I tried my hardest

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

 

What are the extra costs?

 

Tips, taxes, port fees. I wouldn't cruise CCL even if the room was free because it would still cost me too much to cruise with them. :D

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

[halos]

In my experience, the best way to get a good rate on NCL is to book way in advance (if that is something you are able to do).

Prices far out are good. As time goes on and the cabins start to sell, forget it...supply demand causes rates to go up way above CCL's.

 

I have limited experience with RCI but the current cruise I have booked with them wound up costing me more because I hesitated by one week....quite a bit more.

Timing is everything.

[TerReuv]

What are the extra costs?

 

Tips, taxes, port fees. I wouldn't cruise CCL even if the room was free because it would still cost me too much to cruise with them. :D

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

 

Pretty sure all lines charge tips, taxes & port fees. If not, I would love to know who does not charge that and how much does that really add to your fare?

[JerseyshoreBruce]

I'm getting ready to cruise on CCL next month. I've sailed on CCL and RCI many times in the past. I've sailed a lot mainly with CCL recently and was open to going back to RCI. I was able to get a balcony on the Lido deck with CCL for about $350 cheaper per person than an inside or ocean view with RCI for the same week. I can't see spending $700 more for a week long cruise with the same ports of call, similar food and entertainment, etc. just to sail with RCI...but that's my own opinion.

Thats exactly how i feel. I make my own goodtime.....i wouldn't rely on any cruiseline being my entertainment. It does kill me though that i can't drive to Bayonne NJ or NY and cruise for less than my airfare and cruise combined on Carnival in FL or NO. So its a win win for me as i am already in the (blue) water to start :)

[Tapi]

If the cheapest price is the deciding factor, Carnival is almost always the winner. However, if I'm looking at a specific itinerary, more polished experience, or a litany of other factors, Carnival usually is NOT the winner.

 

Sometimes we are willing to pay more. Sometimes we are not. This year we chose Holland America to Alaska. Next year we are choosing the new Royal Princess. If our cruise selection had been solely based on price for these two cruises, we would've been on the Fascination out of Jacksonville both times! :eek:

[JerseyshoreBruce]

If the cheapest price is the deciding factor, Carnival is almost always the winner. However, if I'm looking at a specific itinerary, more polished experience, or a litany of other factors, Carnival usually is NOT the winner.

 

Sometimes we are willing to pay more. Sometimes we are not. This year we chose Holland America to Alaska. Next year we are choosing the new Royal Princess. If our cruise selection had been solely based on price for these two cruises, we would've been on the Fascination out of Jacksonville both times! :eek:

Agree, if i am ever doing Bermuda it would have to be on another cruiseline.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Tips, taxes, port fees. I wouldn't cruise CCL even if the room was free because it would still cost me too much to cruise with them. :D

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

 

Pretty sure all lines charge tips, taxes & port fees. If not, I would love to know who does not charge that and how much does that really add to your fare?

 

Oh my word, you guys are missing the point. All cruise lines charge those, yes, I never said they didn't. I said I wouldn't go on a CCL if the room was FREE because I'd still have to pay those incidentals and for a CCL, that's STILL too much! (Because you couldn't get me on one for free, because I'd still have to pay something for it and in my opinion, any $ for CCL is too much...) Nevermind. Sheesh. If you have to explain it ten thousand times, it's just not worth the joke!

[stlouistravelers]

Hopefully this is allowed but I booked my September cruise 45 days out off of an email I got. I booked 5 days for $250pp for a balcony. I don't know who they are but they did me good. My DW says if you find what you want on the site you can go to your TA and they should be able to book the same thing. My cruise I booked on HAL thru my TA (love her) for January was considerably more expensive but it is a 10 day partial Panama Canal trip. If you are interested in the site just pm me. A simple google search should bring them up.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

Oh my word, you guys are missing the point. All cruise lines charge those, yes, I never said they didn't. I said I wouldn't go on a CCL if the room was FREE because I'd still have to pay those incidentals and for a CCL, that's STILL too much! (Because you couldn't get me on one for free, because I'd still have to pay something for it and in my opinion, any $ for CCL is too much...) Nevermind. Sheesh. If you have to explain it ten thousand times, it's just not worth the joke!

 

I noticed your cruises on Carnival were on older ships....not that i haven't cruised on one of their older ships but maybe thats why you didn't like Carnival too. I have cruised on the Miracle when it was almost new and this next cruise is on the Breeze which is new. So much more to do on the newest ships tho they do hold more passangers which is why the Miracle is still my favorite. A cruise is what you make it.

