School me on cruises

[Wildjon300ci]

Looking to take a 5 day cruise for my 21st b-day, and trying to get the planning down so I have an idea of how much to save/passport/ect all ready for when the time comes. To be honest, looking on Google, I have no idea where I want to go, much less with whom to deal with or what not. Any suggestions on that? What should be a decent price range for a 5 day cruise through the Bahamas? Would $1000 be a decent price to expect or should I start saving a little sooner?

[Priest]

Spend a lot of time looking around on www.cruisecritic.com


When it comes time to book check out www.vacationstogo.com Best prices I have seen.

[Haole]

I dare say that I'm the PBB's foremost expert on cruises.

You head out, you come back.

Somewhere in the middle, you eat, sleep, and watch some dance shows.

[rusted]

On a cruise you will come down with a lifethreating food poisoning or be thrown over the side by a thrill-killer. Or both. What's to know, don't you watch the news?

[trampas]

Plan on being drunk.

[Todd W]

Princess or Royal Carib.

I always heard Carnival was junk and crappy and low and behold I went to a wedding on a Carnival Cruise and it was TERRIBLE. Terribe service, terrible rooms, terrible FOOD.

If you buy now for next year you should be able to get a 7 Night Carib for $850 to $1000 for inside room or outside w/window on either PRincess or Royal carib. I suggest Western Carib. You will be able to snorkel inw orld renound placesl ike Cozumel, Grand Caymen, etc. My favorite ports with them were, Cozumel, Grand Cayment, Jamaica, and you hitt-up either another island or a princess 'owned' island or someplace else in Mexico.

Spending on / for cruise.

Cruise: $850 to $1000 (should include shuttle to cruise if not add $50 for a taxi)
AirFare: Cost dpends on location so figure $400
Hotel: If you get their night before would suck to be on a delayed flightand MISS the cruise: $100
Gratuity for YOU (not cabin): Around $100 to $200
Drinks/Ship Purcahses: $200+ (Drinks are $6+ beers are $3 or $4 i forget)
Excursions: Snorkeling, Hiking, etc... Normaly $75-$90 each assume 3 so about $275 on safe side.
Shopping: If you want to buy shit.. $0+

$1800 to $2500 per-person depending on drinking, shopping, etc. I've done the Western Carib 2 or 3 times so I know I'm not spending $500 on tequila or trinkets!

Tip: Smuggle hard alcohol onto the ship from mexico or FL or whever you leave from and make your own drinks wiht the FREE mixers they give you. This could EASILY save you hundreds. + you can walk around with the bottle because you can buy it on the ship so they wont know if you bought it or brought it on once you already have it on

[4runner510]

i 2nd www.vacationstogo.com and cruises kick fawkin ass! also look into the carribean and sumtimes u can pick up some really sick deals. it all depends on what kind of room you want! interior ocean view etc. i say just get an interior room and stay at the bars on the ship

[Jastors Girl]

Fiancee and I took a "Bahamas" Cruise from Aug 28 - Sept 1st, 2008. We got an interior cabin on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas for a total of $750 (yes, $750 for two people). We were supposed to go to Nassau, CocoCay, and Key West, but because of TS Ernesto we ended up going to Cozumel, Mexico (which, BTW, was NOT a bad trip).

We spent under $300 for plane tickets from Dulles to Miami (where our ship was departing from).

We spent $218 ($109 each) on an excursion to the Mayan Ruins and a lagoon called Xel-Ha (Shell-Ha) that both were located on the Yucatan Peninsula (we ferried from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen),

If you are going to be at sea for a while like we ended up doing (Mon and Tues and Thurs and Fri we were at sea as it takes over a day to get to Cozumel, which we only spent Wednesday there), buy the soda package. $6 a day (so $24 for one of us), they give you a mug and a sticker to put on your seapass (used as your room key and credit card while on board).

On board we spent about $1,000 on souvenirs and alcoholic drinks (alcohol is NOT included in your tickets). We spent maybe 10% of that $1000 on alcohol.

