I love to cruise, it is one of my favorite ways to travel. You have a home base to get comfortable in and tons of activities and foods onboard. The best part is falling asleep in the middle of the ocean and waking up in a different port in the morning. You are typically not in any port for very long but it is enough time to do some exploring and get a good impression of a place to determine if it is someplace you would want to visit again and possibly stay longer.
Once, you have decided that a cruise might be a good option for you, begin searching for the best rates. You will want to get an idea of where you want to go. Another consideration is what port you would like to begin your travel from. Airfare can be a large expense for your trip so that is a big consideration for me when I choose a cruise.
For this cruise I am planning, I started by signing up to get alerts from the major cruise lines and also through Cru Con who offers some really good package deals. My favorite cruise lines are Norwegian for a casual experience, Royal Caribbean for something a little more formal and Celebrity for something a little more formal than that.
I ended up getting the best deal on Cru Con for a Celebrity Cruise in November. We will spend 7 days on the Reflection to the Eastern Caribbean, departing from Miami, Florida and visiting; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten. I always check reviews on Cruise Critic and read about the ports before I make my final decision.
The next choice you will need to make is what type of room would you like to stay in. All of the rooms are very small but well designed. I would not recommend an interior room they are very dark with no windows, if you are traveling with older kids and need an extra room you could put the teens in there, otherwise I wouldn't get an interior room. An Ocean View room is fine as you will spend most of your time on the deck anyway and very little time in your room. I have stayed in Ocean View rooms many times and had a nice trip. If you can afford it, consider a Veranda/Balcony room. Warning, once you have had a Balcony room you will never be able to go back to an Ocean View again. The balcony is small but gives you a chance to really enjoy the sea, the sounds and really watch for sea life.
For this cruise I am planning, I started by signing up to get alerts from the major cruise lines and also through Cru Con who offers some really good package deals. My favorite cruise lines are Norwegian for a casual experience, Royal Caribbean for something a little more formal and Celebrity for something a little more formal than that.
I ended up getting the best deal on Cru Con for a Celebrity Cruise in November. We will spend 7 days on the Reflection to the Eastern Caribbean, departing from Miami, Florida and visiting; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten. I always check reviews on Cruise Critic and read about the ports before I make my final decision.
The next choice you will need to make is what type of room would you like to stay in. All of the rooms are very small but well designed. I would not recommend an interior room they are very dark with no windows, if you are traveling with older kids and need an extra room you could put the teens in there, otherwise I wouldn't get an interior room. An Ocean View room is fine as you will spend most of your time on the deck anyway and very little time in your room. I have stayed in Ocean View rooms many times and had a nice trip. If you can afford it, consider a Veranda/Balcony room. Warning, once you have had a Balcony room you will never be able to go back to an Ocean View again. The balcony is small but gives you a chance to really enjoy the sea, the sounds and really watch for sea life.
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We chose a Veranda room for our cruise and can't wait to go! There are lots of other things to consider as you plan your cruise; food and drinks such as juice and milk are included in your fare, Soda and alcohol are not included and can be pricey. There are specialty Restaurants that will cost additional if you choose to go, we enjoy the food that is offered with the package and don't feel the need to try the specialty Restaurants. Room service is included at anytime.
You will receive amazing care from the crew on the ship. They will constantly clean your room, turn down your bed, bring ice and make towel animals for you. They are extremely helpful and make your vacation amazing, you will never want to go home. This comes at a fee, it is expected that you tip $10 per person/per day and it will usually be added to your account. It is worth every penny but does add to your expense, so keep it in mind.
One of the reasons I decided on this particular cruise is that it includes free drinks and all gratuities and I got a great price through Cru Con. We got a Veranda stateroom with all gratuities and drinks included for around $1200 per person. We deposited $250 per person to secure our space and the remainder will be due in June.
There is a lot more to consider but this should be enough to get you dreaming. I will give you more details in a future post.
You will receive amazing care from the crew on the ship. They will constantly clean your room, turn down your bed, bring ice and make towel animals for you. They are extremely helpful and make your vacation amazing, you will never want to go home. This comes at a fee, it is expected that you tip $10 per person/per day and it will usually be added to your account. It is worth every penny but does add to your expense, so keep it in mind.
One of the reasons I decided on this particular cruise is that it includes free drinks and all gratuities and I got a great price through Cru Con. We got a Veranda stateroom with all gratuities and drinks included for around $1200 per person. We deposited $250 per person to secure our space and the remainder will be due in June.
There is a lot more to consider but this should be enough to get you dreaming. I will give you more details in a future post.
