Seattle Times travel writer/editor Kristin Jackson answered readers' questions about cruise destinations, ships, safety and ways to save money. Thanks to all who participated!

Do you have any information on which cruise line(s) do best by their employees, i.e., I know most crew are paid peanuts for working long, hard hours? Any breakdown available on how set tips (like those charged by Holland America, for example) are divided amongst crew?

— Diane, Seattle

K.J.: Yes, the workload is tough for the crew who keep the ships running - cooking the meals, cleaning the cabins, serving in restaurants. Many crew on the major cruise lines are from Indonesia and Philippines, sometimes with extended families or practically whole villages working on ships. They earn far more working on cruise ships than they could at home, although the wages are so low and the hours so long that few Americans or Europeans do such jobs.

There was grumbling about the old way of tipping when tips were handed out individually and the more visible dining room staff or cabin stewards could do best. Now, with many cruise lines collecting a tipping fee per day per passenger, the companies control how the tips are divided. On a recent cruise, I talked informally to some crew who liked it, others who didn't. I don't know exactly how the cruise companies divide it up; that's not information that they share widely.

U.S. flagged ships, such as the Pride of America and Pride of Aloha, or smaller ships cruising within the U.S. do have to meet U.S. labor laws. Norwegian wraps the service fee on its U.S.-flagged ships ($10 per person per day) in with the general wages/benefits it pays.

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What is the best way to book a cruise? Travel agent, On-Line, or direct through the cruise line?

— Kris, Spokane

K.J.: Start by looking at cruise lines' Web sites to get an idea of who offers what and their prices. Most also have a "specials" section on their Web sites - discounted prices or upgrades for specific cruises that they need to fill. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts of specials from some lines. Get links to major lines' Web sites at the Cruise Lines International Association, www.cruising.org And comparison shop at online Web sites such as Expedia.com or Travelocity.

Once you've narrowed down where you want to go and some cruise lines you're interested in, I'd go talk to a real person - a travel agent who is experienced in cruises. Look for a travel agent who specializes in cruises - some are certified through CLIA as "cruise counselors", meaning they've done some extra studying/research. Travel agents like to sell cruises as they get commissions from cruise companies; you benefit, if you find a good agent, by getting personalized advice. Ask the agent's recommendations and where she or he has cruised, on what ships, if they or their agency has a preferred cruise line. You are making a big expenditure so ask lots of questions - and compare the price a travel agent offers with what you get direct from the cruise lines.

I'm wary of online purchases if you don't know the track record of the company you're dealing with. If there are problems, it can be hard to get complaints resolved through an online company based who-knows-where. And, as we all know, Internet scams abound. If you buy through a local travel agent, they're close to home in case you have problems and you have some protection under Washington state consumer-protection laws.

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Which cruise accommodates the needs of elders who cannot speak English very well?

— Sue, Kent

K.J.: English is the dominant language on many big cruise lines, even on cruises far from North America. I don't know what your elders' native language is, but many staff on ships are from Asian countries and are multi-lingual. In addition, many staff on European sailings will speak Spanish, French or German to accommodate nationals from those countries, or Spanish/Portuguese on South American sailings. The best thing to do is pick a cruise you're interested in and then ask the cruise line for advice. Or you can look for cruise lines that serve overseas markets more, such as Star Cruises in southeast Asia or various European cruise lines.

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I've booked an Alaska Cruise on Celebrity this summer. Do you think it is better to book shore excursions ahead or wing it? I'm interested in kayaking, bird-watching and hiking.

— Michele, Seattle

K.J.: If money is no object, I'd book the shore excursions you're sure you want well in advance. For instance, space on kayak tours is pretty limited, unlike some of the bus or walking tours which can easily accommodate a crowd.

For hiking or bird-watching, unless you see some shore excursions that really appeal, you might enjoy it more on your own or perhaps with other independent-minded people from the ship. One of the pleasures of the southeast Alaska ports of call such as Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan is that they're all small-scale and easy to explore.

In Juneau, for example, the Mount Roberts hiking trail begins practically downtown (and cruise ships dock right downtown). It could be an all-day hike, or you could take the Mount Roberts tram part way. Get the basics on hikes in Juneau and other southeast Alaska towns at www.alaskaonline.org/hiking

In Sitka, you can take nature walks and see totem poles and a historic Russian-era building in the Sitka National Historic Park on the edge of downtown. Rangers sometimes lead interpretive rainforest walks, too - all for free. See www.nps.gov/sitk

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What shore excursions do you recommend while on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise? So far, we are signed up for the canopy excursion and some snorkling.

— John, Lynnwood

K.J.: Those sound great, although you probably could arrange the snorkeling on your own - you could take along or buy your own gear if you want to do a lot of swimming/snorkeling and save some money.

I don't know the itinerary of your cruise, but does it include stops at Cozumel, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, or the country of Belize? If so, I'm sure they offer some shore excursions to some of the Mayan ruins in the area. That would add a little culture and history in with the fun.

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Where can you still get a good deal to cruise Memorial Day weekend next month?

— Julie, Seattle

K.J.: It's probably a good time to go since schools and universities still will be in session, keeping a lot of families and students off the market.

What will hamper you is air fare, since it may be hard to find reasonably priced airline tickets to far flung ports around the holiday weekend. So I'd check out cruises from Seattle or Vancouver, B.C., to Alaska - since you obviously then can avoid the air fare expense.