[SKeighley]

No one ever really claims to be cheaper than CCL. The deals are comparative to each line (like what a good deal on DCL or RCI is). Personally I hope you have a great time. I LOVE NOLA. But I wouldn't get on a free CCL at the moment, so they can't have a cheap enough deal for me...maybe if they paid me, I could 'suffer' with it! :D But not with all the extra costs. I think its great that you are living the multi cruise life (evidently). I learned this year that if one has a really great cruise, you don't need (or necessarily even want) multiple mediocre ones...at least IMO!

 

Cruise along! :)

 

If you dislike Carnival so much, Why are you on her boards??????

[Cruising Rules]

A lot of times, most prices are better on Carnival....but there are plenty of times when you can get a better deal on a different cruise line. For example, right now it would be about $210 less per person to go on Holland America to Alaska in early September instead of Carnival and about $125 less per person on Norwegian.

 

Princess out of Galveston to Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel is about $9 per person more than Carnival on the same itinerary for an inside, but about $40 less per person for a balcony.

 

There are also some next year in May where Royal Caribbean is a little cheaper....you just have to look, and it depends on where and when you want to go.

 

I agree you can often find other cruise lines (reputable ones!) that have prices that comptete well with Carnival. I have even found Celebrity cruises that are cost competitive with Carnival. The key is to use good online travel sites where you can compare prices.

[vigurl]

The key is to use good online travel sites where you can compare prices.

 

I wish you could share these b/c I sure have never found one.

[Maxiecat3]

Hopefully this is allowed but I booked my September cruise 45 days out off of an email I got. I booked 5 days for $250pp for a balcony. I don't know who they are but they did me good. My DW says if you find what you want on the site you can go to your TA and they should be able to book the same thing. My cruise I booked on HAL thru my TA (love her) for January was considerably more expensive but it is a 10 day partial Panama Canal trip. If you are interested in the site just pm me. A simple google search should bring them up.

 

Just so you are aware for the future, this is not allowed per T&C on Cruise Critic.

 

Gregg

[graphicguy]

I looked at two RCCL cruises for Sept several weeks ago, when I was considering another summer cruise. I could have gone on the Oasis or Allure cheaper than the upcoming Breeze. Not by a lot of money. But, I caught the Breeze over a few day period where it was the same price.

 

I had already been on the Allure, and the Oasis is almost identical, so I chose the Breeze. Leaving this coming weekend. So, to get the Breeze deal, I had to move my departure up to August, which I was able to do.

 

I also agree that if you can book far enough ahead, NCL has deals. But, they seem to fill up quick, and prices rise accordingly.

[cruisinthemed]

We have been sailing Carnival mostly for the last 4 years (21 cruises), but have recently booked NCL Dawn for a 14 day repo, Nov 2014. Carnival didn't have a ship that could compare @ $699 for 14 days & those ports. Fortunately, NCL now give stock credit perks...not as good as Carnival ($100), but we already got $75 when we booked. I look for itinerary & price.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I noticed your cruises on Carnival were on older ships....not that i haven't cruised on one of their older ships but maybe thats why you didn't like Carnival too. I have cruised on the Miracle when it was almost new and this next cruise is on the Breeze which is new. So much more to do on the newest ships tho they do hold more passangers which is why the Miracle is still my favorite. A cruise is what you make it.

 

Well I LOVED my CCL Holiday in 2008! It was my #1 favorite cruise with them. Biggest cabin I ever had, some of the best service and food I can remember. Great trip.

 

CCL # 2 was in 2011 with Triumph! REALLY good cruise as well! Amazing staff and tons of fun.

 

CCL # 3 on the Conquest in 2012... still fun, sushi bar yay! Service was slow but friendly.

 

CCL # 4 on the Dream 2013. That I believe is the newest CCL I have been on and my dead last most unhappy cruise. I have a review posted on CC for it. It's not all 1s or 0s (I gave kudos where due) but a cruise is a product, not what you make of it. (If you haven't been on any of the other cruise lines, than you have no basis to compare until you do. There really is a reason that we are going to other lines, and not just because we have loads to spend... I spent probably $1500 alone with CCL -not including tours- and it was quite a bit of money to be just glad to be home. You shouldn't have to 'make a cruise what you make it' if you are spending a chunk of money...it's weirdly like it costs too much for the value and not enough to give you a great serviced trip or something, like some weird dimension in the middle...) This cruise was the most expensive I have taken with CCL and by far offered the least for it. When I packed up to disembark, I was just fine and dandy to leave the ship, and I have never felt that way about a cruise. When I got home, I said "thank goodness I'm home." Ever spent a buncha money only to say "thank goodness I'm back?" I never had before. Although I don't have any complaints necessarily about the ship itself (except for the normal smokey casino they funnel you thru or the 'you can't get there from here' decks 3-5 thing, but that is by no means exclusive to the Dream) and even someone else I talked to without me saying anything said the Dream was her least favorite and the staff were fighting each other on it. (I experienced this too.) Very unfriendly ship for the most part... (although the entertainment crew was fun!)

