Summer vacations mark the beginning of the trifecta of debt. There are three major times during the year that people get hammered with debt. The first is summer vacations, followed by back-to-school expenses and then topped off with Christmas. It is a predictable pattern that has repeated itself year after year in America ever since the boys returned home after World War II.

If you are not careful, vacations become the thing you love to hate. You and your family want to go away for a bit and have an enjoyable time together but how can you when you've already got tons of debt. The guilt of not going turns into a self-rationalization that the others deserve a vacation, which they probably do, so the bills pile up again.

If you could afford to go away on holiday without loading up the plastic it would make it much more enjoyable for everyone. There are two ways to do this. The first would be for you to forego an expensive trip this year and look back to last year and see what your vacation cost in total. Then use my saving money advice and stash away 1/12 of the total costs each month and by this time next year you can afford to go away as usual in grand style without any debt. Keep repeating that approach and you'll never carry vacation debt on your credit cards again.

The other way is to vacation smarter. This is the approach I love.

I hesitate in telling you about the best vacation deal around. You see I enjoy it so much I don't want to draw crowds. Less than 8% of Americans have gone on a cruise. Yet a cruise is the most economical trip you can go on, when done correctly.

When you go on a cruise you pay one amount for your transportation, lodging, food and entertainment. Best yet, you only have to unpack once and you wake every morning in a new country. There are terrific deals to be found.with cruises. It was not all that long ago that my wife, daughter and I took a five day cruise for less than $700 for all of us. Imagine that, a week away in tropical lands with everything included for a song.

When you take the traditional vacation everyone piles into the car and heads out for theme parks or typical destinations. Between the gas, food on the road, hotel and entrance fees, it can really add up. Not only that but too much close time can sometimes put a strain on nerves and patience.

So let's go back to the cruise idea. On board there are all sorts of activities for all age ranges. People can go and wander about, some can go swimming while others sit on a shady deck chair and read, people watch or sleep.

Here is how you avoid breaking the bank on cruises, just remember this simple rule, "Eat on the ship, drink on the land." cruise ships use lower than cost rates to attract people in so they can make the bulk of their profit off the alcohol you consume on board, money that you lose gambling and stuff you buy in the shops. As long as you understand this you can spend very little money going on a cruise. If you want to drink, BYOB. If you want to gamble, set a limit and stick to it. If you want to buy things, buy them in ports, but remember that in most tropical destinations the price is only the starting point. If you are buying a trinket or gift you can and should negotiate the price down.

Another great tip, go for an inside cabin. You might think you'd get claustrophobic but they are great. When you want to lay down and go to sleep they are really dark and quiet and they are also the cheapest cabins on the ship. Everyone wants a window but to see what? If you want to see what is happening outside just walk to the rail and look.

The better place to have a room is in the middle of the ship. The higher you are and the further front and back, the more you can feel the motion of the ship. Speaking of motion, don't wear those sea-sickness patches behind your ear. Try it out at first. It takes a few hours to get your sea-legs but the ships really don't rock and roll that much. With modern ship stabilizer technology and larger ships you often don't feel any movement at all.

Don't say no to a cruise just yet. Visit the link below and you'll see the deals I'm talking about.

Here is my humble opinion about the different cruise lines.

• Carnival - Party boat. Not quite as clean as the QE2 but definitely the lowest fares out there. Carnival tends to keep the public areas chilly which forces people into the bars and casino or out on the deck to drink. Still, understanding all of that you can have a really fun time with friends on Carnival.

• Royal Caribbean / Princess / Celebrity - I'd put these lines into the middle of the pack. I love to cruise on all of them and have never had a bad experience. The décor is nicer, the rooms have a few more appointments and the food options are a little bit bigger. This pack is a bit more pricey. The last Royal Caribbean cruise I went on I have full time internet access from my room for $100 extra. Every ship today has an internet café wher you can check emails and surf the web for a per minute charge.

• QE2 / Radison/ Holland America - Definitely the higher end of the cruise market. Typical crowd is older and kids are less tolerated here. The food is wonderful, the pace is slower but the formal nights can be a pain.

The secret here is to dodge the formal night and not go to the dining room for dinner. Go to the Lido deck (buffet) and eat whatever you want, when you want, without having to do the whole formal thing. If you are going on a cruise for the first time you should go to the dinning room and experience the wonderful service and tasty menus.

On any cruise ship you can feel free to ask for more of anything they serve you. Basically it is all you can eat. If you can't make up your mind between having the duck or lobster for dinner, have both. If the shrimp cocktail was tasty, ask for another. There is no additional charge.

Now ships obviously sail from the coasts and if you need to get there, fly. Flying today has become the equivalent of the air bus. Fares are so cheap that it is cheaper to fly in most cases than it is to drive. The key here is to either use an agent or outfit like the ones below to help you get the really low fares.

Really Low Airfare Links

A few more cruising tips.

• The ship will generally always want to take your picture when are getting on and off, let them. There is no cost to you and who knows, they might get a really good shot to keep. You only pay for pictures you want to purchase after you see them. There is no obligation.

• Room stewards will keep your room neat and tidy. They will turn down the bed for you and put a little chocolate on the pillow. Be nice to your room steward. Don't be afraid to call, page them or flag them down if you have a question or need assistance.

• Don't over pack. On a seven day cruise you only really need to take four days worth of clothes. Halfway through the cruise send the dirty item out to the laundry. Sure you'll have to pay a little bit more for it but you won't have to deal big luggage. Some ships have self-service laundries on them but most don't .

• Don't feel compelled to go on an excursion sold by the ship. These excursions and organized activities can be very expensive. We love to just get out and walk around the towns and go exploring. Many things will look familiar to you; same stores in paradise that we have here, so don't think everything is going to be different. Our secret is to get off the ship and ask some locals where the best place for lunch is or how to find the beach they prefer. Then it is only an inexpensive cab ride to the empty beach.

• Leave the expectations and attitude at home. I've watched people get all upset over the littlest things on a cruise. I realize that it is all a new experience but just chill. Remember you are on vacation and just let if flow. Leave your stress and worries behind and enjoy the wonderful ocean air and tropical ports.