Ship Itineraries

A ship's itinerary may not be as important as the ship itself, but you need to pay some attention to where you're going. Some ships may have more than one itinerary, touring the eastern and western Caribbean on alternating weeks, for instance. An eastern Caribbean itinerary might take you from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas; the western Caribbean route might go from Miami to Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios.

After you've narrowed down where you want to go, here are some other questions to ask: Does the ship make half-day or full-day stops at each port of call? Are special itineraries and tours available at each port? Or are you on your own? Compare itineraries. Think about whether you'd rather visit a different port every day -- that's a lot of traveling -- or just one or two major destinations.

You may want to consider theme cruises, alumni cruises for repeat passengers, and special sailings, which usually can be found in the pages of the cruise ship's brochure. These may include discounts, such as when you book back-to-back itineraries and get a break on the overall price, usually 5 to 10 percent. Other fare information will include optional land tours that may be added to specific itineraries. Some cruise lines may include a land component. This, too, will be noted in the itinerary section of the brochure.

When to Cruise Where

Here's a general guide for when to cruise where, based on itineraries of some major cruise lines. Consult with your travel agent for more detailed information.

January: Asia, Australia, Caribbean, South America

February: Asia, Australia, Caribbean, South America

March: Asia, Australia, Caribbean, South America

April: Canada, Caribbean, Western Europe, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England,
Panama Canal, South America, Transatlantic

May: Canada, Caribbean, Western Europe, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, Panama Canal, South America, Transatlantic

June: Alaska, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean, South America

July: Alaska, Northern Europe, Mediterranean

August: Alaska, Mediterranean

September: Africa, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, Panama Canal, Transatlantic

October: Africa, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, Panama Canal, Transatlantic

November: Africa, Australia, Caribbean

December: Caribbean