Cruise Advice Required for First Time Cruiser
 

Hello <BR> <BR>Starting to plan a cruise for August 2002! Caribbean seems likely destination (we are from UK). Can anyone help with my enquiries: <BR> <BR>1. Which itinerary is recommend - the Southern Caribbean seems quite appealing! <BR> <BR>2. What is the verdict on Celebrity/Royal Caribbean and P&O? <BR> <BR>3. We will have our 15 year old son with us - so which liners are most appealing for a teenager! <BR> <BR>Many thanks - help is much appreciated.

Hi Janie, <BR>I'm from Brazil and cruised with Celebrity 3 times: twice to Caribbean (western and southern) with 2 teens + 1 kid and once to Alaska with 1 kid. There are lots of youth programs, but in one of our Caribbean cruises there were no teens on board, probably because it was not vacation time, which makes the whole difference for the kids. As to Caribbean itineraries, I think I liked both equally.

August can be hurricane season in much of the caribbean - but not all of it. You want to make sure that you check with your travel agent before booking. Also, I would recommend buying travelers insurance just in case there is a hurricane.

August is the beginning of hurricane season, but the southern caribbean is not as likely to be hit as the Eastern. Of the three cruise lines you mentioned, you are most likely to have children on Royal Caribbean. Celebrity and P & O are a step above RCL, however.

Janie- Don't worry about the weather in August--it is normally fine for sailing-Hurricane season actually starts June 15-Nov 1--but the worst monthes for cruising are Sept.and Oct. <BR>Southern Caribbean is the BEST of the Caribbean itineraries-- <BR>As for ships, I am very partial to Celebrity-Service and food is terrific- <BR>RCL (even tho a stepchild of Celebrity) doesn't have as good as service,nor is the food that good..... <BR>P&O is a fine line... <BR>As far as a teenager- you will have more kids in the summer , as that is when a lot of US families take their vacations, so your child would be able to meet other kids... <BR>Make sure you take a Southern Cruise that leaves out of San Juan ,Puerto Rico as these cruises tend to have much more diverse islands and more to do and see....