First Time - questions abound :)

Hi there - my son has asked for a cruise for his next birthday. I am happy to oblige!

But...I do not know where to start!

We have never done it, so I am hesitant to commit to a week...looking at 4-5 nights. Is cruising worth it for that short of a time? Will I feel like it is over just as soon as it began?

We would be flying SWA as we have the miles, so need to depart from a port near an airport that SWA services. Which ports have the easiest set up? We would either need a rental car or paid transportation...

I don't know the best way to book a cruise - online at the actual website, a 3rd party like Expedia, or should I see a "in the flesh" TA?

We, of course, want the most bang for our buck. I want to maximize my time on the ship, but would like to see some cool places on land, too. We are more the "lay on the beach and drink" then "hike through the jungle", but I would be up for any excursion that incorporates history and such. Just not so much for "extreme" sports/activities.

So overwhelming. WE travel frequently, but this is a whole new ball game...not as simple as flight/hotel/car/activities :)

Also - we are very much casual people. Jeans/t-shirts/athletic gear/tennis shoes. Will that kind of casual be out of place? Can I wear my 80's band t-shirt and yoga capris without being judged? Or, is it always a little more upscale, for lack of a better word, than that?

So, fire away!

You have far too many questions to book Direct or with an agency like Expedia.

You need a person to Qualify you by asking the right questions to narrow things down.

A local TA that is a Cruise Specialist or an Online mega agency that has real

Cruise Specialists (usually homebased. perhaps local to you ?), not just order takers.

Ask your friends , relatives, coworkers, neighbors who cruise often whom they book with.

Hi there - my son has asked for a cruise for his next birthday. I am happy to oblige!

 

But...I do not know where to start!

 

We have never done it' date=' so I am hesitant to commit to a week...looking at 4-5 nights. Is cruising worth it for that short of a time? Will I feel like it is over just as soon as it began? a week is best. anything less is not enough time to get a feel for the ship

 

We would be flying SWA as we have the miles, so need to depart from a port near an airport that SWA services. Which ports have the easiest set up? We would either need a rental car or paid transportation... define 'easy' IMNSHO port set up is low low LOW down on the list of things to worry about.

 

I don't know the best way to book a cruise - online at the actual website, a 3rd party like Expedia, or should I see a "in the flesh" TA? purely personal opinion. we prefer full control so we book direct.

 

We, of course, want the most bang for our buck. I want to maximize my time on the ship, but would like to see some cool places on land, too. We are more the "lay on the beach and drink" then "hike through the jungle", but I would be up for any excursion that incorporates history and such. Just not so much for "extreme" sports/activities. decide priorities first: the ship as destination, or the ports? once you figure that out, that will make it easier to tailor suggestions

 

So overwhelming. WE travel frequently, but this is a whole new ball game...not as simple as flight/hotel/car/activities :) it IS that simple.. simpler even as you only unpack once for the week, and the activities are there for the taking

 

Also - we are very much casual people. Jeans/t-shirts/athletic gear/tennis shoes. Will that kind of casual be out of place? Can I wear my 80's band t-shirt and yoga capris without being judged? Or, is it always a little more upscale, for lack of a better word, than that? some lines are very much old school and jeans in the MDR for dinner would be completely inappropriate and formal nights are exactly that

if you want shorts for dinner that really does limit your options altogether..

So, fire away!

other things to consider: time of year? ages of the passengers? what would be a deal killer? are you foodies, or very picky eaters?

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

You would be best to see a TA in your area.

A one week cruise is better -- you won't feel like you just got on the ship when it is time to leave.

NCL is a very casual cruise line.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

I agree with the comments above that you should find a TA. If you have friends or family that cruise, they may be able to recommend one.

Port Everglades is practically next door to Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL) and many Caribbean and Bahamas cruises depart from there.

Hi and Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

So agree with many above. You really need help from a good local travel agent.

LuLu

Hi there - my son has asked for a cruise for his next birthday. I am happy to oblige!

 

But...I do not know where to start!

 

We have never done it' date=' so I am hesitant to commit to a week...looking at 4-5 nights. Is cruising worth it for that short of a time? Will I feel like it is over just as soon as it began?

 

We would be flying SWA as we have the miles, so need to depart from a port near an airport that SWA services. Which ports have the easiest set up? We would either need a rental car or paid transportation...

