USA Cruising

[geordielass2]

Hi thinking of flying to and cruising back from Florida. We can be flexible with dates as we're retired. Has anyone done this via travel agent or DIY. Would like to do 2 weeks in Orlando than cruise back I assume the cruises back to UK are limited any tips would be gratefully received. Many Thanks

[Clarea]

You can do it yourself, many do. However, an experienced and competent travel agent can be very helpful and take much of the stress away from making all your own arrangements.

[thinfool]

You're too late!! (just kidding)

 

Our friends just left April 2 from Ft Lauderdale on the Emerald Princess....14 nights...to end in Southampton.

 

Stops in the Canaries and Le Havre.

[Floridiana]

Many ships do transatlantic cruises eastbound in the spring. It's best to ask a travel agent to find the one that is right for you. There are so many that switch from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and back again in the fall. Cunard, Princess, Costa, MSC, Holland America, Oceania etc.

[jocap]

Either go next spring, or do it the other way round in the autumn. We looked at RCI from Port Canaveral, as it was quite close to Orlando. See what's sailing into that port in October, or out in April,

Enjoy searching! :cool:

[zqvol]

Your best bet, unless you want to work around a repositioning trans Atlantic cruise is take a look at Cunard for the cruise portion.

[KirkNC]

I would do it yourself. Take a rental car down so you can leave it.

[Essiesmom]

Here's the list for Atlantic cruises...

 

http://www.cruisetransatlantic.com/cruises.html

[jamessemaj]

Flying to Florida and cruising back to England would be in the Spring, mostly April and May. It is a great way to at least half the misery of air travel. The alternative is in Sept./Oct. the other way, cruise to Florida, then endure the airplane torture back home.

 

I would suggest finding the repositions and checking what the travel agents offer. I have done both, book direct with the cruise line and with an agent. If you book with an agent your communication with the cruise line must go through that agent rather than direct.

 

You are on the right track for a great vacation. Good luck.

[john watson]

Hi thinking of flying to and cruising back from Florida. We can be flexible with dates as we're retired. Has anyone done this via travel agent or DIY. Would like to do 2 weeks in Orlando than cruise back I assume the cruises back to UK are limited any tips would be gratefully received. Many Thanks

 

As people have already said, typically these voyages are scheduled around March, April and May. If you can identify your preferred cruise line that will be helpful and then are you flexible on where in Europe you are happy with you will get a much bigger choice. Some ships return to mainland Europe which gives just a short flight home. It's pretty easy these days with e-tickets to book flights on the internet as is booking a villa in Florida.

 

Regards John

Edited April 5, 2016 by john watson

[geordielass2]

Thanks Essiesmom for the list of transatlantic cruises very helpful and thanks everyone for the great tips. Guess I need to find an independent travel agent. We can be flexible with our plans but we know we want to fly to Florida and cruise back with Royal Carribean if possible. We'd like at least 7 to 10 days at Disney and prefer a villa to a hotel. Saying all that cost is also a factor but hubby has difficulty with his mobility which will only get worse so we want to do this while he can. So looks like it will have to be April or May 2017 but you've given me a lot to think about. We have been to Florida twice with family but never on our own. I have been looking at booking it myself but flights one way are very expensive so hopefully a TA will be able to do it all at a reasonable price. Thanks again everyone.

[moniquet]

I don't find UK TAs very helpful or competitive on prices. We book through a TA in Houston and book flights direct online, likewise hotels. This site has some good deals too.

[geordielass2]

I don't find UK TAs very helpful or competitive on prices. We book through a TA in Houston and book flights direct online, likewise hotels. This site has some good deals too.

 

Hi I see you live in the UK. I didn't know you could ask TA's in other countries to book flights for you. We want a one way from UK to Sanford, FL but I've tried booking online via Thomsons or an American airline but either they wont book far enough in advance or the prices are very high!! Booking a villa and a cruise back is easy but the flights are a nightmare.

[thinfool]

Hi I see you live in the UK. I didn't know you could ask TA's in other countries to book flights for you. We want a one way from UK to Sanford, FL but I've tried booking online via Thomsons or an American airline but either they wont book far enough in advance or the prices are very high!! Booking a villa and a cruise back is easy but the flights are a nightmare.

 

Not sure when you want to fly, but airline bookings are rarely available more than 330 days before the date of your flight.

 

Some airlines even less.

 

One way bookings handled by the cruise lines is often very cost effective.

 

Side point: Does Sanford have international arrivals? The main Orlando airport for international arrivals/departures is MCO.

Edited April 11, 2016 by thinfool

[lamchops]

Hi thinking of flying to and cruising back from Florida. We can be flexible with dates as we're retired. Has anyone done this via travel agent or DIY. Would like to do 2 weeks in Orlando than cruise back I assume the cruises back to UK are limited any tips would be gratefully received. Many Thanks

 

 

We did a transatlantic from Southampton in 2012 and we met 2 British ladies that were doing a tour from a company in the UK.

 

They were taking the Southampton to Fort Lauderdale cruise and then staying in the area before taking the train to NYC. A few days in NYC before taking a Cunard (QM2?) ship back to Southampton.

