ghosts of Waikiki ride surfboards. Honolulu's signature beach was long a retreat for longboarding royals, but today, the gentle waves carry many a happy, uncoordinated visitor, learning to surf. Waikiki tells one story of the Hawaiian capital. The dormant volcano of Diamond Head tells another. Pearl Harbor another. The city is a tapestry of commerce, natural beauty, and war history. Pearl Harbor made it an important way station for trans-Pacific trade, an ideal spot for a U.S. naval base, and of course, the military target that ignited American entry into World War II. Cruise travelers can see one part of that history at the USS Arizona Memorial and another at the Punchbowl military cemetery. Cruise to Maui (Lahaina) Lahaina was a battleground for warring chieftains and later the capital of a unified Hawaii under Kamehameha III. Long before that, though, there were the humpback whales. For millennia they'd migrate here in winter to calve and feed in the warm, protected waters. In the early 19th century, the whalers followed, and at times you'd see 300, 400, 500 whaling ships in Lahaina Harbor. The whalers would surge ashore and find Christian missionaries seeking to impose order on the chaos they made. Today, the town welcomes cruise visitors to its compact, pedestrian-friendly streets. There is a bounty of places to eat and shop (especially along Front Street) or just relax in the shade and catch the view. Cruise to Kauai (Nawiliwili) The island is moving slowly west as the Pacific Plate passes over the Hawaii Hot Spot, which is currently constructing the Big Island away southeast. Time and rain will eventually wear the old volcano away, but right now, Kauai is basking in its golden years. Roughly circular, the island is a creased emerald wonderland. On the north coast, the flying buttresses of the Na Pali cliffs drop 4, 000 feet to blue surf. In the interior, Mount Waialeale translates rain to endless waterfalls, and Waimea Canyon is grand. And on its fringes, Kauai offers cruise visitors countless beaches. Like Hanalei: all blond sand, green cliffs, and azure water.

LOGISTICS- Depending on where you want to go in Antarctica there are different ports around the world. The most popular and regular service is out of Ushuaia, Argentina. Other ports typically have chartered services where you have to reserve well in advance and are typically much longer cruises. Since the port of Ushuaia is the closest to the continent, high season in Antarctica is November to early February (the summer for this part of the world). During this time you can walk into any last minute cruise to Antarctica office find a spot on the ship, pay, and board the ship. I was told that there are patrons that have paid and hopped on a ship hours before it left. What people haven’t had access to is a list of these cruises to Antarctica offices which I provide below. COST- While costs typically vary for a last minute cruise to Antarctica, the first thing that you want to do is scour the internet for sales on cruises. The cheapest I’ve heard was a friend that got a cruise for $2, 200 THIS YEAR 2010. This was a special promotion that a tour company was having, this is not the norm. The high average is going to cost you $4, 000 to $4, 500 and the low average is about $3, 000 so you can typically look for something right in the middle at $3, 500. It’s going to be extremely rare to find a last minute cruise to Antarctica for $2, 200. Sometimes that’s just the luck of the draw but I personally wouldn’t pay any more than $3500 for the cruise. Its important to note that there are double and triple rooms. The cheaper cruises will typically a triple and on your last minute cruise to Antarctica it will be you, your travel partner, and the infamous annoying new guy. GETTING TO USHUAIA-FLIGHTS The cost of airfare to the Ushuaia depends on where you are in the world. Your first stop when you reach the country of Argentina will be Buenos Aires as the majority of routes throughout Argentina have a connection there. Only two airlines fly to Ushuaia, LAN Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas. While my review of Aerolineas Argentinas is still in process I would highly recommend that you fly with LAN simply because everything the Argentinians do is backwards. LAN is a company based in Chile, the only 1st world efficient country in the world. I have been living in Chile and living in Argentina so trust me when I tell you which is best. The cost of a flight is about 0 – 0 high season is the same as Antarctica, Nov to February. Direct flights are about 3.5 hours and if you have a connecting flight (sometimes 2) lord help you because your luggage will play hide and seek with you. Unless of course you expect to be reunited with your luggage at the baggage claim. Aerolineas Argentinas typically has delayed flights as well, you can tell how much I love their service can’t you? For the cost conscious traveler you can take what I consider the most efficient and effective part of the Argentina economy, the bus. This is not an old Greyhound bus where you have to sit up for over 10 hours. These are plush double decker, fully reclining, dinner and breakfast serving, wine and liquor offering, wi-fi available, (do I need to continue) buses. There are no direct buses from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, you have to connect through a city called Rio Gallegos. For those with time I’d encourage you to take your time visiting every city In Patagonia because it’s an incredible country. In order to buy the bus tickets go to the retiro bus station a few days in advance and purchase your ticket. I’ve always purchased my ticket the day of and never had a problem. CRUISES- Since only 100 people are allowed at one place at a time in Antarctica you want to try and get the smallest ship possible. If you buy a last minute cruise to Antarctica with a ship of 500 people then your chances are more limited to step on the continent. Plan for a ship around 90-130 people, the cheapest cruises are normally 10-11 days.

