READERS' CHOICE: What's Your Favorite Travel–Deals Website?

Cruise lovers who hate being stuck with the expensive shore excursions offered by their cruise line can now find better value alternatives, thanks to a website launching today: Viator Shore Excursions. The site, run by activity booking engine Viator, pledges discounts of up to 60 percent off the price of more than 500 comparable ship-arranged excursions. Until now, cruise lines have had a near monopoly on the sale of shore excursions, which make up about 25 percent of a typical cruise line's profits. Viator's service amps up the price competition. There are other sources for deals out there worth trying, too, especially ShoreTrips.com and ShoreExcursionsGroup.com. Searching for a shore excursion is straightforward. Enter your cruise ship name and sailing dates, and check the types of activities you prefer, such as jungle safari, privately led shopping tour, or a photography masterclass. The site then shows you tours that sync up with your ship's itinerary. It works at more than 80 ports for all of the major cruise lines, such as Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Princess, and Royal Caribbean. For instance, the site is touting a Hilo, Hawaii, shore excursion to Volcanoes National Park to see active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea as well as the gorgeous Rainbow Falls, from $59 a person. The comparable tour on (NCL) is currently $89 a person. Viator's new site guarantees an on-time return to your ship or else it will pay the full costs of transporting you to the next port in time to catch up with your ship. In another perk, the company pledges that if you find a lower price for the tour elsewhere, it will refund the difference. Tours are typically available to book up to a day in advance of arrival in port. In many cases there are no penalties if an excursion is cancelled days ahead, though travelers should read the fine print on any offer before booking. In comparison, most cruise-arranged excursions can be canceled for a refund up to 36 hours in advance. Through April 30, 2012, bookings on Viator Shore Excursions that use the code SHOREX10 receive a 10 percent discount. We hope the launch of the new site leads to a price war on shore excursions, which would be good news for anyone who likes to cruise affordably. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Secrets to the 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports 12 Top Tips from the World's Best Cruisers Some Cruise Lines Take the "All" Out of "All-inclusive"

Heading to New Orleans for the NCAA Final Four men's basketball championships? Well, while you're in the Big Easy, there's plenty to see, do and eat in between games. First and foremost, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a proper po’ boy. Opinions vary widely as to where to go for the best heaping submarine sandwiches, but if you're in the French Quarter, pop into Johnny's Po-Boys for an authentic po' boy experience. For those who want to catch some good jazz while they're in town, head to the legendary Preservation Hall for live jazz nightly from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Not far from the quarter is Frenchmen Street, home to several bars, restaurants and music clubs where an eclectic mix of bands compete for crowds. For a bite to eat on Frenchman Street, head to The Three Muses, where innovative bar snacks and entrees are served with a big side of live music. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Jeremy Davenport plays at the Ritz-Carlton’s Davenport Lounge. Cozy up with a cocktail on one of the lounge's plush couches and enjoy Davenport's horn and vocal sounds. Breakfast of champions? Well, you can't go wrong with beignets and a café au lait at the Café Du Monde. For something more substantial, opt for the jazz brunch at Commander's Palace, then take a stroll through Lafayette Cemetery across the street, and gawk at the amazing mansions in the surrounding Garden District. Take the St. Charles Line streetcar back to the French Quarter. For an off-the-beaten track experience, head to the Backstreet Cultural Museum for a kitschy glimpse into New Orleans’ vibrant African American culture. Not far is the New Orleans African American Museum, which delves even deeper in the city's African American history. Want to get out of the city? Take a Cajun Pride swamp tour for a boat ride through nearby bayous and for some live gator sightings. To experience the Mississippi River, take a dinner and jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. Need a place to stay? Check out these affordable hotels in NOLA. More from Budget Travel: America's Top College Football Towns 15 Things You Didn't Know About New Orleans A Handful of America's Nicest Easter Egg Events

This week started out with several airlines implementing domestic airfare hikes of between $6 and $10, FareCompare.com reported, marking the third such hike already this year and perhaps causing concern among travelers preparing to make their summer flight arrangements. On Monday, Southwest Airlines implemented an increase of between $3 and $5 for a one-way flight, or between $6 and $10 for a round-trip fare, depending on the flight distance. Soon thereafter, Delta, Frontier, United, US Airways, Virgin American and American Airlines all followed suit. Rick Seaney, FareCompare.com’s CEO, predicts that air prices could continue to inch up. So what are summer travelers looking for the best airfare deals supposed to do? Depending on when travelers are heading out the door, they should either book now or wait, according to the airfare comparison shopping site. FareCompare.com recommends that for travel through early and mid-June, travelers should buy their airline tickets now. For travel beginning in late June and beyond, travelers might benefit from holding off for a little bit before they book, the site advises. "Most airlines have not begun releasing their cheapest seat inventories for travel from late June onward so - for the bulk of summer vacation travelers - it is still too early to ding your credit card. Those who do will find they will likely pay more than they have to," the site explains. But taking a wait-and-see approach for transatlantic flights is probably not a great idea, according to airline industry analysts, who predict that the capacity crunch on flights to Europe makes the likelihood of any last-minute transatlantic air deals zero to none. In other words, if you want to travel abroad this summer, book sooner rather than later. More from Budget Travel: GuestMob: New Site Offers Top-Shelf Hotels, 20 to 50 Percent Off READERS' CHOICE: The Best Airport To Get Stuck In 7 Questions to Ask Before You Book an All–Inclusive Vacation