First time wanna-be cruiser: Please help

[SallyMae5646]

Hi all! I've been browsing and now its time to come out and ask!

 

We have never cruised before, at all. We are wanting to do a 20 person family reunion type trip for 7 days, sailing out of somewhere in FL.

 

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

 

We aren't picky about itinerary or which cruise line. How do I get price quotes for that week? I need to figure out if it is even possible or if prices are just too high. If I need a travel agent, how do I find one?

 

Any other advice welcome!

[leaveitallbehind]

Welcome to cruising! You can go on each cruise line's websites and all ships and itineraries with associated pricing will be provided. The more popular mass market lines to consider are RCI, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, etc. They all depart from FL and offer several itineraries to choose from.

 

But probably the easiest way to start would be to contact a cruise specialist travel agency and work through them for all the leg work. They can handle all aspects of your booking for you at the same rates published by the different lines.

 

Just a word of caution. Have a discussion with the TA first to clarify their operating policies. Some TA's will charge fees separate from the cruise lines for changing an itinerary, modifying a booking, or canceling a booking. IMO they should be avoided as many TA's will make any of these changes for you without a separate fee.

 

Good luck and enjoy your first cruise. It likely will not be your last!

Edited January 12, 2016 by leaveitallbehind

[cbr663]

You can start searching on CC's Find A Cruise here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/.

 

You may also want to search some of the big online cruise agencies (sorry, can't name any). To make things easier, you should use an agency that allows you to search by specific embarkation date. Dec 26th is a Monday and is not the normal sail away date for most cruise lines. I did a quick search and did find sailings for that date:

 

- Royal Caribbean has a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas. The Majesty of the Seas leaves from Port Canaveral & The Enchantment of the Seas leaves from Miami.

 

- The Norwegian Sky leaves from Miami on a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. The Norwegian Breakaway does a 7 night cruise to the Bahamas, but it is out of New York.

 

- Carnival has the Elation leaving for the Bahamas for a 5-night cruise out of Jacksonville,

 

- The Disney Dream leaves Port Canaveral for a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas.

[cruiserking]

Hi all! I've been browsing and now its time to come out and ask!

 

We have never cruised before, at all. We are wanting to do a 20 person family reunion type trip for 7 days, sailing out of somewhere in FL.

 

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

 

We aren't picky about itinerary or which cruise line. How do I get price quotes for that week? I need to figure out if it is even possible or if prices are just too high. If I need a travel agent, how do I find one?

 

Any other advice welcome!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic SallyMae5646. Christmas/New Years is indeed a very popular and expensive time period to book a cruise.

 

If you live near Florida a cruise departing from there makes sense but, if not airfare will really increase your budget. There are several ships cruising from the New York/New Jersey area and Boston.

 

I would suggest either going to a local travel agency in your hometown or looking at a cruise search engine online. We are not allowed per Cruise Critic rules to discuss travel agencies. Try and find which cruise lines offer the best rates for your time period.

 

Price Research

For example Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Rhapsody of the Seas has a 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise round trip Tampa, Fl. with inside cabins starting at $954 per person departing December 24th.

 

 

NCL Breakaway sails from New York on December 26th round trip to Bahamas inside cabins starting at $1,359 per person. Carnival Cruise Lines has several cruises on December 26 out of either Miami or New Orleans with cabins starting at $1,109 per person.

 

Group Sales

Once you determine which specific cruise you are interested in booking you need to contact the Group Sales Department for that line. There are often special price breaks depending on how many cabins are booked. Sometimes for every seven cabins the eighth will be comped or 50% off.

 

4 & 5 Night Cruises

You will find much better prices on the shorter 4 & 5-night getaway cruises from Florida, many of which are leaving the exact day December 26th you're interested in.

 

NCL Sky 4-Night Bahamas rt Miami $699 pp inside - 12/26

Royal Caribbean- Majesty - 4-Night Bahamas rt Port Can. $584 pp - 12/26

Carnival Elation - 5-Night Bahamas - rt Jax, Fl. $769 pp - 12/26

 

Keep in mind the shorter cruises are on older ships and tend to attract a partying crowd.

