I called a cruise TA and ask if I can get an estimate to go on a cruise, since my DH and I have about $1000 saved up. She told me it would cost about $1200 pp. Yikes! I dont remember if that includes airfare, but that just for the cruise itself. Thats not including port, ins, etc. Ive been looking online and seen roughly $500 pp, but she stated thats the lowest price so you would call. I mentioned on going to a cruise this time next year and she suggested to call in the summer b/c they didnt have rates for next year. So you figure it would be roughly $2500 just for myself and DH. Are we looking at about $5000 including excurions and such? Wow!! Looks like we have a lot of saving up to do.

Hi There,
I checked the Carnival website and right now they are having a sale on. "Enjoy a 4,5, or 7 day "Fun Ship" Caribbean cruise from Miami including air from only $479". The $479 price (for a 4-day cruise flying from Atlanta) is for a category 1A (which is the lowest inside cabin--bunk beds I think--and there are very few available of these on each ship), government taxes and port charges are extra. Normally if you ask for a quote, they will quote a category 4A inside cabin (no windows).

For this special, you have to fly from certain cities. They are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Celveland, Detroit, Hartford, Indianapolis, Neward, New York and Philadelphia. You have to call Carnival direct to get this deal. Call 1-800-819-3902.

On our first cruise, it cost us approx. $1,500 per person. This included the cost of the cruise, airfare, shore excurions (we only went on one snorkelling tour in Cozumel), tipping, drinks, wine, photos and some art we bought at the on-board art auction).

Aside from the cost of the cruise, you will also have to pay gratuities, which are $9.50-$9.75 per person per day. For a drink in a souvenir glass it is $6, and a bucket of beer (on the Lido deck) is $10-$12 for 4. Shore excursions can range anywhere from $32/pp to $115/pp depending on the excursion.

Anyway, hope this helps.

I have cruised 10 times in the past 4 years and have never once came close to paying 1000 pp for a 7 night cruise. Actually, the only time I paid over 500 pp was for a cruise to Alaska on Royal Carribean but still that was only 700pp for an outside cabin. Check out vacationstogo.com and you'll see they have great rates. I always book directly with the cruise line which I am convinced saves me money. Carnival usually has decent prices. You can almost always count on getting a good deal on NCL's Norway. Seven nights for under 300 including port charges. Good luck.

There are LOTS AND LOTS of cruises to go on for less than that. Check a good site that can sort by Price, Like VacationOutlet.com, Orbitz, etc. I have seen Costa cruises w/a balcony for $399pp and LESS!! The key is to look at the dates (Easter, summer, and the winter holidays are always higher). But also look at Ships like NCL Norway, or the smaller Carnival ships. Another shocking one is Celebrity, they have some good rates, but admittedly, not less than $1000 for two. Be open to WHERE you cruise and you are set. Also, look at Ports Like Carnival Victory out of Norfolk, Virginia, Or the Pride out of NYC, and there are sailings from Philly and Baltimore which could save you on airfare. Also, look at http://www.spiritairlinescruises.com/ GREAT RATES AND CHEAP AIR FROM MAJOR CITIES

The prices quoted in ads and by such agencies mentioned above are often the cruise fare only, and most certainly do not include drinks onboard, shore excursions, and other extras that one pays for on a cruise. Taxes and port charges, as one previous poster noted, are often additional - and are not options - to the quoted cruise fare. The first person to pose this question was closer to the correct amount that one actually pays when all is said and done.

Respectfully have to disagree with Karen Knowlton, at least in part. We have just booked a cruise on Millenium in a cat 2c (veranda) cabin. With taxes and port fees we are paying $1562 total for the cabin ($781/pp). Adding in the recommended gratuities ($10/pd/pp x 2) and another $50/pd for drinks and incidentals this will cost us about $2100 for the cruise. (The $50/pd for drinks and incidentals is probably high for us, average for some and low for others.) But this is for a veranda cabin. If I were to get the low inside cabin, it would cost about $1600 for the cruise.

I can find even cheaper 7 day cruises on other lines (NCL, Carnival, etc.). In fact know of a SS Norway 7 day cruise I can get for $960/two INCLUDING, port fees, taxes, gratuities and my drink/incidental fee listed above.

The point here is one can find a 7 day cruise and not spend $2500 for the week for a couple.

Of course the rejoinder here is this is cruise only and does not include airfare. (Living in Florida, airfare is not normally a concern of ours.

DocJohn

Just checked out some sailings for the Norwegian Norway and, believe me, they are giving that cruise away. For a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise, you can get it as cheap as US$282 per person and that includes port charges! This, of course, is for an inside cabin, but still, this is an excellent rate!

I've also seen some Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas sailings for $399, but not as low as the Norway.

If ever there was a time to cruise, now is the time. Cruises are dirt cheap.

Quote:

"Just checked out some sailings for the Norwegian Norway and, believe me, they are giving that cruise away. For a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise, you can get it as cheap as US$282 per person and that includes port charges! This, of course, is for an inside cabin, but still, this is an excellent rate!"

Do some serious research before booking a cruise on the Norway! It seems there can be a wide variety of cabins even within the same category. The cheapest cabin category "P" includes some cabins of 66 square feet.

I'm not saying don't consider this ship (I'm sailing it this December) because she's pretty special in her own way. (Classic ocean liner, pretty much the only one of her kind).

Just make sure you book a specific cabin and know what's it's like.

Dan

Hi everybody,

I have to agree with Dan. Usually, I don't see any problems booking the cheapest cabins available (as long as you like inside cabins, of coruse), but on the "Norway", it's different. While I wouldn't say that booking a specific cabin is essential, I do recommend skipping the the two "upper berth" categories. Those cabins can be pretty large (I had one next to my Cat. F a couple of years ago which was larger than my own cabin) but they can also be tiny.

Otherwise I warmly recommend the "Norway" if you know what to expect. She's different, but I think she's a great ship.

Best regards,

Raoul Fiebig
Das Ruderhaus

Stuff the American cruises with all those overheads and particularly the gratuities at $10 US per day thats $20 Aussie per day ( What a joke and a rip off )

Go on a Star Cruise. All gratuities are paid in your fare and it will cost you about $750 US for a 10 night cruise.

You yanks pay far too much in tips and gratuities, it would drive me mad having to fork out tips every time you go out etc.


Good luck.

Ken

Thanks for the suggestion, Ken, but we don't have Star Cruises over here. By the time we spend the money on the airfare to Asia, well - those gratuities don't look so bad, money-wise. Glad you have that option where you are! (In fact, it looks like you're getting more of them for Australia.)

I have been on loads of cruises that cost over £1000, but these have tended to be on premium cruise lines such as P&O where you pay for the high standards of excellence and the perfect ships.

You must be from the Us with all the talk of dollars but im from the UK and cruises are generally considered to be more expensive here and in Europe.

I went on an NCL cruise booked from their website just before easter, it was outside UK school holidays so not peak season but with a Balcony Cabin it was under £500 (GBP) each for 7 nights. All I did was then get a cheap airfare to the US £200, and I saved £300 on the UK brochure price. Check the NCL website for more information and online booking, if you select a cabin grade rather than an actual cabin then you tend to get a better deal!

I am also going on an Ocean Village cruise which is £400 per person for an double (no bunks) inside cabin for a 7night Medd cruise including all taxes and gratuities, all you have to add to that is drinks and some tours, £25 half day or £40 whole day. Even if you add your airfare over here i rekon you could do it for around $1500.

Budget Cruising is alot more popular over here