This is part of the Family Travel Series on Choosing a Cruise by TPG Director of Operations, Danielle. Other posts include: Choosing a Cruise While Maximizing Points, Is the Disney Credit Card Worth It For A Cruise?, How to Choose a Cruise Based on Points, Using Frequent Flyer Miles for Cruise Flights, How to Get a Passport for Your Child. As I mentioned in my first post, my husband, Mike, and I are trying to choose a Caribbean cruise for a summer vacation with our two kids (ages 3 and 4) in June. One of our options is with Disney Cruises, which seems to be the most popular choice with families thanks to kid-friendly amenities like Disney character experiences, magic mirrors and “talking” paintings in the halls and rooms, activity pools, Broadway shows, live performances and events like “Pirate Night”. The only drawback is that staterooms and suites seem to be much more expensive than on other lines–in the range of 50% more! So if we were to book a Disney cruise, we would want to offset some of that extra cost either with discounts or by maximizing our point earning. We decided to look into the Disney’s Premier Visa® Card from Chase to see if it would be worth it to get it specifically for this cruise and any savings we could squeeze out of it. Some of the benefits of this card are a $200 Disney Gift Card after you spend $500 within the first 3 months from account opening, 2% in reward dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations and 1% on all your other card purchases, and you can save 10% on select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at DisneyStore.com and Disney Store locations all for an annual fee of $49. To find out more details on this card, visit

New York Everyone loves New York and there are a million reasons why. Here are but a few: the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, the Ellis Island National Monument, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Times Square, Broadway, Greenwich Village, 5th Avenue and Central Park. More Details Sun At Sea - - Mon 9:00 am 6:00 pm Halifax, Nova Scotia Admire the rugged coastline that surrounds Halifax, the world's second-largest natural harbor. This beautifully preserved city is Nova Scotia's capital and was founded in 1749. Take steps through history and climb to The Citadel to witness the Old Town Clock. More Details Tue 11:00 am 7:00 pm Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick Saint John's history is evident in its weather-worn look, passing the tests of salt air, sea winds and a devastating fire that have all contributed to making Saint John the greatest little city in the east. Be sure to look for your ship in the port against the beauty of the Bay of Fundy from Fort Howe lookout. More Details Wed 8:00 am 5:00 pm Bar Harbor, Maine This coastal attraction has retained much of its charm since its glory days of the 1900s, when America's elite vacationed here in opulent summer cottages. Surrounding the rock-bound harbor is the world-famous Acadia National Park where the opulence of nature is on display. More Details Thu At Sea - - Fri 8:00 am 5:00 pm Newport, Rhode Island During the 19th century, Newport served as the summer playground for the rich and famous. Residents displayed their fabulous wealth in the form of palatial estates overlooking the Atlantic. Today, these extraordinary and meticulously maintained homes line the city's famed "Mansion Row" and are a must-see for any visitor. More Details Sat (DISEMBARK) 8:00 am -

The Cabin: The Sweet Sixteen The Ships: Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Constellation Old salts and Celebrity loyalists know about the "Sweet Sixteen, " eight port and eight starboard balcony cabins found on the line's Millennium-class quartet. Though the balconies are much larger than the average, the Sweet Sixteen are priced as Category 2C cabins - the cheapest balconied accommodations on the ship. Just don't use the nickname when booking. "If you call Celebrity, or most TA's, they won't have a clue what you are talking about, " writes Lsimon, who created the graphic. Cabin Reviews: Celebrity Summit Cruise Fares: The Cabin: The Twin The Ship: AmaBella, AmaVerde, AmaCerto Europe-based riverboats are built long, sleek and low-slung, designed out of the necessity to squeeze under stout medieval bridges and through narrow canal locks. Thus, they typically don't feature full-sized balconies, opting instead for French balconies - basically a glass door that opens to a railing. There are some exceptions. APT and AmaWaterways recently introduced the "Twin Balcony, " which couples a French balcony with a demi-version of the real thing. Viking's newest boats, the Longships, feature a similar offering. The Cabin: The Cove The Ship: Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic Introduced on Carnival Dream, the Coves (Main Deck, category 7C) feature semi-enclosed