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#1
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Cruise recommendation
We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are
looking for recommendations from the experts. Departure port isn't an issue as we have plenty of mileage on Continental Airlines as long as it's in the continental US. We could drive to Galveston though. Looking for a 7 day, but may have to go with a 5 day cruise. I think that an Eastern Caribbean cruise would be nice, but again, open for suggestions as long as it's sunny and warm. Would also like to see Key West, but not mandatory. Looking to stay at or preferably under $1,000 per person. Outside room would be nice, but I know that's probably asking a bit much for the budget. We are an early 40's couple with our son skipping this cruise and staying with Mimi. We aren't big party people, but we don't want an "old foggies" cruise either. We will drink a little, but probably can't afford to drink too much! We are looking for a good selection of decent quality food. Can take or leave the casino and showrooms. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much... Chuck |
#2
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Cruise recommendation - Oh yeah...
"C. Massey" wrote in message et... We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are looking for recommendations from the experts. snip Oh yeah... we are looking for Spring/Summer 2006 if that makes any difference... |
#3
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Cruise recommendation
Take this simple 4 question test to help you pick a cruise line.
http://www.02cruise.com/LineSearch/index.asp --Tom "C. Massey" wrote in message et... We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are looking for recommendations from the experts. Departure port isn't an issue as we have plenty of mileage on Continental Airlines as long as it's in the continental US. We could drive to Galveston though. Looking for a 7 day, but may have to go with a 5 day cruise. I think that an Eastern Caribbean cruise would be nice, but again, open for suggestions as long as it's sunny and warm. Would also like to see Key West, but not mandatory. Looking to stay at or preferably under $1,000 per person. Outside room would be nice, but I know that's probably asking a bit much for the budget. We are an early 40's couple with our son skipping this cruise and staying with Mimi. We aren't big party people, but we don't want an "old foggies" cruise either. We will drink a little, but probably can't afford to drink too much! We are looking for a good selection of decent quality food. Can take or leave the casino and showrooms. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much... Chuck |
#4
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Cruise recommendation
Tom K wrote:
Take this simple 4 question test to help you pick a cruise line. http://www.02cruise.com/LineSearch/index.asp --Tom "C. Massey" wrote in message et... We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are looking for recommendations from the experts. Departure port isn't an issue as we have plenty of mileage on Continental Airlines as long as it's in the continental US. We could drive to Galveston though. Tom this questionnaire is really a joke, no offense. The questions are to vague, especially if you are somewhat unfamiliar with the types of ships. I gave some realistic answers and ONLY Princess came up. I seriously recommend a travel agent Chuck. You have a good amount of data already and the agent can go over what's available and help you decide. I recommend you also look at everything that leaves from Galveston. Check out this search engine: http://www.7blueseas.com/cruises/advsearch.asp Clay |
#5
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Cruise recommendation
"C. Massey" wrote in message et... We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are looking for recommendations from the experts. Departure port isn't an issue as we have plenty of mileage on Continental Airlines as long as it's in the continental US. We could drive to Galveston though. Looking for a 7 day, but may have to go with a 5 day cruise. I think that an Eastern Caribbean cruise would be nice, but again, open for suggestions as long as it's sunny and warm. Would also like to see Key West, but not mandatory. Looking to stay at or preferably under $1,000 per person. Outside room would be nice, but I know that's probably asking a bit much for the budget. We are an early 40's couple with our son skipping this cruise and staying with Mimi. We aren't big party people, but we don't want an "old foggies" cruise either. We will drink a little, but probably can't afford to drink too much! We are looking for a good selection of decent quality food. Can take or leave the casino and showrooms. Anyone have any suggestions? Either Princess or RCI would be a good choice. Sometimes a Princess can have an older crowd on their 10 day cruises. The food is comparable on both. |
#6
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Cruise recommendation
In article , C. Massey
