Caribbean Cruise over Thanksgiving week

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Alright need some of your input on cruise lines/destinations for a week long cruise next month. This will be my first cruise since I was 10 so not quite sure on some of the basics.

I do know that there seem to be some killer deals on 4-7 night trips for $200 - $300 plus tax / fuel surcharge. I also know that the destination activity and alcohol will tack on quite a bit to this as well.

Here are some of the deals I'm looking at, would appreciate any input on your previous experiences with either these lines or the destinations:

1) 7 Nights ~ Norwegian Pearl @ 254.00 per person

Day Location Arrival Departure

Sunday, November 23, 2008 Miami -- 04:00 PM

Monday, November 24, 2008 At Sea 06:30 PM --

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Roatan 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Belize City 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Thursday, November 27, 2008 Cozumel 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Friday, November 28, 2008 At Sea -- --

Saturday, November 29, 2008 Great Stirrup Cay 09:00 AM 06:00 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2008 Miami 08:00 AM --

Roatan & Cozumel see like they're FTW.. Belize would be cool to see some ruins.

2) 5 Nights ~ Carnival Destiny @ $229 per person

Day Location Arrival Departure

Monday, November 17, 2008 Miami, Florida -- 04:00 PM

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Nassau, Bahamas 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 07:00 AM 03:00 PM

Thursday, November 20, 2008 Grand Turk, Turks And Caicos 10:00 AM 04:00 PM

Friday, November 21, 2008 Fun Day At Sea -- --

Saturday, November 22, 2008 Miami, Florida 08:00 AM --

Gran Turks also looks like FTW

3) 5 Nights Royal Caribbean - Enchantment Of The Seas @ $254 per person

Day Location Arrival Departure

Saturday, November 15, 2008 Fort Lauderdale Florida -- 05:00 PM

Sunday, November 16, 2008 Cruising -- --

Monday, November 17, 2008 George Town Grand Cayman 07:30 AM 04:00 PM

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Cozumel Mexico 10:00 AM 07:00 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Cruising -- --

Thursday, November 20, 2008 Fort Lauderdale Florida 06:30 AM --

4) 6 Nights Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas @ 399 person

**More expensive but RCCL's newest ship and is much bigger / more onboard activityies than the others.

Sailing Date

November 23, 2008

Itinerary

Ft. Lauderdale

Belize City

Costa Maya

Cozumel

Ft. Lauderdale

Click to read more...

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Carnival sucks. NCL or RCCL is the way to go.

Have you looked into Princess Cruise Lines?

 

[4runnercrazy 10+ year member]

never cruised with those, but those have some kick *** deals, princess is my favorite

but i would seggest finding out the ship name and looking up on the website what they have to offer, if it looks good take it

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

Independence. Royal Caribbean is the shit. You could just be sailing around in a circle for a week on the independence and it'd be better than the other 3.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Carnival sucks. NCL or RCCL is the way to go.
Have you looked into Princess Cruise Lines?

I wish but they only have 7+ day trips for Thanksgiving week and the cheapest is $573 per person. St. Thomas and Maarten would be cool though but that is a steap price for me when you tack on the drinks and shore activities. Also tried Celebrity cruises but they are that or more as well.

Sunday, November 23, 2008 Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- 05:00 PM

Monday, November 24, 2008 Princess, Cays Bahamas 09:00 AM 04:00 PM

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 At Sea -- --

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 St. Maarten 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

Thursday, November 27, 2008 St. Thomas, U.s. Virgin Islands 07:00 AM 04:00 PM

Friday, November 28, 2008 Grand Turk Caicos Islands 01:00 PM 07:00 PM

Saturday, November 29, 2008 At Sea -- --

Sunday, November 30, 2008 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 07:00 AM --

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Then RCCL is the better choice.

 

[JB513 10+ year member]

I went on a RCCL cruise over Christmas break last year to the Caribbean and it was amazing. You'll love it.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Independence. Royal Caribbean is the shit. You could just be sailing around in a circle for a week on the independence and it'd be better than the other 3.

Did you go on the Independence??? This thing looks like a beast from the pics as it's 160,000 tons (holy fawking shit). Indoor ice rink, flowmaster surfing, and waterpark.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

My mom just got back 3 weeks ago from a 10 day cruise off of the Liberty.

 

[JB513 10+ year member]

I believe we went on the Adventure of The Seas and i thought that was big my god the Independence is HUGE!!!!

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

Are the activities and food free? Or is that price just a spot on the ship?

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Alcohol, soda refreshments, ice cream, tips, clothes, jewelry, items from the shop ect.. all must be paid. Activities like tours & stuff you do @ the destinations? Yes you have to pay for those.

 

[JB513 10+ year member]

But for drinks and wine and stuff for the main dinners in the dining hall they have plans i know i was the one who was in charge of the pop because we got 2 bottles of rum on the boat so we made our own mixed drinks with it. I still dont know how they didnt catch us lol

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

Did you go on the Independence??? This thing looks like a beast from the pics as it's 160,000 tons (holy fawking shit). Indoor ice rink, flowmaster surfing, and waterpark.

I've been on the adventure, explorer and voyager of the seas. They're not as big as the independence but when they came out they were the biggest on the sea as well (they're all sister ship) and they're awesome, the independence can only be more awesomer. I've been on smaller ships and they don't compare. Go the the independence, you won't be disappointed, and I'll be jealous.

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

Alcohol, soda refreshments, ice cream, tips, clothes, jewelry, items from the shop ect.. all must be paid. Activities like tours & stuff you do @ the destinations? Yes you have to pay for those.

I mean for the food, is it like a long airplane trip, where you have a limited selection of what to eat, but that is included in the price?

As for activities, I mean like, the rock climbing, wave surf thing, the main activities that are on board...