Once you've found the right kind of cruise, use these time-and hassle-saving tips for booking and planning your trip.

Don't book a cruise yourself through the cruise line. Instead, use a travel agent who knows about cruises. (Look for one certified by the Cruise Line International Association.) A good agent will look for cabin upgrades; steer you to ships with the best prices, cabins, or itineraries; and get you better fares on your planned trip if prices drop before your departure date. Websites such as Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com), CruiseMates (www.cruisemates.com), and Cruise Compete (www.cruisecompete.com) can point you to agents offering good deals. Booking sites such as Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz also offer cruise specials, though you won't get the personalized service of an agent.

You're more likely to find bargains if you cruise in the first three weeks of December (when most people are planning for the holidays) or in January and February (when they're tapped out from the holidays). Caribbean cruises are often less expensive in late fall, when most hurricanes happen. Of course, you do risk your trip being canceled, in which case you'll get a refund.

Consider buying travel insurance that protects you if you need to cancel your trip and supplements your regular health insurance if, for example, you need to be evacuated to a U.S. hospital while abroad (most regular health insurance policies won't cover emergency evacuation). Buy it from a third party, such as Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com) or CSA Travel Protection (www.csatravelprotection.com), not from the cruise line. Third-party insurance tends to cover more eventualities, including the cruise line's declaring bankruptcy. The cost varies by passenger and trip, but a 40-year-old woman embarking on a $1,000 weeklong cruise can expect to pay about $81 for coverage.

Plan to arrive at your port of embarkation a day early so if there's a problem with your flight you won't miss the ship. Alternatively, cruise out of a port close to home. Many cruise lines have established home ports, often on a seasonal basis, in coastal cities all around the United States, which means you may not need to fly to a traditional port city, such as Miami, New York, or San Juan.

Cruise ships can sometimes charge big markups for shore excursions. Consider booking your own shore trips through Port Promotions & Services (www.portpromotions.com) or ShoreTrips (www.shoretrips.com). If you do explore on your own, though, allow plenty of time to get back to the ship (if your privately hired taxi gets a flat, the ship won't wait for you).

If you prefer the convenience of ship-operated excursions, book them in advance through your travel agent or on the cruise line's website to avoid long lines at the excursion desk on board.