 

I don't know the best way to book a cruise - online at the actual website, a 3rd party like Expedia, or should I see a "in the flesh" TA?

 

We, of course, want the most bang for our buck. I want to maximize my time on the ship, but would like to see some cool places on land, too. We are more the "lay on the beach and drink" then "hike through the jungle", but I would be up for any excursion that incorporates history and such. Just not so much for "extreme" sports/activities.

 

So overwhelming. WE travel frequently, but this is a whole new ball game...not as simple as flight/hotel/car/activities :)

 

Also - we are very much casual people. Jeans/t-shirts/athletic gear/tennis shoes. Will that kind of casual be out of place? Can I wear my 80's band t-shirt and yoga capris without being judged? Or, is it always a little more upscale, for lack of a better word, than that?

 

So, fire away![/quote']

 

Aloha :D

 

Welcome to CC. You have come to the right place to begin learning about doing your first cruise. How much time do you have to plan?

 

First, you have done a pretty good job defining your group and what it likes to do and how it likes to dress. Now you have to read, read, read, read before you ask your questions. Figure out how to use the search function on the various threads! Use the "North American Homeports" on the main CC and look at the questions and answers. Go to the "Ports of Call" and read the questions and answers. Almost all of your questions have been previously asked and answered. After you've done your reading, then begin formulating your questions. Write your questions down and organize them.

 

"I want to maximize my time on the ship", says that you understand that the ship is a destination in itself and that the ports are secondary to the idea of taking a cruise. If you don't think that you want to get off the ship at the various ports, the a 4-5 day cruise is long enough. If you want to use the pools and lay around outside, cruising Alaska or New England means you will probably not get a lot of warm weather. Read Fizzlewicket's review of their first cruise paying particular attention to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Compass beginning on page 5 to get an idea as to the activities on a cruise ship. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2223424

 

Most of the stops at the cruise ports are not long enought for me to explore the activities around the port except to ride around on a bus and look at this and that. For example if I wanted to go ziplining and kayaking at one port, it would kind of be rushing to do both in a 7 hour timeframe.

 

How you book depends on your comfort level. How do you book your vacations now? If you are going to book directly with the cruise line or a TA, it is always better to have some idea what it is like to cruise. It is very hard to form a GOOD question without some knowledge. The better defined the question, the better the answers you will get. Don't worry about how to get to the ship from the airport until you think you know when and where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there.

 

The only time people "dress up" is for the main dining room (MDR). It's like going to dinner at your Ruth's Chris Steak House‎ except you don't have to wear a suit (for the guys). They do have "Formal" nights where a few men wear tuxedos because they have them and like to dress up, but they are now the exception rather than the rule. Most of the other men wore slacks, collared shirt (no tie), and jacket or sports coat. I'm retired and if I were told that I have to wear a suit to get dinner in the MDR, I'd eat every dinner in the buffet or room service. My wife likes to dress up on occasion so she will go out and buy a new outfit and bring them on the cruise, but she knows I refuse to wear a tie, and if she insists, she can go alone. You won't starve if you don't eat in the MDR.

 

On your cruise, the attire can be pretty varied. Most people I see are dressed like the workers in your local drug store, grocery store, or restaurant. Neat, but not dressy. Your 80's band t-shirt and yoga capris with sneakers won't raise any eyebrows during the day wandering around the ship. However, wearing a string bikini walking around anywhere except the pool area would be kind of inappropriate. The kind of attire you see on the internet under "What was he/she thinking?" would also get the same reaction on the ship.

 

One thing to be aware of is that most cruise lines have basically mandatory gratuities. RCI lets you pay $12/person/day for the cruise upfront or they will add it to you onboard account which you have to settle after the cruise. And besides the fare amount, there are taxes and port fees.

 

Ok. This is getting a little long so I'll end it here. I like to be concise in my answers (function of my previous life), so as I say, the better the question, the better the answer.

 

Aloha :D

You have far too many questions to book Direct or with an agency like Expedia.

You need a person to Qualify you by asking the right questions to narrow things down.

A local TA that is a Cruise Specialist or an Online mega agency that has real

Cruise Specialists (usually homebased. perhaps local to you ?), not just order takers.

Ask your friends , relatives, coworkers, neighbors who cruise often whom they book with.

Unfortuanately, I don't know anyone that cruises :( The one person I knew who did, retired and I have not heard from her in years. Must not be a very common vacation for those in my circle..

other things to consider: time of year? ages of the passengers? what would be a deal killer? are you foodies, or very picky eaters?

