Planning first cruise...where should I go?

[iheartcats]

Hey everyone!

 

I am new to the board and this is my first post ::waves hi::.

 

I am hoping to go on my first cruise vacation sometime in 2009, and was looking for some advice from those of you who have cruised before.

 

My big question is where should I go?

 

I live near the East Coast (closest port: Charleston), so i am within a day's drive of most of the East Coast and Eastern Gulf ports (though the less driving the better because I am on a budget). I love photography, beautiful beaches, and snorkeling...basically anywhere with beautiful scenery above and below the water :). What is your favorite port call for scenery/beaches/snorkeling?

 

My second question is, what cruise line do you recommend for someone on a budget, and are there any that I should avoid? Any particular ships you recommend? I'm young (mid-20's) but more of the mellow want-to-relax type than the partying/drinking/gambling type.

 

Finally, what about cabins? I know the interior cabins are the cheapest, but are they miserable being so small with no view of the outside world? Just wondering if the extra price for an ocean view or balcony is worth it.

 

Any feedback anyone has would be very greatly appreciated!!

[cb at sea]

Carnival, RCCI and NCL are probably the least expensive. Interiors are the cheapest, but they are small and (I think) claustrophobic! With an Ocean View room, you'll have a window to let in light (not much of a view, tho) but the room will STILL be tiny! Something with a balcony gives you that much more space. IMO, a balcony is a must--but some folks just think it's a waste!

Talk to a good travel agent--they can really help the 1st timer get the most "bang" for their buck!

[Sea Hag]

We don't mind inside cabins at all. It's true that there's no window, but it's also true that many inside cabins are nice and dark and quiet. Very nice for sleeping, which is about the only time we spend in there anyway. If the price difference between inside and outside is the difference betwen you being able to go on a nicer cruise, then in my opinion, you should go with inside.

[cruzeluver]

Snorkeling is pretty good anywhere in the Caribbean.

 

If you are planning to travel alone, Carnival has the best prices for solo travelers. They would probably be a good fit for you. Their prices in general are usually (but not always) the lowest. RCCL and NCL are in the same price range.

 

We usually have inside cabins and they work just fine for us. We spend little time in our cabin, so to pay $50-$200 more per person for a window is unnecessary.

[karen&roy]

I am stuck on balcony cabins but if I was sailing alone I would get an inside cabin. Being with my fiancee the balcony is romantic and we spend a lot of time on it, If he were not with me I would be there just to sleep. My FAVORITE beach/snorkle site is St John Trunk Bay. Any cruise that goes to St Thomas is where you catch the ferry to St John. St Thoams has some beautiful beaches also. RCCL and Carnival would be good for you. Trunk bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the worls. Check it out Just Google trunk Bay and you will be hooked. Have a blast !!

Karen

[ars4216]

Hey everyone!

 

I am new to the board and this is my first post ::waves hi::.

 

I am hoping to go on my first cruise vacation sometime in 2009, and was looking for some advice from those of you who have cruised before.

 

My big question is where should I go?

 

I live near the East Coast (closest port: Charleston), so i am within a day's drive of most of the East Coast and Eastern Gulf ports (though the less driving the better because I am on a budget). I love photography, beautiful beaches, and snorkeling...basically anywhere with beautiful scenery above and below the water :). What is your favorite port call for scenery/beaches/snorkeling?

 

My second question is, what cruise line do you recommend for someone on a budget, and are there any that I should avoid? Any particular ships you recommend? I'm young (mid-20's) but more of the mellow want-to-relax type than the partying/drinking/gambling type.

 

Finally, what about cabins? I know the interior cabins are the cheapest, but are they miserable being so small with no view of the outside world? Just wondering if the extra price for an ocean view or balcony is worth it.

 

Any feedback anyone has would be very greatly appreciated!!

 

HI!!:)

 

I would recommend going to a travel agent or getting a book. I would say The Complete Guide To Caribbean Cruises by Fodor's is a great book!! They cover all cruise lines, have great tips for packing and the first time cruisers info, also it covers ports of call. (If on a budget, just run over to Barnes and Noble , take a notebook/pen, and puruse the books they have in the travel section for the Caribbean.

