New Years suggestions?

[llmoyer123]

we're looking for a cruise over new years and am looking for suggestions. so far, we're finding the prices on that week to be about three times higher than any other december/january period!

we're looking for a "newer" ship. have only cruised carnival in the past and have always been pleased with them. however, we wouldn't mind branching out to another cruise line. don't know much about HAL, but if anyone has found a particularly good itinerary or (better yet) a particularly good bargain for that time period? we're partial to sailing out of florida, in that we're in the midwest and the air rates are much better for us.

we're thinking if we stay away from carnival, it might cut down on the kids-on-christmas-break mayhem.

we've visited almost all the carribbean ports, so that isn't a big criteria for us, but the condition of the ship is!

looking forward to hearing some suggestions.

llmoyer123@aol.com

[Orcrone]

I received an e-mail from Travelzoo. They're advertising a 10 night Caribbean cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on the Volendam starting at $899 pp. It leaves on 12/26/04. I'll send the e-mail and the link to your e-mail address.

Marc

PS I sometimes have trouble with accessing my home e-mail from work. If you don't receive the e-mail soon, just post again and I'll resend it from home.

[sail7seas]

Most seven day holiday cruises on almost all of the cruiselines have lots of kids. If you take a ten day cruise, there is a better chance of fewer children.

[ecoxwhite]

Just booked the Volendam for 12/26- 10 days - Eastern Caribbean. The TravelZoo link is to Travelocity. $999 for outside quarantee. Great price for 10 days to the Caribbean.

[Jeal]

We are going over New Years on the Zaandam 11 nights. Last year we cruised on Carnival over NewYears and we loved it. It was worth the extra money to us. Carnival had a big deck party on New Year's Eve. We were on the Victory and I have to say that the children that were on that cruise were very well behaved. We had the late seating and we did not notice any small children in the dining room near our table. They may have been in the dining room but there wasn't any screaming going on. I don't think there will be that many children on this cruise. They will be back in school by the time the cruise ends.
Anyway, we can't wait until it is cruise time. This will be our seventh cruise in six years. Our first time on Holland America. I know we will have a great time.
We are paying $1527 for a Category A. We use an online booking agency. Our TA is the best.

[Tatka]

If you on Midwest maybe it makes sense to cruise Mexican Rivera out of San Diego.

There is a cruise 11 nights on Celebrity Mercury to Mexico

Mercury departing San Diego on 12/27/04 for 11 night(s)

Ports:
Day at Sea
Cabo San Lucas
Mazatlan
Puerto Vallarta
Day at Sea
Acapulco
Ixtapa
Manzanillo
2 Days At Sea
San Diego

starts at $1122 (but it's 11 nighter!)

You'll love service, food , ambiance etc.

It's not the newest (1997) but very well kept ship.

[temple10]

I have booked a 15 day on the statendam leaving December 21 returning January 5. I looked at hollands website and still alot of cabins available. Verandas are booked up but everything else isn't. I hope there is a couple big bashes for Christmas and new years, I am paying 5,400 for a B with veranda. which leads me to the question is this so much higher priced due to the 2 holidays?? just curious?? the Cabins still available were like around 2.000 or 3.000 if my memory serves me right. :)

[llmoyer123]

hoping to hear from a few others on any new years cruise "deals" out of florida that they're aware of.

[WindyCity]

I just sent you an email regarding special fares for Illinois residents - you said you were from the midwest - but not which state.

[Keith Rita]

We are also on the Zaandam New Years Cruise. We have noticed the price dropped a little since we booked in March.

[iowacruiser]

We sailed Volendam over New years last year with 3 other couples and had a great time.
Prices for the cruise dropped dramatically in June last year and we jumped on them.
They had a great New Years party on the pool deck and teh weather wass great. We were in San Juan New Years Eve day and when we pulled out we circled the Virgin Islands for about 5 hours. Then the captain brought the ship to full stop so we could enjoy the party without the wind.
There were not as many kids as I thought there might be... it was an 8 day cruise and that have had something to do with it.