David Yeskel, aka the Cruise Guru, has made it his business to enlighten vacationers about the best

David Yeskel, aka the Cruise Guru, has made it his business to enlighten vacationers about the best values and opportunities on cruises.

David shares that there are, "several key strategies to cruising more affordably - with most revolving around timing." He advises that it is "fairly well known by now that cruises sailing after Thanksgiving through mid-December or voyages departing just after New Year's or just after Labor Day offer the best value when the kids have already gone back to school."

So if you don't have kids, don't travel when they do. But you probably already knew that.

Yeskel says that, "there are lesser known secrets to cruising more affordably that can offer even better value than seasonal timing. Those who typically cruise on mass-market lines line Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian assume that moving up to premium lines like Holland America would naturally entail a significant price differential. Not always. For travelers who are not dependent on megaship features like waterslides, massive atriums and a choice of 20 restaurants, Holland America's small- to mid-sized ships can be an incredible value."

What's the experience differential? Gourmet cuisine, personalized service and more interesting itineraries - all starting from about $75 per person/day. How's that for value?

David Yeskel knows his stuff. A veteran travel journalist, his columns and commentary have appeared in industry publications across the country including Travel Weekly, Travel Age West, Tours.com and CruiseMates.com for 20 years.

"My first cruise was on Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnivale in 1981 and I was hooked," says Yeskel.

visit his website www.oceancruise.guru

Twitter: @cruise_guru