You can go the Web sites of both respective ports and check out what ships are sailing on that weekend, and then phone the cruise line or a travel agent to find the best deal. Go to www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise and www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaCruise for the schedules. Another option: You could try for a Mexico cruise out of L.A., but it could be hard to get a decently priced fare around the holiday weekend.

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My wife and I have been on two cruises, one on Princess, and one on Carnival, and they were fun. But we want to know which cruise line has the best reputation for all-out pampering of their guests. (We need the T.L.C.!)

— Jim, Kent

K.J.: You'll get the most TLC on the smaller ships run by luxury cruise lines or on Cunard, which has big ships (like the new 2,600-plus passenger Queen Mary 2) but white-glove service and classy amenities.

Be ready to pay at least double what Princess or Carnival charges on most luxury cruise lines. If price is no object, you can even get luxury apartments with butler service.

Some of the luxury cruise lines to check are Seabourn and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. Crystal Cruise Lines also offers lots or pampering for not quite such pricey fares.

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I'm about to graduate from college and my family planned "Andy's Graduation Cruise" to Alaska in the middle of my last quarter of school. I'll still be on a student's budget and I'm wondering if this gift is going to cost me a fortune. I've heard food is free, drinks are not, what about gratuity? Also, there are many day excursions we can sign up for on various ports - kayaking, walking tours, even helecopter rides - all of which are quite pricey. I've heard that rather than booking those activities, locals will offer them for a cheaper price when you arrive in port. Is this true? Are there any other hidden costs I should know about?

— Andrew, Seattle, WA

K.J.: Congratulations on graduating - and what a great gift. With your cruise fare paid, you should be able to enjoy yourself easily on a student's budget.

First, be aware that most cruise ships are "cashless"; they take your credit card info at the start of the cruise and you run a tab, signing for everything from drinks to shore excursions. On the last day of the cruise, you get the bill - and if you haven't been careful you can run up hundreds of dollars. Here's how to avoid end-of-cruise sticker shock.

1. Go easy on the booze. It can cost a lot on board, plus a 15-percent gratuity usually is added to alcoholic drinks. See if you can bring your own wine/beer onboard. Some ships will let you bring your own bottle of wine to dinner, although they will charge a corkage fee - often around $15 a bottle.

Instead of gulping beer or soda (which many ships now charge for) go for the free drinks that include coffee, tea, water - sometimes juice if you ask for it. You can always go for a beer at a pub in port - and maybe even meet some locals. Yes, food is free. And there's lots of it on cruise ships!

2. Tipping? That can add up since some cruise lines such as Norwegian and Holland America now automatically add a gratuity charge of around $10 per person per day. Other cruise lines leave it to passengers' discretion, hoping that you'll tip for on-board service just as you'd tip at a restaurant or bar in your home town. Find out what your cruise line's policy is, and if you don't like the flat-fee tipping charge find out how/when you can dispute it.

3. Shore excursions really can bust your budget if you're not careful. In Southeast Alaska ports, it's easy to devise your own walking tours instead of paying $25 or more per person. Towns like Ketchikan or Juneau are small and pedestrian-friendly, and the cruise ships dock downtown. Take an Alaska guidebook along with you - there are many to choose from in bookstores. Some even have walking tours mapped out. Two aimed specifically at cruise passengers are "Fodor's Alaska Ports of Call" and "Frommer's Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call 2005".

For things like kayaking, you can comparison-shop online. Do a Google search for the town's name and chamber of commerce or visitor bureau. You'll find links to local tour companies, and you can see what they offer and compare it to the ship's price. You would need to book ahead as things get very busy when a couple of big cruise ships pull into town and you'd need to make your own transportation arrangements, too - it's not as hassle-free as a ship's daytrips in which everything is organized for you. Alternatively, you could just take your chances and see what's available at the dock.

For something like helicopter flightseeing, you probably should reserve well in advance, particularly if you're a big family group. Check the prices through the cruise line and check directly with a helicopter tour company in the town you're interested in. Be aware, however, that if your ship's port call is delayed for any reason and you've booked independently that you could be stuck with the flightseeing bill even if you can't make it.

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Why don't any of the ships cruise to the Mexican Riviera or to Los Angeles from Seattle? They would be great cruises. I would like to see more Seattle to Seattle cruises.

— Joyce, Bellevue

K.J.: Why no Seattle-Los Angeles cruises? Because they're prohibited by law. The 19th-century Passenger Services Act, designed to protect the U.S. marine transportation industry, is still in force. It forbids foreign-registered ships from carrying passengers directly between U.S. ports - such as Seattle to Los Angeles - without a foreign stop in between.

Since most big cruise ships are registered overseas, in countries such as Liberia or Panama, they can't offer itineraries solely within U.S. waters. That's why all cruises from Seattle to Alaska make a quick stop at a port in British Columbia, usually Victoria.

Why do cruise lines "foreign-flag" their ships? So U.S. labor law and other regulations don't apply to them. That's why you'll find most ships' crew are Indonesian or Filipino, working long hours for low pay. One of the few exceptions is Norwegian Cruise Lines which has a U.S.-flagged and American-staffed ship offering cruises among the Hawaiian islands. Its new Pride of America will start sailing in Hawaii this summer, joining its Pride of Aloha ship.

The other big impediment to a Seattle-L.A.-Mexican Riviera cruise is distance. It would take more than a day to sail from Seattle just to Los Angeles and extending a cruise farther south to Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan in Mexico would mean too many days at sea for most passengers.

