Like I said - I'm not a cruise person. Have only looked at a few for my 90+ year old father and his girlfriend - and given them my opinions. Reckon it pays to shop around - find what you're looking for at the most reasonable price for what you want. There are people who take excursions - those who don't. Those who drink - those who don't. Those who want various degrees of luxury. Etc. Etc.

The only real cruise I've ever been on was about 8 days up the Nile on a small Sheraton boat. Very different animal than one of those 2-3k passenger cities cruising in Alaska. So I am certainly not an expert when it comes to this. Robyn

We cruise a lot (3-4x a year), but it sounds like the OP is trying to minimize costs getting to the port, as opposed to saving on the cruise.

Cruise cards are generally useless....the "free" cruise is in a horrible room, etc.

There are several big online TAs with good prices. Note, that Royal & Celebrity do not allow TAs to sell for lower prices; therefore, shopping around is really only going to get you better onboard benefits (onboard credit, free gratuities, free dining, etc.). There are sometimes group rates available, but not frequently.

Researching the cruise line ahead of time is crucial....you could be stuck on a ship with zero nightlife or one that is full of college kids partying.

Ahhhh - your talk of a Nile cruise brings back memories of me cruising the Nile aboard a dinner ship with whirling dervishes, a dwarf, Japanese businessmen doing the Macarena, and some interesting conversation drinking beer with an ambassador's wife and her chauffeur!

But alas, no Starpoints for my little cruise down the Nile....:p

We were on a Sheraton boat. No Starpoints. And I don't think that cruise exists now. Robyn