Carribean Cruise deals

[el tigre]

Looking for some advice on where to find deals on a 7-day Carribean cruise this October (SWMBO and I will be celebrating our 25th). I'll probably use my Aeroplan miles to get us down to Florida to catch the boat.

Checked a few places and itravel2000.com seemed to have some great prices. Anybody have any experience booking with them?

Any tips you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[jlamchop]

I personally found that for Cruises, it may actually be cheaper to go with a travel agent. Generally, the internet is cheaper for travel. However, the couple of cruises I went on the travel agent provided a cheaper rate. In February, I got 7 day western Carribean Cruise for $700 at Royal Carribean.:)

[el tigre]

I personally found that for Cruises, it may actually be cheaper to go with a travel agent. Generally, the internet is cheaper for travel. However, the couple of cruises I went on the travel agent provided a cheaper rate. In February, I got 7 day western Carribean Cruise for $700 at Royal Carribean.:) Thanks, I'll probably check out that route too.

But I'm getting online quotes from itravel2000 of US$429 (which at today's exchange rate is pretty darn cheap), so I'm wondering if there is a catch?

[jlamchop]

You might want to look where your cabin is situated. The front of the ship is VERY rocky. :)

[el tigre]

You might want to look where your cabin is situated. The front of the ship is VERY rocky. :) Ahhh, good thing to know. Thanks.

[Jeffc]

An inside cabin is ok if you're looking to save some $. It's small but we really only slept in there so for 2 it is manageable if you have no aversion to closed spaces. The middle of the ship is the best for stability. Check the cruiseline as well, some are better than others, some more oriented to families, singles, etc. We went Princess and my parents regularly go Princess, Celebrity of Royal Carribean, all are quite nice.

[Anthony]

Check www.vacationstogo.com . Lot's of deals as there is more supply then demand. Then go to cruisemates.com or cruisecritic.com to figure out the ship you want to sail on.

We have done two on Celebrity (we are lower key and more worried about food). Always done inside cabin, and we are just fine. The bigger the cabin and oceanview depends on how much time you want to spend in cabin and lounge.

PM if you have any questions.

[jlamchop]

Very good point! The ship I believe is one of the most important factors. Experience will certainly differ even if you have identical routes.

[Meow]

I've been on Carnival Cruiselines three times and everytime it gets better and better...sign up for their deals newsletter by going to www.carnival.com (http://www.carnival.com) and if you pay close attention they are good. I've been on their eastern, western and southern carribbean intineraries and my favorite is the southern one.....

[Focker Singh]

Looking for some advice on where to find deals on a 7-day Carribean cruise this October (SWMBO and I will be celebrating our 25th). I'll probably use my Aeroplan miles to get us down to Florida to catch the boat.

Checked a few places and itravel2000.com seemed to have some great prices. Anybody have any experience booking with them?

Any tips you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I am also planning a cruise this Oct/Nov to the Carribean. If you`ve never been its a great time and very relaxing. You will never be bored or feel trapped on a ship.

Tips:
- book with travel agent, they will arrange the transfer of your luggage from the plane to the ship without you having to go claim your baggage and drag it with you. They also arrange a shuttle for you so you dont have to get a taxi.
- if sea/motion sickness is a concern than take a lower level, middle inside cabin. The bigger/newer ships now are very stable
- to save some $$$, get the basic inside state cabins, you will hardly stay in your room cause there`s so much to do so why get the window and balcony suites unless you want that.
- book your ports of call excursions first thing you get onto the ship to avoid sell out and disappointment.
- be prepared to gain a few pounds
- Sep-Nov is hurricane season
- Carnival is more of a family cruise but cheaper. Royal Carribean is more for adults. Princess and Holland America are higher end cruises.

Congrats on your 25th and have fun!!!

[Jeffc]

another thing to consider is booking your flight along with your cruise. I know you said you wanted to use points, but if there is a flight delay, change, etc. and you can't make your cruise (if you booked the flight separate) you will be on your own to get to the next port of call. If you book it as a package, you will be looked after (e.g. flown to the next port, etc.).

also, if you do any shore excursions, make sure you are back to the boat in lots of time. It won't wait for you and again you are on your own to catch up to it.

