A guest post from Chris on behalf of Major Cruise

Cruise holidays are a luxury that in these hard times can be difficult to justify.  Even staying in the UK can cost thousands when you add in the travelling, board, trips, food and spending while you are there.  Then you still have to pay for your home and perhaps find board for your pets.  It is an expensive business, yet holidays are good for the soul.

Sometimes a good holiday can help you to relax and spend time together as a family.  Many people find themselves rejuvenated after a break, and many people end up making positive life changes on their return.  If you have a small budget set aside for your holiday then you can find some fantastic once in a lifetime breaks which will stay with you forever.

To help you get the most from your money yet not sacrifice a great holiday experience then here are some useful tips on how to make your money work harder.

1. Look for last minute deals. You may need to be slightly flexible on when you travel; however, a last minute deal can potentially save you hundreds of pounds. Keep an eye on the deals pages on a daily basis until you find the perfect holiday for you.
2. Choose a holiday which will include many visits to different places in the price.  A cruise may sound like an expensive option but you can find some outstanding value for money last minute deals.  The best thing about cruises is that you have the chance to visit many places. A Caribbean cruise could take you to Miami, the Bahamas, New York, San Juan, Cape Liberty and more.
3. Choose a holiday with lots of activities available to cut down on travel expenses and admission costs.  There are hotels with bars, clubs and swimming pools to use, many now how media rooms for children (and adults who are young at heart) to enjoy. Again a cruise is a great option too.  Ships will have all sorts of different things to do and see. Enjoy a round of golf, drinks in the piano bar or dance the night away in the nightclub.
4. Keep your eyes peeled for cash back deals.  You might be able to find deals such as £1000 cash back when booking a selected type of holiday.  This will provide you with the money to spend while you are away or help you with the pre-holiday shopping for new clothes or luggage.  On a similar note some holidays will provide you with credits to spend while you are away for booking with them.
5. Check to see what is included in the deal. You may see a price which sounds expensive but before you reject it look at what comes as part of the package.  Will you get free flights and free transfers? Is the quoted price inclusive of all taxes?  Are there any free tours which save you the cost of buying them while you are away?  Buying a package such as this can work out so much cheaper than buying everything separately.

Just follow these simple guidelines and you could find that in a few months’ time you are on a luxury holiday for a fraction of the price.

Save money on last minute Caribbean cruises.  Check the last minute Caribbean cruises deals on websites such as Major Cruise to find a luxury holiday for less. Major Cruise provides you with an easy to use site full of the best money saving deals around. Save money without sacrificing any of the luxury.

The prize includes two return flights to Jamaica with Virgin Atlantic, transfers to and from the airport and 7 nights’ accommodation in a Couples Resort.

You can enter the competition by completing the form on the Crabtree and Evelyn website. The winner will be selected at random from the entries received.

Entries must be received by 29 April 2009 and the winner must take the prize before 31 October 2010 (the holiday is not available between 10 December 2009 and 30 April 2010).

BBC Good Homes Magazine has teamed up with Sunsail Clubs to offer you the chance to win a holiday for four to the beautiful island of Antigua in the Caribbean.

The prize includes a week’s accommodation at Sunsail Clubs’ Club Colonna, in the north of the island, which is just a short distance from Antigua’s capital, St. Johns. Its the perfect place for anyone who enjoys sports and activities, as there are many on offer in the area, including kite surfing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving, tennis, golf and mountain biking. Club Colonna also has a spa, with four treatment rooms, a spa, a sauna and a jacuzzi.

You can enter the competition via the BBC Good Homes Magazine website.

Image courtesy of: © Lucila De Avila | Dreamstime.com