We started out doing the resort and short cruise vacations. I don't think I would fly to Florida for a four day cruise. Even a 7 day I would add on a couple of nights at a resort. I guess it really depends on where you are coming from. I'm selective too. I look for the deals.
I have found cruising out of Texas there's are a lot of Texans and California a lot of Californians, New York ditto. Florida the same, but I do find more people come from all over for the PC cruises.
We cruise and travel often. We're fortunate to have the income but the true enabler is that we also look for deals that stretch our dollars. But that's what separates people like you and me from the masses. Good example - we traveled to WDW with my brother's family several years ago. My brother spent $300 more per airline ticket than us because he wanted earlier flights -- less than 2 hours and $1500 total for his family. We can afford that $1500, he cannot, but he told me 'you don't look at price - you buy what you want, pay the bill when it comes and forget about it.' I mention this only because it's the same mentality many other people have.
We book Holiday cruises well in advance - if you want the lowest price, you have to. Otherwise we book to take advantage of last minute discounts. This also allows us to control our total spending by getting a fair gauge of what airfare is. But most other people book what they want to book, regardless of price.