If you do want to sail to the Mexican Riviera, a number of cruise lines depart from Los Angeles on week-long round trip cruises. The Port of Los Angeles Web site has information: www.lacity.org/portofla/Facilities/wcc.htm

Also you may be able to find one-way cruises down the West Coast at the end of the summer, usually in September, when ships head south on repositioning voyages after the Alaska cruise season ends.

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Is there an ideal cruise line besides Disney for families with kids? What line is best avoided for children?

— Scott

K.J.: The answer to your question is - it depends.

It depends how old your kids are, what time of year you sail, and where you go. It also depends how much structured time your kids want - and how much time you want apart from them.

Figure out those parameters and then start comparison-shopping among the cruise lines and what they offer.

You'll find the most extensive children's programs are during the summer and school vacations and on ships sailing to popular destinations such as the Mexican Riveria, the Caribbean and Alaska. All the major lines besides Disney - such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Carnival - have special programs for kids.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival have some of the most extensive programs, with lots of age-divided groups (from pre-schoolers to teens). Carnival even has some shore excursions just for teens aged 12 to 15. Teens can be the toughest group to please; look for a ship that has special teen discos and programs and a teen hang-out room where they can escape the younger kids; Royal Caribbean has groups for older teens from 13 to 17. If you have a toddler, be sure to doublecheck on the age limit; diaper policies, etc.

Depending on the age of your children, you might want to look for a cruise on a mid-size ships - not one of the 3,000-passenger mega ships - since that makes it easier to keep tabs on kids, especially older children who want some freedom to roam.

Lines to avoid? You don't want to end up on an upscale, more sedate cruise line such as Seabourn or Crystal with a toddler who's going to melt down at every meal in the elegant dining room. But for older children, who don't need or want structured activity every day, those can be an option - if you can afford it. Their smaller, luxurious ships sail to exotic places in Asia, South America and beyond - meaning kids get to see some of the world on shore excursions.

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Is it worth it to pay for the flightseeing to Misty Fjords?

— Charlie, Seattle

K.J.: Misty Fjords National Monument is a wilderness preserve of more than 2 million acres of forest, fjords, lakes and waterfalls near Ketchikan, Alaska. Lots of cruise lines work with seaplane companies in Ketchikan to offer the "flightseeing" tours; depending on the length of the tour it can cost from $150 to $250 or more per person. Misty Fjords is gorgeous and it's fun to ride in a float plane, but the scenery isn't all that different from what you'll see as your ship cruises along the Inside Passage. If you want to splurge on a flightseeing tour during your cruise, I'd chose one of the glacier flightseeing tours from a Southeast Alaskan port. Seeing those rivers of ice from the air is really dramatic. And hopefully you'll get a sunny day.

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I am a first-time cruiser and would like to go to the Caribbean from the Northeast - Philadelphia or New York City. I don't want to be on a ship that is full of kids; but I also would like to avoid one full of 85 year olds in wheel chairs (I am 55 and single). I know there is always going to be a mix; but if you have any suggestions of what line might be better than others, I would greatly appreciate it?

— Rosemary, Coatesvill, PA

K.J.: Most big lines going to the Caribbean will have lots of families aboard, especially in summer. To get a sailing with fewer kids, wait until school's back in session in September. And avoid sailings at Thanksgiving or other holidays. Also look for one of the smaller, more luxurious lines that attract a quieter clientele.

One cruise to check out - if you don't mind going a bit farther afield to Bermuda - is on Celebrity, an upscale cruise line. It's offering a special from Philadelphia on Sept. 24 to St. George and Bermuda, a week-long cruise starting from $900.

One tip: For your on-board dinner-table ask to be seated at a big table and with people similar to your age. That can't always be arranged, but it's worth trying.

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What is the most economical way to cruise to Alaska?

— Gin, Seattle

K.J.: Want to see the scenery really cheaply? Take one of the Alaska ferries - rather awkwardly named the Alaska Marine Highway System - from Bellingham to Southeast Alaska. For a June sailing to Ketchikan - which takes about 40 hours - it costs $230 one way for an adult. You can sleep in one of the ferry's reclining chairs in the passenger lounge (or spend more and book a stateroom, although they're sold out already on May sailings). Or if you're the adventurous sort, take a sleeping bag and sleep on the deck in the sheltered solarium; you can even pitch a tent on deck. Get details on schedules and prices at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs. You can ferry-hop from Ketchikan to ports throughout Southeast Alaska. For something more exotic, several times a month in summer a ferry sails across the Gulf of Alaska, from Juneau to Valdez and Seward in south-central Alaska.

If you want to go on a conventional cruise ship, late September probably will be the cheapest time. Go to the Port of Seattle Web site, www.portseattle.org/seaport, where you'll find a sailing schedule for the four major lines based out of Seattle this summer plus links to their Web sites. Comparison-shop among them and check the "specials" section on each cruise line's Web site; sometimes cruise companies offer last-minute discounts if they need to fill up a ship. And watch the ads in Seattle media for deals, too.

The big way to save money? Book the cheapest stateroom on the ship, which will be an inside, bottom-deck stateroom.

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Which cruise lines will be sailing from Seattle this summer, how many ships per cruise line and when do they begin the season?

