Are travel rec threads still permitted? Cruise related

[FSUDoles]

I am heading out on my 40th cruise next week. I have sailed on Carnival. RCCL, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, and the extinct Dolphin cruise lines. I feel the food is eh on all ships but you just can't beat being able to go 6 different places in 6 days without unpacking. We did not buy the drink package as we figured we would have to drink 10 alcoholic beverages each per day to break even and it seems impossible when you are in port for each day of the upcoming cruise. You also have to buy a package for each adult in your room. If you could share, it would be different.

I am a platinum cruiser with Carnival and I love them. Since you live down here, may I suggest leaving from Ft Lauderdale or even Tampa. The crowd is so much better than when you leave from Miami. I don't wait in line for anything, from embarking, debarking, tenders to specialty restaurants and even get laundry done while on board. I do not think there is a better value out there. The longer cruises, at least 7 days, also keep some of the riffraff off the boat.

My second favorite is NCL. I like being able go Freestyle and not have to be at dinner at a certain time. Their mini suites are great. One more cruise day on this line and I will reach platinum here too.

I personally am not a fan of Royal Caribbean. I find the price is way too high and I feel I am not buying the ship. I did enjoy the smaller ships and have now reached Diamond status, without ever going on a monster ship. My parents who have been cruising since Christopher Columbus, did not like the huge ships. The ships can't get into some ports and the lines are way too long to tender. My parents have been cruising so long, they don't even get off the boat anymore.

Alaska is awesome and worth the treck across the country. It is unlike any Caribbean cruise. There are no sea days...you cruise the inner passage which is beautiful and scenic and have a day on the Glaciers. It was too cold for this Floridian to do the pool, ever, but there were people in there. The cities and excursions, which you should NEVER EVER do with the cruise line, are unlike anything else. I don't think I have ever heard anyone complain about an Alaska cruise.

Although I am not Tribe, I have been to 98% of the Caribbean islands and can give you tips for excursions if you head South. I prefer the Western Caribbean, Jamaica, Cozumel, Belize, Hondorus, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman over the eastern cruises. Just my preference as is my preference of cruise lines. We usually pick whichever cruise line goes to whatever port we want to hit and then find the cheapest ship. And I almost always get a balcony. Only have had an inside room on 3 total cruises. Not a fan of no balcony!

If you are with a group, you should have a blast on any cruise line. Even Holland America, the walker capital of cruises! LOL. But seriously, try leaving from anywhere but Miami!

@NoleFan2U...

Hey....do you self book or do you use a travel agent? I saw a YouTube review of a ship we’re considering hosted by a Miami travel agent....he states he can do better than the offers I’ve selected on the web....thoughts?

 

[NoleFan2U]

@NoleFan2U...

Hey....do you self book or do you use a travel agent? I saw a YouTube review of a ship we’re considering hosted by a Miami travel agent....he states he can do better than the offers I’ve selected on the web....thoughts?

Sorry...just got off a cruise in Hawaii. I would get his price and go on smartcruiser.com and cruisesonly.com. Both those sites usually have the lowest prices and offer other bonuses. We got a $300 on board credit which wasn't offered on any other site. Just look around. You likely won't save big from one site to another but could get on board benefits not offered elsewhere.

 

[FSUDoles]

Sorry...just got off a cruise in Hawaii. I would get his price and go on smartcruiser.com and cruisesonly.com. Both those sites usually have the lowest prices and offer other bonuses. We got a $300 on board credit which wasn't offered on any other site. Just look around. You likely won't save big from one site to another but could get on board benefits not offered elsewhere.

Hi....he (the travel agent) couldn’t do better than what Celebrity was offering on their site...so I pulled the trigger. Equinox...Aqua Class...seven night Western Caribbean from Port Everglades in mid July. We got a few items included...WiFi, Beverage package (upgraded to Premier package for an extra $10 per day per person) and tips. I’ve seen a few YouTube reviews, and Cruise Critic posts on the ship...everything looks positive. If this goes well, then Alaska will be next on the docket. I may reach out to you about excursions...on board purchase versus on shore....I’ll do some homework on that.

 

[NoleFan2U]

Hi....he (the travel agent) couldn’t do better than what Celebrity was offering on their site...so I pulled the trigger. Equinox...Aqua Class...seven night Western Caribbean from Port Everglades in mid July. We got a few items included...WiFi, Beverage package (upgraded to Premier package for an extra $10 per day per person) and tips. I’ve seen a few YouTube reviews, and Cruise Critic posts on the ship...everything looks positive. If this goes well, then Alaska will be next on the docket. I may reach out to you about excursions...on board purchase versus on shore....I’ll do some homework on that.

There is nothing in the Caribbean that needs to be done through the ship. Let me know if you want my help with that.

 

[KRKNole]

I have worked for the big 3 lines (Carnival, Royal, NCL), and still work for one. Honestly, the specific ship and itinerary mean much more than the line itself. The things to do and the clientele differ so much based on these (and the price associated with better ships and itineraries). Also be very careful in comparing prices unless you do a little research on the ship and what is included in the fare. NCL's typical rates usually include beverage, dining, internet packages (one or several), so wouldn't be comparable to other lines.

 

[FSUDoles]

I have worked for the big 3 lines (Carnival, Royal, NCL), and still work for one. Honestly, the specific ship and itinerary mean much more than the line itself. The things to do and the clientele differ so much based on these (and the price associated with better ships and itineraries). Also be very careful in comparing prices unless you do a little research on the ship and what is included in the fare. NCL's typical rates usually include beverage, dining, internet packages (one or several), so wouldn't be comparable to other lines.

