I have never been on a cruise. Are there packages that include both a cruise and hotel stay? I was thinking something in the Caribbean. If there are such packages, any recommendations? Thanks!

You can book a package that starts or ends at San Juan. Then you can have a stay before cruise or after cruise. Cruise ships is your hotel when you are island hopping.

Your local TA can help you with such package or you can do on your own. You have to decide which part of the Caribeban you wanted to go, when, and what type of entertainment or activities you like.

Post a bit more info and you will attract more replies.

Economically it is wiser to book your hotel separate from the cruise, much, much less $$

I agree. Choose and book your cruise, then book your own hotel stay, it's much cheaper.

Talk to a travel agent. They can book both the cruise and your hotel stay afterwards. They will have brochures showing where you can stay after or before the cruise.

Do some research on CC.. I don't trust travel agents.. they will get a commission...and there are many people on the boards like this one (just ask where you want a hotel) who will help you

A good travel agent is your best frined. A lousy travel agent is your worst enemy. You just have to find the good ones.

I have always felt that booking as much as possible through the cruise line, but now think that you should do as much as possible on your own - through a travel agent though. A good agent can save some grief. Cruise lines are very rigid and expensive. Once you've booked, about the only right you retain is to pay the bill.

There are loads of lovely packages that you can do and a good travel agent should be able t organise it for you. We used a cruise specialist called http://www.cruise.co.uk who arranged our cruise from Hong Kong to Sydney and they added all the flights and hotel stays before and after our cruise they even included the transfers as well and it was all hassle free. The reason i decided to use an agent rather then doing it myself was if something went wrong e.g flight cancelled then it was my agents responsibility to get me to my destination.