[cybermuda]

For initial research I recommend www.vacationstogo.com as I find it has the most detailed search facility

Once I have found a cruise I like the look of I go to www.cruisecompete.com which lets a lot of agents compete for my business by offering the lowest price quote - but beware of offers to give you $500 worth of on-board vouchers as you won't actually want to use many of them

Certain cruise lines are aimed at younger crowds - Carnival and Disney, obviously - and others such as Holland America Line (our favourite) tend to attract older people. Likewise, the bigger ships have more activities so tend to draw more families with kids

As others have mentioned, Christmas is an expensive time to go cruising and a lot of the better trips may already be sold out

[ilvgolf]

I don't like cruises, but my niece works on the Carnival Ship Fascination and its port is Jacksonville. She says it is a beautiful ship. Jacksonville is approximate an hour and 1/2- two hours drive from here.