— John, Seattle

K.J.: There will be about 170 cruise-ship visits to Seattle this season, which goes from early May until the end of September. Four major cruise companies will sail from here: Norwegian, Princess, Holland America and Celebrity. The season starts on May 5 (with the Amsterdam, Holland America's flagship) and ends in late September.

Some small-ship cruise lines, including Seattle-based Cruise West and American West Steamboat Company, also offer a few Seattle-Alaska cruises at the beginning or end of the season (with their ships sailing within Alaska for the summer.)

Back to the big lines:

Holland America will base the ms Amsterdam, and the ms Oosterdam, one of its newest ships, in Seattle.

Princess is sailing some of its biggest, fanciest ships out of Seattle, the Diamond Princess (which can carry more than 3,000 passengers) and the Sapphire Princess. Celebrity will sail the Mercury out of Seattle, a ship full of amenities, including a golf simulator. (The Mercury also has one Pacific Northwest cruise, a Sept. 16-19 roundtrip from Seattle with visits to Victoria and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.)

Norwegian has gone for Seattle in a big way, basing three ships here: the Norwegian Star, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Dream. The Norwegian Dream offers longer cruises out of Seattle than most ships, 10 and 11-day roundtrip sailings that extend beyond the standard Southeast Alaska ports across the Gulf of Alaska to Whittier (near Anchorage).

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Are cruises to Alaska cheaper from Seattle or Vancouver B.C.?

— Drew, Seattle

K.J.: There's not a lot of difference in the basic prices, but it does pay to watch for specials from both cities. The big cruise lines that sail out of Seattle (Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Celebrity) also sail out of Vancouver, so you could phone them and ask which city has the best deal for the week in which you want to sail. Get contact info for the Seattle-based cruise lines from the Port of Seattle at www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise Other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, also sail from Vancouver to Alaska; find a schedule at the city's port site, www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaCruise

If you are flexible and can go on relatively short notice, that's how you'll really save, particularly toward the end of the Alaska cruise season in the fall. You might also check repositioning cruises in early May when Alaska cruises start and in late September when they end and when cruise lines move their ships to and from Alaska. If you do decide to take a cruise from Vancouver, you need to factor in the cost of getting there, particularly if you stay in a hotel before or after.

You'll want to avoid driving to Vancouver as downtown parking is expensive. The most convenient public transport between Seattle and Vancouver is the Quick Shuttle bus which goes daily and includes stops at the two cruise piers in downtown Vancouver, B.C.: see www.quickcoach.com

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We have a 10-year-old son and would like to take something other than a Disney cruise. What else is out there that not only our 10 year old will enjoy but so will both his parents?

— Denise, Seattle

K.J.: Like most 10 year olds, your son probably is a bundle of energy. And like most kids of that age, he probably loves the water. I'd look first for a cruise ship with a decent pool - any of the newer ones will have that. And I'd head to a warm-weather destination with good beaches so you can all get out and play. That could be the Caribbean or Bermuda; lots of ships depart from Fort Lauderdale so you could see some of Florida along with a cruise.

Consider Hawaii, too. Norwegian Cruise Line offers week-long round-trip sailings from Honolulu within the islands on several ships, including the new Pride of America which will debut this summer. You can mix in some sightseeing - everything from seeing lava-oozing volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu - with great beaches for swimming and snorkeling. The NCL cruises call at Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. You can take the cruise line's shore excursions or rent a car and go off on your own for the day. When your son wants to hang out with other kids, the cruise line, like all major ones, has a children's program with lots of activities.

Norwegian had a rough start to its cruises on Pride of Aloha, with complaints about service and restaurant waits, but over the last year things have gotten better. Its new ship, the Pride of America, is due to set sail in June. Both are U.S.-flagged (and U.S.-staffed) ships, meaning they can sail within the Hawaiian islands without having to make a visit to a foreign port as required under a long-time U.S. maritime law.

A note of caution: Although it's exciting to be on the inaugural voyage of a ship like the Pride of America, veteran cruisers often recommend waiting a little while in case of any launch delays and to let crew and routines settle in.

You can check out Norwegian cruises at www.ncl.com and a travel agent can give you advice on its and other Hawaiian cruises. Other cruise lines also offer Hawaii cruises, including Princess Cruises with visits to foreign ports (to satisfy the U.S. law) such as Tahiti.

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I am interested in knowing if I book a cruise through an internet site is it safe? How can I tell if the cruise broker is up to standards and not a hoax? I am thinking of using www.mycruisevalue.com (Cruise Value Center in East Brunswick, NJ).

— S.L., Seattle

K.J.: Cruise Value Center and its founder, Jeffrey Kivet, have been around for a while. It's certainly worth checking prices with them. But comparison-shop, too, and check prices through a local travel agent and directly with the cruise line. If the prices are similar, go with the company you know and one that's close to home.

One important basic, especially when you're dealing with an out-of-state company with which you're unfamiliar: Make sure to pay by credit card. Under federal fair-credit laws, that gives you some protection if you don't get what you paid for.

Sometimes, though, the big cruise discounters have alluring deals. Traditionally, they have gotten lower prices for passengers by rebating part of their commission (which they get from cruises lines on each sale) or buying blocks of cabins at discounted group rates and reselling them to individuals at a proportionally lower rate. Or a cruise discounter or a big travel agency simply sell so many cruises on a particular line that a cruise company will let them have staterooms at a lower rate for their customers.