wrote: We are looking to book our, well my first cruise and my wife's 2nd. We are looking for recommendations from the experts. Departure port isn't an issue as we have plenty of mileage on Continental Airlines as long as it's in the continental US. With AA's Advantage Miles, it has turned into Lottery and American Airlines does not have a gambling license in my state. jay Mon Nov 21, 2005 We could drive to Galveston though. Looking for a 7 day, but may have to go with a 5 day cruise. I think that an Eastern Caribbean cruise would be nice, but again, open for suggestions as long as it's sunny and warm. Would also like to see Key West, but not mandatory. Looking to stay at or preferably under $1,000 per person. Outside room would be nice, but I know that's probably asking a bit much for the budget. We are an early 40's couple with our son skipping this cruise and staying with Mimi. We aren't big party people, but we don't want an "old foggies" cruise either. We will drink a little, but probably can't afford to drink too much! We are looking for a good selection of decent quality food. Can take or leave the casino and showrooms. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much... Chuck |
#7
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Cruise recommendation
Hi, Chuck,
We cruise out of Galveston sometimes. It's nice to drive to the port because you don't have to worry about airline baggage limitations. On the other hand, if you fly, you have more cruise options. The ships out of Galveston go to the Western Caribbean. You will have to fly to cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Your mention of Key West brings Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston to mind. We've been on that ship, and she consistently receives good reviews. There are two other great choices out of Galveston--the Grand Princess and Carnival Conquest. They don't go to Key West, but their itineraries are very attractive (the Grand Princess is the only one of the three that makes 4 port stops, which is a + or - depending on your preferences; note, all Western Carib cruises feature Cozumel, which was hard hit by the hurricane, but working fast to "come back" and already receiving cruise ships again, based on the many reports here and elsewhere their plans for recovery, I wouldn't hesitate to book a cruise stopping there, especially for next spring/summer). I honestly think any of those three ships would deliver a great cruise experience for you and your wife. We've cruised 14 times in the past 6 years on all of the mass market lines except Disney, and in my opinion--others are sure to disagree!--they're all pretty similar. We've never had a bad cruise--every experience includes good food, service, entertainment and accommodations, it's just that one line/ship might excel in one area over another. Based on our personal tastes and past cruises on these or similar ships, of the three Galveston-based ships, I'd say the Rhapsody will offer the best entertainment, the Grand Princess will feel slightly more elegant and offer better service, and the Conquest will be "gaudy as all get out" but offer the best food! I'll share a few general thoughts with you based on our cruise experiences. First, there aren't many cruises under 7 days. If you're going to cruise, just make time and budget for the full 7-day experience. You will have many more choices, and once aboard, you will understand why those last couple of days are so important to the overall experience. Second, if you want to see a particular port, the best way to figure out how to get there is to find that port's cruise calendar. I found this one for Key West: http://www.keywestcity.com/depts/por...ruiseships.asp Third, please remember not to get too committed to a particular port...if a captain determines the port must be missed due to weather, mechanical problems, medical emergency or other reason, you have no recourse for missing the port. The cruise contract basically entitles you to a week of fun, food and entertainment aboard the ship, but doesn't guarantee where your ship will be! Fourth, Spring/Summer cruise pricing and demographics are tricky. Prices spike for holidays and those times kids are out of school and families are cruising. So, you can figure there will be tons of families cruising and cruise prices will be higher over President's Week in February, the entire month of March = various spring breaks all over the country, Easter week in April, and then summer vacations approximately June 1 through Labor Day. A good way to evalute peak cruise weeks and pricing trends is to use the advanced cruise search function at Travelocity. (I'm not pushing them as a travel agency--I've never bought a cruise from them, I just like their user friendly interface.) You can input your desired destination, dates, etc., and then you will receive a hit list. When you see a cruise that looks interested, hit the "More Info" button. The next page will show the itinerary, and then when you scroll down, you will see the sailing calendar with pricing for inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins. After you compare the sailing calendars with prices of several ships at the same time you are looking at your own calendar for key dates, e.g., Easter, you