 

Good Luck in your search and Happy Cruising.

 

Jonathan

Edited January 12, 2016 by cruiserking

[cherylandtk]

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

Dec.26, 2016 is a Monday, which will severely limit your options since most 7 day cruises aim for a weekend departure and return. If you only want that date and a 7 day cruise out of Florida, your only choice is the Norwegian Getaway out of Miami. Currently listed at $1269 pp.

 

If your family is willing to consider four and five day cruises, there are 10 different ships leaving from Florida ports that same day. Starting at $339 pp.

 

If you are wanting a full week cruise and are willing to travel on the 24th or 25th, you have the choice of 9 different cruises starting at $799 pp.

 

You can find these cruises through any cruise specialist TA. I would recommend working with a TA that can help you book your group. If you need lots of triple or quad cabins, that could be a problem unless you book very early. If you are booking mostly double occupancy, you qualify as a group and will get some small perks for doing so. (All prices are double occupancy, inside cabin plus tax cruiseline prices)

[KKB]

We have done a couple large family trips at this time...one VERY pricey; one remarkably well priced.

 

The key is to keep checking prices...and start early. Airfare will most certainly be cheapest early (flights for that time will open up soon). Also be flexible with airports--we are flying out of an airport 3 hours away as flights were $320 instead of $800 each this March.

 

Personally I have used a couple large online TAs (both happily) & have been able to call or email to coordinate several parties. They just give me the best prices & perks.

 

If you do some research yourself, be sure to compare rooms when comparing prices. We were about to pull the trigger on Carnival when we realized that the rooms we were pricing were bunk rooms--not what couples wanted. Once we eliminated that cabin category, RCCL was a better deal.

 

I notice that those cruises departing the 24th are a chunk cheaper--but air will likely be a chunk higher.

 

You will find that mainstream cruiselines are more alike than different.

 

We have done a cruise over Xmas--great fun, but definitely loses some of the Xmas magic, imo (but would do it again in a heartbeat!), and over New Years.

Edited January 13, 2016 by KKB

[Cruisin' Chick]

I recommend asking friends, family members, co-workers for the name of a travel agent they've had quite success booking a cruise with. Let the TA search for a cruise for you even though you're limiting the possibilities if that's the only date you can leave on (if you can go one or two days before or after, you may get a lot more choices).

 

Once you come up with the date and ship, give the contact info for the TA to the others in the group so they can arrange to pick a cabin and handle paying the deposit directly with the TA. If you want you can ask everyone to make sure to link their bookings so you can get the same dinner time and possibly two or three tables together. The TA can do this. If part of the family needs two cabins (to fit kids in or two sets of adults who want to be together), they should request the TA to mark the bookings no upgrade.

 

Make sure to be clear with everyone that there's no need to be joined at the hip the whole time. Some people may want to do a specialty restaurant (the ones with a cover charge) some night...some may prefer to see the big production shows while some others want to catch a lounge act

[MOcruiserman]

Hi all! I've been browsing and now its time to come out and ask!

 

We have never cruised before, at all. We are wanting to do a 20 person family reunion type trip for 7 days, sailing out of somewhere in FL.

 

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

 

We aren't picky about itinerary or which cruise line. How do I get price quotes for that week? I need to figure out if it is even possible or if prices are just too high. If I need a travel agent, how do I find one?

 

Any other advice welcome!

 

If there are children in your group look at Carnival (for the water slides) or Royal Caribbean (for the flow rider and climbing wall). Celebrity, Princess and Holland America are fine cruise lines for adults but kids may find them boring.

[Essiesmom]

Keep in mind that you want to travel in Winter. No matter how to plan to get to the port, it is always advisable to get to the port city a day early, in case of delays, particularly airlines, if you are flying from somewhere up north. Cost of airfare may also dramatically increase the cost of your cruise.

How will your cabins be populated? If there are any families that need a cabin for five, that will impact which cruise lines you can sail.

We need more information. EM

[spookwife]

Hi all! I've been browsing and now its time to come out and ask!

 

We have never cruised before, at all. We are wanting to do a 20 person family reunion type trip for 7 days, sailing out of somewhere in FL.