balconies situated some 25 feet from the waterline. "There's something about being that close to the water that is just so mesmerizing and calming at the same time, " writes Cove aficionado aggiesastrosfan. "I think it really makes you feel like you're out on the open water vs. viewing the water from up high." Credit saltybones with capturing that sentiment. Carnival Dream Cruise Fares: Carnival Magic Cruise Fares: The Cabin: The Exposed The Ship: Princess' Grand-class ships, which include Crown Princess, Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and six others Princess' Grand-class ships are known for their large number of mini-suites (category AA, AB, AC and AE), basically glorified balcony cabins with some bonus indoor and outdoor space. But the Dolphin Deck minis add something else. Because part of the ship's superstructure is "stepped, " the cabins on this deck are exposed to the sky and the prying eyes of fellow passengers above. A Cruise Critic reader staying in one had an interesting solution: She brought a beach umbrella.

ProPublica has for nearly 300 cruise ships that make port in the United States, including 13 that have docked in New Orleans since 2014. The story details all the things that could go wrong on what’s supposed to be a relaxing few days at sea: getting a nasty stomach bug, falling down the stairs, having something stolen — even falling overboard, drowning or being sexually assaulted. Because these incidents happen at sea, sometimes in international waters, the process for dealing with them is not the same as on land. Criminal allegations are handled by private security employees. In some cases, passengers find they have limited legal remedies because of terms written into their tickets. Victims sometimes find themselves without much recourse as private security staff juggle the competing priorities of responding to and reporting wrongdoing and protecting the interests of their employers. Only a fraction of crimes aboard cruise ships are publicly reported, and many less serious crimes, like petty theft, may never be reported at all. According to Coast Guard crime statistics, at least 94 people have been sexually assaulted on cruise ships since 2010. On Oct. 23, 2013, an employee on the Carnival Conquest cruise ship died while it was in port in New Orleans. Nearly 30 people were arrested on fugitive warrants at the Port of New Orleans throughout 2013 on another Carnival ship, the Elation. Several others were arrested on similar warrants as they boarded other ships, including the Norwegian Jewel and the Carnival Conquest. Here’s a rundown of what we found: Ships that docked in New Orleans in 2015 Carnival Elation, Carnival Cruise Line: Crimes were reported on this ship every month in 2013, including 28 passengers arrested for fugitive warrants. The ship docked in New Orleans several times a month that year. But not everything was so serious, including this incident in October 2013: “Passenger stubbed toe at terminal – refused medical treatment.” Carnival Dream, Carnival Cruise Line: In June 2013, a case of sexual battery was reported involving two U.S. passengers. On July 20, 2013, a passenger committed suicide. The cruise ship did not dock in New Orleans either month. On Oct. 7, 2014, a non-food service employee worked with symptoms of stomach flu until fainting. The ship was operating out of New Orleans during that time. Amadea , Phoenix Reisen Cruise Lines: The ship failed a health and safety inspection in November 2012. With 103 problems, it received a score of 63 out of 100. (Anything below 86 is considered failing.) That particular voyage did not embark out of New Orleans. Norwegian Dawn In 2011, two employees, a hairdresser and a restaurant steward, continued to work while suffering from repeated cases of diarrhea. Neither of these voyages embarked from New Orleans. Serenade of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: A Nov. 7, 2010, inspection noted a particularly gross finding: “According to the hand written pool records, the pool was not closed at the time of the fecal incident.” The “fecal accident” was removed and the pool was disinfected. The ship was not operating out of New Orleans at that time. Oriana, P&O Cruises Cruise Line: A March 5, 2013, inspection found cockroaches near cooking equipment. The ship had left the Port of New Orleans on March 2. AIDAvita On Feb. 7, 2015, a food-service employee continued working and using the employee cafeteria while suffering from symptoms of stomach flu. On a separate voyage later that month, the AIDAvita stopped in New Orleans. Azamara Journey, Azamara Cruises Cruise Line: Two non-food-service employees continued working while suffering from symptoms of stomach flu during a March cruise. That happened on March 18; the ship made a port call in New Orleans from March 29 to 30. Ships that docked in New Orleans in 2014 Grande Caribe, Blount Small Ship Adventures Cruise Line: The Grand Caribe failed its health inspections in September 2012 and August 2013. The ship did not have a dedicated medical staff, according to the August inspection. Instead, certain staffers were responsible for isolating sick people and dispensing medication. Neither of these trips operated out of New Orleans. Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Cruise Line: On several occasions, passengers fell while navigating the boat, breaking their hands, wrists, forearms, ankles and even their teeth one time. In January 2012, while the ship was docked in Miami, an employee fell into an open space from a removed deck grill plate, breaking multiple ribs and injuring two spinal discs and a kidney. On May 9, one of the ship’s lifeboats didn’t work during a test because of a faulty fuel pump. Neither of these voyages left from New Orleans. Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Cruise Line: On April 23, 2014, a food-service worker continued to work while suffering from diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The Norwegian Jewel had left New Orleans on April 20. In January, several crew members who suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms continued working before reporting their sickness to medical staff, according to an inspection. The ship wasn’t operating out of New Orleans that month. In August 2013, an unresponsive passenger was found outside a sauna and later died. The ship’s doctor believed the sauna might have contributed to the death, but the coroner concluded that the passenger had died from heart disease. This trip didn’t embark from New Orleans. Azamara Quest, Azamara Cruises Cruise Line: From Jan. 24 to Jan. 25, 2014, a musician suffered from eight episodes of diarrhea while he continued to work. In March 2013, a food-service worker continued working while suffering from symptoms of stomach flu. On March 30, 2012, the Azamara Quest was stranded off of the southern coast of the Philippines after a fire in one of the engine rooms. One employee was seriously hurt and five others suffered from smoke inhalation. The ship was able to reach a Malaysian harbor on the island of Borneo the following night. That trip did not embark from New Orleans.

When night falls, the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen rises to the occasion. Step on board and cruise with us into the night where the sleepless activity of America's busiest port buzzes. The sounds of a lively jazz band fill the air as you enjoy a lavish Creole buffet in elegantly appointed dining rooms. The Creole Queen features outer decks with authentically patterned wrought iron trims inviting guests to stroll back in time as they settle into the mood of a bygone era. The interiors are richly appointed with plush Victorian style draperies, soft period lighting, wooden parquet dance floors, and Louisiana Cypress bars accented with brass railing for a warm and welcoming setting. After dinner, enjoy your favorite cocktails and sweet river breezes on the promenade deck as the city skyline slips by under a canopy of stars. This Dinner Jazz Cruise is pure New Orleans, pure pleasure! Duration: 3 Hours Boarding: 7:00 pm; Riverwalk/Canal Street Dock Departure: 8:00 pm Return: 10:00 pm Inclusions: River Cruise, Creole Buffet, Jazz Entertainment, Cash Bar, Taxes Price (taxes are included): Adult with dinner: $74 Adult no dinner: $44 Child (6-12) with dinner: $34 Child (6-12) no dinner: $20 Child (3-5) with dinner: $12 Tickets, Payment & Cancellation Policy: click here

Up to $250 Onboard Credit Military Rates Must call to book! Carnival Special Military Rates Military, Police and Fire Fighter Rates Norwegian Cruise Line's Special Military Rates Military: FREE Onboard Spending up to $250! Military and Veterans Up to $250 Onboard Credit! Active Veteran and Retired Military Personnel can enjoy Up to $250 in Free Onboard Spending Money on any cruise, any time of the year! Promotion Rules Once you are registered and qualified, this offer will apply to any future cruise you book. You can have this offer applied anytime, before or after you book.Onboard Spending money can be used for Shore Excursions, Specialty dining, Shopping and more. Available to active military, retired military and disabled military veterans with proper identification as outlined below.Please ensure that documentation provided has the Social Security Number crossed out. Active personnel currently serving in the following service divisions: United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves. A copy of a military verification certificate confirming active duty status is available for free online at National Defense – NDI 20 Canadian Forces Identification Card or NDI 10 (which is a temporary identification card).Retired Personnel defined as:Enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, Medically retired, or 100% disabled. Proper identification for United States is a DD214 Form, WD AGO (War Department Adjutant General Form), or NAVPERS (Naval Personnel Discharge Form). For Canadians, the NDI75 Record of Service Identification Card or CF75 certificate of discharge are used.. