There are a number of important decisions to be made when planning to book a cruise vacation. Deciding when to travel, choosing the destination and the cruise line, picking out shore excursions and on-board activities – all are important parts of the cruise planning process. Careful planning helps ensure that you get your dream vacation.

Most travelers want to get the best deal possible on their trip, but in order to know if you’re getting a good deal, you need to know what the average price of your cruise normally is. As part of your cruise planning, do some research and learn the typical fares for the trip you want. Be sure not to compare apples to oranges – a two-week Alaska trip is not the same as a one-week Caribbean vacation. Be sure to consider the price differences between cabin options, as well as the costs of any extra activities as well. A slightly higher cruise that includes more of the activities that you’re interested in may be a better value than a cheaper cruise and adding extras a la carte.

Always read the fine print on sales and specials offered. Does the sale apply only to a particular cabin category? Is the upgrade only available for certain destinations? Be sure that you know what is included in the price quoted – port charges, booking fees, insurance and taxes can add up fast. Find out the total cost with all charges included before you book a cruise.

An often overlooked issue when cruise planning is the cost of getting to the port. If you’re comparing cruises leaving different ports, don’t forget to factor in the cost of travel to the port city when making a decision. A deal won’t be such a deal if it costs more to get to the port than is saved on the cruise, so do your homework before you book a cruise.

Compare the costs of booking airfare on your own to the price if booked through the cruise line. You might be able to arrange lower ticket prices booking for yourself, but there are other issues to consider. Of course, it’s more convenient to have only one set of travel arrangements, so there’s a point in favor of booking your flight when you book a cruise. And when making your flight arrangements through the cruise line, your transfers and luggage handling are covered between the airline and the ship, which is not only easier but may also save money.

Possibly the biggest advantage to arranging your flight through the cruise line is the peace of mind. If your flight is delayed or canceled for some reason, the cruise line and the airline will deal with making the arrangements to re-schedule to get you to your ship. They may even delay a departure until you arrive. If you’ve made your flight arrangements yourself, however, you could be on your own.

Now that the hard part of cruise planning is behind you, compare the offers. You still will have to decide if you’re ready to book now, or whether to wait and see if prices will drop or a better offer will come along. If the vacation of your dreams is in sight, then the time has come to book a cruise.