will be able to zero in on the weeks during the spring that look best for you. Of course, do not rely on Travelocity to the exclusion of other information sources. I agree 100%, you need a travel agent to guide you and provide the most current and accurate information about the cruises that interest you. However, I think you will get better help from a TA and be happier with your travel plans if you continue doing some of your own research as you are doing now. Two more online resources that are helpful are the articles, reviews and discussion forums at http://www.cruisecritic.com and http://www.cruisemates.com I like to supplement with some "old-fashioned" books...and your local library will stock current travel guides cruising and the Caribbean. Have fun researching & planning, Diana Ball near Houston, TX |
#8
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Cruise recommendation
"D Ball" wrote in message ... Hi, Chuck, We cruise out of Galveston sometimes. It's nice to drive to the port because you don't have to worry about airline baggage limitations. On the other hand, if you fly, you have more cruise options. The ships out of Galveston go to the Western Caribbean. You will have to fly to cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Your mention of Key West brings Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston to mind. We've been on that ship, and she consistently receives good reviews. There are two other great choices out of Galveston--the Grand Princess and Carnival Conquest. They don't go to Key West, but their itineraries are very attractive (the Grand Princess is the only one of the three that makes 4 port stops, which is a + or - depending on your preferences; note, all Western Carib cruises feature Cozumel, which was hard hit by the hurricane, but working fast to "come back" and already receiving cruise ships again, based on the many reports here and elsewhere their plans for recovery, I wouldn't hesitate to book a cruise stopping there, especially for next spring/summer). I honestly think any of those three ships would deliver a great cruise experience for you and your wife. We've cruised 14 times in the past 6 years on all of the mass market lines except Disney, and in my opinion--others are sure to disagree!--they're all pretty similar. We've never had a bad cruise--every experience includes good food, service, entertainment and accommodations, it's just that one line/ship might excel in one area over another. Based on our personal tastes and past cruises on these or similar ships, of the three Galveston-based ships, I'd say the Rhapsody will offer the best entertainment, the Grand Princess will feel slightly more elegant and offer better service, and the Conquest will be "gaudy as all get out" but offer the best food! I'll share a few general thoughts with you based on our cruise experiences. First, there aren't many cruises under 7 days. If you're going to cruise, just make time and budget for the full 7-day experience. You will have many more choices, and once aboard, you will understand why those last couple of days are so important to the overall experience. Second, if you want to see a particular port, the best way to figure out how to get there is to find that port's cruise calendar. I found this one for Key West: http://www.keywestcity.com/depts/por...ruiseships.asp Third, please remember not to get too committed to a particular port...if a captain determines the port must be missed due to weather, mechanical problems, medical emergency or other reason, you have no recourse for missing the port. The cruise contract basically entitles you to a week of fun, food and entertainment aboard the ship, but doesn't guarantee where your ship will be! Fourth, Spring/Summer cruise pricing and demographics are tricky. Prices spike for holidays and those times kids are out of school and families are cruising. So, you can figure there will be tons of families cruising and cruise prices will be higher over President's Week in February, the entire month of March = various spring breaks all over the country, Easter week in April, and then summer vacations approximately June 1 through Labor Day. A good way to evalute peak cruise weeks and pricing trends is to use the advanced cruise search function at Travelocity. (I'm not pushing them as a travel agency--I've never bought a cruise from them, I just like their user friendly interface.) You can input your desired destination, dates, etc., and then you will receive a hit list. When you see a cruise that looks interested, hit the "More Info" button. The next page will show the itinerary, and then when you scroll down, you will see the sailing calendar with pricing for inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins. After you compare the sailing calendars with prices of several ships at the same time you are looking at your own calendar for key dates, e.g., Easter, you will be able to zero in on the weeks during the spring that look best for you. Of course, do not rely on Travelocity to the exclusion of other information sources. I agree 100%, you need a travel agent to guide you and provide the most current and accurate information about the