Cruisin': A guide to traveling the world by sea

January and February are known as wave season for a good reason: More cruises are booked for this time of year than any other, says Carolyn Sandgren (Kempf), owner of Elite Travel in Cape Girardeau.

"The weather is cold, so people are thinking about warmer weather and they're thinking about cruising," she says.

In turn, the cruise lines staff their ships accordingly and offer special deals for wintertime cruisers.

"Cruises are so affordable, and they keep building more and more ships," says Shari Elfrink, owner of 1st Class Travel in Cape Girardeau. "Everybody's favorite is the Caribbean and Mexico. It's hard to beat the beautiful blue water and white sand beaches."

Hawaii, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Europe, the Mediterranean and South America are also popular destinations. For a truly unique trip, Sandgren recommends Peru and the Galapagos Islands.

"It depends on if you want to do a relaxing beach trip or an adventurous trip where you're out looking at different sites," says Elfrink. "They offer so many different choices. If you are somebody who just wants to cruise, and your idea of vacation is to sit on the deck, read a book, have a cappuccino from the coffee shop and relax, you can do that. If you want to take classes, most cruise lines offer classes on the days you're at sea."

Travel agents can also help design a cruise and outings based on your hobbies, from photography to history to birdwatching and more.

"We can match you up with a destination that matches your interests. We can custom make stops for you in an affordable way," says Sandgren.

To get the best deal on a cruise, Sandgren and Elfrink recommend booking early so they can help you find the best rates and any discounts, such as over-55 or military discounts.

"Most cruise lines and our agency offer a lowest price guarantee, so if there are any discounts, we will honor that until final payment," Sandgren adds. "We will re-check the rates before we apply final payment so nothing is missed."

It's also important to book early if you have special dietary or other health needs, such as a handicap-accessible room, says Elfrink. Rooms that hold more than two people are limited, so keep this in mind if you're traveling with a bigger group.

You should also keep comfort in mind when choosing your cabin, says Sandgren. If you happen to get sick or injured and need to spend time in your room, you want to make sure it's comfortable.

"Take a good, hard look at space on the cruise ship, including the size of the cabin," she says. "Decide what things are important to you. If you don't want to live in a broom closet at home, don't book one on a cruise ship."

You can start planning your off-shore excursions, ship events and dinner reservations as soon as you book your cruise. Activity lists will be slipped under the door of your cabin each day during the cruise, so Elfrink and Sandgren recommend mapping out your plan for the day over breakfast.

"I'm a planner, so I believe in planning on cruises, too," says Elfrink.

Sandgren likes to visit with staff members and avid cruisers on board the ship.

"Become friends with the staff. Pick the staff's brains about where they're from and what life is like on board the ship. Talk to people on board the ship for their recommendations and insider info," she says.

Every cruise should also begin with a tour of the ship, including the infirmary, just in case you need it, says Sandgren.

"Ask for a tour of the ship. People are usually happy to do that when you get there," she says.

And if you're feeling a little nervous about your cruise, there's no need -- Sandgren says it's a very safe, affordable (all-inclusive meals!) and convenient way to travel, which is why they're so popular with empty-nesters and retirees.

"You only have to pack and unpack once -- the cruise ship is your floating hotel. There are advantages conveniences to that. Safety is also a plus to that. Cruise ships have the most current technologies and camera security, so it's a very safe environment," she says.