Thanks...I feel comfortable with our choice....the only out of pocket expenses will be the casino, excursions...and food and drink on our time off the ship.

 

[FSUDoles]

There is nothing in the Caribbean that needs to be done through the ship. Let me know if you want my help with that.

@NoleFan2U

Hi, I’ll direct message you as we draw closer to our departure date. We can handle KW on our own, but we may need some suggestions for Costa Maya, Conzumel and Grand Cayman. Something I saw on cruise critic worth mentioning, I’m going to be calling up until our final payment due date in April. A call last Friday yielded a $200 discount from our earlier booking plus $200 in on board credit with rate changes. I’m going to call a few more times.

 

[Urban Cryer]

I am heading out on my 40th cruise next week. I have sailed on Carnival. RCCL, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, and the extinct Dolphin cruise lines. I feel the food is eh on all ships but you just can't beat being able to go 6 different places in 6 days without unpacking. We did not buy the drink package as we figured we would have to drink 10 alcoholic beverages each per day to break even and it seems impossible when you are in port for each day of the upcoming cruise. You also have to buy a package for each adult in your room. If you could share, it would be different.

I am a platinum cruiser with Carnival and I love them. Since you live down here, may I suggest leaving from Ft Lauderdale or even Tampa. The crowd is so much better than when you leave from Miami. I don't wait in line for anything, from embarking, debarking, tenders to specialty restaurants and even get laundry done while on board. I do not think there is a better value out there. The longer cruises, at least 7 days, also keep some of the riffraff off the boat.

My second favorite is NCL. I like being able go Freestyle and not have to be at dinner at a certain time. Their mini suites are great. One more cruise day on this line and I will reach platinum here too.

I personally am not a fan of Royal Caribbean. I find the price is way too high and I feel I am not buying the ship. I did enjoy the smaller ships and have now reached Diamond status, without ever going on a monster ship. My parents who have been cruising since Christopher Columbus, did not like the huge ships. The ships can't get into some ports and the lines are way too long to tender. My parents have been cruising so long, they don't even get off the boat anymore.

Alaska is awesome and worth the treck across the country. It is unlike any Caribbean cruise. There are no sea days...you cruise the inner passage which is beautiful and scenic and have a day on the Glaciers. It was too cold for this Floridian to do the pool, ever, but there were people in there. The cities and excursions, which you should NEVER EVER do with the cruise line, are unlike anything else. I don't think I have ever heard anyone complain about an Alaska cruise.

Although I am not Tribe, I have been to 98% of the Caribbean islands and can give you tips for excursions if you head South. I prefer the Western Caribbean, Jamaica, Cozumel, Belize, Hondorus, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman over the eastern cruises. Just my preference as is my preference of cruise lines. We usually pick whichever cruise line goes to whatever port we want to hit and then find the cheapest ship. And I almost always get a balcony. Only have had an inside room on 3 total cruises. Not a fan of no balcony!

If you are with a group, you should have a blast on any cruise line. Even Holland America, the walker capital of cruises! LOL. But seriously, try leaving from anywhere but Miami!

Any recommendations for the Eastern Mediterranean?

 

[FSUDoles]

Any recommendations for the Eastern Mediterranean?

UC,

Google the Celebrity Edge...Eastern Med....the Edge is brand new...and Celebrity has some amazing deals. Lots of You Tube reviews out there as well....that helped us make a decision on Celebrity.

 

[FSUDoles]

Any recommendations for the Eastern Mediterranean?

Check out the linky thing...

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-deals/weekend-cruise-sale

 

[NoleFan2U]

Any recommendations for the Eastern Mediterranean?

Have not been there yet. Sorry I can't help you there. This is where we miss Tribe.

 

[FSUDoles]

All,

Celebrity has been awesome in the weeks and months leading up to our cruise in July. Since our original booking, periodic calls have saved us over $500 per person leading up to our final payment, and we were upgraded a class for our cabin. On our original booking we also received free internet, drink package and gratuities, as well as exclusive dining for our cabin class. Hopefully the service on the ship is as helpful as their sales team....they’ve been awesome. We did book ourselves through one of their travel specialists so if you book elsewhere, ie Costco, or with a travel agent, I’m not sure how these calls would work out. Lastly, the Equinox is getting a massive multi million dollar upgrade in June (as all Celebrity ships are scheduled to receive) so hopefully it will be an amazing experience. Alaska is next on our radar if we have a great time in July.

 

[JMGNole]

Bump.

 

[semihawk]

I prefer western Caribbean and have used ncl and liked it very much. royal Caribbean and celebrity are two more cruise options. definitely opt for a balcony with the beverage package.

 

[NoleFan2U]

I have booked 2 cruises for 2020. In April we are going to the southern Caribbean and Panama Canal on NCL. Its 11 days, does a partial canal transit and also hits Aruba, Curacao, Columbia and Grand Cayman. Got the drink package as it only cost $215 per person for 11 days. i am fairly certain I can drink that much in 11 days!

Then October 2020 on a new Princess ship we are doing New England and Canada from NYC. Thought we would go early and tour the 9/11 memorial then head to the ship.

I am hoping to do Ireland and Iceland in 2021 via cruise. I will keep ya'll posted! My goal is 60 cruises by my 60th birthday! Only 18 more to go!

 

[FSUDoles]

Three weeks to go until we leave on the newly refurbished Celebrity Equinox out of Fort Lauderdale. Had some friends that just did the Italy/Spain/Monaco ten day on Celebrity Edge and they were blown away. I’ll give an update on the Western Caribbean seven day when we get back.