The famous midnight sun of Norway must be experienced during the summer. A cruise during Norway’s summer will allow travellers to experience one of the strangest phenomena in nature: sunlight all night long. The 24-hour sunlight invigorates the entire country. If you want to make the most of the daylight hours, summer is the time for a Norway cruise. The best months for this type of cruise to Norway are May, June and July.

Twenty-four hours of sunlight may be a little intense for some. If that is the case, why not try a spring Norway cruise instead? As early as March, signs of spring start appearing in the south, but April and part of May are the true Norwegian springtime. During this time, travellers can experience both waterfalls fed by melted water and metre high snow drifts. Spring is definitely a time of adventure in Norway.

Similarly, autumn is a time of transition in the country. A cruise to Norway in autumn will be full of colour. Red, yellow and orange all appear to decorate the mountainsides, hilltops and woods during Norway’s autumn season. Killer whales approach the coast during this season as well. The best time for an autumn Norway cruise is August to November.

The most breathtaking views, however, belong to winter. This is when travellers will see the Aurora Borealis lighting up the northern sky, as well as beautiful fields of pure white snow. The best time to see the Northern Lights are from October to March, in Norway far away from any artificial light.

Book in advance

While some travellers wait until the last minute before booking, hoping for a deal, if you want to secure a high-class room on the cruise of your choice you need to be the early bird. Book your cruise six months to a year in advance; the winter months are the best time for booking. Cruise companies such as Bon Voyage offer their best deals to help fill up the summer and year-end cruises. You will also have more options and can place restaurant reservations ahead of time. 

Explore your options

Once you know where you are going, browse the options before making that final booking. You have numerous online travel agent websites and cruise line companies to compare and select from. Another way to lower the cost of your trip is to leave from a less crowded port. The largest ports often cost the most; so booking at a less well-known embarkation point can find you some hidden savings. Taking a holiday during the less busy times of the year also offers savings, as cruise lines try to fill their cabins. 

Find a package

In addition to the coupons and discounts offered through the cruise line, check in to their cruise and stay packages. These packages bundle hotel accommodation, restaurant reservations and cruise tickets into one deal. They offer you savings and give you an extra night or two onshore in a luxury hotel for a much cheaper price.

To check out the latest cruise deals from Bon Voyage click here.

Do not choose cruises based on price alone.  Some first-timers make the mistake of choosing cheap cruises without checking out last minute cruises.  Last minute cruises may also have a cheaper price but could have benefits that cheap cruises do not.

It can be a mistake to think that all last minute cruises are cheap cruises.  Other first-timers may assume that last minute cruises are the best way to save money.  However, hidden expenses, such as the airfare to the port of departure, may not be included and you could end up paying more.  It is sometimes possible to find a cruise package within the same price range as a last minute cruise, but with options such as a choice of cabin or upgrades.

The best strategy for first-time cruisers is to consult with a professional cruise agent or consultant.  Professional cruise consultants take the time to find out what suits your preferences and particular circumstances.  They will help you to avoid potential pitfalls when it comes to choosing the right destination or ship size.  They could even find answers to questions you never thought to ask.

With their expertise and your input, your first cruise holiday will be smooth sailing.

These entire cruise ships have been designed with sophistication and amenities in mind and are sleek in style, giving passengers an upscale sailing option. These boutique-style cruise ships offer passengers a great culinary experience with a multitude of on-board restaurants that often include Tuscan, Continental and Mediterranean influenced foods, among many others.

The ships are also fully equipped with a variety of on-board bars that range from quaint martini bars to some with futuristic themes. Some of these ships offer passengers the option to indulge in two-level spas, barbershops and relaxation rooms. Other ships feature extra well thought-out amenities in their cabins, which have been designed to provide larger bathrooms. Entertainment is focused on more intimate performances with live musicians. Some ships offer a main entertainment of a Cirque du Soleil-style performance.

Arrangements can also be made for the cruise ship to host special events such as a milestone, anniversary, birthday, reunion, honeymoon, or wedding and in most cases the staff will be able to accommodate just about any special requests that the event coordinator might have.

 For those with a busy lifestyle that simply cannot afford a long time away, a short cruise could be the answer. Approximately one in every five cruises booked in the UK is for a duration of five days or less. Short cruises still offer the same level of luxury and pampering, as the longer cruises.  

There is a big demand for quick escapes and short holidays that consist of four or five days, and there are many cruise companies out there eager to cater for the demand. Allow a cruise company to whisk you away for a few days to a great destination, all the while taking care of meals, accommodation and entertainment. A few good days away could easily feel like a two-week holiday.  

A short cruise still provides ample time for cruise passengers to visit two or three great destinations. This short time at sea also means less packing and travel preparations.

The modern cruise ships are fitted with state of the art fitness facilities, provide excellent dining and first rate entertainment, making a trip at sea the perfect short cruise holiday getaway!

Many travellers confess that they use every resource they can to get the best deal on the cost of their travel holidays. This includes reward points, credit card discounts, frequent flyer miles and using the internet to search for any last minute cruise deals.  

For the seasoned saver, these strategies often prove successful. It is a fact that most cruise ships want to leave port filled to capacity, the seasoned traveller knows this, and is aware of how to get in on these great cruise discounts.  

Viewing websites and keeping in touch with a travel agent are definitely two efficient ways to secure a good cruise deal. These deals often become available from 60 to 90 days before the ship is due to leave port. This leaves the determined traveller plenty of time to book their cruise while still getting a good deal on their flight, no doubt with the help of frequent flyer miles. 

First, it pays to know your cruise line. There are five basic categories of cruise ships. They include specialised liners, ultra-luxury, upscale, middle of the road and bargain cruise ships that often are the smaller liners.

If you are looking for a middle of the road cruise line, which also happens to be the most popular, you can head over to cruise companies such as Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises. These companies offer great service, outstanding food and smart décor at a reasonable price.

If you have narrowed your search down to a few companies, make the effort to get their brochures. These are easily obtained from your local travel agent or can be requested online. The brochures will provide a guide of their prices as well as their amenities, target passengers and cabins. While you are searching through the brochures, decide what it is you want from your cruise. Each cruise line offers a different experience in the way of entertainment, destination, budget and ports of call. 

Getting the best cruise deals is often linked to when you take your cruise. Enjoying a Caribbean cruise in the early spring or late autumn is usually a better time to get in on some great discounts. However, not all cruises are flexible. If you are considering an Alaskan cruise, for example, the cruise season for that area is not very long so you may not have a lot of off-season options. 

Many cruise lines offer cruise deals to passengers who book well in advance. If you are able to commit to a holiday months ahead of time, this too could prove to add to your cruise savings. Regardless of when you decide to book, don’t expect to be travelling during peak season. It is rare, but not impossible, to find a cruise deal during a popular holiday season.

You can choose to take a cruise on a huge ship with an ice rink, rock climbing wall, Flowrider surf machine, full court basketball, and mini golf course on a holiday through the best Eastern or Western Caribbean islands. Or you can choose to take a very small and intimate vessel on an intrepid and unconventional adventure out to the Galapagos Islands to marvel in the beauty and wonder of some of nature’s most incredible creatures.

You can go for as short as one night on a “cruise to nowhere” just to get a taste of what cruising is like or if you don’t have a lot of time, or you can go on a three month cruise all around the world from America to Europe, sailing through Western Europe to the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, through the Suez Canal and into the Middle East, down past Africa and into Asia, across to South America and back to America. The options are truly limitless, and with a range of different operators such as Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises whatever you choose, your cruises will be amazing.