New Year's Eve Cruise - worth it?
 

We are considering taking a 5 days cruise over New Year's Eve. My husband has never cruised before, I have been on 1 cruise. We are late thirties, no kids. The prices drop dramatically in Jan/Feb, but we drawn to the novelty of celebrating on board. Questions: 1)Is it worth the 25-50% increase in cost 2) Is it heavily family focused (we are hoping to meet other DINKs) 3) What should we expect for weather?

I tried to research this on Cruise Critic - that website gives me a headache!

Hi Suzanne,

Last year we took a 7 day New Year cruise on HAL. We had a great time since it took all the worry and planning out of our holiday celebration. I would not recommend HAL for you since the average age on board made The Crabby Old Guy and I feel young LOL. Celebrity, Princess or RCL might be perfect for you.

As for weather, you didn't mention where you would be cruising. Cruising the Bahamas could be a little chilly since they are on the same latitude as Orlando, Fl. The Carribean, especially southern is beautiful at this time of year.

January through March you see less families and more couples or singles. Just don't go to late because you can wind up in the middle of the Spring breakers.

Unless you have no other plans for New Year's and have your heart set on being on a cruise ship I would recommend that you wait a week. The ports of call will be less crowded with tourists, the weather will be the same and the money you save on your cabin can be put toward excursions or a nice shopping spree LOL. I noticed after New Year's many of the stores in the islands had great sales. We took 4 cruises between January and March this year and had a great time.

"Crabby" and I are planing on cruising this New Year on The Grand Princess (since he works at a university and has to be back to work the next week)and the following week I am cruising on Costa's Fortuna with my business partner, The New York Hat Lady. We are planning to do some serious damage in all the jewelry stores LOL.

Whatever you decide have a great cruise. By the by, please tell me who or what is a DINK LOL.

Stay Savvy!
Hugs, The Savvy Old Lady(c)
www.thesavvyoldlady.com

I too would wait until after New Years. It's lots of fun over New Years but not sure it's worth the premium charged. If you can take a little longer cruise you could go through the Panama Canal in January or February.

You'll have a nice time whatever you decide.

Hi there:
If you have the money-do it! The price will drop after New Year's, no doubt. (I am a cruise consultant) There is nothing like cruising during the holidays. Especially Christmas and New Years. As for families, depending on where you go and what cruise line is really going to determine if you will see lots of families. Caribbean and Mexico, you will for sure see families. Also depends on the cruise line..Try one of the smaller, older ships, they are less "family-ish" as they tend not to have as many family things to do.
I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have to post...

DINK - Dual [double] income no kids.
I think it would be a great way to spend New Year's. Go for it but go for at least 7 nights. 5 nights seems too short, especially if you have to buy plane tickets..hardly worth it IMHO.

Savvy Old Lady,

Robin is right - DINK is dual income no kids. We are planning to have kids, so we won't stay that way for long! As a first time cruiser, my husband is hesitant to book a trip for more that 5 nights. That is usually his limit in warm locales! I think price may determine our decision. I appreciate all of your replies!

Suzanne and Robin thanks for the explanation on DINK's. Hah! I bet I am now up one on my 5 adult kids LOL.

Suzanne, just a thought, but I recently received an email from onlinevacationcenter.com they advertised some Costa sailings(Jan6,etc) on the Fortuna for 7 days western Caribbean at $649 pp for a balcony cabin. Now In January the western Caribbean is warm but not the hot temps of the other seasons. When I cruised On Costa's Mediterranea this year I had a blast. It was like being on a European cruise in the Carribbean. You can read my review here on Fodors or on my website www.thesavvyoldlady.com. Tell your hubby that there is plenty to do and see both on board the ship and off.

Since the Italians are born romantics they look for any chance to bring romance into your cruise experience LOL. My 30 year old son and his wife cruised on Costa this past Feb. and took part in a renewal of their wedding vows(unplanned for them since they just saw the notice in the ship's daily bulletin) with other couples with the Captain presiding. Costa even supplied free champagne for all those that were there. It made their cruising experience even that more special.

Whatever you decide may your seas be calm and your skies blue. Hope you post your adventures at sea when you get back. Make lots of memories, keep a sense of humor and good attitude and have a great time.

Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady(c)

Suzanne - you didn't say where from you would like to sail?

NCL has several crusies departing 29 & 30 Dec from various places - go and take a look.

The sea in the Bahamas might be too cool for your liking in Dec/Jan, but the sea further south is better. Not sure about the Western Caribbean.

Hot weather throughout the caribbean Dec/Jan.

a 5 day cruise seems like kind of a waste of time and money, it's just too short. I'd save my money until I could stay on longer and go through the Panama Canal. It's an amazing feat.

Unless it's the only time you can get away, a New Year's cruise is a waste of money. Every night on a cruise is New Year's Eve--better to go when rates are 50% lower...

For that amt. of price difference I would pass but then again I do think about the $$. Even if I went I would be thinking about how much more that same amt. would get us at a different time. JM2C.

I adore New Year cruises(done 2) and still think they are good value for money.
We have spent New Years in European cities and spent a fortune so find the "all in" cruise cheap in comparison.
Unfortunately my husband doesn't have enough time off work for us to take a cruise this New Year so we're spending a lot of money to be with family and attend a dinner dance in Scotland.
Put your question on cruise critic -I know what you mean about the site, but you will get a result!

Your original question was were they heavily family focused. We did one New Years Eve cruise quite a few years ago and wouldn't do it again. We did take our daughter who was about 12 at the time. She had a ball!! We didn't. Of course we enjoyed the cruise but it was full of kids and very crowded. We weren't on the typical "kid friendly" ship either. Over the years we have cruised many many times but that was our least favourite (except for the memories of our daughters enjoyment). The ships do have organized activities for the kids but there are always some (like the ones who happened to have the stateroom next to ours) who can make things a little less enjoyable. Family cruises are wonderful - don't get me wrong but you don't have any and may enjoy a cruise when it is less crowded especially if it is your husband's first.

It all depends which cruise ship you go on though. There was no sign of any kids on our cruise -they were on board but not among the adults as they had their own entertainment(thanks goodness!)

We've been on 5 New Year's cruises. (Best was LAST minute-Millenium cruise at Mallory Square in Key West- booked DAY BEFORE!!) But then this year we decided why spend the extra $$ just for free champaign(sp?)? New Years on a cruise ship is like any deck party every ship has but without the champaign. So, this year we stayed home and still had a fantastic new Years!

It is only worth it if YOU feel it's worth the extra money. I've been on two and agree, it really isn't that different than any other time, just free champagne.

So, it's up to you. If you don't mind spending the extra then go and have fun. If you'd like to get more for your money, wait a week or two and spend the money you saved shopping, gettting a better cabin, etc.

Either way, you can see that people have fun, so enjoy. :)

Free Champagne??? Which cruise line was that!
No such thing as free!

I did one New Years Cruise and it was VERY family focused with kids running everywhere and chaos and noise the standard. I hated it and would never do it again unless it were all adult.

OMG, SavyOldLady!
I am going on Costa Mediterranea!
I am running to read all you wrote on your website! Thanks a million!

I had checked website, left a comment and so happy I did (checked it not left the comment:-)))!

One question. You said after booking I can go to a ship site and checked my cabin out. How do I do that? Thanks