Won a free cruise - Royal Carribean or Princess?

[Jrlady]

I was lucky enough to win a free cruise (Yipee!!!:D) and need to book it quickly. I can either sail on Royal Carribean or Princess Cruise Lines. It will be my husband and I taking the cruise for 7 nights and the only limitation is that it be a carribean cruise out of Florida.

 

Is either significantly better than the other?

 

What other costs should I plan for (outside of excursions)? I do not want to be overly frugal and want to plan appropriately.

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!!

[paul929207]

We like Princess, but you will get many who like RCL.

 

Other expenses will include about $10 per person per day for tips. Optional:

---Excursions

---Drinks - Alocohol and soda

---Specialty Restaurants

[cb at sea]

Don't forget photos and souveniers! Figure that you'll end up spending about 1/2 of the cost (or value) of the cruisefare, even if that part is 'free"!

Will you have to fly to port and is that included? That can be a considerable cost!

 

To cut back on excursion costs, get a guidebook on the ports you'll visit....a bit of research can allow you to do many, many things on your own, without paying someone big bucks to "guide" you!

[Jrlady]

Airfare and transfers are included!

 

Half the cost of the cruise seems to make sense for planning. I realize that anything spent is entirely up to us, but I just want to make sure that I manage my husbands expectations :rolleyes: !!!

 

Are the two cruise lines comparable? If so, then I will focus on the itineraries ... If not, I will focus on which line we choose.

[iheartbda]

Airfare and transfers are included!

 

Half the cost of the cruise seems to make sense for planning. I realize that anything spent is entirely up to us, but I just want to make sure that I manage my husbands expectations :rolleyes: !!!

 

Are the two cruise lines comparable? If so, then I will focus on the itineraries ... If not, I will focus on which line we choose.

Is this your first cruise? If so, it won't really make that much difference to you since everything will be new. When you ask for comparisons, you will get those who love RCCL saying it's better and the same response from Princess cruisers. Not that there's anything wrong with that....it will just confuse the heck out of you.;)

[mamasue]

What other costs should I plan for (outside of excursions)? I do not want to be overly frugal and want to plan appropriately.

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!!

 

 

You're expected to pay auto tips, or daily service charge. It's usually about $10 per day per person.

[PattyG12]

My DH spends considerable time and $$ in the casino ... don't forget to budget that since they charge 3% to take it off your sea pass card (Royal Caribbean). I won't even get into which cruise line ... go with the itinerary you like. Personally, if I could choose ANY ship out of Florida to the Caribbean, I would book the Oasis just to see if all the hype is worth it or not.:D

[lady_cruiser]

Congratulations on winning your cruise. I've never been on Princess, only Royal Caribben, Carnival and Norwegian, but I have heard good things about Princess.

 

Look at both lines and see what each line has to offer. I know the ships I sail on offer miniature golf, ice skating shows, rock climbing walls, etc. All free of charge. If Princess doesn't have some of these items on the ship you are considering I would choose Royal Caribbean. While you might not want to climb a rock climbing wall, playing miniature golf is a fun way to spend several hours while you are on one of your "sea-days,"

 

As others have said, plan on gratitudes, an extra dollare here or there for room service, tour guides, the men who take care of your luggage at the pier, etc.

[mizLORInj]

Have sailed both and we prefer Princess. But both are very comparable.

ENJOY!!

[Traveler353]

OP: Does your "free" cruise include all taxes and port charges? Other additional charges can be tips, speciality eateries, parking, airfare or gas if driving, hotel rooms, excursions, bingo and of course the casino. Congrats and have a great cruise on which ever line you decide.

[UandMe4Ever]

I was lucky enough to win a free cruise (Yipee!!!:D) and need to book it quickly. I can either sail on Royal Carribean or Princess Cruise Lines. It will be my husband and I taking the cruise for 7 nights and the only limitation is that it be a carribean cruise out of Florida.

 

Is either significantly better than the other?

 

What other costs should I plan for (outside of excursions)? I do not want to be overly frugal and want to plan appropriately.

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!!

If you like a more subdued ship, maybe Princess. More fun and activities, Royal. tipping on Princess is $10 p/p per day, automatically added to your seapass card. Tipping on Royal is $9.75 p/p per day, unless you chose My Time Dining which is prepaid prior to cruising and you may request whatever table size you'd like. Princess also has "Personal Choice Dining"..similar to RCCI.

 

Specialty Restaurants are extra on both ships! I guess it depends where you live, what Ports you want to visit, etc.

 

Do remember to think about the tax on the "gift"....you will have to pay taxes on the price of the cruise, etc...You'll probably get information or some Tax Form (I fogot the #), to include in your taxes when you file in 2011. (if you go in 2010).

 

Whatever you chose, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful, safe time.

[Cozzette2]

We have cruised both Princess and Royal Caribbean and you can't go wrong with either one. There are things I loved about each line and it may come down to itinerary. I slightly prefer princess but a free cruise I would be happy with either one. Have a great time. you have come to the right place for great advice.

Kris

[pris993]

We prefer Princess, haven't cruised RCCL in years.

 

If you drink and want to bring wine on board go with Princess, RCCL does not allow any alcohol brought on board at all. This will save you money.

 

We always plan that we will spend $30 a day aboard on things like pictures, bingo, dvd of cruise, wine, beer -- plus another $30 a day in tips for the two of us. Believe me this is a very small amount compared to what some spend.

 

Figure at least another $30 a day in port.

 

These amounts are very small - sometimes we spend more or less depending on whether we have a ship board credit. Just returned from 10 days to Mexico, had a $300 credit, spent another $250 including auto tips. We tipped extra in cash, about $150 over and above the auto tip for 10 days.

