Ten tips to maximize satisfaction, minimize hassles and cut expenses.

Although cruise vacations are getting more popular every year, 85 percent of U.S. adults have still never taken one—and the number of available ships and itineraries is growing, as lines keep adding more of both to meet the burgeoning consumer demand. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents most companies catering to the North American market, claims 19 lines among its membership, with a total of 142 ships. They sail literally all over the globe, and they come in different sizes and price categories. How can you find the best cruise for yourself, avoid the most common pitfalls and get the most out of your vacation experience? Read on....

1 Study all your options.

First, decide where you'd like to go. The most popular regions—and those with the largest number of vessels—are: Caribbean cruises out of Florida or southern ports year-round; Mexico sailings, mostly from southern California; Alaska itineraries from Vancouver or Seattle in the summer; and Bermuda cruises from the East Coast, also in summer. But cruise lines are putting more ships in European waters from spring through fall, mostly on Mediterranean and Baltic itineraries; others are adding departures from Asia and the South Pacific, Hawaii, South America—visiting ports from the Galapagos to Greenland, from Antarctica to the Amazon.

An easy way to begin is at a popular consumer Web site called CruiseMates (www.cruisemates.com). In the left-hand column menu, click on "itineraries," and you can quickly see which lines and ships are operating in the region of your choice, and when. The site also offers company overviews and individual ship reviews.

2 Consider your demographics.

We all want to find ourselves among a compatible crowd when we travel, and getting on the right ship can make a big difference. According to CLIA, the average cruiser is 50 years old, married and college-educated. On his last sailing, the typical passenger traveled for 6.2 days and spent $1,651 (not including airfare).

But those are just averages. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the cruise, and the more luxurious the cruise line, the older the passengers are likely to be. Sailings of 10 days or more will probably have a high percentage of seniors. Most itineraries are seven days or less, and that's where you'll see plenty of cruisers in their 30s and 40s, especially on the major midprice lines with the largest ships—like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. You'll also find lots of families on those lines, and on Disney Cruise Line, especially during summers and school vacations. Somewhat more upscale are lines like Princess, Celebrity, Holland America and Oceania; at the high end, luxury companies include Radisson Seven Seas, Cunard, Crystal, Silverseas and Seabourn.

Also factor in your personal interests in selecting a cruise line, advises Anne Campbell, editor of cruisemates.com. "If entertainment and nightlife [are] a priority, I'd head for Carnival," she says. "If food and service [are] more important, I'd look at Celebrity or the new Oceania Cruise Lines. And, of course, the luxury lines have very good food and service."

3 See a travel agent.

Lots of travel Web sites, including the cruise lines' own sites, will urge you to book online. But once you've narrowed down your options (or if you need help doing so) and are getting closer to booking, a travel agent can be your best friend. "There are so many more factors in booking a cruise than there are in booking an airline seat," Campbell says. "An agent will help you address things you might not even think of: 'How should I get from the airport to the pier?' or, 'I'm allergic to feather pillows—are there alternatives?' A good agent can take care of all that for you." "At the very least, it can't hurt to use a travel agent," adds Mike Driscoll, editor of the industry newsletter Cruise Week. "Generally speaking, you can still get a better price from the travel agent than by booking directly with the line." Look for an agent who's certified by CLIA and belongs to the American Society of Travel Agents.

4 Boost your vacation budget.

After you have a firm price for the cruise fare and airfare, you're not finished spending. Even though lines like to promote the all-inclusive nature of their prices—it's true that all meals and entertainment are covered—they keep adding more and more "optional" extra charges. You'll have to shell out for alcoholic beverages and many soft drinks, crew tips, spa services, dry cleaning, some group fitness classes, Internet usage, access to specialty restaurants, shore excursions, casino losses, purchases from the on-board boutiques or the ship's photographers, and so on—even down to such minor add-ons as specialty coffees or a serving of brand-name ice cream. "The rule of thumb now is to budget about 30 percent of what you paid per person for the cruise ticket" to cover extra expenses, Driscoll says. The exception: The cruise fares of some luxury lines include some of the above items—most often staff gratuities and alcoholic beverages, including house wines with dinner.

