Continued: In the cruise forecast: great deals

What are the hot trends in cruising? How will fuel costs affect the prices you pay? And what sort of stateroom do the experts book? ¶ For a winter cruising forecast, we tapped the expertise of Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, the Web's largest interactive guide to cruising. The site covers nearly 300 cruise ships, more than 60 cruise lines and 200 ports of call. ¶ An unlikely convert to cruising ("I get seasick pretty easily on everything from a ride on a naval destroyer to a sailboat"), Spencer Brown is now a veteran, having logged well over 100 cruises. ¶ For an edited version of the discussion, turn to G4.

Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, reveals the latest in cruising trends.

Q First up, the consumer issues. What will cruise pricing look like for this winter and into 2009?

A What we are going to see -- in fact, what we are already seeing -- are absolutely amazing discounts. Most people buy cruises a fair amount of time in advance. Then the downturn happened and people became more careful. So on our site, we have seen a lot more deals and a greater variety of deals.

It's a fantastic value vacation. And that's not hyperbole. We're seeing $399 and $499 for seven-day cruises on new ships. That's crazy -- crazy good for the consumer.

The Mexican Riviera is going to be really hot this year, and South America.

Q Will there be a fuel surcharge on top of those prices?

A Yes, but in most cases it's fairly reasonable, usually $10 to $15 a day. It's different for every cruise line, so the challenge is to read the fine print. I don't see that going down just because gas prices are going down. I think we are stuck with that for a while.

Q Say someone has done the basic West Coast cruises to Mexico and to Alaska. What's a good next cruise for them to try?

A I think South America is the most amazingly diverse cruise. One day you feel like you are in Paris, the next day you feel like you are in the fjords. I feel like the cruise lines are overexposed, so I think the pricing will be good in the shoulder season -- November and late February/March. Otherwise, I would suggest the Panama Canal, which is sort of a blend of history and Mexico/the Caribbean, so you get some beach time, as well.

Q What's on the horizon?

A I keep saying Asia is going to be the next popular region for cruise travelers interested in more exotic destinations and I'm curious to see if the Beijing Olympics will, via its coverage of China destinations, result in a boom. Cruising Asia really is a great way to sample the region for the first time to get a feel for the varied countries and cultures.

Q What's the latest on home-porting?

A Travelers do not want the expense of flying. So I think you're going to see more use of the regional ports. San Francisco is getting a little more traffic, and Los Angeles and San Diego are for sure. Cruisers will have more close-to-home options than ever before.

Q You no doubt have to cruise alone sometimes for reviews. What are good cruise lines for the solo cruiser?

A Two of the best are Crystal on the higher end, which offers specials where you pay 125 percent (instead of 200 percent, or double), and Fred Olsen, which is just now marketing to the United States. The Queen Mary 2 will be offering some good incentives to solo travelers. Other lines have sales, too.

Fred Olsen has this ingenious effort -- they actually have single cabins. They are sometimes the same size as a double, but with one bed. The idea is to make people who are traveling solo not have to look at this big empty bed.

Q And what if the solo or senior traveler wants a little peace and quiet?

A Then it's important to avoid kids because they will take over the ship. You want to avoid peak holiday times. That would be summer, spring break (between mid-February and April) and the Thanksgiving and December holidays.

You can also pick longer voyages on ships that don't market to kids. Most families don't go longer than seven days. So pick a 21-day cruise. Or find a ship that doesn't have state-of-the-art kid facilities.

Q How are theme cruises doing?

A Theme cruises are enjoying a huge renaissance -- whether you're interested in quilting or Three Dog Night -- because it creates an instant community.

Q What kind of ships or cruises do you prefer?

A I like smaller ships, meaning under 1,000 passengers. You have a decent spa and enough amenities and restaurants, but it's also cozy enough. I do not like ships with fixed dining.

I love Oceania. I think it's my favorite line. The ships are roughly 700 passengers, and they go to really interesting destinations. I think they do the best job in the industry in terms of value.

Q What's the best stateroom to book?

A I think the best cabin has to be any cabin with a balcony. That's like a whole other room. There is nothing like sitting out having coffee in the morning, watching the sunset in the evening, opening the door and having the air coming through. That's something an on-land resort can't touch.