Some cruise lines have been trying to crack down on discounters recently. The cruise lines say they want to level the playing field so that small travel agencies can sell cruises at the same price. Some of the big cruise discounters say it's a way for the cruise lines to fix prices. After all, cruise companies would rather have travelers buy direct from them (a shift that airlines have been making); that way they don't pay commissions to travel agents.

It's a simmering battle. For now, it means you, the passenger, just have to keep shopping around to find the best deal.

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Can you take a Cruise From Seattle to Hawaii?

— Brian, Gig Harbor

K.J.: Not that I've heard of! There is a small number of cruises to Hawaii from some West Coast ports, mainly Vancouver or Los Angeles, when cruise lines are moving ships - or keeping them busy - between their seasonal sailings, such as the end of the Alaska season.

Princess Cruises does have a 15-day round trip from Los Angeles to Hawaii on the Island Princess, with 15 sailings between Sept. 23, 2005, and April 21, 2006. On that itinerary there's a lot of time to enjoy the ocean views: 8 days of the cruise are spent at sea.

Occasional mainland-Hawaii port calls also can be found on the lengthy around the Pacific or world cruises.

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I've been on five Holland America cruises with my wife and kids (6 & 8) throughout the world. I've enjoyed the HAL service, the limited amount of other children on board yet a great Kid's program while on board. What other lines provide kids activities but be more upscale in terms of accommodations and service?

— Mike, Normandy Park

K.J.: Holland America has a nice balance - not party ships, not overrun with kids. But there are a few smaller, upscale cruise lines with luxurious ships and enticing destinations that also offer children's programs, including Crystal Cruises and Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.

Their ships are far more elegant and sedate than a Disney or Carnival ship; they're also smaller, carrying 500 to 1,500 passengers which means they're not as overwhelming for kids or parents. And even these upscale lines - which can charge double the fares of the mass-market cruise lines - offer specials and two-for-one discounts on certain sailings. Be sure to check what's offered for kids on a cruise you're interested in: Children's programs aren't available on every sailing of these deluxe lines; they may only be offered during summer and other school-vacation periods and even then only on certain itineraries.

Crystal Cruises, which has some enticing cruises in the Mediterranean, Asia and beyond, offers a Junior Activities Program for children 3 to 17 (divided into three age groups) including everything from dress-up parties and a mini-Olympics for youngsters to teen discos. www.crystalcruises.com

The elegant Radisson Seven Seas Cruises runs the Club Mariner Youth Program on several ships for children 6 to 17 (divided into two groups) on some of its Alaska, Baltic, Caribbean and Bermuda sailings. www.rssc.com

For a very useful rundown on family cruising, including what's offered for families on smaller ships, see www.cruisemates.com/articles/family

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What about tipping? Since some cruises are adding the 'tip' to your bill anyway. Why not just include it in the price upfront?

— Ann, Seattle

K.J.: Tipping has become really, really confusing in the cruise world. It used to be that most cruise lines left it up to you, although they gave you detailed guidelines about how much to tip whom. Now some, such as Holland America and Norwegian cruise lines, automatically charge you around $10 per person per day and tack that onto your shipboard bill at the end of the cruise.

Some luxury cruise lines have always automatically included tipping in your fare (if you can afford their rates - often starting at $3,500 per person for a week-long cruise - you probably don't care about the tipping portion of it). But the mass market cruise lines, who are competing hard on price, want to keep their fares looking as cheap as possible in their ads and brochures. It helps them do that if they keep it a separate fee, and also, in theory, it does give you the chance to dispute the charge if the service has been crummy.

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Are there cruises from Seattle to Alaska that go up the inside of Vancouver Island?

— Laurie, Mercer Island

K. J.: Yes, some do the "full Inside Passage", at least one way, on their week-long round trips from Seattle. That means they travel up the east coast of Vancouver Island, between it and the B.C. mainland. The trick is to closely check the itinerary maps for the cruise in which you're interested on the cruise line's Web site - or check and doublecheck with your travel agent! You'll see some ships go both ways up the outside - off the West coast of Vancouver Island - before turning back into the Inside Passage north of the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

If you happen to be on a cruise that goes up the outside, or west coast, of Vancouver Island both ways you'll miss some dramatic scenery. Off the east coast of Vancouver Island, between it and mainland B.C., there's lovely mountain/forest/waterway scenery. Toward the north end of the island (around the town of Campbell River) there's a maze of islands and narrow waterways where you'll enjoy close-to-shore views - and maybe see orcas.

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Is it cheaper to arrange your own shores activities or safer to go through the cruise line?

— Kris, Spokane

K.J.: Well, the answer is it depends ... on what you want to do and where you're goin. It can be a lot cheaper to organize your own shore excursions if you're doing something like a walking/shopping tour in Juneau or Ketchikan during an Alaska cruise. All you need to do is walk off the ship and you're in the tidy, safe downtowns. The same goes for cruises in many parts of Europe, such as Baltic Sea cruises where you can easily explore cities such as Stockholm on your own.

If you're cruising somewhere where crime against tourists has been an issue - such as Jamaica or some Caribbean islands - you'd probably feel much better on an organized excursion through the cruise line. Additionally, cruise lines offer shore excursions that would take you a lot of advance planning to do on your own, from bicyling excursions with stops at picturesque cafes to flightseeing. So check what your cruise line offers - most will list them online - add up the price tag and figure out what you can do by yourself and what's easiest to do through their shore excursions.