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years or 6 months in an active war zone, or an Educational Discharge if within 90 days of their normal separation date in any of the United States service divisions listed above or Canadian National Defense. Proper identification in the form of a DD214 for U.S. veterans or VAC (Veterans Affairs Canada) Health Identification Card for Canadians. Restrictions This offer is good for only the first or second berth occupied by the military person. Military offer is valid for eligible military personnel in the U.S. and Canada only. This offer is combinable with other Onboard Credit offers. This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges and/or gratuities. Offer excludes Travel Agent, Interline, Employee Space Available and Friend and Family fares.This offer is non-transferable. Military Onboard Credit Breakdown! Free Onboard spending money is in the form of Onboard Credit. Sailings of 6 days or less ($50 per stateroom), Sailings of between 7 - 13 days ($100 per stateroom); Sailings of 14 days or longer $250 per stateroom). Combinability This offer is combinable with most cruise fares. Some restrictions apply. Additional Information: Procedures – submit via email, fax or mail as follows: Please provide your name, booking number, ship and sailing date with proof of eligibility as outlined above to your travel agent or Cunard no later than two weeks prior to sailing.Cunard, Booking Support 24303 Town Center Drive, Suite 200 Valencia, CA 91355 1-800-728-6273 Email: militarybenefit@cunard.com Cunard Secure Fax: (661) 753-1395. All requests for military benefits must be confirmed prior to passengers boarding the cruise. Onboard staff will not be able to add the Onboard Credit. Promotion valid: CUN-Military Military Rates - Must call to book! Must call to Book.Up to a 10% discount can be applied to the prevailing market and/or promotional rates based on ship & sailing date chosen. 10% off is applicable on select Balcony, Suites and YC1 staterooms, 5% discount is applicable on select interior and ocean view staterooms. This discount does not apply to Military (Civil Service) and/or Interline Rates issued through a dedicated promotional rate notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion and may be withdrawn without notice. Offer is capacity controlled, subject to availability and restrictions apply. Government taxes and fees for all guests are additional. MSC Cruises reserves the right to pass on any fuel surcharge without notice to all guests. MSC Cruises reserves the right to refuse to honor any prices/sailings that are erroneously printed or quoted. Qualifying guests must present an I.D. badge from their respective company at the time of booking. Promotion valid for military (active or retired), veterans, civil service and interline personnel. Proper identification and/or Discharge Papers required at check-in. If a member of the United States Armed Forces or Canadian Armed Forces can no longer travel due to redeployment or revocation of leave – MSC Cruises will issue a full cruise credit for use on a future sail date. Must be verified by letter from commanding officer. Cancellation must be done no later than 15 days prior to cruise departure date. Future cruise credit is good for two years from cancellation. Not Combinable with: MSC-Military Rates Carnival Salutes US and Canadian Soldiers Special Military Rates Take advantage of Carnival's Military Discount Cruises for active and retired military members. Eligible Military Personnel The military promotion is available to the following members of the United States Military and Canadian Department of National Defense: Active Personnel Spouses of active Military personnel called to active duty or stationed overseas will be eligible to book one cabin as long as the eligible spouse is occupying this cabin. The spouse must provide proof of eligibility by submitting a copy of the official military orders and/or duties documentation and proof of marriage. Reserve Personnel Active Cadets U.S Coast Guard Personnel Active member of the National Guard Uniformed members of the USPHS (U.S Public Health Services) Retired Personnel Retired member of the National Guard Honorably Discharged member of the National Guard Veterans, defined as: Individuals who have actively served in the Military for at least two years or during a wartime period and have been honorably discharged. Rates apply to qualifying military personnel who are permitted to book one stateroom. Retired military personnel may book one stateroom and must travel in this stateroom.