 

Personally, I LOVE balcony cabins and think they are totally worth it!!

 

I have been researching our cruise and apparently Trunk Bay Beach in St. John (St. Thomas excursion) has a beach that is very popular and gorgeous!!! (great photography and snorkeling options there!!) Here is a pic of the Beach there:

 

 

I recommend Carnival whn it comes to pricing of balcony cabins. If you can afford it, Aft balconies on the back of the ship are wonderful!! We have a wrap aft balcony coming up on our cruise.. Here is why:

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps... if you have any other questions, feel free to ask away!!

[138east]

I like the eastern Caribbean islands - they sound just like what you are looking for - Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas. Unfortunately, you may have to drive to Florida to get a cruise to these islands.

 

I'd read all the boards about the various islands. There's even a board for budget saving ideas. I'd search Travelocity to get an ideas of prices for particular dates. Carnival usually has good prices, but there are always extras - port fees, tips, and now fuel surcharges. My next stop would be a good travel agent to help you sort it all out. This should not cost you extra to get advice.

 

If you don't drink, that will save you a lot of money. You can plan some of your own excursions (e.g. Coki beach for snorkeling on St.Thomas) and go on some ship excursions.

 

The inside cabins are fine. They are like being in your bedroom at night. Usually they are the same size as a oceanview room. You don't really spend much time there anyway - there's always someplace else to be on a ship.

 

Happy cruising!

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

I would look at cruises that go round trip from Fort Lauderdale. There are many cruises from this outstanding port, to all over the Carib and beyond.

 

An inside cabin will be fine as you do not use the cabin extensively. if you were going on a transatlantic then it makes sense to have a balcony or an outside because you do spend more time in your cabin. And remember there are lots of quiet , secluded places on a cruise ship where you can read or spend quiet times by yourself. Remember also that cabins are relatively small no matter what type of cabin you have unless you get a mini suite or above. But this is part of the charm of a cruise, seeing how space is utilized on a ship.

 

As for the cost, surely you have friends or family who would enjoy going on a cruise. If not check with the travel websites that occasionally have specials for solo travelers at a reasonable price.

 

As for money, remember that you will need a hotel the night before your cruise, and gratuties for the cruise staff. You do not need to spend a lot of money on excursions, gambling, alcohol and other non essentials.

 

Hope that this helps,

 

Fred

[cruiselover57]

Hey everyone!

 

I am new to the board and this is my first post ::waves hi::.

 

I am hoping to go on my first cruise vacation sometime in 2009, and was looking for some advice from those of you who have cruised before.

 

My big question is where should I go?

 

I live near the East Coast (closest port: Charleston), so i am within a day's drive of most of the East Coast and Eastern Gulf ports (though the less driving the better because I am on a budget). I love photography, beautiful beaches, and snorkeling...basically anywhere with beautiful scenery above and below the water :). What is your favorite port call for scenery/beaches/snorkeling?

 

My second question is, what cruise line do you recommend for someone on a budget, and are there any that I should avoid? Any particular ships you recommend? I'm young (mid-20's) but more of the mellow want-to-relax type than the partying/drinking/gambling type.

 

Finally, what about cabins? I know the interior cabins are the cheapest, but are they miserable being so small with no view of the outside world? Just wondering if the extra price for an ocean view or balcony is worth it.

 

Any feedback anyone has would be very greatly appreciated!!

 

I would recommend a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. St. Thomas has some really great beaches too. Carnival and Princess are known for having some the largest cabins afloat. You may also want to check to see if they have a matching program (did you say you're traveling by yourself)? Sometimes those single rates can be 150-200% which is a lot. If you go off-season, sometimes the single rate isn't so bad. I paid $140 extra for a T/A cruise one time which was extremely reasonable. You'll have fun no matter what cruise line you pick. Although Carnival is known for being the party ships, they have some of the best ships afloat! In fact, I'll be sailing on the Paradise in July and then the Freedom in August! Can't wait!

 

Laurie

[simplelife]

Since this is your first cruise and you are on a budget, try one of the short cruises to the Bahamas on RCI or Carnival - these are very reasonably priced and go out of Port Canaveral and, at certain times of the year, Charleston or Jacksonville.

