How do you choose your cruise?

[GottaLuvCruising]

The number of sea days is one of the most important criteria for us - especially for Caribbean cruises. When we did Hawaii & Alaska, the ports-of-call were important.

[cdamion]

I voted for Ports in the poll, but it really is a mix.

Here is basically what I do:

1) Look at a timeframe to travel
2) Look at ports that are visited
3) Look at prices / and cruise lines going there
4) Pick ship / cruiseline that I am going to like more (Princess ships/Radiance class/Spirit Class getting preference).
5) Book cruise and then obsess here on CC.

[miched]

You don't list the option that most probably use. What appears to be the best overall value when you want to cruise.

But according to your selections I base my selection on

Port of departure

Ports of call

ship

Have never selected a cruise based on a CD and never seen that as part of the search options. When searching for a cruise it will ask for ports of departure, area, ship but CD is never listed.

[rnvattes]

In this order:

Date
Itinerary
Cost
Port of Departure
Ship

[Carolinagirl82]

We have to work around dates. Our kids are in school, so we usually do Spring break. After we finalize the dates, we look at itinerary, ship, then price.

We've cruised in the scorching heat of July. I don't think we will do that again. We live in South Carolina, so we're used to the sweltering temps, but I'd rather spend my summer days NOT walking around ports sweating to death! LOL I'd rather sit by my pool and save my cruising for when the weather is unpredictable here in SC!

[hankandteri]

Originally Posted by finoky

We usually pick the date first and then it's a combination of ship and itinerary. Price is never a deciding factor for us.

That's how we do it too. We pick the date first and then go from there.

[Godiva5]

#1 is price and #2 is ports.

[Mel1322]

We look at all the factors but the bottom line is often the price. But Port and dates work together to make the price work out. We look at how long to drive (yes, we only drive) to the port, how much gas will cost to get us there, plus hotels, food, and parking. It all works together to come to a final price. We compare a few itineraries this way and weigh the cost vs. the trip and figure out what we want to do.

[Frank12]

I've chosen for ports of call, departure port, and ship.
Never for a specific cruise director. Not that important to me.

[BenjiRodney]

Sometimes price. Usually the itinerary is the deciding factor.

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[spunkyhungry]

Itinerary and price

[danech]

Date of vacation/school break first, then it's price, ports, ship.

[designgirl]

Originally Posted by Banditswife

We have a general time frame we want to cruise, then we only do 7-8 day cruises. The next thing is price, then itenerary, then ship.

This is what we are looking at as well, for our first cruise. I have a very elaborate spread sheet created

Erica

[DiverDownAZ]

Ports of call, price, departure port. Unfortunately cruise lines can change the ports of call with no repercussions.

[tandemcruzr]

Ports of call followed closely by departure ports that are within driving distance.

[StingRaysfan]

We figure out which week I can get of work thats the cheapest all around.... (summertime, so usually Memorial Day week)... then we look at all available and choose for ports... 7+ days is a much

[Godiva5]

The cost of the per person cabin rate is only a fraction of the total cruise vacation. Being from the mid-west, we have to drive in excess of 12 hrs or fly to any port. What will be the cost of driving (gas, on-the-road meals, time - extra days off) vs flying per person (air fare, parking per day if we can't get someone to drop us off & pick us up), hotel stay the day before embarkation and the day of debarkation, meals.

Traveling with the whole family or just as a couple or BFF's. More folks = more costs.