How to Book Last-Minute Cruises

If you're hoping to cut the cost of cruising this year, why not look for last minute cruises? It's a great way to enjoy a fantastic holiday without breaking the bank and, with the money you save, you could use it as spending money once you arrive. Just think of all those day trips and ice creams you could enjoy!

Firstly, let's look at how to book last-minute cruises. As the name suggests, this style of holiday deal is based on booking and travelling within a short time frame. Usually, the best and cheapest last-minute cruises are those with departure dates that fall within the next five or six weeks. This means that you'll need to be prepared to book, pay and jet off within a short period of time, so do bear this in mind if you require travel injections or if you're short on cash. As much as you might save money on your booking, you'll still need spending money once you're out there, along with the cost of travel essentials such as airport parking.

If you've already got a holiday fund lined up, the quickest and often the easiest way to search and book last minute cruises is to use a comparison site or a travel agent. Take Thomas Cook for instance. Their website - Cruise Thomas Cook - offers holidays from all the major cruise operators including Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, Thomson, and even Viking River Cruises. Put your key criteria into the search panel - leaving it as open as possible in order to get the best deal - and hit search. You can then filter the results by various factors including holiday length, departure date, cost and so on.

This is a great way to find last minute cruises and who knows, a quick search online could lead to your cruise holiday of a lifetime!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Thomas Cook. Find them also on Facebook | Twitter | Google + | YouTube

Infographic: How Families Plan Their Vacations

The Travelon giveaway is still open to win your very own anti-theft Signature Slim Pouch. Enter now!

Earlier this week I asked via Facebook and Twitter what your must-haves for an accommodation were and if, like me, it depended on the destination. Generally, I'm happy with free internet, as long as wherever I'm staying is affordable, but when I'm going on a bigger trip, I like to have more included. For my trip to London and Europe - which I officially have all my accommodations and airfare booked - I was looking for places to stay with a kitchen, internet and a washing machine. This might be a lot to ask for, but we'll be gone 2 full weeks and being able to work, check email and do my laundry for free (so I can pack less and save money) were pretty much things I needed to have. Do your needs vary based on where/when you go? Also, how do you choose your destination? 

Your Family Vacation Planner infographic by taniacreative.

Pack This: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments

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I am addicted to lip balm, and not just any lip balm. I happen to only carry around Alba Botanicals lip balm made with soy instead of beeswax. Inconveniently, I can only find it at natural stores around here. I have lip balm everywhere. In my purse, in my toiletry bag, in my office drawer, in my medicine cabinet. It is hard for me to branch out and find a lip color that I can stand up to my need to moisturize my kisser.

The first time Sephora sent me a VIB bonus (yes, I spend way too much money there), I received $20 off my purchase. I thought it was my chance to try something new that might also be a great travel product and help me color my lips while also softening them. Well, I found it. Fresh sugar lip tints are where it's at. It's natural, moisturizing, contains SPF and completes your beauty routine. You can also find Fresh products in stores and through Amazon.

I purchased the sugar plum lip tint with lip polish. The polish smells lovely and exfoliates your pout. It leaves behind a yummy flavor as well. Finish your face with your favorite color lip tint. There are five to choose from including coral, sugar plum, sugar passion, sugar rosé and sugar honey. Great for any look you are going for and any complexion. Pale, tan or ethnic skin tones will find a complimentary color. 

mini size I received with my birthday gift

Fresh lip tints are a fab addition to your travel bag. You get two products in one, which makes your 3-1-1 bag easier to pack, plus they go on smoothly and are fresh and light feeling, so you never feel overly made up. Perfect!