Hi! Can you help me pick out a cruise!

[Ksweetness]

Hi, everyone! I look forward to interacting with each of you and appreciate you taking the time to read my question.

 

My husband and I will celebrate 15 years of marriage soon, and we want to enjoy a getaway sans our six children.

 

I would love some recommendations. Here are some details that may prove helpful:

 

• We live in South Georgia and prefer to cruise from Jacksonville or Port Canaveral.
  
• Our first choice of dates would be to depart on June 29, but we also have availability in July and August.
  
• Our first preference would be a 5-night cruise.
  
• We do not drink or gamble and are not the least bit interested in the club scene.
  
• We do enjoy water park, spa, and theater activities; but our priority will be relaxation and private reconnecting time.
  

 

 

Any advice you can offer will be appreciated and taken into consideration! We will be traveling on a budget and would also appreciate information about any hidden costs involved in cruising or tips for getting a low-price cruise (even if we have to wait until fall perhaps).

[Cruisin' Chick]

Ask among your friends, family and co-workers for recommendations for a good cruise specialist (a travel agent who specializes in cruises). Then go in with your info and ask for suggestions. Be aware that summer time will be a high demand time because that's when families can go (while school is out). Plus many cruises in early summer, even mid-summer, might already be sold out.

[cb at sea]

All cruises require a per person gratuity....it usually runs around $12 per person, per day....(depends on the cruise line, but that's about the average amount).

 

 

The shows are included in your fare on all the different lines. Spa treatments are more expensive than on land....so unless that's a must....you can skip it and save a bunch of money.

 

You can do all the relaxing and re-connecting you want on ANY cruise line. Carnivals standard cabins are the largest....NCL's suite have the best "perks"...

 

Other than that...the cruise lines are all more similar than different.

 

Yes.. a good travel agent is what you need!

Edited May 9, 2015 by cb at sea

[Illyria]

Basically once you limit your selection by port and date, you are looking at a few specific ships (not that there's anything wrong with that...might actually make it easier to choose, IMHO).

 

If you're looking to sail out of Jacksonville this summer, you're looking at Carnival Fascination, 4- and 5-day Bahamas itineraries. An online discount cruise site lists those at peak season in June, and prices drop considerably in August.

 

Port Canaveral has a few more options - again, you're looking at Bahamas for 5-day cruises (other Caribbean itineraries are 7-8 days). Carnival Sunshine has 5-day itineraries, and both Carnival Sensation and RCCL Enchantment OTS have 4-day itineraries.

 

You can read ship reviews on CC or anywhere else and decide whether you like what you see.

 

We can't recommend travel agents or websites here, but if you google "discount cruise vacations", pretty much anything on the first 10 results on the page will give you very comparable rates. You will certainly pay less in August or September than you will in June, but on short cruises the price differential might not be so big.

 

Be aware that the price listed will not include taxes and port fees; also you will be charge a daily service charge ("gratuity"), which is $12/per person/per day (more if you're in a suite...but it doesn't sound like you're planning on booking a suite). While the gratuity is "optional", it gets split between numerous people that will be providing you with food and hotel service for your entire cruise and who rely on those gratuities for a living, so it's best to leave them in place. Beyond that, there are really no "hidden" costs - there are costs that are optional but you'll see them clearly before you decide whether or not to partake. You mentioned the spa, spa treatments are definitely extra.

[Essiesmom]

Just to broaden your choices, you might add Charleston into your possible ports. Chances are it is closer to you than Port Canaveral. Personally, I find it really handy to sail from Jacksonville. EM

[Captain Canuck]

I would go for a week...you spend the first day boarding..enjoyable but at most half a day and when you factor in unpacking etc the day is gone

 

likewise last day is getting off..so day before have to spend at least some time packing

 

when we starting cruising we saved a lot of $ by doing inside guarantee. paid for the cheapest inside cabin. when that category sells out you may get bumped up to a better cabin. we always did except on one 12 day repositioning cruise Rome to Copenhagen. no light was not the best but this was a port intensive cruise so not much time in the cabin.

 

biggest extras on a cruise are booze gambling and excursions. most of the time we avoid ship excursions unless there is a chance we could get back to the ship late.

 

also would suggest you include Miami and port everglades. lots of choices there so cruise prices are lower.

[t_car]

A lot of good information for you here.

This sounds like it's your first cruise.

I would highly recommend Carnival Fascination out of Jacksonville.

We did this cruise a few years ago, as par of a longer holiday at Hilton Head, SC.

This is an older ship, but you would not know it. It is well looked after, and we had a great time. The 5 day is a nicer cruise. And going mid to late August, before the start of school, is the most cost effective option.

 

Attached are pics from our Fascination cruise.

[Winnigirl]

Would you consider a 7 day cruise? I only ask this because 4 and 5 day cruises tend to be "party" cruises and you say that your husband and yourself are not into drinking or partying. There is a LOT of drinking and partying on these short cruises.

[navybankerteacher]

Charleston would probably be easier to get to than Port Canaveral - although it seems that cruises from Jacksonville and Charleston only go to the Bahamas, while Canaveral has Caribbean itineraries as well. OP mentioned water parks, so Nassau could be an attractive port - if they made a day trip to the Atlantis - possibly saving money by booking a room at Comfort Suites which is right next door and gives access to the Atlantis facilities. Other than Atlantis, Nassau is a pretty dismal port - and Freeport is even worse - really just a cargo facility. A southern Caribbean itinerary out of Canaveral (Aruba & Curacao) would be a good option.

[OCruisers]

Ksweetness, Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

 

Jacksonville would be your easiest port.

Carnival Fascination sails from there and could be a good choice for you! :D

 

LuLu

[rjgdjg]

Hi-

 

Alas, Caribbean cruises are very limited after April, so you won't have too many choices. As others have mentioned, Port Canaveral has many more options in ships and destinations, including the large ships like Freedom of the Seas, which has more amenities.

 

Jacksonville (where I live) only has the one ship.

 

Tips on saving money:

* Use a travel agent and ask him/her to get you the best price

* Watch for sales; even after you pay a deposit, if it's before the penalty period and the price goes down, you can get that lower price

* Inside rooms are the least expensive

* If you're driving, stay along the route (not in a city)

 

Hope this helps. - Musing About Cruising

[first2travel]

I have found that booking with a TA is no better than dealing with the cruise line. I even questioned a TA via the web site why I would book with them if you are not offering any discounts. His response is that you are dealing with a "live" person. What! As mentioned previously by other postings, saving money entails: not drinking, every lines pushes drinks, gambling, and excursions. If you leave the ship there are plenty of tour operators on the dock or take a cab. The lines use a scare tactic by saying if you do not utilize their tour operator and late the ship leaves without you. The dock operators know and always will get you back. It will save you upwards of 50%.

[flowers12155]

Everyone has so far offered good advise and I agree alcohol and gambling are the biggies for added expense but also excursions can be alot there are no real bargains there but bringing snacks to hold you over during the day can help so you can wait until your back on ship to eat for free. I also always bring a case of bottled water then you.can take a few of the ship with you for the day or bring a water bottle and fill before you leave the ship. Bottled water on the ship is expensive. Keep in mind summer is hurricane season and the waters can be rough and often excursions may get cancelled due to weather. Check out my travel blog http://www.atouristlife.com :)