1st-time Caribbean Cruise traveller this yr

here is some advice for ppl planning cruise to caribbean in this yr:

3 routing for caribbean cruises:
West Caribbean -- Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Cayman Islands ***Most popular
East Caribbean -- Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Maarten **Popular
South Caribbean -- Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados *least popular

Length of sailing:
4 nights (Bahamas only) *not worth unless you don't have time.
7 nights *** reasonable length
8 - 10 nights ** Great if you rich and have time

Cruise lines & ship size(bigger is better):
Carnival (74,000 tons - 110,000 tons): Fun ships. *** cheap & popular for younger age
Princess (74,000 tons - 110,000 tons): Elegant ships. **** good for couple without children
Royal Carribbean (74,000 tons -140,000 tons): Fun & Elegant ships. ***** great for all kinds of people, because air ticket is more expensive.

if plan your trip in:

Mar-- LAST MIN. cruise rate around CAD 700 - CAD 1300/person includes Port Tax based on double inside room. Air ticket is almost sold out because of March break season. it's around CAD $500 - $700/person includes airport tax.

Apr & May -- try Last MIN. cruise rate CAD $600-$1000. Air CAD $350-$450.

Jun -- 1st/2nd/3rd week try LAST MIN. After Jun 25, 2005 is high season.

Jul -- HIGH HIGH SEASON. cruise rate CAD $1200 - 1700. Air CAD $450 - $550 (current purchase price). NO last MIN deal.

Aug -- 1st/2nd week high season. Start from 3rd week is reducing cruise rate because close to end of summer holiday.

Sep -- ALWAYS last MIN. because of Hurricanes & school term, you always can get very very cheap rate around CAD $400 - $800. Air CAD $250-450. Remember to buy travel insurance to prevent weather problem.

Oct/Nov -- Low Season and try Last MIN again. same as Apr & May.

Dec -- 1st/2nd week ALWAYS last MIN. don't know why people don't want to travel before x'mas. 3rd/4rd week HIGH HIGH HIGH Season. Celebrate New Year is always more expensive than celebrate x'mas on the ship. So 3rd week around CAD $1200- $1900. 4rd week around CAD $1600 - $2300. Plus air ticket CAD $500 - $750.

If you have any questions, let's discuss it! Anyone can tell me the situation about Europe cruise?

Originally Posted by ash101

Dec -- 1st/2nd week ALWAYS last MIN. don't know why people don't want to travel before x'mas. 3rd/4rd week HIGH HIGH HIGH Season. Celebrate New Year is always more expensive than celebrate x'mas on the ship. So 3rd week around CAD $1200- $1900. 4rd week around CAD $1600 - $2300. Plus air ticket CAD $500 - $750.

Well, Christmas always gets the nice dinner and also, I can't miss school and my parents can't miss work.

Originally Posted by ash101

South Caribbean -- Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados *least popular

This is my favorite Caribbean itinerary. The only reason that it isn't as mainstream as the other two is that the embarkation port is San Juan. Flights to SJU are much more expensive than FLL, MIA or MCO.

Cruise lines & ship size(bigger is better):
Carnival (74,000 tons - 110,000 tons): Fun ships. *** cheap & popular for younger age
Princess (74,000 tons - 110,000 tons): Elegant ships. **** good for couple without children
Royal Carribbean (74,000 tons -140,000 tons): Fun & Elegant ships. ***** great for all kinds of people, because air ticket is more expensive.

How does the price of the air ticket depend on which cruiseline you're on?

Anyone can tell me the situation about Europe cruise?

I don't particularly like visiting Europe on a cruise vacation. The time allocated for port stops is too short. You need to spend days in each city to appreciate it. Although the Greek Isles might be a good one to do on a cruise.

Originally Posted by HighFlyer

How does the price of the air ticket depend on which cruiseline you're on?

You can purchase the air ticket from cruise line as a package. But it's more more expensive than you buy it seperates. All the price i quote is buy seperately and directly flight departure from toronto. However, the only reason to purchase air tickets from cruise line is that they can guarantee you trip if you miss the ship at 1st departure port. Normally, they will buy you another air ticket to arrive 2nd port and catch the ship. Otherwise, you need to take the risk for flight delay or cancel because of the weather problem. It always happen in hurricanes season and snow storm season.

Originally Posted by HighFlyer

I don't particularly like visiting Europe on a cruise vacation. The time allocated for port stops is too short. You need to spend days in each city to appreciate it. Although the Greek Isles might be a good one to do on a cruise.

i want to take cruise to visit europe because i am too lazy to pack my bag every morning and take 15hrs bus or look for train maps to reach next destination.

Originally Posted by ash101

You can purchase the air ticket from cruise line as a package. But it's more more expensive than you buy it seperates. All the price i quote is buy seperately and directly flight departure from toronto. However, the only reason to purchase air tickets from cruise line is that they can guarantee you trip if you miss the ship at 1st departure port. Normally, they will buy you another air ticket to arrive 2nd port and catch the ship. Otherwise, you need to take the risk for flight delay or cancel because of the weather problem. It always happen in hurricanes season and snow storm season.

I never buy my flight from the cruiseline as I would like to pick the airline that I will fly on. I always fly in the night before, so it will be very unlikely that I will encounter the stress of bad weather, missed connections, delays, late bags, etc.

I've done a bit of research into the western carribean cruises. Would like to go late nov or early dec. Thought of doing last minute but hesitant about being able to get a good room if I do last minute. should I be worried? Also...interested in any other pointers ppl may have.

thanks...

