I've never been interested in cruises before, as I like to go places fast. This is why I like to fly. But, then, I realized that there are cruises that are priced very nicely (less than the cost of staying in a hotel and I get transportation on top of that!) so now I'm interested! So, I have a few questions:

1. What are some things I should look out for when booking a cruise?
2. Are cruises like hotels and airlines where it's best to book direct? Or should I take advantage of all the offers and rewards that a package seller would offer me (ie United Cruises)?
3. How does dining and drinks work? Are the packages worth it, or are the included meals (if any) decent enough if I'm not looking to get fancy?
4. Are there any fees that I should be aware of that aren't included in the price shown? (Internet? Food? Entertainment?)

I will likely not book any sort of excursions through the cruise operator unless I see something that I am really interested in. Otherwise, I am a pretty savvy traveler who will research things to do ahead of time so that when I arrive anywhere (whether it's by plane or the cruise ship port) I'll already have a plan for things to do on my own.

Oh, I guess I should mention that I intend to cruise alone, and I know that there's a few cruise lines (ie Norwegian) that don't charge a single supplement.