cruises that interest you. However, I think you will get better help from a TA and be happier with your travel plans if you continue doing some of your own research as you are doing now. Two more online resources that are helpful are the articles, reviews and discussion forums at http://www.cruisecritic.com and http://www.cruisemates.com I like to supplement with some "old-fashioned" books...and your local library will stock current travel guides cruising and the Caribbean. Have fun researching & planning, Diana Ball near Houston, TX Thanks Diana... Good advice. I went to Travelocity and it kept timing out on me, no matter how fast I flew through the search. Errrrr. I am not dead set on any ports, and actually, really don't care to do anything other than maybe hit the beach, walk a little and maybe grab a burger during the ports. I don't really care to buy excursions unless I could find a snorkeling excursion cheap. I plan on going through a TA here in town, but I am getting ideas and researching before I contact the TA, because I want to be educated before I buy. A friend at work has worked on several cruise lines, Celebrity and Princess being ones that I remember. I have talked to him before, but he can't give any info other than what a crew member sees and experiences onboard. And does he have some stories! haha How about another question or two. We are going to be on a fairly tight budget, especially if we depart other than Galveston or Houston. Is it worth the extra couple of hundred dollars to get an outside room with a window vs an inside room? How about a balcony room vs a window room? If we spend more money on the room, we will have to cut back somewhere else. I know this is a hard question to answer, but how much should a person take for spending money? Like I said, not to interested in excursions, but we will probably buy a few souvenirs, etc. What would I expect to pay for a drink onboard? Thanks again... |
#9
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Cruise recommendation
D Ball wrote:
Your mention of Key West brings Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston to mind. We've been on that ship, and she consistently receives good reviews. Diana, I'm really glad to hear you mention this ship. My husband and I are booked on the Rhapsody out of Galveston the week of January 15th, and one of the reasons we chose it was for the afternoon stop in Key West. It'll be great fun to be there for sunset, which, as you know, many ships are not. We have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Rhapsody, having sailed the Splendour out of Galveston, but it's nice to hear first hand. We've got a great, aft corner balcony awaiting, so I'm happy no matter where we go! ~ Peri diligently working her way from Diamond to Platinum membership! |
#10
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Cruise recommendation
"C. Massey" wrote in message om... "D Ball" wrote in message ... Hi, Chuck, We cruise out of Galveston sometimes. It's nice to drive to the port because you don't have to worry about airline baggage limitations. On the other hand, if you fly, you have more cruise options. The ships out of Galveston go to the Western Caribbean. You will have to fly to cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. Your mention of Key West brings Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas out of Galveston to mind. We've been on that ship, and she consistently receives good reviews. There are two other great choices out of Galveston--the Grand Princess and Carnival Conquest. They don't go to Key West, but their itineraries are very attractive (the Grand Princess is the only one of the three that makes 4 port stops, which is a + or - depending on your preferences; note, all Western Carib cruises feature Cozumel, which was hard hit by the hurricane, but working fast to "come back" and already receiving cruise ships again, based on the many reports here and elsewhere their plans for recovery, I wouldn't hesitate to book a cruise stopping there, especially for next spring/summer). I honestly think any of those three ships would deliver a great cruise experience for you and your wife. We've cruised 14 times in the past 6 years on all of the mass market lines except Disney, and in my opinion--others are sure to disagree!--they're all pretty similar. We've never had a bad cruise--every experience includes good food, service, entertainment and accommodations, it's just that one line/ship might excel in one area over another. Based on our personal tastes and past cruises on these or similar ships, of the three Galveston-based ships, I'd say the Rhapsody will offer the best entertainment, the Grand Princess will feel slightly more elegant and offer better service, and the Conquest will be "gaudy as all get out" but offer the best food! I'll share a few general thoughts with you based on our cruise experiences. First, there aren't many cruises under 7 days. If you're going to cruise, just make time and budget for the full 7-day experience. You will have many more choices, and once aboard, you will understand why those last couple of days are so important to the overall experience. Second, if you want to