[John Bull]

 

Side point: Does Sanford have international arrivals?

 

Yes :)

 

JB :)

[spookwife]

We'd like at least 7 to 10 days at Disney and prefer a villa to a hotel. Saying all that cost is also a factor but hubby has difficulty with his mobility which will only get worse so we want to do this while he can.

 

some unasked for advice, as someone with mobility issues of her own( wheelchair for anything more exciting than grocery shopping).

 

yes off site accommodations are less expensive, but ON SITE offers SO much more flexibility and accessibility. by villa do you mean a full house or condo or could you be content with say a one bedroom suite with separate living area, maybe a kitchen? the Cabins at Wilderness lodge may be an idea, or any of the suites on site. we prefer Animal Kingdom Lodge, but the Moderate choices have wonderful options.

 

the close proximity to regular reliable transportation alone makes it worth it to many. off site you have to rely on sporadic options or spend the money on a rental and schlep yourself around fighting with parking.

[geordielass2]

Thanks 'thinfool' for tip about flights booked through cruise lines I'll have a look at that. As we want to cruise back to UK it looks like we will be travelling next April so looking for flights probably middle 2 weeks. We've been to FL twice with family once in a villa and once in an apartment. We preferred the villa and it's cheaper. Husband uses a wheelchair now but does still drive and doesn't mind hiring a car as he likes to eat off site although I do agree staying on site would be easier as we will have to rent an ECV. It was much easier in the past as family could help with suitcases and getting him through airport but this may be our last visit and we love FL and the people so we have to make it work. I have a replaced knee so can't push him and he can't self propel but I know it's still do-able with planning. Thank you all for the great tips they really are making a difference keep them coming please.

[jocap]

We've flown with Thomson to Sandford as part of a package holiday... have you checked their packages, because you might get a reasonable price for a villa? The return ticket is a problem, though..

In the past we've used specialist TAs who put packages together- you'll see them on the internet, newspapers etc.. They have managed to get prices down for us.

[flamomo]

Thanks Essiesmom for the list of transatlantic cruises very helpful and thanks everyone for the great tips. Guess I need to find an independent travel agent. We can be flexible with our plans but we know we want to fly to Florida and cruise back with Royal Carribean if possible. We'd like at least 7 to 10 days at Disney and prefer a villa to a hotel. Saying all that cost is also a factor but hubby has difficulty with his mobility which will only get worse so we want to do this while he can. So looks like it will have to be April or May 2017 but you've given me a lot to think about. We have been to Florida twice with family but never on our own. I have been looking at booking it myself but flights one way are very expensive so hopefully a TA will be able to do it all at a reasonable price. Thanks again everyone.

 

Once you settle on a cruise, don't forget to look at the cruise line's air arrangements. I cruise with Princess and often use their EZAir for one way flights to or from Europe for cruises. I will soon be cruising from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton, and flying home on flights arranged thru Princess .... $500 USD from Heathrow to Tampa. I certainly would likely not have been able to find fares to compete with that on my own.

[wowzz]

Don't forget that you can book one way flights with Norwegian to Florida from the UK.

[SuiteTraveler]

Thanks Essiesmom for the list of transatlantic cruises very helpful and thanks everyone for the great tips. Guess I need to find an independent travel agent. We can be flexible with our plans but we know we want to fly to Florida and cruise back with Royal Carribean if possible. We'd like at least 7 to 10 days at Disney and prefer a villa to a hotel. Saying all that cost is also a factor but hubby has difficulty with his mobility which will only get worse so we want to do this while he can. So looks like it will have to be April or May 2017 but you've given me a lot to think about. We have been to Florida twice with family but never on our own. I have been looking at booking it myself but flights one way are very expensive so hopefully a TA will be able to do it all at a reasonable price. Thanks again everyone.

 

Disney has several villa type hotels including Sartoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Old Key West, Baylake, Grand Floridian Villas, Beach Club - the advantage of staying at one of these is that you are then part of the Disney transportation system so you can get to any of the parks for free and the drop off point is much closer to the park entrance than for those who drive to WDW and park. You can also rent scooters inside the parks if walking is to tiring - but it is important to make a reservation for these beforehand. Because of the sheer size of WDW, we typically do 1 park a day and eat all of our meals inside the park - although we might change parks for dinner - Disney has a Dining Plan to make this easy and fairly inexpensive to do.

 

If you decide you want to rent a villa, then you can do so here:

https://www.dvcrequest.com/dvc-rentals.asp

 

If you are looking for something smaller in scale than most of Disney's hotels, you might consider the Port Orleans Riverside property - which is drastically smaller than all the other resorts at Disney. These rooms don't have kitchens, but on the other hand do you really want to spend a half hour in transit to go back to your room to eat a meal and then spend a half hour in transit to go back to the park and lose 2 hours at the park for lunch when you could go to a quick service place and eat in half an hour or so?

 

There are other great parks in Orlando as well, including Universal Studios and Sea World. Anyway, hope the link I provided will be helpful.

[moniquet]

Norwegian Air flights from the UK are very reasonable and good. All their fleet flying to America are new Dreamliners. We have flown twice with them to Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico. Definitely worth a look.