Before you book that dream cruise to Hawaii, learn as much as you can about the cruise line. Don't get lulled into buying a cruise simply because it offered the best price and the brochures looked great.

It's easy to avoid surprises. Forget the brochure. Most low-cost cabins are usually 9 feet-by-12 feet or 13 feet-by-10 feet in size; the size of a small bedroom. But a good photographer using a wide-angle lens can make those rooms look huge.

Start, instead, with the ship's rating. Cruises are so competitive that a ratings system is now applied to certain popular itineraries and cruise services by companies such as the Fieldings Guide and Berlitz. To find ratings, look at Star Service, available at travel agencies.

Next, either contact the cruise line directly or see a "cruise-only agent." Either will provide you with videos. For example, to find out what cruising on a small ship is like, you can get a free 25-minute videotape from the Clipper Cruise Line.

If you use a travel agency, identify cruise specialists by their membership in the Cruise Line International Association or the National Association of Cruise Only Agencies. Agents will tell you a litany of details: the registration of the ship; the nationality of the crew and officers (this will determine what language is spoken) location of the passenger accommodations as compared to its public rooms, number of staircases, deck chairs per passenger, housekeeping and laundry facilities and the extent of on-board shopping.

Beware that many of these "specialists" have binding relationships with only a few preferred lines. They may lead you to these lines, regardless of your needs. Nevertheless, they are industry experts and have often been on the ship themselves.

If you are traveling with children, ask about on-board mini camps and other facilities. You'll find them on Caribbean routes with Princess Cruises. The Norwegian Cruise Line just made a deal with Universal Studios to have film stars and shows on board. Other good choices for families are Premier Lines and Carnival. The attraction for kids of Disney's Cruises or the Big Red Boat (which has a tie-in with Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes), is obvious.