“Crusin’ on a Sunday afternoon" has taken on an entirely new meaning for so many around the world. I bet you’re wondering how these folks can afford to take cruises a couple of times a year to Mexico, the Bahamas and Hawaii, right? I bet you think that these people are rich, too. Well, maybe some of them are rich, but the majority of them earn a living just like the rest of us do. The big difference is that these folks know how to shop for discount cruises, and they’re doing it online.

Modern cruises aren’t what they used to be. Cruise ships of today are more like traveling resorts that get you from one port of call to another, wining and dining its passengers from dusk ‘til dawn (and every time in between). Each newly sailing luxury ship needs to be bigger and better than its predecessors, leaving more and more passenger cabins to fill in the process. All you need to do is find the open cabins on the right ships to get onboard a discount cruise to Mexico, the Bahamas or Hawaii.

First things first, don’t even bother going to a travel agent or other in-person operation, for unless you’re a very good customer to them, they probably won’t tell you about the extra-cheap deals. Remember, travel is usually a commission-based business, so if you aren’t spending much cash, the agent doesn’t make much money. The best (and easiest) way to find discounted cruises is on the World Wide Web, where agents and website owners are dealing with a higher quantity of travelers, so they don’t need to make as much per purchase to make a living.

Next tip: even if you are choosing one cruise destination now, say for example Hawaii, don’t pick a website that only offers cruises to Hawaii and no place else. Sure, you may love the islands of the South Pacific and may want to travel there again one day, but the world is filled with interesting cruising destinations with oceans just waiting for you to set sail. Basically, don’t limit your own options before you’ve even cast off, because some options may offer more value than others.

Don’t forget about time and destination flexibility, as the more flexible your schedule is, the better deal you’re going to get. So even if your heart is set on Acapulco this time, you might be able to get a much better price on a cruise to the Bahamas. Instead of spending the extra money on your cruise, think about all of the extra shopping and land excursions you’ll be able to take if you stretch you become adaptable to the situation. After all, the world is a colossal place, so you’ll need to travel on a lot of cruise ships to see the entire planet.