Cruises, how to? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Poppinjay · 02-03-2006, 10:55 AM

We're saving up for a cruise. This would be our first real vacation since we've been married - four years. I've gone on cruises before, but never purchased the passage. Can you help with these questions?

Some cruise prices say "per person", most often in real small print, some don't say anything. If a cruise costs say, $800 for one person, is it usually $1600 for two? Or is the second person discounted?

What are the more enjoyable cruise lines these days? I've been on NCL and it was a bit bare, the boat was about to go into refurbishment.

We plan an early fall trip to Bermuda.

maleficent · 02-03-2006, 11:05 AM

My parents take 2 -3 cruises a year and are very partial to Celebrity. My parents are in their 70s, but like Celebrity because their shipmates are generally not a bunch of doddering geriatrics... it's all ages and very few children. The boats they've been on - which I beleive leave out of puerto rico, go all about the carribean- they rarely will get off the boat but it's avaialble if they want to... they like the quietness of everyone gone.

There's a thread or two on cruises in here - especially on whcih cruise line is right for you - I'm too lazy to search for it...

Generally when the price is quoted as per person/double occupancy - it's double the price quoted.. (and doesn't include tips - whcih are pretty much required) some cruiselines also charge for booze - which can really add up...

Check out some websites like www.icruise.com for some ideas...

streak_56 · 02-03-2006, 11:40 AM

Personally, the cruise ship only matters during dinner and days at sea. Go to islands that you enjoy. Price wise, I know that most cruises have a rate for what each person pays. And I would recommend going to a travel agent. They will be able to get you the best price. Also, you can put pressure on the travel agent to get you an even better price. And basically your paying for an expensive hotel room that you have unlimited meals. I'd make a budget for what you'd like to do on the boat. And make a budget of what you'd like to spend on an island.

Booze is charged on most cruises, along with pop and a few other things. I know on our cruise, lemonade, water, apple juice, orange juice and tea are free. And eat your fill. When I went on our last cruise.... I would finish dinner (lobster, steak) I would go and have a piece of pizza and a whole lot of ice cream. You can get tours off of the boats which are a little bit more pricey but they take you to the best spots and the best tours. Also, figure out which island is best for shopping. Such as my cruise goes to St.Thomas, which is a little bit more expensive, compared to Antigua which has the cheapest diamonds in the carribean or St.Maarten which has the cheapest overall shopping. And if you couldn't tell.... research your islands. I've spent countless hours looking as seeing what I could do. Also, in the Carribean you could consider taking scuba diving lessons if you would like to. And don't stress out about finding something to do on every island and finding something to fill your time. Just relax and enjoy yourself.

Bill O'Rights · 02-03-2006, 11:55 AM

Wow...the last cruise I was on had this cute as a button little Cruise Director, named Julie, that was always cracking wise with some addle brained Assistant Pursur, who had aspirations of becoming a Senator for the state of Iowa. Then there was this ladies man ship's doctor that was always competing with a black bartender with a huge 'fro.
oh...wait...that was TV.
I need a life.

yellowchef · 02-04-2006, 02:10 AM

ok I had a huge reply typed and my dumbass pushed back.. Ill try again tomorrow.

greytone · 02-04-2006, 04:37 PM

You need to decide what you want to get out of the cruise before picking the line and ship. I love Celebrity (and I am not geriatric) because they have nice classy ships with few children (who tend to be well behaved) and the food is very high quality. The cabins are well designed and comfortable. The service is fantastic. They send one of their older ships to Bermuda and that cruise tends to have many repeat and older cruisers from the Northeast. But I think you will find that with any line that goes to Bermuda. Remember that Bermuda is out in the Atlantic and you will experience higher seas and colder weather than you would in the Carribean. Because the trips to Bermuda leave from population centers along the East Coast, they tend to sell unreserved cabins at the lowest rate to retired people who sign up to be notified when the price hits rock bottom just a few days before departure.

