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FTF's cruise expert shares money-savings tips on with booking value cruises and discounted shore excursions.

Cruise discounts and savings are still alive and kicking, but at a slower pace than they have been over the past few years. Families are no longer waiting till the last minute to book travel, so those with few schedule constraints are grabbing up early-bird specials, and there are fewer last minute deals around.

Still, more and bigger ships are being built, increasing cruise capacity to the point where there will always be a free cabin that some company needs to sell at discount. And, as usual, the best discounts for families and others can be found during the non-holiday period sailings: we mean social, religious or school year holidays.

However, before you're washed overboard by a cheap deal, be sure you understand whether you're getting an inside (no view) or outside cabin, if the deal includes port charges or airfare to the port of departure, and if the ship has been upgraded to meet international safety and pollution-control standards.

I like to recommend the following strategies for saving money, at any time of year. You can count your savings either at the time of booking or once aboard a cruise.

Save on Sailings

*Cruising with a family of five or more older children? Many parents find it more cost efficient to book one outside cabin for themselves and then book a much lower priced inside cabin across the hall for their teenagers. In some respects, this may be cheaper than booking a suite or family cabin, depending on the line. In general, the family of four or less will save the most by booking a cabin with a third and fourth berth (beds that typically fold up against the cabin wall during the day) for kids.

*Cruising with pre-schoolers?
If your child is not in school yet, then seriously consider cruising off-season when prices are lower and older children are in school. As evidenced by my research, prime off-season discounts are often available from September through Thanksgiving, the first two weeks of December, and during the month of May.