I've heard that Carnival sucks. I loved RC, even though we were diverted we do plan on going again and making sure we get to where we wanted to go.

We went during hurricane season (obviously) which is why the ship fare is cheap. Just bear in mind that you may be diverted or cancelled because of the weather.

Josh and I planned our vacation a year in advance and had a nice little organized bundle, which was thrown out cuz we were diverted.

We also got an Amex travelers check card (DO NOT GET THIS!). I repeat DO NOT GET THIS... might as well have said "leave it at home" as machines were down or whatnot when we wanted souvenirs.

Next time we do a cruise we will be getting a VISA travelers card! VISA is everywhere

Also bring some cash. Or travelers checks (paper).

As for gratuities (head waiter, assistant head waiter, room attendant, etc). We tipped our dining room waiter, assistand DR waiter, room attendant a lot more than the suggested gratuity. Our head waiter we did NOT tip as we only saw him long enough for him to say HI.

I'd also take the later dinner. There is a 7:15pm and 8:30 seating. We took the 8:30 so we wouldn't have to rush around after our excursion and if we were busy on board we didn't want to be late.

There are so many more things that I'm drawing a blank on.

[Boheefus]

we took a Key West, Cozumel MX, cruise on Carnival last year, bestest trip evar...x2 on the smugglin in clear liquor, we used water bottles...plan on drinking from sunup till you pass out, and eating till you pop, it is all inclusive, 'cept fer tha gambling

[ScottFJ40]

Try celebrity cruise lines, they have the world's best onboard chefs.

[drydocker]

When did you go, Bo? We went the first week of april. I was the drunk Dad with four kids, and the wife with huge cans.

[smokeeater]

Anybody take the Alaskan cruise from Seatle or San Fran?

[Boheefus]

Originally Posted by drydocker

When did you go, Bo? We went the first week of april. I was the drunk Dad with four kids, and the wife with huge cans.

we went last September, smack dab in the middle of hurricane season...flew to Miami, got onna boat tha next day and off we went...I wanted to go again this year, but I think we are going to Hawaii instead...I was the sunburned big guy with the hot wife

[Priest]

Originally Posted by smokeeater

Anybody take the Alaskan cruise from Seatle or San Fran?

We did a round trip out of Seattle on Norwegian last year.....incredible. We would do it again in a heart beat.

[Todd W]

Late July/Aug is rainy season in the carib.. dark water = harder to see when snorkeling, and thunder ligthing when in water = spooky.

[fullygruntled]

Tom Cruise is a short white guy that played a lot of annoyingly cocky "I'm the best _______" characters in the 80's, and is currently employed as a certified public loon by the Church of Scientology.

Penelope Cruz is a small, attractive, yet breastless Spanish lady best known for having sex with other celebrities of note and occasionally portraying ladies in films that presumably have sex with the lead character, whoever that may be.

I'm not away of other Cruises or Cruzes.

[Wildjon300ci]

I was looking at R.C. and thinking of a 5 night cruise that hits Cancun. Now the problem is that a few of my friend that I would try to bring withme will be under 21 by about 2 months at the time of the cruise. Will the pose a significant problem as I'll be accompanying (sp?) them. "No guest under the age of twenty-one (21) will be booked in a stateroom unless accompanied by an adult twenty-one (21) years of age, or older. This age limit will be waived for minor children sailing with their parents or guardians in adjacent staterooms or under-aged married couples (proof of marriage is required)." Since I'm trying to book bring friend that would be staying next to me along with a few others that would be 21, under that statesment could I make it happen?

[MattyB4x4]

I went on a cruise for spring break last year, was under 21. They still had an alcohol package for me...just no liquor...thats what my friends were for. I spent about $1000, but it was a NCL cruise...tiny boat compared to RC. But...this alcohol package was about $240...all I could drink. All I can say, is save as much as possible and don't hold back. It could be a once in a lifetime thing...

I was drunk for 7 days and ate til i couldnt every meal.