REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

BaoTurbo · 04-29-2011, 02:59 PM

So my parents want our family to go on a cruise or a vacation. Now I picked cruise first because the thing is, it's not all about shopping. My mom was planning to go to New York, but that's all because of sightseeing and shopping. I hate both those things but less of shopping. So I was set in charge of researching on some cruises since if we are on a cruise, everyone in the family can whatever the hell they want on it.

So the criteria is relatively cheap if possible and no Alaska, somewhere like a real holiday. I have no clue on what to do and what to research on, that's why I'm looking if anyone had any personal experience or could point me in the right direction. The expected date however should be the end of August when school is all over and everyone is free. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Gumby · 05-02-2011, 04:14 PM

Mexican cruises are relatively cheap, and they leave from LA. Flying to LA is relatively inexpensive too.

rs · 05-05-2011, 02:45 PM

Depends how long you want to spend cruising. Assuming it's about a week since it's summer, it costs $549 for a week in the Caribbean.

Amaru · 05-11-2011, 12:07 AM

Sorry to bump an older thread but I wanted to share my 2 cents.

I strongly recommend taking a cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Because of its close proximity to all of the top Caribbean islands, you can usually find an itinerary where the ship stops in 4-6 different ports on a 7-day cruise. (Unless you're really into the casino and/or lying by the pool for the entire cruise, more time in port = more fun and less boredom.)

Including taxes/fees, return flights to San Juan from Seattle are typically between $400 and $600 per person. US Airways (a solid airline in my experience) offers daily flights connecting through Charlotte; at the moment the price is hovering around $480 return after taxes/fees.

Another, cheaper option for Caribbean cruises is to leave from Fort Lauderdale. This is still a good option but typically means more days at sea - not the end of the world but will mean a less time in port. Flights to Ft Lauderdale are usually a bit cheaper than San Juan, but it depends on the airline and the time of year. Right now the cheapest SEA-FLL return flights are about $380 after taxes/fees (Delta and United).

There are also Caribbean cruises out of Tampa, New Orleans, New York, New Jersey, etc... but the itineraries typically include more days at sea and you won't save much on flights to any of those places. Leaving from New York is nice if you want to spend a few days in the Big Apple before or after the cruise, but then your costs will really start soaring.

Keep in mind that the Caribbean rainy season usually starts in late May/early June and runs until late October/early November. If you're planning on going during this period, you may be better off with a cruise out of LA as others are suggesting. (Of course, the rainy season also means there are some great deals to be had on Caribbean cruises, so if budget is a big factor then it's worth considering).

In terms of the various cruise lines, there are a few I'd recommend as the most likely to appeal to everyone (not just seniors):

- Royal Caribbean (known for having the best ships, reasonably competitive pricing)
- Carnival (casual, fun-oriented, very affordable)
- Norwegian (innovative programs, usually affordable)

I cannot speak from personal experience but I have heard that Holland America and Princess typically cater to an older crowd. Upscale lines such as Celebrity are more formal and usually more expensive but may have some appeal to younger people.

Your source for all cruise-related information: www.cruisecritic.com

racerman88 · 08-20-2011, 11:04 AM

The only catch with the cruises going out of San Juan is the flight there is at least $600

racerman88 · 08-20-2011, 11:08 AM

Carnival is a good cruise line and Royal Caribbean is even better.
Any of the Caribbean cruises are fun. We have been to the Eastern and Western Caribbean and they were fun. Lots to do on the ships

racerman88 · 08-20-2011, 11:10 AM

If you take the cruise out of Port Canaveral, Go a couple of days early so you have time to shop in Orlando. So many outlet malls in Orlando. They also have a Nike clearance store there. So much good shopping there.

racerman88 · 08-20-2011, 11:12 AM

When you are booking, check to see if the package includes your shuttle to the port. If it does not, you might want to rent a car. The last trip we went on did not include the shuttle and they wanted to charge us $150 per person one way. It was cheaper for us to rent a car and leave it at the parkade while on the cruise.

Splmash · 08-20-2011, 09:44 PM

4 posts in a row. No wonder you have 2157 posts.

Thanks for the heads up nonetheless. I took the Seabus for the first time in my life and saw a cruise ship, sparked my interest and want to go on one.

Where can I find the cheapest packages for the gf and I? Thanks.

syee · 08-21-2011, 05:39 PM

I usually check Vacations to Go for pricing.

If you want to go out of Vancouver, the only place you're going is Alaska, unless it's a repositioning cruise - then it'll be LA or San Diego. There are a few that go to Hawaii as well...

racerman88 · 08-21-2011, 10:32 PM

WE used a local agent by the name of Olivia from the Expedia on Royal Oak in Burnaby. Tell her Fon and Geoff sent you. Tell her what you want and she will try to find the cheapest package for you. If you find any good deals online, you can ask her if she can match the prices.