So, we're trying to plan a family vacation, and the fam is talking about a cruise. I guess it would be leaving Florida, and going????
I don't know anything about them except that some cruise lines are better than others.
What can you guys tell me about cruises? Specifically, how do I get the best bang-for-the-buck? I have lots of Delta frequent flier miles, so I think we could leave from anywhere in the U.S.
There are worse ways to spend a few days.
Carnival is cheap. Lots of impromotu entertainment (drunk people watching) and average formal entertainment. Good kid activity program. Good food.
Other lines are less rowdy and more expensive. Caribbean stops seem to be the same for multiple cruise lines.
Carnival is the Wal-Mart of cruise lines 
not the classiest but undeniably a good deal, especially if you look away from how the business is done in the background
My parents went on one of the more expensive and classy ones, and they said they seemed to be the only people under 70 on board...my dad said it felt like that Twilight Zone episode "Passage of the Lady Anne" 
Whatever you do, spend the extra skrilla on a balcony room.
Regardless of which line - go with a 7 day. All the shorter cruises get you the older ship and the B or C crew.
My in laws (mid 70s) live in FL and have taken 6-10 cruises per year for the last decade - mostly last minute "fill the ship" deals.
FWIW - they seem to favor Holland America line for best quality:cost ratio.
I'd avoid Western Caribbean (usually the cheapest). Stick with Eastern or Southern if you can afford it.
They don't have to be the Standard Caribbian Cruise. My parents went on a repositioning cruise earlier this year - left Florida and rode along as the boat went down and around and through the Panama Canal and then up to Seattle. Quite a different list of ports.
I'm going on my first cruise this summer - Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Right now, it looks like a giant money grab. For example, I can pre-order a case of bottled water now and save big, paying only about $5/bottle! Umm, no. It has the classic complex benefits and payments that aim to confuse in order to extract more money, such as a credit of $x per cruiser per day in order to apply to the shore excursions, but only if you get package y, and you can only apply the credit on 3 of 7 days, etc.
They can be a lot of fun for a group of friends, that drink heavily.
Other than that, the captain wouldn't let me near the bridge and the engineer wouldn't let me in the engine room. I was bored to tears for the most part.
I can say I've been on one, so I don't have to do it again. I prefer less structured vacations.
There's another recent thread about this topic that would be pertinent. See if I can find it. Any help would be appreciated.
Gary wrote: There's another recent thread about this topic that would be pertinent. See if I can find it. Any help would be appreciated.
OK, here it is ...
I've only been on cruises at the pleasure of Uncle Sam. Not been on a cruise ship, but now that Toyman confirmed they won't let me in the engine room or up on the bridge I doubt I will ever go on one. I could drink a lot in my own house if I was so inclined.
I've been on tours to the engine control room, and have been up to the bridge of ships quite a few times. It's possible, but costs money.
I'd like to see the control room again, but it's not much different than a multi dyno control room. Just for much bigger engines.
We cruise a lot, and would suggest looking at the cruise thread that Gary posted.
BTW, the cheapest cruises are actually out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the cruise, that is. Total cost of vacation is almost identical between cheap to get to Baltimore and Newark to expensive to get to San Juan.
The location with the most cruises leaving is Ft. Lauderdale. It's very easy to get to for flights, and getting to the port, too.
But the biggest thing to think about first- is this a destination thing or about the ship? And some degree in between. There are 7 night cruises out of San Juan that has just one day at sea- the rest are in ports. And there's a 7 day cruise out of FLL that is 3 ports, 3 days at sea (the day you get in counts as one...)- and those are more focused on what is on the ship.
In terms of cabins- one needs to do the math- but I would never try to put 4 people in a standard interior or balcony cabin. People do- but the cabins are tight. So you could get two cabins next to each other or one big family suite. Sometimes that suite is a great deal- as 3 and 4 sail free.
Cruises are not for everyone, but until you try, you never know. And the cost is very reasonable, relatively speaking.
You are a native Michigander. You are not allowed to leave the state for vacation. You can only go "Up North" to a relative's cabin or to buy fudge.
If you want a cruise, the Woodward Cruise is coming up.
Its like you didnt read the state handbook or something!
logdog wrote: You are a native Michigander. You are not allowed to leave the state for vacation. You can only go "Up North" to a relative's cabin or to buy fudge. If you want a cruise, the Woodward Cruise is coming up. Its like you didnt read the state handbook or something!
You're just jealous. Coming from Ohio, people leave the state for vacation, and just to upgrade their life haha. Michigan is nice enough that we actually want to vacation in the state
logdog wrote: You are a native Michigander. You are not allowed to leave the state for vacation. You can only go "Up North" to a relative's cabin or to buy fudge. If you want a cruise, the Woodward Cruise is coming up. Its like you didnt read the state handbook or something!