My son's birthday is in June - $$$$ season, of course ;) There will be 2 adults - nearing 40 :eek:, and two kids - a "tween" and an elementary aged child. Deal killer? Hmm. Well, Disney Cruise prices are killer, IMO! Pretty much if I don't think the investment is worth it. I don't want "a party ship", and I don't want getting TO the ship to be a hassle. And I want there to be a good kids club...one my kids will beg to go to. My "tween" is a moody little thing who whines when I "make him" go anywhere that is not a basketball court these days..

No picky eaters! My husband and I are up for anything, as is one kid. The other one isn't picky..he is just a normal eater. The more normal, the better ;)

Sorry, all so overwhelming. I will start reading the other boards, too.

Thank you, all!

Since you have to fly to port, go for a week long cruise...7 nights is NOT too long! And, yes..go to a travel agent...get brochures...read them, get a "feel" for the ships...

Being on the ship is like being in a resort hotel...pick where you want to go and when..and tell the travel agent...they will really help you!!! (Most ships do have a sports court....)

Unfortuanately' date=' I don't know anyone that cruises :( The one person I knew who did, retired and I have not heard from her in years. Must not be a very common vacation for those in my circle..

 

I would strongly urge you to check yahoo and other sites (even your yellow pages if you still get them at your house) and look up "cruise specialist." That's a travel agent that is knowledgeable about cruises. Go in with the info you mention below and in your other post -- what time of year, your kids' ages, which airports you want to use (I don't have the slightest idea which ones use Southwest). I would think most embarkation ports are in cities with "land transportation" services such as shuttles, taxis, towncars.

 

Always fly in at least a day ahead of time and stay the night -- you might even find a hotel that will shuttle you to the port for free.

 

A good cruise specialist will help you narrow down the possibilities (and might even keep your head spinning if you just depend on this website). If you are given a choice of maybe four cruises of interest, it'll make it easier to do a search on this site to get more info and ask additional questions. I would seriously advise going on the cruise lines' websites too, so you can check out the suggested ships and read the FAQs.

 

 

My son's birthday is in June - $$$$ season, of course ;) There will be 2 adults - nearing 40 :eek:, and two kids - a "tween" and an elementary aged child. Deal killer? Hmm. Well, Disney Cruise prices are killer, IMO! Pretty much if I don't think the investment is worth it. I don't want "a party ship", and I don't want getting TO the ship to be a hassle. And I want there to be a good kids club...one my kids will beg to go to. My "tween" is a moody little thing who whines when I "make him" go anywhere that is not a basketball court these days..

 

You don't need to go on Disney...every mass market cruise will have a kids' program and in June (especially later in the month) will have plenty of kids participating. Your kids will be in different age groups doing age appropriate activities. Take them the first night (maybe one parent takes one and the other takes the other unless the registration/orientation is in the same room) so they can meet the other kids. Hopefully even the moody one will find some friends.

 

On Princess (and maybe the other lines) there will be a packet of info for each kid in your cabin when you first get to your cabin (an advantage with Princess is that you can go right to your cabin when your board) with a day-by-day listing of activities.

 

On some ships, there's plenty of active activities -- swimming pools and some have basketball courts, rock climbing walls, water slides.

 

Also in June, many cruise lines sail leave the Caribbean because of hurricane season and because there are some interesting itineraries with high demand such as Alaska (really, consider Alaska -- a great cruise for families) and Europe.

 

No picky eaters! My husband and I are up for anything, as is one kid. The other one isn't picky..he is just a normal eater. The more normal, the better ;)

 

The mass market cruise lines (these include Carnival, Princess, Royal, NCL, Holland, Celebrity...) have many dining venues. The MDRs (the main dining rooms), casual buffet, and some other places are included in your fare. There's specialty ones too (for a cover charge) -- we went to our first one on our last cruise, but only because I was given a complimentary dinner...but we're not foodies so I doubt if we would ever pay extra for one of these. There are also pizzerias on some ships, hot dog/hamburger places...all sorts of dining options. The cruise line websites will give you info about specific ships.

 

Usually even in the main dining rooms, the menu will have different choices that you can pick from and even a children's menu that both kids and adults could order from. I'm a picky eater but can usually find a chicken dish. You can even ask for variations -- such as no sauce or low fat options. Some dietary needs (gluten free) should be requested at least six weeks ahead...but you can even find gf or sugar free desserts without advance notice on the menu.