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What are the best "small ships" that cruise the Caribbean? I want to see some destinations that most ships don't see.

— Steve, Mukilteo

K.J.: If you like casual cruises, consider Windjammer Barefoot Cruises which offers Caribbean cruises aboard classic "tall ships" - sailing vessels (with motors, too) that carry anywhere from 60 to more than 100 people for casual cruises that go where the big ships can't. You can also take a cruise on its 257-foot motor vessel which re-supplies the sailing ships in the Caribbean and Costa Rica.

Also consider American-Canadian-Caribbean line which has three comfortable motor vessels, carrying from 80 to 100 people each, that cruise the Caribbean and visit little ports and bays far from the mega ships.

For luxury cruises in the Caribbean, Sea Dream Yacht Club offers casual but very comfortable sailings on two yacht-like ships that carry about 110 passengers each. They visit small ports and overnight in some Caribbean ports, unlike the big ships which generally depart in the evening.

To find more small-ship cruise lines, check out www.smallshipcruises.com

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My fiance' and I are getting married April 30th and are going on a cruise the second week of May. I want to know how can we get the cruise line to give us some freebies.

— John, Lynnwood

K.J.: Hmm. Drop a big hint to your cabin steward or your waiter in the dining room. Maybe you'll get a bottle of champagne in your room or at dinner, but don't expect any big-time freebie. But you can pay for an extra little romance. Some cruise lines such as Norwegian sell an add-on honeymooners/romance package (for $79 per stateroom)that gets you goodies like champagne and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation; a honeymooners onboard party; a special photograph and more.

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I am retired, on a fixed income. I have wanted to cruise for several years, but their surcharge for singles is prohibitive. Some of us have physical reasons to not share quarters with a stranger. At what point is it in their interest to have any body occupy an otherwise empty inside stateroom? I could even travel on short notice. Their pricing seems like a scam operation to me. Thanks for any advice.

— David, Edmonds

K. J.: Some of the info in the answer below should help you out - there are a few ships with single cabins.

But here's an idea. Since you can go on short notice and you can easily get to the cruise ship docks in Seattle, what about keeping your eye on Seattle-Alaska cruises this season? Fares and crowds will be at their lowest early in the season (May, early June) and in late September. Find a ship and cruise that interests you - watch the ads in Seattle media and check out the schedules and get links to cruise line Web sites through the Port of Seattle at www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise. Then phone the cruise line and ask if you can travel solo in a stateroom without paying the single supplement. Or see if you can get a travel agent to work with you.

You may need to keep phoning, and keep trying, but the worst the cruise lines can do is say no. If the ship has a lot of empty cabins you may be in luck, particularly if you can book on short notice - such as a week or even fewer days before the sailing. After all, an empty stateroom on a cruise is money lost forever to the ship owner.

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I am a single cruiser who likes to avoid astronomical single supplement charge by taking cruises on ships with single cabins. Unfortunately there are very few ships still out there with single cabins. Besides the QE2 and the Prinsendam can you tell me other single cabin ships currently a float?

— Tony, Santa Rosa, CA

K.J.: As you say, few ships have single cabins - and those that do tend to be older ships. But some smaller cruises lines, including Seattle-based Cruise West, which offers Alaska, Japan, Central America cruises and more, have ships with single cabins, including the Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of '98.

Peter Deilmann Cruises, which specializes in river cruises in Europe, also has some single cabins. And Discovery World Cruises also has several single cabins aboard its ship MV Discovery which cruises to Antarctica, South America, Europe and the South Pacific.

Keep an eye on the sales, too. You may sometimes be able to find cruises on which the single supplement is waived, especially outside the peak seasons. That means you get a bigger cabin for the price of one person's cruise. For instance, Norwegian Coastal Voyages - which sails along Norway's coast and other remote regions - is eliminating the single supplement for its sailings in May. And in the past, luxury lines such as Crystal sometimes have dropped their single supplement to a 10-percent surcharge for one-person occupancy of a stateroom.

Last, but not least, it never hurts to ask a cruise line - especially if you're a repeat customer -if they'll make a deal and drop or cut the single surcharge.

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Any advice on what kind of stateroom(s) to look for when it's mom, dad and 15-year-old son? Most cruise line Web sites don't say much about family accommodations (particularly a group of three).

— Don, Issaquah

K.J.: Many ships have cabins designed for three or four people, usually with a bunk-bed type berth that folds down. That can be pretty cozy and you won't have much privacy. But the price is right since the rate is reduced for a third or fourth person in a cabin. And if your son is the type who will only be in the cabin to sleep, it could work just fine.

Some other options. If you can afford it, many big new ships have luxurious suites with a separate sitting area (with a foldout couch) and bedroom. On some there may be a partial room divider; others may have an entirely separate bedroom. Most cruise lines Web sites will have diagrams of stateroom layouts which you can study - and check details with the cruise line or your travel agent for details.

You also could book adjoining staterooms, which are connected by an internal door. Trouble is, you may have to pay a single supplement on the second cabin if only your son occupies it. But it may be worth it for the peace and quiet. It also gives you a second bathroom. Some Holland America (the Oosterdam) and Carnival ships (its Destiny and Spirit classes) have adjoining staterooms, and I imagine there are more ships with that option. Disney Cruise Line has some of the most family friendly staterooms, with one- and two-bedroom suites or with family staterooms with a split bathroom (toilet separate from shower).

