You have finally decided to take your dream cruise. One problem: the cost of your dream cruise is too expensive. Before you give up your dream of sipping Mai Tais on the lido deck, check out our list of ways to find cruise deals online.

1. Search for Cruise Deals on Booking Sites

You can find many discounted cruises on vacation booking sites such as Expedia, Travelocity and Cruise.com. Before you book your cruise, check for extra fees and cancellation penalties.

2. Book Your Cruise Early

Most cruise lines allow customers to cancel their reservations 60 to 120 days before departure. In order to fill the available cabins, cruise lines often drastically reduce their prices.

3. Travel During Off-peak Season

Most people avoid cruising between September and November, but you can get great bargains on cruises during off-peak season.

4. Book a Repositioning Cruise

During off-peak, cruise lines move their ships to other locations for docking until the next season. Instead of sailing an empty ship, cruise lines often sell heavily discounted one-way cruises on these repositioning vessels.

5. Cruise on a Smaller Ship

Although smaller ships may not have as many amenities as larger ships, they are usually less expensive and less crowded.

Now that you know how to find cruise deals online, there is nothing stopping you from booking your cruise to paradise.