Q: Thank you for your cruise article, "Top 7 Cruise trends for 2010." The trends noted are a great way to start my research.  Can you share with us and your readers your favorite Web sites that offer the best cruise deals? My wife and I are planning a cruise in 2010.

A: Don't just search the web, say using Google for something as generic as "cruises" on the Internet. If you do, you will get 34 Million Web Pages and sites about cruises, deals and discounts. If you pick any one of the top ten listed on Google, how do you know they really offer the best cruise deals? You don't. Finding the best offers can be a long and frustrating experience.  We'll help you narrow it down and steer you in the right direction.

Cruise Tip: When you view a site, look for an easy to use search engine so you can find cruise deals by cruise line, cruise ship, destination, departure port and date. Make sure you can also read the cruise reviews of the ship that you have an interest in. Be sure to read both professional travel writers comments and those of actual passengers who have sailed on that ship. Cruise reviews tend to be both positive and negative depending upon the expectations of the writer and their experience. Don't take any one review and depend on those comments to sway your decision, read dozens of reviews and see if there is a "consensus" of opinion about the ship, food service, ports-of-call etc.  The more you research, the more informed you are.

FEATURED CRUISE DEAL of the WEEK KIDS SAIL FREE You can look forward to winter and spring with this valuable offer from Disney Cruise Line®! Kids age 17 and under can sail free* on most 3-night cruises Jan. 7 — April 15, 2010, and most 4-night cruises Jan. 10 — April 11, 2010, with two full-fare Guests in the same stateroom.  More Government Taxes and Fees not included

To save you some time and effort, here are some cruise travel related websites ( ours and others )  to help you get started:

1. Cruise Reviews Online
One of the best tools you can use when shopping for your next cruise is to read what others have to say. Cruise Reviews Online has one of the largest and most respected databases of consumer and editorial cruise reviews on the Internet, with comments, complaints and reviews from passengers  The reviews are unbiased and unedited,. So, read up, as cruisers their share their experiences with you.

2. Go Here. Get There. is a cruise travelers best way to get the latest news, cruise reviews, blog or participate in a forum and check out the latest cruise deals.
3. Expedia
Here you will find comprehensive profiles of ships and lines, including detailed deck maps, ship reviews, amenities listings color-coded cruise calendars, and virtual tours of most ships.
4. Cruise Traveler Magazine
Cruise Traveler Magazine is an online cruise magazine offering an unbiased cruise guide, latest cruise news, cruise reviews, tips, feature cruise articles, and need to know information about cruising. Featuring community member -contributed content. Editorially independent of travel providers or cruise lines.
5. Cruise Lines International Association
Cruise Lines International Association is the world’s largest cruise association and is dedicated to the promotion and growth of the cruise industry. CLIA is composed of 23 of the major cruise lines serving North America.
6. Cruise Watch
Powered by Google's Search, this site gives you an instant link to cruises, indexed by destination. So if you know where you are going, say Europe or Mexico, one click gets you to the key websites listed by Google
7. Cruise Direct Online
Known as the "Cruise Travelers Ultimate Search Engine",  CBS News commented: "Click over to Cruise Direct Online and start imagining where you’d like to go. The site monitors the offerings and prices from twenty big cruise operators, including heavy hitters like Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America, and allows you to book cruises on a moment’s notice. There are also links for special deals, reviews on cruise lines and itineraries, and tips on getting the most out of your cruise".