The Caribbean remains a top destination among cruisers, and more are bringing their children along for the journey, according to a new survey by the Cruise Lines International Association.

Cruise experts also say that, in response to rising fuel costs, cruise lines are increasing surcharges and changing their itineraries. Some are skipping Aruba, once a popular port, because of the extra fuel it takes to get there.

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Even with no end in sight to rising gas prices, cruising is not expected to decline, says Heidi Allison-Shane, spokeswoman for CruiseCompete .com. The overall satisfaction ratings are high: 95 percent of all cruisers rate their experience as satisfying and more than three-fourths of past cruisers plan to take another cruise within three years.

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The Caribbean remains a top destination among cruisers, and more are bringing their children along for the journey, according to a new survey by the Cruise Lines International Association.

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Cruises are also a superior economic value for families, says Heidi Allison-Shane, spokeswoman for CruiseCompete.com, adding that her college-aged children have run up thousands in room service bills on non-cruise vacations.

”You can have as much as you want to eat,” she says. “You can have your children with you and yet everyone has their own activity.”

Read the entire story at the Miami Herald

You’ve cut down on dining out, held impulse buys at bay, and stashed cash for months for that summer trip. Now it’s time to get the most bang for those vacation bucks. Whether you’re traveling with the family, taking off with your man, or craving adventure with your girlfriends, you can enjoy first-class fun at discount prices. That’s right, even in the summertime, when it seems as if everybody’s trying to get away from it all. Here’s some insider information on saving money and scoring perks on your next vacation:

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Cruise prices tend to drop and become a great value in late summer and early fall. When booking a cruise, ask if “guarantees” are available. That magic word means you’ll pay the lowest price. “You take a chance, because they’ll put you wherever they have room, but many times you’ll get an upgrade,” says Heidi Allison-Shane, spokesperson for CruiseCompete.com.

Read the entire story at Essence

More choices in food, activities, itineraries and luxury are some of the trends shaping the cruise industry for 2008. But the big unknown is what will happen with prices.

Cruise Lines International Association estimates that 12.6 million people cruised worldwide in 2007 on the 24 cruise lines CLIA represents. That’s a 4.6 percent increase over 2006. CLIA believes demand will hold, with a projected 12.8 million passengers for 2008 despite the weakening economy.

But consumers with flexible vacation plans may be in for some deals. “The more uncertainty there is in the marketplace, the more deals there will be later in the year,” said Heidi Allison Shane, spokeswoman for Cruise Compete.com. ”When the cruise lines go out with high prices and they don’t sell out, the bigger the discounts later on.” The softest markets, she predicted, will be in mega-ships sailing to the Caribbean and Bermuda.

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Read the entire story at the Chicago Sun Times

While the European cruise market is growing, there has been a general softness in demand for Caribbean cruises in the last year, and that is cutting into revenue for cruise lines, according to industry executives at the annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention held mid-March.

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CruiseCompete spokeswoman Heidi Allison said consumers should also look at “amenities” offered by agents providing cruise quotes through the website.

She explained that amenities are essentially cash credits or discounts that you can use for onboard expenses. For example, a “cabin credit” is money placed in your shipboard account to be used for tips, drinks, or anything else you can charge while on board. You may also be offered credits that can only be used for certain types of expenses, like spa services. Casino credits can be redeemed for chips if you gamble, or cashed in if you don’t.

“Sometimes you’ll need to contact the agency to find out the amount of the credits, as they will have to discuss it with you personally,” Allison said. “Be sure to do this. It can pay off in big savings for you.”

Read the entire story at USAToday