First, when you’re booking a cruise late, be aware that you’re going to responsible for getting to the embarkation port on your own.  If you live within driving distance, this isn’t much of a problem, but if you have schedule a plane flight, you might end up paying so much for the flight that you end up not saving any money by booking the cruise late!  Even worse, there might not be any space left on planes, which could leave you without a way to actually get to the port.  Make sure that you look at plane flights before you book if you need one.

Also know that you won’t be able to get your choice of cabins by booking late.  For some people this won’t be a problem, since most of the time spent on cruises is up above decks anyways.  However if you have trouble sleeping, want a special room, or are planning on using the cruise as a romantic getaway, you might want to try to book earlier as you will most likely end up with the rooms that other passengers don’t want.

Finally, know that by booking a cruise late you may not get the special cruise that you want.  Certain types of cruises sell out relatively quickly.  So if you want to travel during high season, or to popular locations that only have a handful of cruises each year, like the Galapagos Islands, make sure that you book early for the right price.

These are just a few things you need to know before you book your cruise.  For more information on booking your cruise late and where to do it, visit LateCruiseDeals.net

Since dining is usually the highlight of a day at sea, the kitchen is under greater pressure to provide exceptional meals.  No cruise line wants a ship full of people who are unhappy with the food and have way too much time on their hands for complaining.

On most repositioning cruises, the buffet — and often the dining room — is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.   Most ships these days have alternative restaurants that are open for dinner.  And a pool-side grill for burgers and dogs, and a pizzeria.

Fixed seatings can be a hassle on a conventional cruise.  During port days, having to race back to the ship in time to get cleaned up for the early seating can feel like a real sacrifice.  And waiting until the second seating for dinner can be a drag when your alarm is set for 6AM so you can go ashore early.

On a repositioning cruise, these inconveniences are minimized.  If you have early seating, it’s easy to schedule your days at sea to accommodate it, and if you’re the late seating, you can sleep in if you are up late.

On a voyage with lots of sea days — like a transatlantic crossing — making friends also becomes more important.  So if you would ordinarily prefer freestyle dining with no fixed time and no assigned tablemates, consider choosing assigned seating for a repositioning cruises.  Most cruise lines will let you switch if you change your mind.

Another advantage is that it’s easier to get into the alternative restaurants.  On a full ship, these restaurants can be all booked up for the entire cruise after the first or second day.  On a repositioning cruise, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a reservation.    But if there’s a restaurant you really want to dine in, make your reservations early in the cruise to avoid disappointment.

Try not to eat a lot more than you usually eat, and don’t feel like you have to finish everything that you want to try.  Most cruise ships are very accommodating about serving half portions, letting dinner mates share dishes, and letting you have an appetizer as your entrée, if that’s what you want.

Pace yourself, keep up with your exercise program in the ship’s fitness center, and don’t overdo it at the bar.  You’ll eat quite well and hopefully keep your figure.

A very popular cruise is between Moscow and St. Petersburg, following the route Moscow to Uglich, to Yaroslavl, to Goritsy, to Kizhi, to St.Petersburg. It is a 12 day cruise and the package typically includes return flights from London Heathrow, airport transfers, cruise accommodation (you can choose the size of berth) with private en-suite, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, a welcome cocktail reception and a farewell dinner hosted by the ship’s captain, various shore excursions, the assistance of English speaking tour guides and all airport departure taxes.

For a longer Russian river cruise which is a bit different from the traditional Moscow to St. Petersburg route, there is an 18 day tour available which goes from Rostov-On-Don to Moscow, stopping at many beautiful cities along the way.

A Black Sea cruise is a memorable experience, taking you to Kiev, through the heart of the Ukraine, along the Dnieper River and all the way to Istanbul, Turkey.

Or why not consider a Lake Baikal trans-Siberian cruise? Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest, deepest freshwater lake and its settings are truly magnificent – it is surrounded by vast mountains. For the nature lover this cruise is ideal.

The Lena River cruise takes you down one of the longest rivers in the world, taking in Russian culture along the way and giving you the opportunity to fish on the river yourself.

There are many cruise providers who offer a choice of Russian river cruises and different standards of cruise ships. You can expect to find good quality restaurants, shops, leisure activities, swimming pools, saunas, beauty salons and spas available on the ship as well as many other attractions to make your time on board as enjoyable as possible. A little research should help you compare the cruise options available and decide what the perfect cruise is for you.

Most cruise lines include the essentials in their all inclusive packages, and any extras that are not part of the package cost more. For example, juices, onboard entertainment, meals, snacks, and ship facilities (such as the pool, gym, etc.) are all included. Any “extras” such as soda, alcoholic beverages, offshore excursions, and spa treatments are extra. The great part is that most cruises do not leave these prices a mystery. The large cruise lines, such as Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival have all of these prices listed on their websites.

That way, a family can properly plan the total price. Their websites also include the option to book right there instead of having to go through a travel agent, so all the prices will be listed upon payment. Some cruises give the option to book the airfare with the cruise. While this is a great convenience, it may cost more. The only advantage to this is if the plane is delayed, the cruise ship will wait for all guests to arrive. This is not the case if the tickets are booked separately.

All inclusive cruises are a great way to not have to have a wallet on hand the entire time on a trip. Travelers can sail with ease knowing the entire trip has been paid for! All offshore excursions can also be booked before ever setting sail, so the only thing you need to take with you is your digital camera for taking photographs of all the beautiful sights. Another great convenience is that cruise ships will put a credit card on file when travelers board so you can always pay with your room key.