To really save money, get an inside cabin, but I would recommend the cheapest Ocean View, since they are usually a bit larger and many people need the window to keep their bearings.vWhen mainy has been tight for use, we've chosen an inside guarantee.

Whatever you finally choose, you will have a GREAt time.

[iheartcats]

Thanks for all the feedback thus far! This has been very helpful for me! I'll likely be traveling with a friend or family member, so the advertised prices are what I would expect to pay (thank goodness...I don't think I'd want to travel alone)

 

How much food is typically covered in the fare? Is food something you purchase separately on the cruise, is it included in the cruise fair, or is it a combination (some meals covered; others not)? If food is not covered, how much on average do you typically spend extra on food in a given day?

[Sea Hag]

To the best of my knowledge ... Meals in the main dining room and the buffet are covered in your ticket price. Mostly snack bar food is covered as well, but there're some snack places that charge extra for things like ice cream and possibly pastries. Most ships, or maybe all ships nowdays, have specialty restaurants that charge additional cover charge. These are clearly marked in your daily newsletter. My DH and I never spend anything at all extra on food, cheapskates that we are. There's more than enough opportunity to eat lovely food the entire cruise.:)

[ars4216]

Thanks for all the feedback thus far! This has been very helpful for me! I'll likely be traveling with a friend or family member, so the advertised prices are what I would expect to pay (thank goodness...I don't think I'd want to travel alone)

 

How much food is typically covered in the fare? Is food something you purchase separately on the cruise, is it included in the cruise fair, or is it a combination (some meals covered; others not)? If food is not covered, how much on average do you typically spend extra on food in a given day?

 

 

:) That's the beauty of a cruise!! Mostly all food is free.The food in the main dining room and buffet areas is free. On Carnival Liberty the pizzeria, fish and chips, deli, buffet, golden/silver olympian dining rooms, and room service are all free!! Food that is not covered is if you do the special supper club on the ship which is generally like 25-30$ pp depending on the ship/cruiseline. Specialty drink shop for frozen coffee drinks, sushi bar, and bakery are not free. The rest is free... Room service at any hour is free!!!

[arlodog]

IMHO you should consider Carnival for the price for a first cruise. We do prefer RCCL, but Carnival has been much more competative lately in their pricing. On our first cruise we did not spend hardly anything on excursions as we were really on a tight budget. I think our total bill for 4 for the week was around $350--and that included excursions. We always had an interior room and had an OV once, but didn't feel it was worth the extra money until this year when we got a great deal on a balcony. Unless we can get a deal again we will stay in the interior just to save money. WE find that you are not in your room that much--at least we aren't. Actually our first cruise we were on the 2nd level and could hear the engine noise--I have never slept better in my life! My DH on the other hand couldn't stand it! Pay attention to where your cabin is and try and avoid being directly over or under anything with noise (i.e. lounges, bars, casino) and get an interior if it means the difference between going or not. As the previous posters have said you don't have to pay any extra for food unless you want to. You can have a great time and stay on a budget on a cruise. good luck planning--that is half the fun!

[love2relax]

Food is free in all of the places mentioned previously, but alcoholic drinks and sodas cost money. NCL, Carnival, and RCCL all have free iced tea and coffee in the buffet. Some have lemonade too. Carnival has more juices available also. Most others have OJ and milk in the morning, but none later in the day. I agree with most of the previous posters that Carnival may be the way to go. The cabins are generally larger. When I'm on a tight budget for a Carnival cruise, I usually book a 5A guarantee. It is usually cheaper than the 4's. You will get a port hole or two, so you can have a limited view. The cool thing is that you MAY be upgraded to a Category 6. You have to be happy with any 5A on the ship though, because odds are, that is where you'll end up. If you go with a guarantee instead of a specific cabin, the cruiseline will place you in one before the cruise based on what's left (the minimum will be the category you booked). If you don't buy extra beverages and research your excursions, you can cut way down on the charges to your SeaPass account. Good luck to you.

By the way, I would vote for the Caribbean or the Bahamas too: great snorkeling. I happen to be very fond of the Western Caribbean because I like to see the Mayan ruins on one of the port days instead of spending my entire week under water...but I can't compare it to the Eastern since I've never been there.