Many serious budget travelers I know love the idea of all-inclusive vacation packages because the more they pay for up front, the better they can keep track of their holiday spending. It’s no wonder, then, that cruises are so popular with this crowd. There are cruise itineraries all over the world, and they usually include everything but alcohol (so tee-totallers really get a bargain trip!). Plus, you only have to unpack once.

Even if you’ve never taken a cruise before, now is a great time to be looking into changing that. There are seasonal deals on cruises that crop up regularly, and right now you’ll find sales on departures from late May through early fall 2009 as low as $139 per person for Caribbean cruises.

The lowest deals are for inside cabins, and they’re all per person rates based on double occupancy. You’ll either pay a bit extra for a single room or you’ll need to bring someone along on your trip to get that rate. And with all the time you’ll be spending enjoying the many amenities on board the ship – not to mention out on land at the various Caribbean ports of call – sacrificing a view in your cabin isn’t really all that bad. This is especially true if your options are to take a cheap Caribbean cruise or not travel at all.

And remember, if you can stay away from the ship’s bar, you’ll be able to make your vacation even more of a bargain. Oh, who are we kidding? Well, at least most of your trip is paid for up front, right?