As for paying for the excursions in advance, a lot of them are quite pricey. We pretty much headed to the beach most days via a local taxi - pretty cheap, about $10 or so each way (make sure you tell them what time to come pick you up and give yourself lots of time to get back). Some of the excursions were nothing more than a bus ride around town, for which they wanted a lot of $ for. You can get the same thing for yourself by hiring a taxi or local shuttle driver - that and you're on your own schedule. We hire a taxi in Barbados for the whole afternoon and it was $80 USD total for 4 of us ($20 each). He gave us a great tour.

[DubRepublic]

If anybody is serious about going on a cruise, send me a PM. My father is a travel agent in the cruise industry. He always looks for the best deal and will even help you book direct if it's cheaper.

[GR8CLUBS~NOGAME]

My Two Cents:

I worked on cruiseships on and off for about two years.

What Focker Singh wrote is very accurate.

I would say Carnival caters to younger families and Royal Caribbean is family as well, but I would say a little more established families. Princess and Holland are for the older cruisers, 40+ crowd.

If you do not care about having an inside cabin (no windows), then those are generally the cheapest ones. The higher up you go and if you have a window or a balcony, price goes up.

The only other thing I would advise is that shore excursions are seriously overpriced on the ship. If you can, try to book them independantly. All booze and soft drinks are extra, and that is how the ships get you to spend more...Oh yeah if you gamble, you can actually get credit charged to your room card.

My suggestion is to check out what islands you want to visit and then find the cruise that goes to those islands. My personal favourites are St Martin, Barbados, Aruba and Cozumel.

If you have any more questions, you can PM me.

Gr8

[ForeontheFloor]

Sweet cruise talk
If you want to be alone during formal dinners go with Princess. They are the only good cruise line with personal choice dining. Meaning you can get a table for two in the formal dining room. If you book now and take "run of the ship" you will most likely get a nice upgrade. We always book the lowest level room and have always been upgraded to an outside cabin.
Also for my money I always book excursions through the cruise line, if the tour is late they wait for you. My last cruise we were late coming back from a trip and the ship waited, if we were on a indendent trip I would still be on the island. If you are new to cruising check out cruisecritics.com

Hey Greg, when and where are you going?
My wife and I are going November 11, eastern caribbean on the Caribbean Princess

[el tigre]

Just wanted to say thanks again for everyone's help.

We ended up booking on Carnival through itravel2000 (cheaper than the travel agent), leaving Miami on Oct 7th and going for 7 days to the Bahamas, St Maarten and St Thomas. Aeroplan was booked up, so itravel2000 arranged our flights too (cheaper than Expedia). SWMBO wanted an outside cabin so I spent the extra $$$ - lower level and middle of ship.

Haven't been to the Caribbean in over 20 years (and never to the islands), so I'm really looking forward to it. I'll have to leave the clubs at home, but that's a small price to pay.

Anyone have any tips for visiting these three islands? Any must-see places? Or should we just rely on the cruise line or local taxi drivers?

[GR8CLUBS~NOGAME]

Hey El Tigre,

Love talking about cruising soooo...

Bahamas: Have to check out Atlantis resort, place is unreal. I actually heard the golf is great here, but I won't dwell on it since the sticks are being left behind :(

St. Thomas: Generally a shopping port....great for digital cameras and jewelry. This is where your wife will make the trip expensive :eek:

St Maartens: IMHO the best port in the Caribbean. Walk the downtown area for a little shopping, head to Marigot on the French side to get a little Euro flavour and then check out Orient Bay Beach...One of the nicest beaches I have ever been to. Beware or European Sunbathing...You may view some things that are better left unseen ;)

Gr8

[skt07]

I spent a week in St Martin a little over a year ago.

Definitely wander the downtown area where the ship docks. You'll find electronic stores, casinos and the usual tourist traps. Pick up some Cuban cigars and alcohol for cheap if you like that kind of thing.

If you have time, head out of the downtown area and look for a "lolo" for some amazing BBQ ribs, chicken or lobster. If you can't find one, just ask a local or a cab driver to show you where to find one. There are 2-3 side by side in Marigot near the small ferry dock. We had lunch at a lolo almost every day. Lolos are very un-fancy, open-air, restaurants that serve cheap, but amazingly good BBQ. Very reasonably priced as well. Big plate of ribs for $5 or a whole large lobster for $20.

And remember, when you're on the French side everything will be priced in Euros, but they will typically take US $ at 1 to 1 if you pay in cash. This was the case a year ago, but this might have changed given the low US $.