 

Sorry, all so overwhelming. I will start reading the other boards, too. Which is why I suggest having a TA narrow down the choices first.

 

Thank you, all!

And you'll be surprised at how many people have taken cruises. I'll be at a kids' birthday party and overhear someone who just came back from one (I asked which day of the week they left and on which cruise line...and I told her which ship as she couldn't remember the name). Tell people you're interested in a cruise, and they might know someone who goes on one every year.

I disagree that you need a Travel Agent (TA). If you are willing to spend a few hours on the Internet, at some of those hours here reading Cruise Critic messages, you can learn enough to allow you to book a fun, cost-effective cruise vacation on your own. Use the search feature to find answers to most of your questions and ask specific questions in the appropriate sub-topics. CC members are very helpful and represent a vast knowledge base.

If I were exploring a cruise vacation for the first time, I might read a couple of CC member reviews for ships different lines. Check out the web pages of the 3 mainstream lines, Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. Look over some pictures and features of different ships.

Next, decide where and when you'd like to travel. Seven days is about right for a first cruise. You'll have 3 or 4 ports, a couple of sea days and time to find your way around. You didn't say if your son is in school. Cruises during school vacations are usually priced higher by 30% to 50%. Cruises over major holidays like Christmas and New Years Thanksgiving and Easter can be double the non-holiday prpr more expensive.

You've gotten some great advice so far. Another post mentioned a good point--How do you usually book your vacations? If you typically use a TA then great, that agent or another would be where you should start.

If, on the other hand, you're a do it yourself kind of person, then you might not like giving control of your cruise booking to someone else. The cruise line won't talk to you about the reservation made through a TA, you must pass everything through the TA.

Go to the website of one of the cruise lines. Look for a cruise in your desired time frame, do a trial booking. You can see the itenarary, select a date, see the cabin types and select a cabin, see the total price before you get to the point where you put in your name. It's very easy and straight forward to do a "trial booking" at any of the major cruise line's websites. Get familiar with the prices so you recognize a deal when you see it.

If you want to go in June, I assume 2016 since we're in July now, then you have some time, but the earlier you book, generally, the better the price you'll get. Typically, price goes up as the ship fills.

Check some possible sailing dates, different ships, different lines, different departure ports. Get a feel for the prices, notice how much they go up once school gets out. Check before and just after the 4th of July and Labor Day holidays. Just see what prices are the first week of December or in mid-October. You might suddenly feel like a cruise vacation is a good educational opportunity.

Get familier with the different cabin types: Inside, Oceanview and Balcony. Generally, a balcony will cost an additional 75% to double what an an inside cabin costs. OV cabins are in between in cost. Royal Caribbean has ships with cabins that have a window on the inside area (Prominade view) that are considered inside and are less than OV prices. You can find pictures of the cabins on various Internet sites. Google is your friend.

You already found out that Disney is not a bargain cruise line. There is a premium price for that Disney Magic. A rule of thumb I use when shopping is: $50 to $70 per person per day (pppd) is a really good price for an inside. Expect $80 to $100 for any time when school is out and $150 or more pppd for major holidays. Balcony cabins are nearly double that. OV in between.

Some people will get an inside for the kids right across the hall from mom and dad in the balcony. There are 4-person cabins of each type and the 3rd and 4th person fares are usually somewhat lower than the first 2 people in a cabin. Again, you can do a trial booking to see the exact cost.

I would ask friends who cruise for a recommendation for a Travel Specialist who specializes in cruises.

Keith

Some people will get an inside for the kids right across the hall from mom and dad in the balcony. There are 4-person cabins of each type and the 3rd and 4th person fares are usually somewhat lower than the first 2 people in a cabin. Again, you can do a trial booking to see the exact cost.

First, welcome to Cruise Critic! As you already have found, there are lots of folks who are experienced and will provide lots of great help on these boards!

Before you get too deep in locating a TA or trying to plan your cruise on your own, give some thought to what your budget will be. Include cruise fare, any transportation costs, what you think you want to take in the way of spending money for things like port excursions and shopping. Next, I would try to determine what itinerary you think would be good for your family and it that into your target budget. Some itineraries are port intensive (a port every day) others are a mix of sea days and ports. Do you want to go to the eastern or western Caribbean or maybe Alaska or Hawaii. Also, consider that SWA does not fly into all port cities so you may have to reconsider where you can cruise from.

