Buying a cheap cruise ticket

You can save a lot of money on the price of a cruise ticket depending on when it is booked, the cabin selected and the booking agency used.

Most cruise ships give substantial discounts if the tickets are booked well in advance as they can plan accordingly. As the date of the cruise approaches, the price of the ticket usually increases. Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, the price may decrease, in which case, the passenger can ask for an additional discount. Most cruise liners will  pass on the discount to the passenger. By travelling during the poor weather (like during the hurricane season) a passenger may get cheaper tickets

Like most rooms and houses, the price for cabins on a cruise ship can vary depending on the view. The cabins below the deck usually are cheaper and it may not matter much, since most passenger spend most of the day outside their cabin.

Online Travel portal and cruise liner websites may often give dicounted rates, but some times a better discount may be obtained by a travel agent . The travel agent may pass on part of the commission to the passenger resulting in lower prices.     

Documents for cruises

Earlier only a few documents were required for passengers embarking on a cruise, since the traveller remains on the ship all the time. The original birth certificate and some form of photo id would be required - school id, credit card, social security card, driving license. In some cruise liners, proof of purchase of the ticket was also required.

From January 2008, the US government has made it mandatory for all passengers on a cruise ship to  carry a passport even though the cruise may not involve any travel outside the country. In case of bad weather or any other problem, the ship may be diverted to a port outside the country and the passengers may have to fly back to USA. In such case, a passport is required to re enter the country.  More details available at travel.state.gov