funny I read this e-mail tonight about United cruises...booking through them earns up to 35k bonus points (if you splurge on a suite) and 8 points per dollar for booking through them...of course they probably jack up the prices like most airline vacation packages.

I have cruised a bunch, used to read cruisecritic, until the neo-natzi multitude of moderators banned me...they were stout cruise line cheerleaders and edited or banned anyone with a negative opinion of anything cruise related...If I didnt know better, I'd say they were paid shills, for their one-sided boards.

Nowadays you can get cruises cheap online...crucon was a favorite, also check Travelzoo they have names of many different companies best specials, many throw in extras like specialty dining, stateroom credit, casino credit, a free excursion, or other perks...most will give you a stateroom credit if the price falls before you sail, so check the prices often. Best prices are now (hurricane season) or spring break (don't do it)...also cheap are last minute sailings and ones booked over a year in advance...some of the cheapest are repositioning cruises when they change routes from/to Carib - Med you have to pop for FF tickets one way from Europe, but the cruise is often 10+ days at $50 or less a day.

Gavelston will be my closest port since I moved to DFW, but it's almost quicker to fly to MIA/FLL or SJU (if you want far southern itineraries)
Most gulf port cruises are boring, with galveston, New orleans, and Tampa all sailing to mexico, jamaica and Grand caymen (best trip) or multiple mexico and belize...or even key west and bahamas (pretty lame) but all offer short trips to see if you like cruising.