Another option is to get separate staterooms if you and your son are ready for that level of independence. One family I know got an outside cabin, with a nice view window, for the parents and a cheaper, inside cabin directly across the hall for their two teenagers. They set rules on when the kids had to check in with them and a midnight curfew. The parents got to relax in privacy; the kids could be as messy as they wanted to be in their stateroom and enjoy late-late movies without disturbing their parents.

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There are so many options for cruising in the Caribbean. Not having been there before, can you recommend some "must see" places to help narrow down the field?

— Shelly, Seattle

K.J.: Yes, the choices are almost endless for Caribbean cruises. Each area - the Western, Eastern or Southern Caribbean - has its fans. But for a first cruise, probably the most convenient is Western or Eastern Caribbean since you can depart from Florida (Southern Caribbean cruises mostly go from San Juan, Puerto Rico).

I'd tend to choose the Western Caribbean. The islands are farther apart so you get a bit more time at sea in which to relax while still making lots of port calls. Western Caribbean cruises go to some very popular ports - like Cozumel, Mexico, but you can also get to Belize and other areas where you can take shore excursions into the rain forest or Mayan ruins - not just to the ports where everyone goes shopping.

Western Caribbean cruises also depart from ports such as Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans which gives you more choice on air fares - and more sightseeing before or after your cruise.

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What destination would you recommend for a cruise the first week of November. We are hoping for sun and some heat. Also, would that be a good time for catching a relocation cruise?

— Emma, North Bend

K. J.: Planning your escape from the dark winter days? Good move.

For sun and warmth, consider almost anywhere in the Bahamas or the Caribbean - daytime highs average in the low 80s in November. That's toward the end of the hurricane season (which officially goes June through November) and before the high-season prices (Thanksgiving and Christmas on through the winter) kick in. You have a huge choice of sailings from Florida ports such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Or how about Hawaii where it's just about perfect all year round? You'll have a much bigger choice of cruise lines, in ship size and style, in the Caribbean, however.

For something closer to home, consider a cruise along the Mexican Riviera. Many depart from Los Angeles and visit Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and other ports along Mexico's west coast.

If you want to get more exotic, what about a cruise in Southeast Asia, from Hong Kong or Singapore? November is of course, hot, but the rainy season is ending.

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I've never cruised but am thinking of an Alaska 7-day trip. Is a balcony worth the extra money? Are the balconies large enough to really use? I am a little claustrophobic and the thought of an inside, no window room or a small port hole makes me nervous.

— Tammie, Seattle

K.J.: I would definitely opt for a balcony, particularly if you tend to be a bit claustrophobic. Big ships can be overwhelming, with very long hallways, and you may feel shut in particuarly if you have an inside cabin. If you can't afford a stateroom with a verandah, opt for one with a big window, not just a porthole.

Many of the new ships sailing out of Seattle to Alaska are loaded with staterooms with verandahs: it's a big trend in cruise-ship design. If you wait to take a cruise until September, when kids are back in school, fares should drop including on rooms with verandahs. Or check out May or early June sailings.

One big plus of verandas is that you can get fresh air into your room, something I've always wanted on cruises. And you are always assured of a deck chair with a view! The verandahs are small and you'll be cheek-to-cheek with your neighbors (usually a metal panel separates you from each other), but there's room for two people to sit on each stateroom's veranda. Most cruise line Web sites will have diagrams of staterooms, including the verandah space, so you can check how big they are.

Try to get a stateroom on a deck as high up as you can afford: your view will be better and you'll be closer to the open decks and public rooms. Try to be near a stairway (for convenience) but not so near to elevators/restaurants or other public rooms that you'll be bothered by people's noise.

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My husband and I are considering taking a cruise out of Southern California with our two sons, 8 and 11 years old. Which cruise lines would you recommend for kids activities and tolerable cabin setups?

— Paula, Edmonds

K.J.: Are you ready to cruise with the Mouse? Disney Cruise Line is basing one of its ships, the Disney Magic, on the West Coast for the first time (most of its cruises are in the Caribbean and Bahamas). It will offer week-long round trip sailings from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, with port calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

For four of you, and with sons that age, Disney could be the way to go. There will be, of course, lots of kids on board and there are endless organized activities for them through kids' clubs. The staterooms are well-designed for families - and many can sleep four - with suites with separate bedrooms or privacy dividers. You can get details at www.disneycruise.disney.go.com/disneycruiseline/

Lots of other ships also sail out of L.A. to the west coast of Mexico; travel agents can give you the rundown.

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Do you know of any cruises that accept dogs on board?

— Pat, Seattle

K.J.: Virtually no cruise ships accept pets on board since it's simply too complicated. There are regulatory issues, such as quarantine laws in countries where the ship stop, and ships don't have on-board areas where pets can relieve themselves or exercise without bothering passengers.

However, service dogs for people with disabilities are accepted on ships. Proper documentation is required, and service dogs may not be able to go ashore at all ports because of quarantine laws or other issues. If you plan to take a cruise with a service dog, contact the cruise line well in advance to get details, and be aware that the number of service dogs per sailing is limited.

The only ship I know of that will accept pet dogs - on some cruises - is Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 which has pet kennels and a special exercise area for dogs. Passengers can visit their dogs at certain hours each day. The new luxury 2,600 passenger QM2 has trans-Atlantic voyages (New York to Southhampton) and cruises in South America and Europe. Contact Cunard well in advance as there are lots of special rules on bringing along a dog.