see a particular port, the best way to figure out how to get there is to find that port's cruise calendar. I found this one for Key West: http://www.keywestcity.com/depts/por...ruiseships.asp Third, please remember not to get too committed to a particular port...if a captain determines the port must be missed due to weather, mechanical problems, medical emergency or other reason, you have no recourse for missing the port. The cruise contract basically entitles you to a week of fun, food and entertainment aboard the ship, but doesn't guarantee where your ship will be! Fourth, Spring/Summer cruise pricing and demographics are tricky. Prices spike for holidays and those times kids are out of school and families are cruising. So, you can figure there will be tons of families cruising and cruise prices will be higher over President's Week in February, the entire month of March = various spring breaks all over the country, Easter week in April, and then summer vacations approximately June 1 through Labor Day. A good way to evalute peak cruise weeks and pricing trends is to use the advanced cruise search function at Travelocity. (I'm not pushing them as a travel agency--I've never bought a cruise from them, I just like their user friendly interface.) You can input your desired destination, dates, etc., and then you will receive a hit list. When you see a cruise that looks interested, hit the "More Info" button. The next page will show the itinerary, and then when you scroll down, you will see the sailing calendar with pricing for inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins. After you compare the sailing calendars with prices of several ships at the same time you are looking at your own calendar for key dates, e.g., Easter, you will be able to zero in on the weeks during the spring that look best for you. Of course, do not rely on Travelocity to the exclusion of other information sources. I agree 100%, you need a travel agent to guide you and provide the most current and accurate information about the cruises that interest you. However, I think you will get better help from a TA and be happier with your travel plans if you continue doing some of your own research as you are doing now. Two more online resources that are helpful are the articles, reviews and discussion forums at http://www.cruisecritic.com and http://www.cruisemates.com I like to supplement with some "old-fashioned" books...and your local library will stock current travel guides cruising and the Caribbean. Have fun researching & planning, Diana Ball near Houston, TX Thanks Diana... Good advice. I went to Travelocity and it kept timing out on me, no matter how fast I flew through the search. Errrrr. I am not dead set on any ports, and actually, really don't care to do anything other than maybe hit the beach, walk a little and maybe grab a burger during the ports. I don't really care to buy excursions unless I could find a snorkeling excursion cheap. I plan on going through a TA here in town, but I am getting ideas and researching before I contact the TA, because I want to be educated before I buy. A friend at work has worked on several cruise lines, Celebrity and Princess being ones that I remember. I have talked to him before, but he can't give any info other than what a crew member sees and experiences onboard. And does he have some stories! haha How about another question or two. We are going to be on a fairly tight budget, especially if we depart other than Galveston or Houston. Is it worth the extra couple of hundred dollars to get an outside room with a window vs an inside room? How about a balcony room vs a window room? If we spend more money on the room, we will have to cut back somewhere else. I know this is a hard question to answer, but how much should a person take for spending money? Like I said, not to interested in excursions, but we will probably buy a few souvenirs, etc. What would I expect to pay for a drink onboard? Thanks again... I am same age group as you, I like Carnival. I have cruised Celebrity & NCL (but not since freestyle) as well. I sort of operate on the no cruise is a bad cruise. In fact, I booked an el cheapo 4 day cruise on the Tropicale just before it went out of service. I'd heard many bad things about it (and it was a bit worn), but it fit the time table and price, and it was one of the best....so if you go with an open mind & you will have a good time. I found Celebrity to be an older person's cruise, but I enjoyed it as well, and cruised her again within the next 6 months. But overall, Carnival has good food and is not as "old" type cruise, though be preppared for a few rednecks. We have the rednecks around here so they arent a big deal to me, though they might be to others. As far as an inside, oceanview, or balcony---I prefer the balcony. I have just had one on one cruise, the last, but I wouldnt go back to an oceanview unless I just had to. I loved just sitting out on my little deck. I dont like an inside because I wound up sleeping though lunch once and couldnt wake up with the darkness. But once again, dependant on my finances I would take any room just to cruise! |
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