 

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

 

We aren't picky about itinerary or which cruise line. How do I get price quotes for that week? I need to figure out if it is even possible or if prices are just too high. If I need a travel agent, how do I find one?

 

Any other advice welcome!

 

you have chosen pretty much the MOST expensive week possible.

 

a family reunion on a cruise ship is great. just at any other time BUT that week. because you and 500 other families have the same idea.

 

you will need to go through travel agent or see about getting a dedicated Planner from the line itself so that everyone deals with the same person.

 

best cruise lines that cater to all ages would be Royal or Carnival. larger ships have more bells and whistles to keep everyone occupied.

[MarKay525]

Hi all! I've been browsing and now its time to come out and ask!

We have never cruised before, at all. We are wanting to do a 20 person family reunion type trip for 7 days, sailing out of somewhere in FL.

The catch is we pretty much have to go during a specific week- and I'm sure it is an expensive week- the week right after Christmas, departing Dec 26th 2016. Since we are coordinating a lot of schedules, including school schedules, that is what it has to be.

We aren't picky about itinerary or which cruise line. How do I get price quotes for that week? I need to figure out if it is even possible or if prices are just too high. If I need a travel agent, how do I find one?

Any other advice welcome!

 

You can start searching on CC's Find A Cruise here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/. <snip> I did a quick search and did find sailings for that date:

 

- Royal Caribbean has a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas. The Majesty of the Seas leaves from Port Canaveral & The Enchantment of the Seas leaves from Miami.

- The Norwegian Sky leaves from Miami on a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. The Norwegian Breakaway does a 7 night cruise to the Bahamas, but it is out of New York.

- Carnival has the Elation leaving for the Bahamas for a 5-night cruise out of Jacksonville,

- The Disney Dream leaves Port Canaveral for a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas.

 

Hi and Welcome to Cruise Critic. I checked cruisetimetables.com and found a few more cruises departing on Dec. 26 from various Florida ports, although very few are for a week.

 

From Miami: Carnival Splendor has an 8 day to the Southern Caribbean and Carnival Victory has a 4 day Western Caribbean sailing from Miami. As already mentioned, Norwegian Getaway has a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean out of Miami.

 

From Tampa: Norwegian Jade has an 8 day cruise to the Western Caribbean and Brilliance of the Seas has a 5 night to the Western Caribbean.

 

From Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale: Independence of the Seas has a 5 night sailing to the Western Caribbean and Celebrity Silhouette has a 4 night Western Caribbean sailing.

 

From Port Canaveral near Orlando: Carnival Sunshine has a 5 day Eastern Caribbean sailing on Dec. 26th.

 

cruisetimetables.com also gives you a base price for the various stateroom categories (interior/oceanview/balcony/suite) that may give you a very broad idea of pricing for the various lines.

 

I agree with everyone else here who recommends that you work with a travel agent who has a lot of experience booking groups for cruises. And remember that sometimes one suite for several people may be beneficial to booking several individual staterooms, and it would give you a great space for gathering.

 

Once you decide on your cruise, don't forget to join the Roll Call.

 

Best wishes for finding the right cruise for your family and have a wonderful reunion.

Edited January 13, 2016 by MarKay525

[zoncom]

You will have to fly on 24th or Christmas to do this exact date. Hotels will be either full or extra expensive. Crowds everywhere..Ships crowded. Are you willing to accept this, especially higher pricing?Consider alternate weeks. First few weeks of Dec. lowest priced of year,excellent weather too.Consider a 7ner on one of newest, biggest ships of RCL,NCL or CCL. Other posters here can help with specific names. Avoid the mentioned Sky or Majesty. both old ships that are floating locals booze cruises.Fort Lauderdale, probably the biggest and best port, offers cheaper flights on SW and other lines if booked early. I would google several big discount cruise agencies. Not your corner travel agency. Call them asking for GROUP DESK. Ask for their lowest rates and what On Board credit they can offer It is early and rates usually come down ..Its the agents job to manage the bookings, not yours. Your relatives will deal directly with agent. You are not a cruise agent.Good luck.