Cruises are one of the most popular travel methods because they offer a social component to your vacation that cannot be matched when traveling independently. Theme cruises are particularly popular because they afford you the opportunity to meet people who share similar interests as yourself. Either way, you generally have little to worry about aside from what to eat and where to sunbathe.
First, decide when and where you want to cruise and the port you wish to embark from. The season you choose is important. Several Caribbean and Asian ships sail all year, but Alaskan and European cruises generally take place only in summer, because the weather is slightly warmer of course.
Try to outline the activities you prefer, including what ports of call you'd prefer to see, as well as the type and number of shore excursions. What type of activities are you looking for? Keep in mind that family cruises have different food and entertainment requirements than couples' or singles' trips.
Booking Your Trip
After you have a rough outline of what you'd like to see and who you like to be around, determine your budget. Most cruise lines offer discounts for early bookings, so plan early. You can also influence costs by being flexible with your vacation dates, the cruise length, and your preferred region.
Decide how large of a ship you are looking to be on. Give several cruise lines a look and find out about the typical age groups and demographics of those sailing. But don't book anything yet--just sketch out a few ideas.
Who You Gonna Call?
The best deals are generally found from travel agents who purchase large quantities of tickets and resell them at below market costs. If you are traveling with a large group of people, your negotiating leverage is slightly higher than if you were traveling alone.
It's also a good idea to contact a travel agent or online agency that specializes in cruise vacations. These companies are generally more likely to have access to specials and group cruise deals. They do this for a living, so beware of anyone trying too hard to sell you the "perfect" vacation. It is important that you can tell that the right agent listens to your needs and desires so that you book the most ideal vacation.
Whatever your special interests are, chances are there are organizations that take these sorts of trips regularly. If you're interested in geology, peruse geology websites or speak with other geo-enthusiasts. The best way to learn about any group travel group is to actually speak to someone who's been in the group or on the cruise, or by reading online reviews.