When was your 1st cruise and how much you pay for it?

[sunny delight]

Our 1st cruise was our honeymoon in 1991 on the Dolphin. No idea who ran this cruise line. We paid for an inside cabin but told them it was our honeymoon and were called for an upgrade before sail away to an oceanview with a queen bed. I think the cost was about $500 for 4 nights. We loved it!!

[nelblu]

You got a great buy on that cruise! I just loved that ship!

 

 

It was long, long time ago. One of the more fantastic views, other than Venice, is sailing along the lower Hudson and viewing the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

[geocruiser]

It was long, long time ago. One of the more fantastic views, other than Venice, is sailing along the lower Hudson and viewing the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

You are right about the view. I started sailing on Oceanic about 1977, out of NYC. It was a great cruise line. The food was wonderful.

[KeywestK]

First cruise was June, 1994, Sovereign of the Seas, 7-night Eastern Caribbean, OV cabin. Paid $1,2000 pp all in including R/T air BWI to MIA.

 

Just as a sidebar, the only info we had access to was the Royal Caribbean catalog that the travel agent gave us. The internet was in its infancy so researching online was not an option. Fodor's travel books were used back then. Bottom line, even without extensive research, over planning, CC forums, etc., we had the BEST time ever!!! Nothing ever came close to that first WOW!!

[celebrity]

Our honeymoon, June 10, 1979 on Hal's Volendam 7 day to Bermuda from NYC.

Paid $699 pp for a Oceanview cabin on deck 6 ( no balcony cabins in those days). Deck 6 was considered the creme de la creme back then. LOL

My family joined us onboard for a Bon Voyage party and we waved as we sailed away past the Statue of Liberty at sunset. It was magical!

Those were the days when they personally escorted you to your cabin, the orchestra was playing in the foyer as you entered, service was impeccable, everyone dressed to the nines.

Miss those days..

However, once we had 2 sons that expressed an interest in something other than Disney, we were back at sea and have shared 19 additional cruises on RCI, Celebrity and Princess.

They are now adults and still sail with us.

[nelblu]

Mine was in 1991 on the Big Red Boat. The cost was $299. + port charges that were about the same. I remember thinking "why don't they include the port charges so they don't seem to be so much!" It was an inside cabin. I never had a balcony until my 30th cruise.

 

We went on the Big Red Boat with our kids, and I believe one of them was the "Oceanic." It comprised of 3 night cruise to Nassau and 4 nights at Disneyworld.

[jayblue]

Majesty of the Seas. August 1993. $1,100

 

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[Nebr.cruiser]

Around 1976? on the Chandris Line Regina Magna; As I remember, roundtrip from Omaha (air included) for 7 nights was about $299pp.

 

This was a grand old lady--we got a pretty huge room in the absolute bow of the ship-the room was even pointy shaped--size was great but the movement was so bad that I was sick for the first two days--the only other time I've been seasick was on the Cozumel ferry.

 

It was a great cruise, midnight buffet on deck, food to die for (you should have seen the lobsters!) and at the time we thought the entertainment was great--probably wouldn't now. Oh to be young again.

 

We still love cruising.

[orville99]

1981 on the SS Veendam 7-night from NYC to Bermuda. Oceanview (actually a porthole) cabin. It was so small that we had to check our empty suitcases with the cabin steward. ~$3000 including airfare.

[Homosassa]

February 1976, Chandris Britanis, 7 day cruise, round trip from Aruba, inside cabin, $350. The fare included round trip air on KLM from New York City to Aruba.

[boscobeans]

September 29, 2001.

Zenith from NYC to Bermuda.

Due to the attack on 9/11 the cruise left from Baltimore.

 

Even with a pretty rugged storm tossing us around like ten pins on the first night and day at sea we were hooked. We had suite 1008 with Zenobio as our butler. No verandas on the Zenith back then, but a pretty nice cabin for our first cruise. Price ?? $3,000 ?? Not sure.

 

Sixteen cruises later we are still as excited as our first when we begin packing our suitcases.

 

bosco

[Cruzin-K]

July 1997, Carnival Jubilee.

 

I think we paid just over $700pp for the worst inside cabin in the history of inside cabins. I didn't cruise again for another seven years (and never sailed in an inside cabin again).