I agree, it is a daunting task, especially for a first timer, but it is something that you can do if you are used to planning and executing travel for the family. Someone else has suggested read, read, read and that is great advice! Browse the threads on CC for the various cruise lines and you will have some idea of what to expect from each. Stay away from 3-day cruises and those over spring break and you will likely not have to worry about a "party ship".

Lastly, ask questions on here!

I would ask friends who cruise for a recommendation for a Travel Specialist who specializes in cruises.

 

Keith

You must not have noticed post #9 where OP said they do not know anyone who cruises.

Thank you all, again!

Like PP says - nobody I know cruises. I run with a crowd that is all about the desert and casinos - so it's Vegas, Laughlin, etc. I have 2 coworkers that have each been on 1 cruise. Neither planned it, and both were "meh" on it. So, no real help there!

I am more comfortable doing my own bookings, etc. I just am not sure what to expect. I just did a sample booking on the Carnival Paradise for next June. 5 day out of Tampa. With everything, it came to just under $3000. Which...oy. I typically do not spend much more than that on a 2 week Disney World vacation!!). Does that seem like a reasonable price?

We would prefer a good balance of port and sea days. I am not big on "touristy" stuff, so would rather not do ports where it is just locals hocking cheap goods. I would like to actually see the "real" part of the area the port is in.

So much info!!

I am more comfortable doing my own bookings' date=' etc. I just am not sure what to expect. I just did a sample booking on the Carnival Paradise for next June. 5 day out of Tampa. With everything, it came to just under $3000. Which...oy. I typically do not spend much more than that on a 2 week Disney World vacation!!). Does that seem like a reasonable price?[/quote']For a regular balcony cabin? Sounds high unless you're including airfare.

 

We would prefer a good balance of port and sea days. I am not big on "touristy" stuff, so would rather not do ports where it is just locals hocking cheap goods. I would like to actually see the "real" part of the area the port is in.

Eastern Caribbean (not Bahamas) can be like that. Off the top of my head, Dominica (Roseau) and St. Lucia (Castries) drop you off in the middle of "real" downtown where there are shops catering to tourists but also shops where the locals get their stuff.

Unfortuanately' date=' I don't know anyone that cruises :( The one person I knew who did, retired and I have not heard from her in years. Must not be a very common vacation for those in my circle..

 

 

 

My son's birthday is in June - $$$$ season, of course ;) There will be 2 adults - nearing 40 :eek:, and two kids - a "tween" and an elementary aged child. Deal killer? Hmm. Well, Disney Cruise prices are killer, IMO! Pretty much if I don't think the investment is worth it. I don't want "a party ship", and I don't want getting TO the ship to be a hassle. And I want there to be a good kids club...one my kids will beg to go to. My "tween" is a moody little thing who whines when I "make him" go anywhere that is not a basketball court these days..

 

No picky eaters! My husband and I are up for anything, as is one kid. The other one isn't picky..he is just a normal eater. The more normal, the better ;)

 

Sorry, all so overwhelming. I will start reading the other boards, too.

 

Thank you, all![/quote']

 

 

Your reason for doing this is because your son asked, right? So ask him to help make the plans. I assume it is not the 'tween, the moody one. Him I would leave home with friends if he won't behave. But that raises something to think about. Is this all about making the birthday son happy? If yes, then Kids Club is key number one priority and everything else doesn't matter. All of your time and energy and choice of activities will revolve around keeping him happy. Or is this about family time? Celebrating an event Together as a family? Then Kids Club etc doesn't matter and you need to think about how you as a family will spend your time. And then you can begin to look for a cruise (or land vacation) that gives you the activities you'll enjoy together.

Don't sweat the hassle of travel to the port. If you have ff miles, then you've traveled before so it shouldn't be a big deal. Plan to arrive in port a day prior, don't try to book a flight back home within one or two hours of arriving back in the home port. If you pick a cruise out of Canaveral, tie the cruise in with a day at Disney if that is your thing. If you go out of Miami or Lauderdals, spend a day before or after in the Everglades. Don't stress yourselves out with a tight travel schedule. If you want to see the real local scene, forget the cruise idea. You can't get to know anyplace in a 6-8 hour shore visit. Go spend 7-10 days at a hotel in Cozumel or San Juan or Phillipsburg or Cancun or San Jose or Cartegena instead. What you CAN do on a cruise is to learn where you want to go back and spend more time.