 

As for why I'm here, well I poke in and around all the cruise forums for cruises I've been on. I've spent the most money with CCL than any other line and I've got gold status, and it's a cruise forum for criticism. I'd be happy to sing CCL's praises like I have for years. Now they don't earn it. That's strictly my opinion, but it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to post here just because their last cruise stinkin' stunk....

[MsMot]

300 per person is a lot to pay for another cruise line but dont think we would do anything older than spirit class and actually prefer conquest class.

 

Now I agree with you on that! After the Triumph's issues earlier this year, DH and I agreed that we would only sail the newer ships. I know newer ships can also experience mechanical problems, but they are far less likely to have engine problems than ships that have been running non-stop for years. We sail every other year and the next cruise will be the Breeze, the next cruise year Carnival will have rolled out the Vista and that is our target.

 

Does anyone know if Carnival is overhauling the engines as they're doing the 2.0 upgrades? I have only heard about all of the aesthetic things, but knowing that their engines have been overhauled as well may put our minds at ease.

[halos]

. I'd be happy to sing CCL's praises like I have for years. Now they don't earn it. That's strictly my opinion, but it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to post here just because their last cruise stinkin' stunk....

 

LOL...stinkin' stunk :p

 

I agree with what you said prior to that....they don't earn it from me anymore either and I used to wear the pom-poms.

 

And to the OP...'A cruise is what you make it'

Absolutely. Life in general is what you make it. I'd much rather spend my money sailing the line where my enjoyment is effortless and I don't need to 'make it' great....it just is.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

LOL...stinkin' stunk :p

 

I agree with what you said prior to that....they don't earn it from me anymore either and I used to wear the pom-poms.

 

And to the OP...'A cruise is what you make it'

Absolutely. Life in general is what you make it. I'd much rather spend my money sailing the line where my enjoyment is effortless and I don't need to 'make it' great....it just is.

 

I think you both have missed the meaning in what you make it......i mean im not one to complain about every little thing like people i see around me at restaurants ect. I think its all about spending time with my family and friends and not worrying if i didn't like the "iron steak" or "mac n chesse" i hope you understand im just easy to please as well as to get along with. With that said i do hate a few things CCL has done or done away with...like i don't care what people say, the mattresses are not the same.....no more trays to carry drinks with your food.....less staff in DR........miss the fruit punch....and a few of the foods they did away with.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

LOL but other than that, it's great! :p

[JerseyshoreBruce]

Exactly ;)

[halos]

I think you both have missed the meaning in what you make it......i mean im not one to complain about every little thing like people i see around me at restaurants ect. I think its all about spending time with my family and friends and not worrying if i didn't like the "iron steak" or "mac n chesse" i hope you understand im just easy to please as well as to get along with. With that said i do hate a few things CCL has done or done away with...like i don't care what people say, the mattresses are not the same.....no more trays to carry drinks with your food.....less staff in DR........miss the fruit punch....and a few of the foods they did away with.

I agree. When I cruise CCL, I enjoy it for what it is...I don't look for things to focus on and pick apart...but I notice...and if then I cruise other lines and don't find these issues, then CCL comes up short. I enjoy the cruise I'm on....but I can only take one at a time, so obviously when I book again, it will be on the one that fit better, with less notable negatives. And if I'm asked for reference by anyone, then CCL will not be the one I recommend.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

I agree. When I cruise CCL, I enjoy it for what it is...I don't look for things to focus on and pick apart...but I notice...and if then I cruise other lines and don't find these issues, then CCL comes up short. I enjoy the cruise I'm on....but I can only take one at a time, so obviously when I book again, it will be on the one that fit better, with less notable negatives. And if I'm asked for reference by anyone, then CCL will not be the one I recommend.

Well said....thank you for all the good advice you add to this site

[peptobysmol]

But I wouldn't get on a free CCL at the moment, so they can't have a cheap enough deal for me...maybe if they paid me, I could 'suffer' with it!

 

This just sounds stupid.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

This just sounds stupid.

LOL it is stupid....i would take a free cruise on any line. Even on Holland or Cunard.