Can we go to Chicago? There's a cruise that start there and ends in Detroit.
We’re taking our second Alaskan cruise this August (Princess – seven day - departing from Seattle).
Princess is right in the middle of the continuum between cheap with young partiers (Carnival) and expensive with old aristocrats (Norwegian). As a rule, multiply the cost of the cruise by 1.5 to estimate the total cost as excursions, requisite tips, etc. really add up. Still, cruising is inherently efficient from a process prospective (economy of scale, repetition, minimal down time / change over, etc.) and that efficiency is ultimately reflected in the bottom line of what you get for what you pay.
We have two daughters (eight and eleven) and the mini suites work very well for us. I really like the concept of “taking the hotel with us” so we don’t have to pack / unpack all the time and the elimination of worrying about forgetting something, missing a flight, etc..
The standard food on Princess is more than adequate (no need to upgrade) and besides, who the hell wants to put on a suite and all that E36 M3 when they’re on vacation.
Anyway, I know cruising isn’t for everybody (some people even find a way to complain about Disneyland) but we really, really like it.
GameboyRMH wrote: Carnival is the Wal-Mart of cruise lines
We've been on several, all but one were Royal Carib. We look at the 3 major cruise lines like this: If you're in your 20's and want to get drunk on a big ship and be rowdy: Carnival. If you are 30-50, settled down and don't mind a few drinks and want better on ship entertainment than beer pong: RC. If you're in your 70's and sleep all day: Norwegian.
Saturday, we fly to Rome to start our 7 day med cruise on RC. The 7 day cruise was $590 per person with our discount for being a Crown and Anchor member. We also got $50 per person of on ship credit. Airfare was killer, but with the cruise being so cheap who cares. The ship we are taking was originally buily in 1997, was just refitted in April this year.
In reply to Bobzilla:
Have a great trip- we were at those ports last fall (Rhapsody vs. Jewel) and had a great time.
Hope you can see the ruins in Turkey- way, way, way better than Rome or Athens in terms of amount of stuff to see that is kind of restored. Ephesus is an amazing site. And we really love Rome and had a great time in Athens.
(other than hike from Feria to Oia, we did nothing at the other ports besides wander around)
RX Reven' wrote: ...(some people even find a way to complain about Disneyland)..
What do you mean "some people".
alfadriver wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: Have a great trip- we were at those ports last fall (Rhapsody vs. Jewel) and had a great time. Hope you can see the ruins in Turkey- way, way, way better than Rome or Athens in terms of amount of stuff to see that is kind of restored. Ephesus is an amazing site. And we really love Rome and had a great time in Athens. (other than hike from Feria to Oia, we did nothing at the other ports besides wander around)
So awesome! did you do a ship tour in Turkey? We decided to do Rome when we come back, taking a tour off the ship, hitting hte coliseum, vatican etc then depositing us at the airport where our hotel is and staying hte night to fly back Monday. So excited as I've never been to the old world before.
aircooled wrote:RX Reven' wrote: ...(some people even find a way to complain about Disneyland)..What do you mean "some people".
Some want to burn the world down. Some just want to enjoy it. Those that find a way to be angry at a disney theme park I feel for. Their entire life must be miserable.
Bobzilla wrote:alfadriver wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: Have a great trip- we were at those ports last fall (Rhapsody vs. Jewel) and had a great time. Hope you can see the ruins in Turkey- way, way, way better than Rome or Athens in terms of amount of stuff to see that is kind of restored. Ephesus is an amazing site. And we really love Rome and had a great time in Athens. (other than hike from Feria to Oia, we did nothing at the other ports besides wander around)So awesome! did you do a ship tour in Turkey? We decided to do Rome when we come back, taking a tour off the ship, hitting hte coliseum, vatican etc then depositing us at the airport where our hotel is and staying hte night to fly back Monday. So excited as I've never been to the old world before.
No, we arranged an individual tour in both Athens and Kushadasi (Ephesus). Both from recommendation of people we met on earlier cruises.
BTW, when in Chania, have some Raki. It's like Ouzo without the anise, and is really good. Only available in Crete, apparently.
And it's good to leave Rome until after- IMHO. What you will see will really amaze you, and put some of the Renaissance science into perspective. Ancient Greek were pretty amazing.
Great info here and the other thread. Thanks folks.
I don't like longer cruises. The shorter the better. I don't like being contained on the ship for a long time. That said, I would a three day cruise out of Miami again in a heartbeat. Mrs. DX and I did one this past January that left from Miami and hit Key West and Cozumel and back. It left on a Monday afternoon and returned Friday morning.
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