Available in more than 9, 000 retail locations throughout the U.S. Bi Lo Giant Eagle Hy-Vee Kroger Lowes Hardware Safeway Simon Property Group MIAMI (November 6, 2014) - Carnival Cruise Lines’ popular gift card program – a prepaid card that can be used as payment toward a “Fun Ship” vacation or a variety of shipboard purchases – is now available in more than 9, 000 retail outlets throughout the U.S. This marks the first time that a cruise line-specific gift card has been made available at retail establishments ashore. Partnering with Blackhawk Network, a leading prepaid and payments network, Carnival will offer its gift cards at such locations as Giant Eagle, Kroger and Safeway beginning later this month. “We’re excited to partner with Blackhawk Network, as their distribution expertise allows us to expand our popular gift card program to a wide range of retail outlets ashore, ” said Gus Antorcha, senior vice president of guest commerce for Carnival Cruise Lines. “Based on feedback from consumers and our travel agent partners, we’re very pleased to enhance the availability of our gift card program and provide consumers with even greater convenience and flexibility.” Also available online at or sold on board Carnival’s ships, the gift cards are ideal for any occasion – from weddings and graduations to birthdays and anniversaries – and offer consumers flexibility and convenience in their vacation purchases. The cards can be pre-loaded with funds ranging from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $1, 000. The Carnival Gift Card is simple to use – it may be applied online via the dedicated web site using the 16-digit card number, redeemed by calling 1-800-CARNIVAL or used like cash on board as payment toward guests’ “Sail & Sign” shipboard account.

Cruise lines have traditionally offered their best deals between January and March Known as wave season, the period has become less important, cruise expert says Cruise executive disagrees, calling it still the best time to book a cruise Watch out for more fees and "cabin stuffing" if you book a voyage this year Getting a killer price on a cruise in the first quarter of the year used to be as common as seeing chocolates dominate store shelves before Valentine's Day, but these days, the rules may be changing. Many travelers wait for wave season - the period from January to March, when cruise lines have traditionally offered their best deals - to book their vacation at sea. Is that still a good strategy today? The views are mixed. The magnitude of wave season deals has lessened each year for the last three years, to the point where there really is no wave season in 2012, said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com, calling it a major shift in the industry. "Cruise lines used to have a Nordstrom mentality, where they were selective about how they put things on sale. So during wave season ... they put all their marketing dollars in a basket, and this was the best time of year to get incredible value for the money, " Brown said. "I really think that it's not Nordstrom anymore. It's Macy's, because Macy's has a sale all the time." Brown said she hasn't seen any offers that would compel her to book now, so she advises cruise aficionados to simply look for deals year-round, taking care not to wait too long to lock in trips for popular vacation times like spring break or Christmas. But Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales at Royal Caribbean, said she respectfully disagrees with Brown, calling the first quarter of the year still the best time to book a cruise. "This is where we have our deepest discounts right now, " Freed said. "For us as an industry, not just as a company, wave season continues to be a very important part of our calendar year." Year-round bookings Still, wave season has "changed considerably" over the past few years, said Mark Schiffner, vice president and chief operating officer of Cruise Holidays, a network of cruise agencies. He estimated that up to 60% of the company's Caribbean business for the year is still booked in January, February and March - in part because those are big travel months in the region as people seek to escape the winter cold. But the overall focus now is more year-round.