[goatgoat]

We love both lines. If I were in your shoes (which would be awesome!), here are some things I would look at:

 

IMHO, RCI has more fun daytime activities and better big showroom evening entertainment. Princess has a wider array of evening entertainment with more small venues. Princess is a little more subdued for late evening. That said both are great, just a little different.

 

What are your personalities like and what are you hoping for on your cruise? If you want lots of shipboard activities/perks (flowrider, outdoor movie screen, ice rink, rock wall, etc.) select a newer ship. If you want relaxation by the pool for reading, sunning and music, a smaller ship might be a better fit.

 

What itineraries have the most appeal to you? Consider whether you are beach/sea people, history/culture people or shopping people. If you are beach people and want to snorkel or scuba, a private beach day is a plus and great ports for you might be Roatan, Caymans, St.Thomas/St. John, Grand Turk, etc. If you want history and tours to ruins, San Juan, Cozemel and other Mexican ports might be attractive. For shopping, Cozumel and St. Thomas have lots to offer. Beware: the bargains are not nearly as appealing as they once were. You can probably find just as good at home and it is a whole lot easier to make returns if needed.

 

Which departure port has the most appeal to you? We always, always fly in the day before. You don't have to worry about airline delays and lost luggage has a small chance of catching up with you before you sail. If it doesn't, you have time to pick up a few items to tide you over. You also can relax and get into the cruise mindset. It takes us all a couple of days to unwind and really relax these days. (For you, this might add a one-night hotel to your anticipated cost.) Our favorite Florida departure port is Ft. Lauderdale (but none are bad). The airport is not as big and busy as Miami. The pier is very close (10-15 minutes via taxi). Lots of hotels and beach close by and we love the water taxi to explore and see the sights. All of the Florida ports have the process down so don't let this be the major driver on your decision.

 

As to cost, you can spend as much or as little as you choose on a cruise. There are tons of opportunities: shopping, art auctions, casinos, speciality restaurants, photos, and the list goes on. At a minimum, plan for standard tips which will be added to your shipboard account; sodas, speciality coffees & alcohol according to your normal consumption (maybe plus a few...you are on vacation); one portrait (about $25 for a 8X10 - really a bargain but do you need a dozen from the same trip?); a fixed gambling budget (which for us would be $100 or less); some T-shirts, frig magnets or other small trinkets; a couple of nice shore excursions (you can shop the Princess & RCL web sites to see what they offer and get an idea of the cost) and $40 or so cash for misc. tipping (airport & pier porters, taxis, room service, etc.). Optional extras: speciality restaurants (nice but there are tons of great food for free), meals on land (you can return to the ship for meals in many ports), diamonds, art, cameras, more drinking, more gambling, more shore excursions, etc. We once were in line behind a man who was arguing that he had been charged for 9 bottles of $50 wine the previous evening at dinner when he had indeed only gotten 8. You get the idea. You can spend an enormous amount if you want. (FYI... you will hear lots of people talking about how expensive the drinks are on board. If you are from a larger city, you will find the cost in line with the restaurants at home. If you are from a smaller town, it will likely be about 50% higher than home.

 

Number 1: Don't overthink. You can't go wrong with your options.

[geoherb]

We like Princess better for the smaller ships. I'd consider taking a cruise on the Radiance of the Seas or one of Royal Caribbean's other ships that size.

[klfrodo]

Congrats on the win.

As mentioned earlier, don't forget that US tax code considers this as 'earned Income". You will have to pay income tax on the win. the value will probably be brochure price. You'll probably receive either a W2 form or a 1099 from whomever you won the prize from.

[njmomof2]

I would also consider if the "prize" has a maximum value, which might lead you to or away from a specific ship/itinerary.

 

As for the 1099, it will most likely be brochure rate. However, you can search and obtain lower costs for the cruise and document that lower rate, which can be used on your taxes next year. My BIL did this when he won a high end TV in a contest. He was able to find a much lower price for the identical TV on the internet and document that lower price against the 1099 and he declared the lower value.

[iheartbda]

I don't want to be a killjoy but I'm wondering how "free" is the cruise? Sometimes free cruises do not include taxes, port charges and any other fees.

[mamasue]

I don't want to be a killjoy but I'm wondering how "free" is the cruise? Sometimes free cruises do not include taxes, port charges and any other fees.

 

 

That was my first thought too.

I've seen 'free' cruises where the port taxes and other taxes have cost more than booking the cruise yourself.

I also don't want to seem like a killjoy, but it's definitely worth doing a bit of research.

[Lynda90]

My personal choice is Princess. Have been on both, liked both, but definitely prefer Princess! Congrats on the win. :p

[celyvabeach]

Have sailed on RCL twice (western Med and Bermuda) and Princess once (Baltics)... I prefer Princess but I would go with the itinerary...

[KKB]

Having cruised both, I give SLIGHT edge to Princess...we found it to have MANY more activity choices than RCCL. (RCCL seems to figure if you aren't going to the show, or casino, then clearly a bar with music is all you want...Princess has SEVERAL activity choices at any given time, day or night)

THAT BEING SAID...if you can book the Allure (or even the Oasis)--DO IT. These are the newest & biggest ships on the sea, with all the bells & whistles.

I say if you are gonna go--GO BIG!

Perhaps next December on the Allure with us??:rolleyes:

[Caribbean Fun]

Been on both but really prefer Royal Caribbean but it really depends on the ship. Newer ships are always going to be better. The new large Royal Caribbean's such as Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Oasis and Allure of the Seas are truly phenominal ships. Look them up on youtube, totally awesome ships, especially Oasis and Allure.