Hi!
I've never went on cruise before and here is the deal.
My husband's 50th BDay is on Christmas, so family and friends want to go on cruise. I am thinking from 10 people.
I was thinking of departure on 23rd of December and coming back on 30th (it is a must).
Then I thought maybe 4-5 days of cruising and 2 days at LA or San Diego in Hotel.
My daughter wants to be on Tropical movie looking Island.

What would you pro's will recommend. Yeah and how to book a flight? Is it better to go package deal or group special or something?

Thanks a lot for your time

I am in Philadelphia area...Thanks

Z:

A few thoughts.

1. Christmas is about the most expensive time of the year to cruise, while the 2 weeks preceeding are the least expensive. If you can go earlier, you'll save money--though I understand that people may not be able to make it then.

2. 7-night cruises are generally a better deal than 4-5.

3. I'd put the hotel stay before the cruise (you'll want to get in a day early in case of flight delays if you;re flying across country).

4. Why LA? Why not cruise out of Florida? (More options, closer "tropical-movie" islands, cheaper airfare, shorter flights, probably a less-expensive cruise fare too).

5. You should probably try to book everything--cruise and airfare--in the next couple of months.

6. Carnival and RCL appeal to the widest range of types and ages, with Carnival usually the most value for your $$).

How's that for a start?

OK, wonderful!
LA because we are vacationing in FL every year and never been to a West Coast, so I was thinking cheaper cruise 4-5 days and the rest - Hotel stay in LA,but considerate how people speak about short cruises I will probably pick from FL for a week.
I also want to pick affordable one for friends to go with us.

Anything else?

I think that's a much better move. really, you're not going to Florida--you're just leaving from there for the Caribbean!

Next step is to look at options for sailings. Travelocity has a good search engine on their site (go to "advanced search"--several clicks down). Pick you dates, your lines (Carnival & RCL) and your length 7 days) and see what comes up. Check out the destinations, see what appeals.

When you've narrowed it down to a couple of choices (and know how many people are going), put requests into CruiseCompete.com to let agents compete to get you the best price for your group.

CruiseMates.com is a good resource for answers to specific questions about ships, destinations, etc.

Cheers!

I agree about going to the Caribbean over Mexico.

I also agree about the cruises in December before Christmas are very inexpensive!

I would also go with a 7 night cruise. 3-4 night cruises seem to attract a Party-type ship/atmosphere and mostly go to the Bahamas.

Good luck in planning.

Just an fyi

I know the cruise we are booked this Xmas is a 10 night cruise. The reason being with Xmas falling on Sunday the cruise is leaving Friday and coming back on Monday Jan 2nd due to the New Years. It might be hard, I am not sure about the other cruise lines and what they are doing. But RCCL AOS is a 10 night and there is an 11 night departing on Dec 19th coming back when you want. I think it can depend on where you are going to depart from. Those cruises are leaving San Juan. Also leaving out of San Juan the waters are calmer than Miami and also you can be sure of better weather since most go down to Aruba. We have gone at Xmas the past 3 years and this will be our 4th Xmas cruise in 2005.

I found a cruise that is 5 NIGHT BAHAMAS HOLIDAY from $519
Ship Name: Sovereign of the Seas
Sailing Date(s): December 22

I do not have to be there on Christmas, as long as 26th is out of Philadelphia -
I am OK.

I thought it was a great deal but it departs from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Anyone care to comment on it?