Cruising can be fun in many ways. Don't get hung up on making The Perfect Choices. Book a cruise, enjoy, forget the irritations that pop up along the way. Then do it again. And again. Eventually you'll get it right! [emoji57]

As others have mentioned, you really should fly to the port city a day ahead of your cruise. You will see that advice repeated a lot when you read the boards here. A lot can go wrong, so it's good to budget that extra day before the cruise in case flights are delayed or luggage is lost. If you are also able to spend an extra day at the end of the cruise in the port city, you won't have to fight to hurry off the ship with all the other passengers. (They will still want you off fairly early, though, so they can prepare the ship for the next cruise). Even a 7 day cruise flies by before you know it.

When you budget for your cruise, be sure to include the following:

Port Fees and taxes

Tips/Gratuities/"Hotel Service Charge"

Beverages or Drink Packages

Excursions

Cruise lines charge a premium for their excursions, so you can save a lot of money by booking your own. Read through the Ports of Call boards and you will find lots of good recommendations. In some ports you can actually walk or just take a short taxi ride to the beach. Of course, no one forces you to leave the ship, but why not since you're there? We usually choose a couple of ports that we're most interested in and book a highly recommended tour there. Other ports, we just play it by ear.

If you don't mind getting cozy, I wouldn't hesitate to share a cabin with the kids - especially for your first cruise. There is so much to do on a cruise ship that my family mostly uses our cabins for sleeping. I've been on two big family cruises in which I've shared a cabin with three nieces, and we had a great time. It was like a slumber party every night. We even squeezed a younger 4th niece in there one night because she was feeling left out. If you go with a quad cabin, the configuration of the beds is something to consider when you choose your cruise. Often, the 3rd and 4th beds are berths that pull down from the ceiling. Sometimes cabins will have a berth and a sofa bed. My first cruise was in a quad with one berth and another bed that pulled out from underneath one of the regular beds. This is the configuration you don't want. The family member sleeping on the floor can get stepped on. :eek:

Hi there - my son has asked for a cruise for his next birthday. I am happy to oblige!

 

But...I do not know where to start!

 

We have never done it' date=' so I am hesitant to commit to a week...looking at 4-5 nights. Is cruising worth it for that short of a time? Will I feel like it is over just as soon as it began?

 

We would be flying SWA as we have the miles, so need to depart from a port near an airport that SWA services. Which ports have the easiest set up? We would either need a rental car or paid transportation...

 

I don't know the best way to book a cruise - online at the actual website, a 3rd party like Expedia, or should I see a "in the flesh" TA?

 

We, of course, want the most bang for our buck. I want to maximize my time on the ship, but would like to see some cool places on land, too. We are more the "lay on the beach and drink" then "hike through the jungle", but I would be up for any excursion that incorporates history and such. Just not so much for "extreme" sports/activities.

 

So overwhelming. WE travel frequently, but this is a whole new ball game...not as simple as flight/hotel/car/activities :)

 

Also - we are very much casual people. Jeans/t-shirts/athletic gear/tennis shoes. Will that kind of casual be out of place? Can I wear my 80's band t-shirt and yoga capris without being judged? Or, is it always a little more upscale, for lack of a better word, than that?

 

So, fire away![/quote']

 

Lets see. You say you are more lay on the beach than hike. You might actually like a cruise with both some sea and some port days in this case, I think. You could relax by the pool while the ship takes you to exotic destinations. I'm not well versed on SWA points program, but there are cruises out of Galveston and New Orleans with both port and sea days. Fairly sure SWA serves both. Cruises to Hawaii out of the west coast similarly have sea and port days, but I don't think SWA services the west coast well, do they? There is a lot more selection out of Florida ports, so you may want to look there for your first cruise.

 

As far as dress, some will judge as always in life, and a lot won't care. Personally, as long as you don't wear a ripped up tank top and shorty short cutoffs to the dining room on formal night, I don't care, but that's me. As far as ground transportation goes, many times you can book transport from a nearby airport to and from the ship via the cruise lines. Personally I wouldn't say you absolutely have too many questions to use whatever booking method you like, as long as you're willing to pursue the answers yourself. But again just my opinion, ymmv.