Edited September 12, 2014 by Cruzin-K

[NeuroQueen]

Our first cruise was on the Carnivale in 1986. We had a porthole that you had to stand on the twin bed to look out of. I remember thinking it was expensive but don't recall the price. The first 7 day cruise was on the Carnival Holiday in 1988 with a real window. The price was $1200pp no air and I think we must have had the richest travel agent in history. It was so different back then, but I've been hooked ever since. Researching cruises without the internet used to be quite expensive. I should have stock in travel books. Soon to go on my 60th cruise on my 60th birthday which I think is totally cool! Scary how fast time passes by. Great thread by the way!

[knuterock8]

Fairsea took family of 5 inside cabins 1985 11 days 8500. Including air from sfo to fll

[Sitzmark]

This past spring, it was a Disney cruise so we spent more than it was worth.

[kmurph22]

honeymoon, Monarch of the Seas, 1992, southern Caribbean out of San Juan. We paid $699 for an obstructed balcony cabin.

[susieatsea]

Our first cruise was on NCL's Sunward II in 1982. We paid $720 for both including port taxes for a suite. :)

Edited September 13, 2014 by susieatsea

[MattInFLL]

1989, Queen of Bermuda (Bermuda Star Line) - western Caribbean out of New Orleans. Hated it. Didn't cruise again for 10 years, when I tried Carnival Tropicale. That was not much better. I was convinced by a friend that the 3rd time is a charm and tried Explorer of the Seas in 2002 and was hooked.

 

The tiny ocean view 1950's cabin on Queen of Bermuda ran something like $800 p/p for steerage.

[smoosh21]

I did a search and couldn't find anything similar to this.......so here goes.....

So not only price you paid, but what was the ship and cabin type (some of you may need to burn some brain cells to come up with this :D )

My first cruise was April 1987 on the (original) Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam......I think we paid in the neighborhood of about $599 pp for pretty much an entry level inside cabin.

I'm thinking that in the price was the port taxes of about ? $39pp and Gov't taxes of probably like $15pp.......those are a little different now. :cool:

 

As a sidebar, has anybody gone through the Panama Canal in the last year or so? For a 10 night cruise, you're looking at about $600pp for both of those taxes !! (give or take depending on the cruise line) They're going to have that new canal paid off in no time......do the math......how much they making off that ship ? :eek: Mind boogling

 

 

We did the full Canal transit in 2009 on the Coral Princess and we were told that the toll for the ship was around $330,000. The cruise lines pay the absolute maximum fare because they move right to the front of the line and go through during prime sunlight hours for passengers. They actually didnt break out that fee as part of the tax, but it was part of the cruise fare at that time.

[1ParticularHbr]

Sovereign of the Seas in 2000. It was $179p/p (inside cabin) for a 3 night Bahamas. If you time it right, you can still get a similar cruise on Majesty for the same or less. So much for inflation!

[kohlepe]

Paid $650 for 3 nts on IOS.

[Ladysilver]

Our first cruise was in 2000 on the Norwegian Sea. We had an obstructed oceanview for 3 people for $1,400. It was a wonderful cruise and the reason we fell in love with cruising. :D

[gw2fll]

Our first cruise was on S/S Emerald Seas back in 1981. The 3 Night cruise to the Bahamas ran ~$500pp - and that was an Inside Cabin. (That comes to ~$2,500 in today's dollars.) Could you imagine paying that kind of a price for a 3 night cruise? That just goes to show how much of a value a cruise is today. Plus all the extras / amenities we get today.

 

I found a copy from a brochure back in the '80's - thought everyone would enjoy.

 

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And remember the buffets...

 

 

And the "high-end" cabins (notice - no balcony's)

 

 

We have come a long way. Truly appreciative for what we get for the money today.

[DavidUno]

Carnival Mardi Gras May 1985, $500 for shared 4 berth cabin, I think it was for a week.

[John&LaLa]

Feb 1989, 3 night Bahamas, $1,150 for both, inside, upper and lower:eek:. First RCL was Nordic Empress, April 2002, 5 night Southern, Fare was $170 and port charges $132, $614 total for both.