Carribean Cruising

[nanny dawn]

Has anyone any advice on which company does reasonable priced cruises around the carribean? I really want to do it for my 25th wedding anniversary next year but all the brochures I have looked at seem well out of my reach.

Would like to do a cruise and stay in October preferably.

Thanks

[dannydingbat]

www.celebrity.com - book direct, save enough to get really good flghts arranged yourself. Its well worth it.

[flipflop104]

October's cutting it a bit fine for the Caribbean. I was under the impression that the best time for Caribbean Cruises were November through to April (at the latest!). We've always gone Feb/March time.

What do you mean by "reasonable"? ie. what is your budget?

[sddsddean]

There are loads of different sorts from the 'flash' ones (Princess, Royal Carribean, P&O etc) to the cheaper less formal ones (Island Escape etc). When booking, remember an inside cabin will be miles cheaper than an outside one with a window. Lets face it, hopefully all you will do in the cabin is sleep!! If you have a search on google there are loads of firms doing cruises. Personally, I quite often go with Airmiles. If you have some Tesco discount vouchers, these can be converted to �4 for �1 vouchers to use with Airmiles (It all adds up!) and Airmiles can usually do you a good deal. If you want to while away some time going through reviews etc, look here. http://www.cruisecritic.com/
Another bit of advice. It is a long way to go for a week, so look into ships that do 'back to back' cruises. (2 1week itineries from the same home port) This works out well as a lot of the cost of your holiday is taken up by the air fare (which will go up if the Government have their way!) Go if you can...I love cruises! (2 booked for next year...can't wait!)

[nanny dawn]

Thanks for all your replies, in answer to my budget, I was hoping (!!!) to spend maybe in the region of �1200 each for hubby and myself...or am I just kidding myself?! LOL

[sddsddean]

A friend of ours (who does lots of cruises) reckons if you can get a cruise for about �100 a day each (inc flights etc) you are doing well. I never seem to quite make this target, but try for about �125 a day and you should find something. �1200 each is a very realistic target.

[nanny dawn]

We live on the Isle of Man so always have to add on extra for Manx flights and usually at least one nights ac near the airport! If we dont book flights well in advance we can end up adding 3-400 to the cost of our holiday!

Cant take advantage of late deals cause of this, but thats the price we pay for living here!

I will have a look at the sites over the weekend, thanks again!!

[Dassie]

For Caribbean cruising NEVER use a UK agent or the brochures they use - they just rip you off. Use an American agent which in my experience are not only much cheaper but also far more efficient service wise. On the web go to www.vacationstogo.com You will need to register but once inside you'll be amazed at the prices. Last year by booking direct with them and then organising our own flights to Miami with Virgin Atlantic we saved �200 each on the best price quoted by any UK based agent. I've just had a look for October/Nov. next year and on one 7 day Carnival Cruise lines they are quoting the equivalent of �375 each for an outside cabin.
We went on Carnival Victory to Cozumel, Cayman Islands and Jamaica (Ocho Rios) and it cost us �1100 with flights for a BALCONY cabin! Highly recommended cruise!

[auntiebertie]

We had a NCL cruise last year for �800 pp for a week in a balcony, and I have just returned today from an RCL in the plush Owners Suite [gorgeous] and for 3 of us that worked out at just under �780 each.
Echo previous posters comments that we are ripped off something rotten here in England - some RCL passengers we met paid just $249 [that is about �140] for their inside cabin but the cheapest price that I ever saw was �399...........so use vacationstogo.com !
Also www.cruisecritic.com is a 'must' - click on the word 'boards' in the blue line at the top and you will find a wealth of information.