I disagree that you need a Travel Agent (TA). If you are willing to spend a few hours on the Internet, at some of those hours here reading Cruise Critic messages, you can learn enough to allow you to book a fun, cost-effective cruise vacation on your own. Use the search feature to find answers to most of your questions and ask specific questions in the appropriate sub-topics. CC members are very helpful and represent a vast knowledge base.

 

I disagree with your disagreement.:rolleyes::o Seriously, the OP is like many others, overwhelmed with the choices and undoubtedly with the info. That's why an impartial (hopefully) cruise specialist can take the info provided or ask the right questions and get right down to providing choices. Also if there's any problems, a good TA will be there to figuratively hold one's hand while contacting the cruise line, if necessary.

 

...You didn't say if your son is in school. Actually the OP said this: a "tween" and an elementary aged child. Which means the kids are in school, unless homeschooled. And probably why they want to go in summer.

...

 

Some people will get an inside for the kids right across the hall from mom and dad in the balcony. There are 4-person cabins of each type and the 3rd and 4th person fares are usually somewhat lower than the first 2 people in a cabin. Again, you can do a trial booking to see the exact cost.

I wouldn't put kids in those age groups (both under 12) in their own cabin. The cruise lines won't book them that way for a good reason, but I wouldn't even book a parent and kid in each cabin and then switch off so the kids are in one cabin and parents in the other.

Thank you all' date=' again!

 

 

I am more comfortable doing my own bookings, etc. I just am not sure what to expect. I just did a sample booking on the Carnival Paradise for next June. 5 day out of Tampa. With everything, it came to just under $3000. Which...oy. I typically do not spend much more than that on a 2 week Disney World vacation!!). Does that seem like a reasonable price?

 

We would prefer a good balance of port and sea days. I am not big on "touristy" stuff, so would rather not do ports where it is just locals hocking cheap goods. I would like to actually see the "real" part of the area the port is in.

 

So much info!![/quote']

 

So I went to the Carnival website and did a ghost booking for an inside for late June (the price is the highest for the three dates I saw in June...just for the sake of comparison) and pick an area and deck that doesn't seem to be the highest price, though. Comes to under $2000 including port taxes, fees, etc. That doesn't include airfare, gratuities (please don't avoid these as those crew members who will be helping to make this a special time are themselves spending months at a time away from their families), any optional costs such as excursions (which you can avoid by just going to a beach or touring on your own), alcohol, etc. So either you are looking at a more expensive cabin or are including airfare.

 

Your reason for doing this is because your son asked, right? So ask him to help make the plans. I assume it is not the 'tween, the moody one. Him I would leave home with friends if he won't behave. But that raises something to think about. Is this all about making the birthday son happy? If yes, then Kids Club is key number one priority and everything else doesn't matter. All of your time and energy and choice of activities will revolve around keeping him happy. Or is this about family time? Celebrating an event Together as a family? Then Kids Club etc doesn't matter and you need to think about how you as a family will spend your time. And then you can begin to look for a cruise (or land vacation) that gives you the activities you'll enjoy together.

Don't sweat the hassle of travel to the port. If you have ff miles, then you've traveled before so it shouldn't be a big deal. Plan to arrive in port a day prior, don't try to book a flight back home within one or two hours of arriving back in the home port. If you pick a cruise out of Canaveral, tie the cruise in with a day at Disney if that is your thing. If you go out of Miami or Lauderdals, spend a day before or after in the Everglades. Don't stress yourselves out with a tight travel schedule. If you want to see the real local scene, forget the cruise idea. You can't get to know anyplace in a 6-8 hour shore visit. Go spend 7-10 days at a hotel in Cozumel or San Juan or Phillipsburg or Cancun or San Jose or Cartegena instead. What you CAN do on a cruise is to learn where you want to go back and spend more time.

Cruising can be fun in many ways. Don't get hung up on making The Perfect Choices. Book a cruise, enjoy, forget the irritations that pop up along the way. Then do it again. And again. Eventually you'll get it right! [emoji57]

 

I would definitely make sure to take the kids to the kids' club the first night. That's when the kids meet each other and the staff. If they immediately click with a new friend, they'll want to go all the time. Make sure to get a schedule of the activities there (on Princess, it's in your cabin when you first get there...a day-by-day listing for your kids' group or groups, in your case; I think with Carnival, you can get it when you sign them up).