When considering when to book, which can be a tricky choice, there are a few specifics that can guide your planning.

Trips to Bermuda are popular for a number of reasons. It’s a great island to visit and the trip from Florida is short, making for a great two or three day cruise. As a result, prime cabins in the summer months of July and August will sell out six to nine months in advance.

But, fortunately for cruise-goers, the weather in April-May and September-October can be great. Those off-peak months give travelers many more options. Still, keep in mind that hurricanes, or at least heavy storms, can affect travel near the end of October. Be prepared to be flexible.

Cruises from New York (and other points) to Europe are still some of the best, 100 years after they first began. Cruise lines have responded by offering more trips but demand still presses on supply, keeping the price high.

As with Alaska cruises, balcony cabins sell out first. Though more expensive, the demand from those who can afford it is still high enough to make booking far in advance a necessity. Since the economy has been fairly robust for the last few years, this trend has continued.

Others, such as 7-night cruises to the Mediterranean, continue to do equally well. The Baltic remains a popular destination. As with other European trips, plan to book a year in advance to get the type of voyage you want.

You’ll have more options, with shorter booking times, by selecting an older ship or a less popular destination. Luckily, cruise ships have become so advanced that even older ones are still floating palaces. Though it was exceptional, the Normandie, for example, was as fine as the finest hotel 70 years ago and things have continued to improve since then.

Though most people fly, Hawaii is still a desirable voyage for many. Trips to Australia will require booking far in advance at almost any time of the year. When it’s winter in the U.S. it’s summer there and vice-versa. South America is still a hot destination, in more ways than one.

There are even cruises up and down the two coasts of the U.S. and U.S. to Mexico, from San Diego to Cabo, and New England to Florida. Though not as glamorous perhaps as a European cruise, the ships are still first rate. You’ll have a great time on board and there are, in fact, several excellent stops on the way.

Booking for those is often less intense and less expensive. You may still want to take advantage of early booking discounts. If you see a better deal a couple of months before departure, you can sometimes get it by working through a travel agent. Cruise lines try very hard to accommodate all requests in order to keep customers happy. They know those return and recommend them to others.

Bon Voyage!