Former NYC Hal winter cruisers filling RCCL Explorer???

[Love the beach]

Since we really enjoyed our "escape from winter" January cruises out of New York, I was looking online to see what might be available for January 2009 and since it boils down to NCL out of NY(they are still showing cruises out of NY in 2009) or RCCL Explorer out of Bayonne I was checking out the Explorer cruises. I really like their 12 day itinerary but it seems that there are no balcony cabins available for January, February, and the first half of March! Just wondering if they are all booked up by former NYC HAL winter cruisers---these cruises are still 7 & 8 months out!

[mamaofami]

I'm a former HAL winter cruiser from NYC, and haven't yet made any plans to cruise for this winter. Guess I'm still mouring the departure of HAL from NY. I will either break down and book RCCl(could never do NCL) or eventually give in and either fly or take a train to Florida. Since we're planning a big family cruise in 2009, we're skipping the Caribbean for that year, but I'm really surprised to hear there are no more balcony cabins available.

[caviargal]

I would guess these balcony cabins are being held by groups. RCI allows you to waitlist so you can try that. Or, book something and check often.

[innlady1]

Since we really enjoyed our "escape from winter" January cruises out of New York, I was looking online to see what might be available for January 2009 and since it boils down to NCL out of NY(they are still showing cruises out of NY in 2009) or RCCL Explorer out of Bayonne I was checking out the Explorer cruises. I really like their 12 day itinerary but it seems that there are no balcony cabins available for January, February, and the first half of March! Just wondering if they are all booked up by former NYC HAL winter cruisers---these cruises are still 7 & 8 months out!

We love cruising out of NYC, but haven't made plans yet for this winter. I guess we'll probably bite the bullet and fly to FFL. So, no, we're not one taking up space on the Explorer!

[Love the beach]

Hmmm-- well now that we have just received the HAL brochure for their 2009 Europe cruises-- they look so inviting! Maybe we'll save our pennies(??) and plan one of those instead----but I REALLY like going someplace warm in January! We'll see.

[bepsf]

Nope - we're sailing out of Florida this winter...
...but I could certainly see how some folks in the NY area who really don't care about what ship they're on could be booking RCCL instead.

[barante]

On the strength of this discussion I looked up the Explorer's trips. I have never sailed on RCI, but as far as I am concerned they promise a great itinerary at very attractive cost. Not HAL but better than flying to Florida.
BTW, I haven't done a survey but I'm pretty sure that you would be hard-pressed to find a package like this (length/itinerary) out of Florida for these prices.

[bepsf]

On the strength of this discussion I looked up the Explorer's trips. I have never sailed on RCI, but as far as I am concerned they promise a great itinerary at very attractive cost. Not HAL but better than flying to Florida.
BTW, I haven't done a survey but I'm pretty sure that you would be hard-pressed to find a package like this (length/itinerary) out of Florida for these prices.

I don't know about that - I'm booked on a 10-Night Noordam cruise from Florida this winter (6 ports) and our booked price for comparable accommodations are awfully close to the published prices for a 9-night cruise on RCL from NJ (4 ports) departing the same day.

[barante]

Good for you. I was only making this comparison because the oft-quoted argument that running ships to and from New York to the Caribbean is so expensive.

[welove2cruise232]

I've looked at RCCL as well, but that ship is just way to big! We'll most likely go back to NCL (but I can't believe how expensive it is!) or just not vacation at all this winter...:(

[cferro514]

I sailed the Noordam and will miss her this winter out of NYC. I am flying to Florida in October 2008 to sail the Maasdam, and have a cruise booked on the QM2 in November 2009.

[dr1ce]

My 1st and only cruise (so far?) was out of NYC to the Caribbean in March. It was so nice not to have to fly! My DH is 6 ft. 6 in. and we live 1 1/2 (Canada) to 3 hours (CNY) from the nearest airport, so going anywhere is quite an epic journey. It was nice to drive to NY, hop on the Noordam and "just ride" for a few days... I'm not sure when/if I'll book another cruise, but it'd be great to go out of NY again! I liked HAL, but I'd be willing to try another line if it meant avoiding the airport again. DH and I are thinking about doing an all-inclusive type resort trip next time instead of a cruise, to be honest. So then we'd definitely have to fly... :rolleyes:

[barante]

We have done four out of our eight cruises from NYC and love the convenience. Everyone is different but I think we would find an all-inclusive too boring. The great thing about cruises is that there is always something to do, something to see.

[Bramcruiser]

Canadian here and in a job where we're not allowed to take vacations between January and April as that is our busy season. Is that torture or what? :rolleyes: So up to now all my vacations have been spring, summer or fall. However, if I was able to I wouldn't have a problem crusing out of NYC in the winter and am saddened that so many premium cruise lines have started backing out. I have heard everything from the lack of interest to high fuel costs and I am sure the answer is somewhere in between.

Not really interested in NCL or RCCL but anything is possible.....just hoping that if I get to cruise wintertime that I have NYC as an option.

David