The key to choosing the right cruise at the right price is finding a knowledgeable cruise agency and cruise agent. The agency must be plugged into the information highway and be able to translate that information to their agents so that consumers can benefit from both advertised and unadvertised specials.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel is America's Foremost Cruise Center, doing our best to offer you the vacation you want at the price you want to pay. Between our entire cruise companies we have millions of satisfied clients have sailed with us over the years. Because of our size and volume purchasing power, we are able to pass on substantial savings to consumers.

Here is a brief description of 21 types of cruise discounts that are currently available to savvy consumers.

1. 2-for-l's - or second passenger cruise free: This is one of the best cruise discounts currently available to consumers. 2-for-l's are offered on a consistent but selective basis by many cruise lines including: Princess, Celebrity, Royal Olympic, Costa, Premier and Holland America. Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean do not typically advertise 2-for-l's, but their promotional pricing can be equivalent to a 2-for-1 discount. Generally, 2-for-l's are for the cruise only, but on rare occasions they include air from select cities.

   Princess has more 2-for-l's than any other line but they are usually regional offers so the cruise agency must be informed enough to know where the deals are. These offers are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. They are often offered on a "last minute" basis, 30-60 days prior to a sailing. However, for longer or more exotic sailings, 2-for-l's are sometimes available up to a year in advance.

2. Better than 2-for-l: What could be better than 2-for-l? 2-For-1 plus an additional $500 off per person. This is promotion is often used by Holland America and Princess.

3. Added value: This may include offers like; "Book a 14-day cruise and get 7 days free." Other offers may include free shore excursions or a free pre- or post-cruise hotel room. One cruise line offers a free 35mm camera, a $700 value, if passengers sailed on a specific sailing date. Commonly used by Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa and Orient Lines.

4. Flat rate specials.Flat rate specials usually give one fixed price for the best available cabin at the time of booking. There is usually one flat rate for inside cabins and one for outside cabins. The offers are usually for the cruise only, but airfare may be purchased for an additional price. Commonly used by Princess and Norwegian Cruise Line.

5. 50% - 80% off the second passenger. This is a nice sounding way for a cruise line to offer a 25%-35% per person discount for a specific sailing. There is usually an expiration date to these offers. Commonly used Holland America, Cunard, Costa, and Orient Lines.

6. Reduced rate or free air add-ons:Air add-on rates are offered by many cruise lines in conjunction with their cruise only rates. Sometimes, special pro-motions are offered where the air is reduced. For example, an air rate of $299 from Chicago to Miami may be reduced to $149 or $99 per person. In some cases, a promotion may be featured in which the quoted air add-on rate is waived and offered free. Commonly used by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America.

7. Senior citizen specials:Reduced rates for seniors on select sailings is commonly used by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Costa and Norwegian Cruise Line. One passenger in the cabin must be at least 55 years old to receive the discounts.

8. Free days:Similar to the "added value" category mentioned above. Commonly used by Holland America and Renaissance.

9. Repositioning cruises.A change of itinerary is common with many cruise lines, particularly with ships that reposition from the Caribbean to Europe or Alaska and back again each season. Some repositioning cruises are deeply dis-counted with 2-for-1 savings.

10. Free upgrades:Popular with Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Most of these upgrades are unadvertised and may be with-dravvn without notice.

11. Early booking discounts. Most lines now have some equivalent to Royal Caribbean's "Breakthrough Rates" which are capacity-controlled and can be withdrawn without notice. These include Carnival (SuperSavers) Holland America (CS Rates), Princess (Love Boat Savers), Norwegian Cruise Line (Leadership Fares), Costa (Andiamo Rates) and Premier (SeaFares), to name a few. Early Booking Cut Off Dates - Popular with Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, Princess and Holland America.

12. Discount for full payment in advance: Popular with Silversea and Seabourn. For example, consumers who pay in full for their Silversea cruise 6 months in advance of sailing can receive 15% discount.

13. Discounts for combination or back to back cruises: Used by Cunard, Holland America, Seabourn, Orient Lines and Silversea. Book one week and get the second week for a reduced rate.

14. Kids sail free or 3rd/4th passengers cruise for reduced rate: Some promotions are specifically for kids. American Hawaii has offered a "kids cruise when two accompanying adults pay full fare. rate 3rd/4th passengers is popular with Royal an, Celebrity, Premier, Costa, Norwegian Cruise Line

15. Group discounts. A) Companies like The Travel Company. have reserved group space on a large number of sailings to destinations around the world. By linking onto these sailings, individual cruise passengers can take advantage of rates that are normally afforded only to those traveling in a group. B) Affinity groups that travel together such as family reunions, religious groups, clubs/associations, corporate/incentive meetings, etc. receive group discounts as well as he free berths, depending on the number of passengers.

16. Stand-By-Rates: Holland America, Princess, Crystal and Cunard have used Stand-By rates. They usually require payment in full with confirmation three weeks prior to sailing. If the stand-by does not clear, a full refund is given. The high demand for cruising has made this type of promotion less common.

17. Reduced single rates: Single cruise passengers traveling alone typically pay 125-200% of the double occupancy rate. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard have a limited number of single occupancy cabins at reduced rate. Some lines offer "Single Share" programs where you are matched with a cabin-mate of the same gender. You pay the lower double occupancy rate even if they fail to find you a roommate. Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean offer "Single Shares" on a limited basis. Infrequently, some lines offer special discounts just for singles.

18. Instant payment discounts. Great discounts for passengers willing to pay in full at the time of booking or within 48 hours. Popular with Norwegian Cruise Line and Premier.

19. Alumni discounts: Past passenger discounts and promotions are becoming more and more popular. Most lines have some program in place which offers extra discounts to their past passengers. Especially popular with Princess, Holland America, Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea.

20. First Time Cruiser Discount: Seabourn has offered discounts up to $500 per person to passengers booking the line for the first time.

21. Credit card promotions:Some credit card companies offer additional savings, shipboard credits or frequent flyer miles when you pay for your cruise in full with that credit card.