5 Leave home the day before your ship sails.

Driscoll and Campbell agree that flying into your departure port early is the key to avoiding worries about airport security lines, delays, missed connections and lost luggage—not to mention having to get up at five in the morning. "If you get there a day ahead of time, generally you're in a warm-climate port city, and it's just a nice, relaxing way to start your vacation," Driscoll notes. "It makes the whole experience a lot less hassle." Some hotels in major departure ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Vancouver have one-night pre-cruise packages that typically include breakfast and transfers from the airport and to the cruise terminal.

6 Use the Internet to handle predeparture chores.

Most major lines now offer passengers the opportunity to fill out their predeparture paperwork on their Web sites. This can make a big difference for how long you wait in line at the departure terminal, since hundreds of passengers will be there at the same time; some companies offer expedited boarding to individuals who complete their documentation in advance. What's more, many lines now permit passengers to prebook shore excursions on their Web sites weeks in advance. Doing so can prevent the disappointment of learning that the special tour you'd been counting on is already sold out. A few lines are also starting to provide advance Internet booking capability for other high-demand on-board services, like spa appointments and specialty restaurant seating.

7 Don't feel you have to rely on the cruise line's own tours to see the ports of call.

"There's generally about a 30 percent markup on shore excursions from the cruise lines," Driscoll notes. In some destinations, like Alaska, it may be more convenient to use the line's own tours, he says, and there are other advantages—e.g., knowing you'll get back to the ship on time, and being able to resolve any dissatisfaction you might have once you're back on board. But in many European ports, "It's easy to see it by yourself, and it can be a much better experience if you do it individually." Campbell notes that passengers can research and book shore tours and private sightseeing trips independently on the Internet before departure, getting a better rate from local operators than they could from the cruise line. This is possible on specialized sites like www.shoretrips.com and www.portcompass.com. As for going off on your own, she adds: "If you're in a port city that isn't that interesting—Marseilles, for instance—look at what's nearby and take a train there."

8 Traveling with your family? Consider two cabins.

Cruise accommodations are significantly smaller than hotel rooms, so when you take the kids along, "the older they get, the more there's a need to have two cabins," says Driscoll, himself the father of two—even if it costs a bit more than squeezing everyone into a triple or a quad (i.e., a single cabin with three or four berths). He suggests booking a lower-priced inside cabin for the kids, directly across the hall from the parents' outside stateroom. "If you look at the new ships coming out, there are a lot more adjoining cabins than there were in the past," he adds, in recognition of the growing family market.

9 Once you're on board, familiarize yourself with all the ship has to offer.

The larger the vessel, the greater the variety of its public areas. Besides a spa and fitness center, a large ship may offer a plethora of sports and recreation options—like golf simulators or driving cages, basketball courts and tennis courts; Royal Caribbean ships even have climbing walls and indoor ice skating rinks. You may also have several restaurant choices in addition to the main dining room (some require advance reservations—do this early in your cruise to secure a table; ditto for spa appointments), and a wealth of entertainment possibilities. Besides the usual musical revues, nightclub acts and jazz bars, for instance, Celebrity Cruises is starting to offer performances by the famed Cirque du Soleil on its ships.

10 Improve yourself.

Most cruise lines, from midprice to luxury, are expanding opportunities for what they call "on-board enrichment." This includes a wide variety of (usually) free instructional programs and guest lecturers covering almost every topic imaginable, from finance and history to wine-tastings and cooking classes. Especially popular now are on-board computer classes for all kinds of software. Still haven't figured out how to touch up that digital photo you took? Head for the computer center. To stay abreast of everything that's available, pore over the details of your ship's daily program. It will be waiting on your turned-down bed when you return to your cabin after an evening of drinking, dining, dancing and shows.

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Jim Glab is a freelance writer in New York. Email Jim at editor@executivetravelmag.com.