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Which ship has the highest environmental operating standards for sewage etc.?

— Fred, Seattle

K.J.: Good question, but not one that I'm qualified to answer. However, newer ships generally tend to have better sewage-treatment facilities.

Cruise ships do produce large amounts of polluted water, from raw and treated sewage to "gray water" (such as dish-washing water) and oily water from bilges. There have been some highly publicized incidents - and criticism - of cruise ships dumping polluted water in waters off Washington, Alaska and California and elsewhere in recent years.

U.S. law, under the Clean Water Act, forbids ships from dumping raw sewage within three miles of U.S. shores. Some states, such as Alaska and Washington, are making tougher laws or negotiating voluntary agreements with cruise companies. But standards could get tougher: The Clean Ship Cruise Act was reintroduced this month to the U.S. Congress (it didn't get anywhere last spring). It would forbid the discharge of waste within 12 miles of U.S. shores and tighten other pollution rules for cruise ships. You can get more information on the cruise-pollution issue from environmental organizations such as Bluewater Network, www.bluewaternetwork.org and Oceana, www.oceana.org. On the industry side, there's the International Council of Cruise Lines, www.iccl.org (which includes a response to the proposed new cruise-pollution law), and and the Northwest Cruise Ship Association, www.nwcruiseship.org.

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Why is there the stigma that cruising is just for "old people"?

— Autumn, Everett

K.J.: It's an old stereotype, and stereotypes take time to fade.

Cruises once were the preserve of the very well-heeled who had time and money to sail for weeks on grand ocean crossings or around-the-world voyages. That meant they tended to be older people traveling without kids.

But these days there's a cruise for almost anyone, from outdoors-oriented cruises on simple 60-passenger ships where everyone takes off hiking or kayaking at port stops to party-hearty sailings on glitzy ships.

There certainly are older people aboard since cruises are pretty much stress-free vacations (once you get through the sometimes slow process of boarding and disembarking). There's little to worry about since room, transport, meals and entertainment are all under one big floating roof. And a cruise is a vacation that people who have physical impairments, whether they're old or young, can enjoy.

Nowadays, with cruises being shorter and including sometimes daily port stops and more active shore excursions, you'll increasingly find families and young people aboard, particularly during school/college vacation times.

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I'm looking to sail to Alaska out of either Seattle or Vancouver. Which one is better?

— John, Bellevue

K.J.: For convenience, since you live in Bellevue, you can't beat a cruise from Seattle. It spares you from traveling to Vancouver, B.C., and paying extra for parking (or the train/plane/bus to Vancouver) and a hotel in case you have an early departure. And with the U.S./Canada border crossings busy and slow in summer, avoiding the border is a big plus. If you take a cruise from Seattle, all you have to do is take a taxi or get someone to give you a ride to one of the two downtown cruise-ship docks.

But the choice - Seattle or Vancouver departure - also depends what kind of cruise you want. Most cruises from Seattle are week-long cruises that begin and end in Seattle and they stick to Southeast Alaska.

From Vancouver, there are some longer cruises, 10 or 11-day sailings, in which you sail farther north in Alaska (to Seward or Whittier in south-central Alaska) and fly back. That lets you see more of Alaska - more scenery, more glaciers in areas such as Prince William Sound and College Fjord, with its tidewater glaciers.

One other difference: You may get more of an international crowd on ships sailing out of Vancouver, B.C. Western Canada is immensely popular with European and Asian tourists; some add on an Alaska cruise. And of course Canadians sail on ships out of Vancouver.

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What are the tricks to getting the best price for a cruise? The cruise lines list a price, yet you can find lower prices on the internet. Can you get a better deal through a travel agent? Are all travel agents the same or do some specialize in cruising?

— Kathy, Auburn

K.J.: It used to be that travelers got the best prices for cruises by booking months in advance. Now, if you're flexible on timing, you may get the best deals by waiting until the "last minute," which in the cruise world means a couple of weeks before the departure date - sometimes even a month or more. That's when cruise companies seek to fill up empty cabins by offering discounts, free air fare to a port or stateroom upgrades. One caveat: You probably won't find many deals in the peak summer weeks to Alaska or other popular destinations since cruises have been selling fast this year.

To research deals, go to the Web sites of individual cruise lines. Most will have a "specials" category; click on it to see what they're offering - and check it often. There are links to major cruise lines' Web sites from the W the Cruise Lines International Association, www.cruising.org

You'll find more discounts may be offered in early or late in the season - for Seattle-Alaska cruises that means May, early June and September. So many families now take cruises that ships in summer can be full.

When it comes to buying over the Internet, be careful; there are a lot of scams out there and you need to know the online company you're dealing with. For a big-ticket item like a cruise you're probably better dealing with a local travel agent (and comparison-shopping directly with the cruise company, and, yes, keep looking at Internet travel agency prices, too). Dealing with a local travel agent or the cruise line also means you more easily have recourse if something goes wrong.

Any travel agent can sell a cruise, and they like selling cruises since they're relatively easy to organize and the cruise lines give travel agents commissions. But some individual agents do specialize in cruising and take lots of cruises; that's handy if you want firsthand advice on which cruise line and ships would be best for you. Shop around: You'll find travel-agent cruise ads in local media, including The Seattle Times Sunday Travel section. Ask an agent what cruise lines he/she has sailed with and whether their particular agency has a preferred cruise lines with which they can get upgrades/discounts, etc.