BudgetTravel

Carolyn Spencer Brown: In terms of controversial, right up there with alcohol restrictions is the solo surcharge issue. It's become increasingly more expensive for people who travel alone -- and who don't want to participate in cruise line roommate matching programs -- to find a reasonable deal on a voyage. That's because, in this era of cruise ship building, cabins are configured for two (at least two) and actually built off site, prefabricated, and slipped into place onboard. They all look alike. Used to be cruise lines built cabins onboard and there were singles and doubles and quads and they accommodated different needs.

There are a few ships/lines out there that court solo travelers and offer cabins with no surcharge -- among the best are mostly British lines, like Swan Hellenic, Fred. Olsen, Saga, and Cunard's QE2.

One thing I really like about Fred. Olsen, which just started marketing to N. Americans, is that its solo cabins are actually decorated with a single passenger in mind (for instance, one of the twin beds is taken out and extra seating, via comfy armchair or loveseat, is added to make it feel homier).

Cunard recently announced that, following QE2's transfer out of its fleet this fall, it will offer travelers who book on its Queen Mary 2 (which has no dedicated single cabins) a special rate so that's worth investigating. Holland America's Prinsendam, another very special one-of-a-kind ship, also has some solo cabins.

As well, sign up for tour operators and travel agencies who specialize in single travel and who offer specials from time to time. If you can get on their email lists, the offers will appear, hassle-free, in your box¿.

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Lenexa, Kans.: My husband and I along with a group of friends (ages 50-65) are planning a cruise to Hawaii in 2009. What are the pros and cons of cruising Hawaii only or from mainland to Hawaii and flying back?

Carolyn Spencer Brown: First can I just say that cruising around Hawaii is one of the most magnificent voyages available? Just fantastic. I've done it twice and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

Basically you have two options. You can take a trip from the West Coast (say, from Seattle/Vancouver or Los Angeles/San Diego) that's a minimum ten days -- five days at sea to get there and five days around the islands. If you have the time and you like sea days, that's a great option (there's another choice and that's a roundtrip from the West Coast, where you spend five days coming, five days returning, and five days in ports).

Norwegian Cruise Line may be down to just one ship in Hawaii these days but if you really just want to see the islands, its Pride of America -- spiffy, new, all the amenities -- is a fantastic option. It sails, year-round, seven night cruises out of Honolulu; there's not much at sea time. The ship is more like a floating hotel, each day another port (and in some cases there are overnights, such as with Maui). It's the best way to cruise Hawaii if being on the islands matters.

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Columbia, Md.: Hi, Carolyn. My wife and I are in our mid-30s and we've been on about half a dozen cruises and we both love it. We've been on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess and I think the whole cruising is the best way to vacation.

My question is that I have taken my entire family (all 18 of us) on a cruise last august and will be going with my wife's family (12 this time) on a cruise in February 09.

Our families had to split in to 5 or more different rooms on multiple decks, but I was wondering, how do you book those huge Presidential or Royal suites that have multiple rooms inside, jacuzzi on your private balcony and separate living room and I've seen one Travel channel show with a piano inside once. Those rooms are not bookable online, they are not listed on any websites so how can you book them? Do you have to be a VIP? Can anyone book those rooms? I'm sure they are thousands to tens of thousands but after paying for 12 people for balconies and junior suite rooms, I think the huge suite maybe worth it. Can you help me understand how they work?

Thanks,

J.B.

Carolyn Spencer Brown: Hi, J.B, great question. Anyone can book high-level suites, but your observation that reservations cannot be made online is 100 percent correct. Certain accommodations -- say, Presidential and Royal Suites -- aren't released into general inventory because there are minimum passenger requirements that need to be met, and the cruise lines have to keep a close eye on capacity.

Think of it this way: Where hotel bookings are priced per room (and can accommodate any number of people, up to a maximum), cruise bookings are priced per person.

For information about booking these types of suites, you can contact any cruise travel agency. You can also contact the cruise lines directly, most of which have special reservation desks set up to help people who are interested in booking "big" suites (generally more than five people).

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