I find it very interesting to read different people's opinion's of the exact same cruise - one person loved it, the next person hated it. Before a trip, I gobble up every review I can get my hands on - there are always some helpful tips in the reviews, and it prepares you for some things you would never have thought of.

I think finding a cruise line that fits your life style and tastes makes most sense. This requires doing research and asking fellow travelers about their experiences and travel agents on various lines. Reviews also can also be helpful but I think the most important factor is understanding the type of cruise, and the tastes, of the person reviewing the ship was seeking, because this always flavors the review. There are many contrasting reviews of the same cruise in the various review sites on the web.

Sometimes you'll find people on the same cruise, with the same accomodations, have paid significantly different fares. This may have to do with whether they are repeaters, deals from travel agents, deals from the cruise lines, etc.

Advertising and brochures should be taken for what they are, promotional materials. Prices in brochures are usually 30% or more higher than actual prices that TA will be able to get.

There may be plenty of interesting cruise lines that are not the biggest lines. The most commonly known lines are Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norweigan Cruise Lines, Royal Carribean, and Princess. There's also the smaller lines like Premiere, Disney, Costa and the luxury lines like Crystal, Cunard, Seabourn, Radisson, Silverseas, quite expensive, and some feel well worth it. Then on the other side of the scale there is the ultra casual, Windjammer Barefoot cruise lines, with sailships and other tall ships such as Windsurfer, which is a more formal line. There are, besides the big 6 lines, quite a bit of choices available to people interested in cruising.

There are small riverboat cruises, cruises and large boats that do specific, often very scenic, areas of the world, like Alaska, also.

I find that some people are very flexible, that they'll enjoy a wide variety of styles of cruising. Others are more specific and discerning and some lines would not meet their expectations in some way or another. So, it really boils down to you and what experience, or range of experiences, you are interested in.