Who said a great vacation has to take place on the ground? If you have never been on a cruise (and even if you have) now is the time to change your way of thinking. The cruise industry has been hit hard by the recession, and there is no reason to believe that anything is going to change in the near future. For this reason, consumers should be aware that they can find a great deal if they are willing to open their eyes and search online.

When it comes to booking a cruise for less you need to know the finer details that go into this process. While this is similar to booking a flight in many ways, there are additional details that will make or break your deal.

Here is a short list of decisions you need to make if you want to experience the time of your life on the high seas without breaking the bank:

1. Destination. Just because you are going to be on a cruise ship does not mean you will never get off. Every cruise has stops along the way, and you need to choose which ones you want to make. Some of the most popular cruise destinations include Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe. Which one of these destinations catches your eye? Better yet, which one offers the best deal on price? Only a comprehensive search will reveal this information.

2. Cruise line. This is where the real savings begin. In order to keep up during the recession cruise lines have become very competitive with one another. If you only check prices for one cruise line you are doing yourself a major disservice. To find the best deal use a site such as Kayak.com to compare prices, features and much more. Popular cruise lines include but are not limited to: Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.

3. Length. How long of a vacation do you want to take? Believe it or not, you can opt for cruises as short as two days or as long as several weeks. The length of your cruise depends on two factors: your budget and the amount of time you have available. Obviously, if you are trying to save money you will want to stick to cruises that are not long; usually seven days or less.

4. Departure. To get the best deal on a cruise you will want to book your trip during an “off-peak” time. This tip may not always work, but you should compare a few time periods to see the difference. For instance, a cruise in February will probably be less expensive than the same one in June or July.

With the recession hanging over the cruise industry now is the time to find a great deal.