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5 Steps to Take Before You Book Your Next Cruise

By U.S. News & World Report

Whether you’re dreaming of a Caribbean getaway, a Mediterranean adventure or a quick jaunt through the Alaskan wilderness, cruising can be a stress-free and high-value vacation option. With a cruise, your itinerary is planned for you. Plus, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having meals, snacks and entertainment bundled into one all-inclusive rate. Even better, cruises typically offer multiple stops, adding more adventure at every turn.

However, before you pull the trigger and book a cruise, it’s crucial to consider your cruising style and budget. Both factors will help you determine which cruise line is well-suited for your needs and preferences. Here are five steps to take before you lock in your cruise vacation to ensure you pick the ship, cabin, itinerary and experience that best matches your needs before you climb aboard.

[See: The Best Cruise Lines of 2016.]

Determine Your Vacation Budget

Your cruise length, itinerary and onboard experience will hinge on your vacation budget. Before you start shopping, figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend. How much cash do you have in a travel fund? And how much might you be able to save before your vacation starts? Also, keep in mind that some cruise lines let you put down a deposit, then pay the bulk of your cruise fare over several monthly payments. Before you commit to a particular voyage, however, you’ll need to budget for cruise taxes, port fees, upgrades and other extra expenses.

Choose a Region

Cruise pricing depends largely on where you want to go. Before you start conducting research, making a list of ideal cruise regions can help you narrow down your options. Perhaps you want to explore sunny locales with several beach stops. Maybe you want to cruise the Mediterranean, stopping for ancient ruins and city tours. Or, perhaps you’re dying to see the Artic, West Africa’s coast or the unspoiled beauty of Alaska. Regardless, it helps to hone in on a region to whittle down your search.

Compare Prices and Explore All Options

Once you’ve determined your travel budget and you have created a list of your preferred destinations, it’s much easier to shop around. Rely on a trusted travel aggregator like Expedia.com or even your favorite rewards portal to compare cruise itineraries, lines, cabin options and more. Look for a cruise that offers affordable fares to the places you want to see most, then break down pricing based on cabin options and upgrades. You’ll generally pay more for an ocean-facing or balcony category cabin and much less to stay in an inside cabin.

If you’re planning a last-minute cruise, you can also check out near-term deals on websites like VacationstoGo.com. With the site’s 90-day ticker, you can score great discounts on undersold cruises departing in the next few weeks or months. Some cruise lines also offer running promotions throughout the year. As an example, MSC Cruises is offering a two-for-one deal that translates to 50 percent off brochure rates for cruises to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and North Europe. Before you book, check with your favorite cruise line or a travel specialist for update-to-date offers.

[Read: 10 Dreamy Cruise Vacations to Cross Off Your Bucket List.]

Figure Out What is — and Isn’t — Included

Here’s where booking a cruise can get tricky. In order to compare prices fairly, you need to know what your cruise fare includes. This is especially important if you’re traveling with a large group or kids. While some cruise lines charge the standard rate for kids, others offer discounts or let younger passengers cruise for free. MSC Cruises, for example, lets kids under the age of 11 cruise free and charges only a nominal amount for teens ages 12 to 17. If you’re traveling with family in tow, this can impact the overall price of your cruise significantly.

Other components to consider include entertainment options, onboard credits and even drink packages. Though some cruise packages include all drinks — and even alcoholic beverages — in their price, many only include tea, coffee and water. You need to know which additional offerings onboard and ashore are included in the price of your cruise for an accurate apples-to-apples value comparison.

Factor in Extras

Beyond basic cruise fares and add-ons, there are “extras” to account for, too. Extra expenses can include port fees, taxes and gratuities for the ship staff. Most cruise lines will estimate these expenses and display them at the time of booking, but it’s important to account for these fees before you commit. You may also need to pay an upcharge for internet service, dining at specialty restaurants and spa and fitness packages, too,

Cruise excursions are another top expense to factor into your budget. If you want a planned activity for each stop on your itinerary, you’ll need to research your options with reputable outfitters and account for these added costs in your cruise budget. Also, remember to plan for transportation to and from the airport, hotel stays on either end of your cruise, parking and other additional transportation and lodging costs.

[See: 10 Affordable Last-Minute Cruise Vacations.]

Final Thoughts

While there’s no wrong or right way to cruise, you can find a better cruise deal and experience with a little creativity and proactive planning. Make sure to budget appropriately, and ask yourself what kind of travel experience you — and your travel companions — are looking for. The right cruise for you is out there; you just have to get out there and find it.

More from U.S. News

8 Secret Tricks for Scoring a Cruise Deal

6 Epic Cruise Fails

The Hidden Costs of Cruising

5 Steps to Take Before You Book Your Next Cruise originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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