Originally Posted by HighFlyer

I never buy my flight from the cruiseline as I would like to pick the airline that I will fly on. I always fly in the night before, so it will be very unlikely that I will encounter the stress of bad weather, missed connections, delays, late bags, etc.

Ya, arrive one day ahead is a smart way. however, snow storm or hurricanes can make airport close up to 3 days.
also, for those ppl who book air tickets by themselves, if you use charter flights. It's not daily departure, that means if you miss the flight, you may delay your trip more than 1 day.

Originally Posted by dafunky1

I've done a bit of research into the western carribean cruises. Would like to go late nov or early dec. Thought of doing last minute but hesitant about being able to get a good room if I do last minute. should I be worried? Also...interested in any other pointers ppl may have.

thanks...

if you only focus on west carribbean and don't have specific ship, Last MIN is your best choice. However, if you already know which ship you will choose, otherwise, you won't have this trip. Then I suggest to book it and put down some deposit to hold current price. and do price match afterwards.

Originally Posted by ash101

You can purchase the air ticket from cruise line as a package. But it's more more expensive than you buy it seperates. All the price i quote is buy seperately and directly flight departure from toronto. However, the only reason to purchase air tickets from cruise line is that they can guarantee you trip if you miss the ship at 1st departure port. Normally, they will buy you another air ticket to arrive 2nd port and catch the ship. Otherwise, you need to take the risk for flight delay or cancel because of the weather problem. It always happen in hurricanes season and snow storm season.

Not necessarily 'more' expensive thru the cruise line...we heard and read this alot before we booked but our research showed that we actually got a cheaper flight thru the cruise line as our flight also included a 1 night stay at the Mariott. The difference was only about $50 booking ourselves or booking thru the cruise line... and the $50 more we paid, more than covered the hotel room.

It's easy to check fares online these days.... you pretty much have to do a case by case comparison to get the best deal.

Originally Posted by ash101

South Caribbean -- Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados *least popular

RCI sails out of Puerto Rico to Aruba, Curacao, St Thomas and St. Martin.. The embarkation process takes about 1 hr for Adventurer of the Seas (3000+ passengers).

If you embark from Miami, you might wait 1 hr just for a seat in the terminal.
Its hellish in Miami when 10 ships are sailing the same day.


Most East Carib routes are Miami>Puerto Rico>St. Thomas>St. MArtin>Nassau>Miami.

Originally Posted by rc51

Not necessarily 'more' expensive thru the cruise line...we heard and read this alot before we booked but our research showed that we actually got a cheaper flight thru the cruise line as our flight also included a 1 night stay at the Mariott. The difference was only about $50 booking ourselves or booking thru the cruise line... and the $50 more we paid, more than covered the hotel room.

It's easy to check fares online these days.... you pretty much have to do a case by case comparison to get the best deal.

I found most curiseline will offer a very competitive price for flight so you should always check and do the comparison yourself instead.

The only draw back, and it will depend on where you are flying out of, is that they will usually put you on the cheapest flight out of your departure point. In some cases, this may mean a very early flight or one with layovers.

If you are the lucky ones where there is no flight out of your departure city on the day of the sailing, they will fly you out earlier and put you up at a hotel until the sailing.

Originally Posted by dafunky1

I've done a bit of research into the western carribean cruises. Would like to go late nov or early dec. Thought of doing last minute but hesitant about being able to get a good room if I do last minute. should I be worried? Also...interested in any other pointers ppl may have.

thanks...

Many cruiseline will offer a "Run of the Ship" price for last minute buyers or when the sailing is almost full.

What this mean is you will be guareenteed a room, but it will be assigned shortly before the sailing.

With that said, if you are not picky, this is the way to go.

Personally I have sailed this way many times and had a range of different rooms assigned, from unobstucted balconies to inside standard next to the elevators. Personally, I don't really care where the room are located because you really don't spend that much time in the rooms anyway.

lots of ppl discusses to choose cruise lines flight. it's not a bad idea.

Good for cruise air: Guarantee onboard. Free transfers from airport to port.
Bad for cruise air: $50 or more expensive than you choose by your own. You won't know which airlines or rountings until 2-3 weeks before departure. If you want to customize your air ticket (stay one day before or one day later), they charge you $50 more.

Good for own air: It's cheap. and you can choose non-stop charter flight. i.e. Toronto - Ft. Lauderdale by Jetsgo normally CAD $400 incl. tax. somtimes, you can get $300 by air transat or less. Then you can take taxi or transfers from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami port. It's only 25mins ride. cruise line charge CAD $600 (Toronto - Miami). But it depends on availability.
Bad for own air: NO guarantee onboard. That means if flights delay or cancel, you will miss the ship. No refund you can get from cruise line. No refund from the charter flight.

here is my story:

Aug 29, we went to Mariner of the Seas for 7 NTS for East Caribbean leaving from Orlando. On last 2nd day of sailing, we were informed that Orlando Port was crashed by serious hurricanes. The ship can not park until next 3-4 business days. Capitain extended that sailing for another 3 NTs at sea. Finally the ship stop at Miami Port on Sep 07. And provide us free transfer from Miami back to Orlando. But our air tickets are by Jetsgo. They don't flight daily from Orlando to Toronto. The earliest day is Sep 10. At the end, we paid 3 nights hotels & meals in Orlando by ourselves. It's really out of our budget.
Maybe a good example for you.