02-03-2006, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	Cruises, how to? We're saving up for a cruise. This would be our first real vacation since we've been married - four years. I've gone on cruises before, but never purchased the passage. Can you help with these questions? Some cruise prices say "per person", most often in real small print, some don't say anything. If a cruise costs say, $800 for one person, is it usually $1600 for two? Or is the second person discounted? What are the more enjoyable cruise lines these days? I've been on NCL and it was a bit bare, the boat was about to go into refurbishment. We plan an early fall trip to Bermuda. __________________ I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

02-03-2006, 11:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	My parents take 2 -3 cruises a year and are very partial to Celebrity. My parents are in their 70s, but like Celebrity because their shipmates are generally not a bunch of doddering geriatrics... it's all ages and very few children. The boats they've been on - which I beleive leave out of puerto rico, go all about the carribean- they rarely will get off the boat but it's avaialble if they want to... they like the quietness of everyone gone. There's a thread or two on cruises in here - especially on whcih cruise line is right for you - I'm too lazy to search for it... Generally when the price is quoted as per person/double occupancy - it's double the price quoted.. (and doesn't include tips - whcih are pretty much required) some cruiselines also charge for booze - which can really add up... Check out some websites like www.icruise.com for some ideas... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

02-03-2006, 11:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Wow...the last cruise I was on had this cute as a button little Cruise Director, named Julie, that was always cracking wise with some addle brained Assistant Pursur, who had aspirations of becoming a Senator for the state of Iowa. Then there was this ladies man ship's doctor that was always competing with a black bartender with a huge 'fro. oh...wait...that was TV. I need a life. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

02-04-2006, 02:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
yellowchef Addict Location: Shalimar, FL	ok I had a huge reply typed and my dumbass pushed back.. Ill try again tomorrow. __________________ the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas. always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

02-04-2006, 04:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	You need to decide what you want to get out of the cruise before picking the line and ship. I love Celebrity (and I am not geriatric) because they have nice classy ships with few children (who tend to be well behaved) and the food is very high quality. The cabins are well designed and comfortable. The service is fantastic. They send one of their older ships to Bermuda and that cruise tends to have many repeat and older cruisers from the Northeast. But I think you will find that with any line that goes to Bermuda. Remember that Bermuda is out in the Atlantic and you will experience higher seas and colder weather than you would in the Carribean. Because the trips to Bermuda leave from population centers along the East Coast, they tend to sell unreserved cabins at the lowest rate to retired people who sign up to be notified when the price hits rock bottom just a few days before departure. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

02-03-2006, 11:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
streak_56 who ever said streaking was a bad thing? Location: Calgary	Personally, the cruise ship only matters during dinner and days at sea. Go to islands that you enjoy. Price wise, I know that most cruises have a rate for what each person pays. And I would recommend going to a travel agent. They will be able to get you the best price. Also, you can put pressure on the travel agent to get you an even better price. And basically your paying for an expensive hotel room that you have unlimited meals. I'd make a budget for what you'd like to do on the boat. And make a budget of what you'd like to spend on an island. Booze is charged on most cruises, along with pop and a few other things. I know on our cruise, lemonade, water, apple juice, orange juice and tea are free. And eat your fill. When I went on our last cruise.... I would finish dinner (lobster, steak) I would go and have a piece of pizza and a whole lot of ice cream. You can get tours off of the boats which are a little bit more pricey but they take you to the best spots and the best tours. Also, figure out which island is best for shopping. Such as my cruise goes to St.Thomas, which is a little bit more expensive, compared to Antigua which has the cheapest diamonds in the carribean or St.Maarten which has the cheapest overall shopping. And if you couldn't tell.... research your islands. I've spent countless hours looking as seeing what I could do. Also, in the Carribean you could consider taking scuba diving lessons if you would like to. And don't stress out about finding something to do on every island and finding something to fill your time. Just relax and enjoy yourself.