(MONEY Magazine) – Even if you've never been on a cruise, you're likely familiar with the extremes of the cruise industry. At one end of the spectrum are Vegas-on-Water cruises, which feature a lot of everything: passengers, glitz, food and, for some people, fun. While moderately priced--even, by the standards of international travel, downright cheap--these cruises aren't for everyone because they tend to be impersonal and (let's face it) a little bit tacky.

Then there's the other extreme: ships that carry fewer passengers and feature sprawling staterooms, staffs that provide personal attention and activities tailored to individual tastes--if only we could all spend $5,000 or more for a week at sea.

But there are also cruise ships that manage to offer a comfortable middle ground--some of the features of the most exclusive lines but at more affordable prices. And thanks to a massive shipbuilding boom that added some 17,600 berths and expanded the cruise industry's capacity by 11% this year, such cruises are more affordable than they've ever been. "Discounting has never been as widespread," says Stewart Chiron of the Cruise Line, one of the country's largest cruise agencies, based in Miami.

Despite an abundance of deals, you still need to take a strategic approach to booking a berth. First, check out "Smooth Sailing" on page 165, where we describe the nuts and bolts of getting the best deals. Then ask yourself what kind of experience you want--because it's our contention that the way to find the best cruise values is to identify the lines or ships that pay special attention to what's important to you. With that in mind, we interviewed several dozen cruise-only agents, cruise officials and frequent passengers about their favorite cruises in a range of categories. Unless otherwise noted, prices are the best per-person, double-occupancy rates we could find for an outside room with a window. Meals and tips--but not alcoholic beverages--are included. Deals come and go, so you may not get the same rates; use them as guidelines.

Here's what we found:

Family. Adults may be loath to put ashore at a place called Castaway Cay. But the fact is, Disney Cruise Line's two cruise ships, the Magic and the Wonder, get it right when it comes to keeping kids entertained and letting parents relax. Each ship boasts huge teams of counselors, so the staff-to-kid ratio tops the industry. Activities are age-specific, ranging from story time with Tinker Bell to science projects. For hard-to-please teens, there's a room full of computers and music. Parents, meanwhile, can really get some time alone. Babysitting is guaranteed. The ships feature areas designated for adults only. And Castaway Cay, the private Bahamian island where the cruises put in, has an adults-only beach.

Throughout the year, Disney (800-939-2784; www.disneycruise.com) offers a seven-day cruise on the Magic at $829 for adults and $399 for kids, while a four-day cruise on the Wonder and three days at Disney World, including accommodations, is $539 for adults and $329 for kids. Both leave from Port Canaveral, Fla.

Ports of call. Cruise-ship stopovers can eventually start to seem all the same: a local restaurant, a few souvenir stands and back to the boat. If you seek more interesting ports of call, we suggest Renaissance Cruises, which offers year-round sails to Tahiti, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, Northern Europe and Scandinavia. The line's seven new R-class ships carry fewer than 700 passengers but still offer a surprising variety of activities and dining options. Kids aren't allowed on board. And 70% of the cabins have private balconies. Agent Stewart Chiron (800-777-0707) says those who book 90 days early can grab $1,499 fares, tips not included, for 15-day Istanbul-to-Athens cruises.

We also like Radisson Seven Seas Cruises' 320-passenger Paul Gauguin, which navigates through French Polynesia year round, making stops at Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Moorea. The ship is heavy on cultural entertainment (its onboard art gallery actually has two works by Gauguin) but also offers free scuba diving, sea kayaking and windsurfing. Susan White at Thomas Travel Service (800-723-2292) offered a package on the Gauguin for $1,596 per person departing Jan. 13. The one-week cruise includes wine with meals, but not air fare to Tahiti, which adds $1,000 to $1,500.

Food. Cruise-ship food generally takes a more-is-more approach, wherein the details--like fresh ingredients--may fall by the wayside. But our experts agree that one exception among the moderately priced lines is Celebrity Cruises. Head chef Michel Roux, owner of the award-winning Waterside Inn near London, designs the menus to reflect the region you're cruising. And all meals are prepared from scratch--a claim few other lines can make. Paul Niskanen at Cruise Masters (503-641-7447) quoted a 14-day Caribbean cruise, departing Nov. 26 from Fort Lauderdale, on Celebrity's Mercury at $1,739. And a stateroom on the seven-day Horizon cruise from San Juan to Aruba, leaving Nov. 4, is $599.

For those intent on a culinary expedition, Crystal Cruises' 940-passenger Crystal Symphony and Crystal Harmony--which have impressive two-to-one passenger-to-staff ratios--offer theme cruises featuring cooking demonstrations by guest chefs and wine tastings. Niskanen priced an 11-day cruise on the Symphony, leaving Dec. 1 from Acapulco, Mexico, at $2,490, including wine.

Spa and pampering. The five-meals-before-noon decadence you find aboard many ships turns some people off. But there are cruises conducive to cleansing one's mind and body. A consensus among the experts convinced us that Windstar Cruises is a great choice. The line's four masted ships--the 148-passenger Wind Song, Wind Spirit and Wind Star and the 308-passenger Wind Surf--are known for attentive service, country-club ambience, low-key entertainment and king-size beds, VCRs and CD players in every cabin. Plus, the Wind Surf boasts a 10,000-square-foot spa, one of the biggest in the industry. Mary Ann Ramsey at Betty Maclean Travel (941-513-0333) priced seven-day cruises on the Wind Surf, departing Barbados between January and March, at $2,292, down from the $4,000 list price.

Active Adventure. These days most cruises enable you to do some fine snorkeling. But if you want to do something out of the ordinary, we suggest one of Royal Caribbean's new megaships, Voyager of the Seas and, making its debut in October, Explorer of the Seas. Both feature rock-climbing walls, in-line skating tracks and ice-skating rinks. Explorer features an oceanographic laboratory with interactive exhibits. Judy Lucas at Concierge Cruises (800-940-8385) priced seven-day Caribbean cruises from Miami on the Explorer (leaving Dec. 16) and on the Voyager (departing Jan. 14) at $1,054. Tips aren't included.

Singles. If you're traveling alone, a cruise can be a great way to meet like-minded people. Unfortunately, many ships hit you with the so-called single supplement, and you end up paying nearly as much as a couple do. Club Med Cruises, however, has the lowest single supplements in the business, charging roughly 30% more than the per-person double-occupancy rate for private cabins, all of which have views. (Club Med can also match you with a same-sex roommate.) Club Med (800-453-7447) priced a weeklong cruise on the five-masted, 386-passenger Club Med II, sailing out of Martinique in January, at $2,063 for solo travelers, including wine with meals--or just 28% more than the per-person double-occupancy rate.

Single parents who travel with kids should check out Premier Cruise Lines, because they'll get the discount normally reserved for couples. A four-day cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral between November and May costs $849 for adults; $139 for children age nine or younger; and $249 for the third and fourth passengers over the age of nine, says Jacquelyn Wolfer at International Tours & Cruises (800-525-6888). The price includes Disney World passes, a rental car and three nights' accommodations.