CARIBBEAN CRUISES

Hi, we are going to Florida in a couple of months and intend to do a cruise. I have been researching and looking at the different cruise lines and cruises available (sometimes more choice makes it harder to decide!). Can anyone tell me which cruises/cruise lines they have been on and what they thought. I am thinking I would probably like a Western Caribbean cruise (would like to see Mayan ruins) and want a ship that has "free style dining". Am looking at cruises up to 7 days long.

Also I have been looking at the different companies advertised under "Reservations" - they all seem to be about the same price - does anyone have any recommendations.

Thanks http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif

I've only ever been on 1 cruise, so my advice may not be the best. That being said, there are plenty of options for western caribbean. You can depart from MIA, TPA, Canaveral, even MSY, MOB, Galveston, and probably more. Most cruises are 7 days, but you can find anywhere from 2-10 or so.

I would say as a general rule, Royal Caribbean is more of a classy cruiseline. Many different people from many different backgrounds, but overall more of an upscale type cruiseline. Whereas Carnival seems to be more laid back. If you want to party college style and not dress up for dinner, etc, Carnival is geared more toward that.

Pretty much all, and both of these, have an array of dining options. It's all included so whether you fill up on pizza or filet is your call. They have, of course, the main dining hall which is more of like a fancy restaurant. Most ships have other small, themed restaurants, like little burger joints or a small bistro. Most have some food somewhere all the time. And I think you can get room service at any time, I don't know if there is a charged fee, but you'll have a tip to pay. So pretty much on any cruise you'll have the option of a set dinnertime in the dining hall, but it is entirely your option.

Hope I helped a little.

Have fun on your cruise, I can't go on another cruise for a year, cuz apparently you can't go on a cruise w/o a parent if you're under 21. Well, I'm 20 and my mommy isn't as found of the adventures and detours involved in nonreving, and thus, only travels a little.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vicki @ Jan 30 2008, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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Also I have been looking at the different companies advertised under "Reservations" - they all seem to be about the same price[/b]

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Hi Vicki,

I&#39;m not sure about your reference to "different companies advertised under &#39;Reservations&#39;". Are you referring to The Nonrev Network? Under the reservations tab now is just our Hotels and Car Rental. We don&#39;t have cruises there.

There are a bunch of links to interline agencies in the Services Directory. Just select the "Services" link in the dark blue bar while in the community. Cruising is still one place where you can still get significant interline discounts. I&#39;ve met the lady that has http://allinterlineres.com . Their site displays real interline discounts automatically and they&#39;re very customer service oriented.

If you use one of the interline agencies, please return to the Services Directory to rate the service and write a quick review to let the rest of us know how it went. Thanks!

Hi, Vicki!
I&#39;ve taken a 12-15 on NCL--depends on the ship and itinerary. Everyone I&#39;ve taken has been good experience--they do a good job with service. I&#39;ve also used RCCL and they are a cut above NCL but less freestyle.
I&#39;m personally not fond of W. Carib--you can get great all-inclusives in Riviera Maya w/car rental from CUN and see the ruins yourself or with local guide.
The port there is newly manufactured for tourists--kinda sad to go so low. There are more options for Easter Carib--assorted islands with more "lushness" (that&#39;s foliage, not alcohol!! hahaha) Jamaica thrills me not and Key West may as well be Maimi--all the private island stopovers are pretty dull--just a way to get you to buy more fancy drinks in fancy cups and get drunk on the beach.
The exotic cruises leave from San Juan PR. Princess is very fine line--upscale from RCCL. Carnival is just what it implies--some of the megaships are supposed to be oodles of fun, but that&#39;s too many people for me. (my best friend is trav agent and has taken nearly all of the lines, so I&#39;m using her opinion for lines I haven&#39;t cruised)
I&#39;ve booked with Dargal and Perx--fave is interlinetravel.com. All websites have some real steals for last minute, too.
Good luck--hope that helps

Hi Vicki,

We have been on several cruises, in fact we leave Tuesday to FLL for a 15 day Princess cruise thru the Panama Canal to LA.

Where to start?

Freestyle dining is NCL&#39;s add line, and it is very nice, dinner is like anytime between 6pm and 9pm. You just show up at which ever restaurant you want to dine at and they seat you. Princess has recently adopted this option as well. Be sure to try at least 1 "fancy" dinner, we do the buffet for breakfast and lunch, but always do dinner at a restaurant, dress is usually "business casual" like first class on the flight, with a formal night or two thrown in.

Mayan ruins, we have been to them in Cozumel (actually Tulum) just a few mile south, and in Progreso on the norther tip of the Yucatan, but the really big one is Chichen Itza, in the center of the Yucatan (requires a long bus ride), dusty and HOT. about 60+ miles inland, but the cruise line will have shore excursions that you can read about and sign up for (note: it might be best to stay with tours aranged by the cruise line, others may be a little cheaper, but safety must always win out).

We are in our late 50"s so we prefer Holland America Line, and NCL -although we have been on Princess before ( a little uppity) and Celebrity (very uppity), as another said, we understand Carnival is for the younger croud, and Royal Carabian is for the upper crust. If you are really adventurous I have heard that Barefoot Cruises are really fun, and alot smaller and more intimate.
If you need an interline agent, we use Cedric, at Interline World Vacations, just tell him the George&#39;s refered you.
And have fun. The Cruizers

Thanks for all your replies - its very helpful.

ColoAvs19 - maybe you should think about a cruise over here! In Australia you only have to be 18 to book hotels and to go on cruises etc - also 18 is the legal drinking age here.

nonrev1 - sorry, my mistake - it was the service directory I was looking at. There certainly are some good value cruise deals around.

mrs767er - it might end up possibly being an eastern Caribbean cruise we take - I think it is going to depend on what cruises leave on the dates we will be able to go but will have to leave cruises from San Juan PR until some time in the future when we have more time. We&#39;ve never been to the east coast of America so there are heaps of things we want to see and do in Florida (never enough time or money for everything!)

Cruizers Let me know how the Panama Canal cruise goes - I&#39;d love to do that - I was looking at cruises from LA to Miami but we don&#39;t have the time this holiday as we would have to cut the rest of our holiday down. I&#39;ll have to have a look at the Barefoot Cruises but I prefer the large ships unless the ocean is flat!

Thanks again http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif