Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 #1 Share Posted January 11, 2007 DD and college senior friends would like to take a cruise for spring break. What is the closest port for them to drive to? Also, what is the age policy on Carnival and don't they need passports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin_fanatic Posted January 11, 2007 #2 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Regarding the closest port, that depends on what ship you desire if u have a preference. You can also go to that ship's website and they will list their ports and u can go from there. But I am in TN too, but not Chat...The closest port to me is either New Orleans or Alabama....but u are at a different end so u can check the Carnival site and see which port is closest from Chat. For passport, scroll thru the threads or do a search on the title "passport clarification"...I posted the same question yesterday and got the response from there. Good luck;) For age restrictions, you can also get that from the Carnival website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin_fanatic Posted January 11, 2007 #3 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Regarding the closest port, that u depend on what ship you are taking. You can also go to that ship's website and they will list their ports and u can go from there. For passport, scroll thru the threads or do a search on the title "passport clarification"...I posted the same question yesterday and got the response from there. Good luck;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #4 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The girls will pick the ship after the port. They want cheap, cheap and cheap! :D Thanks for the passport info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzman Posted January 11, 2007 #5 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Closest cruise port to Chattanooga is Mobile. As it currently stands, passports are not required, however this might change later this year. You should be OK for a cruise during the next 6 months. You can get information about age requirements by going to carnival.com and clicking on FAQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamboatin Posted January 11, 2007 #6 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Chattanooga is closer to a port than you may think. Chattanooga is a port! The Delta Steamboat Company prior to being sold sailed from their each year. Check their new website and they have cruises this year also starting from Chattanooga. Now a river cruise may not be what you want. But you did ask for the nearest port. And the nearest port is your very own city!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamboatin Posted January 11, 2007 #7 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Sorry another blooming double post. Do you not just love how they are working so hard to change the color of the screen and not their computer capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tater1800 Posted January 11, 2007 #8 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Mobile / Western Carib - 401 Charleston / Bahamas - 439 Jaclsonville / Bahamas - 477 As per Mapsource. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #9 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Jacksonville is surprising! I know it is further than 40 miles from Charleston, so MapSource must be taking them through Atlanta and down. Steamboatin - They have been on several river cruises, so don't think that will work! Cruzman - I am not sure we could get DD a passport in time (6 weeks.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yst347 Posted January 11, 2007 #10 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Carnival will require someone 25 or older in each cabin with someone under 21. The only exception is a married couple. I have read that Royal Caribbean has a less restrictive policy as do some other lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrn Posted January 11, 2007 #11 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Hi! I am about 1 hour from you! The closest port for us is Mobile and the Holiday is one of the least expensive ships. The next for us is Jacksonville with the Celebration and it is not too bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tater1800 Posted January 11, 2007 #12 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Jacksonville is surprising! I know it is further than 40 miles from Charleston, so MapSource must be taking them through Atlanta and down. The route was I-75S then I-10E to Jax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #13 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I just talked to my daughter and those girls have already been on the phone to Carnival. They found out they can cruise because no one is under 21 (DD turned 22 last month) and one person is already 25. They are looking at driving to Port Canaveral (which I am not happy about!) and taking a 4 day cruise. They also confirmed that they do not need the passports, although I do think it is a good idea...just not enough time (I would be afraid that their birth certificates would get lost in the shuffle too.) Thanks for all the help.;) Now, I get to go do some pricing for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamaicaholic Posted January 11, 2007 #14 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Port Canaveral is not that much further than Jacksonville (2 hours?). Straight shot down 95, however the traffic on 95 is HORRIFIC! (Of course I hate driving on ANY part of 95!) I would encourage the 5 day Celebration or the Holiday out of Mobile. If they insisted on Port Canaveral, I would definately check out flights to Orlando. Southwest is sometimes cheaper than driving and only 2 hour drive to Nashville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #15 Share Posted January 11, 2007 That's why I don't want them driving to Orlando. We have done that and lucky to be alive! I will check on some flights as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskier Posted January 11, 2007 #16 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Dont rule out New Orleans. The 5 day sailings on the Fantasy have been cheaper than the Holiday. Pull up a website that lets you look at a month or two spread. Then look at the 4-day vs 5-day. By changing your schedule by one week you can save hundreds of dollars. Dave (Lucky to be two hours from Mobile or New Orleans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #17 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I wondered about New Orleans! Cheapest so far for their dates and same distance as Jacksonville.;) I checked on flights and they cannot fly for under $200 a piece, so that's out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskier Posted January 11, 2007 #18 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Does Amtrak pass through your town? A few people have been doing that to get to New Orleans. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #19 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The train schedule doesn't work for them and they would end up having to spend a night in New Orleans both ways. I don't feel good about that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 11, 2007 Author #20 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Hey! No one has mentioned Mobile, AL. I just found out that Mobile is only 5 hours, 54 minutes from Chattanooga and the Carnival Holiday sails from there. What do you think for college Seniors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yst347 Posted January 11, 2007 #21 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Hey! No one has mentioned Mobile, AL. :D Mobile Alabama was mentioned in replies #2, #5, #8, #11, #14 and #16 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il professore Posted January 12, 2007 #22 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Allegiant Airlines flies from Chattanooga to Sanford (outside of Orlando) for $158 RT during March. We always use Allegiant from Toledo to Sanford. We've also almost used the same flight and then deadheaded a rental car to FLL for a cruise. Quick and easy. I'm sure you could find out about transportation from Sanford to Port Canaveral fairly easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted January 12, 2007 Author #23 Share Posted January 12, 2007 I looked at Allegiance, but the dates for the cruise at Port Canaveral wouldn't work for them. Allegiance was booked for the dates they needed to fly down and back and they cannot fly in a day ahead for that particular cruise. If they go, I think that the Holiday in Mobile is their best bet. I am so embarrassed that I didn't see Mobile listed before. :o I guess I had my mind set on other ports and just read over Mobile. I didn't know there was a cruise ship port until I found it myself! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il professore Posted January 20, 2007 #24 Share Posted January 20, 2007 FYI. I just got an e-mail announcement from Allegiant Aitlines. $39 each way from Chattanooga to Orlando (Sanford) which is the entry point for Port Canaveral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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