Guest Post by Catherine Elavinia

Cruising is a fantastic way to see the world. After all, you can wake up in a new destination every day and explore the best of each new place – whether it’s the bright lights of the city, a desert-island style beach or famous ancient landmarks.

Of course not all cruises come cheap and those at the luxury end of the market can cost a small fortune – or a large one, depending on how long you’re away for. So you might feel that, given today’s rocky economic climate and the rising cost of living, such holidays are firmly out of reach. However thanks to the wide range of special offers available across the cruise holiday spectrum, it’s now easier than ever to find and book cheap cruises. It’s just a matter of doing your homework to find the one that best suits your taste and your budget.

The best way to find a cruise that fits comfortably within your budget is to spend time weighing up the options and working out which ones tick the right boxes. Be firm and try to decide early on exactly what you’re looking for – as this will help you to whittle down the options by a process of elimination, and focus on those cruise holidays that best fit your lifestyle as well as your pocket. For instance, don’t entertain the idea of a Caribbean jaunt if it’s well out of your budget – try to focus on one area and stick to the offers within that remit – such as Mediterranean cruise deals or last-minute offers on Aegean cruises.

Of course, special offers often present the best value for money. Look out for cruises departing within the next few weeks for great last-minute deals, or try searching well in advance on next year’s cruises for special early bird deals.

Whatever you fancy, there are plenty of affordable cruise holidays out there – it’s just a matter of finding your favourite.